Rollei 56F User manual

CONTENT
Safety Instruction............36
Specification................37
Nomenclature...............38
Display Icons................40
Basic operation .............42
Auto-Focus Auxiliary AF Lamp ..42
Battery Installation...........43
Attach the Flash to the Camera . 44
Turn ON/OFF power ..........45
Charging Indicator ...........45
Extended Interface...........45
Flash light transmitter mode ..46
2.4G Wireless transmitter mode. 46
Automatic flash shooting (TTL) . 47
Manual flash mode (M) .......48
Multi flash mode (MULTI)......49
ZOOM setting ...............50
2.4G wireless transmitter .....51
Set wireless channel..........51
2.4G Master................52
2.4G Master TTL.............54
2.4G Master MULTI ..........55
2.4G Slave (TTL, M, MULTI) ....56
Light Sensing Mode..........57
High Speed Sync.............58
Other ......................59
Signal Tones,
Backlight display ............59
Special status interface .......59
Custom function settings .....60
Multi Lighting Applications ...61
Disposal....................62
Conformity .................62
Flash Unit 56F for Sony
35

36
ENGLISH
Thank you for purchasing this Rollei Flash Unit.
Please read this manual carefully before using the Flash Unit and use it correctly
according to the given instructions.
Safety Instruction
1. Never trigger the Flash Unit around flammable gas or liquid gas (such as gaso-
line and solvents)! There is the risk of explosion!
2. Neither shoot with the Flash Unit at drivers of cars, buses or trains, nor the
riders of motorcycles and bicycles. They may be temporarily blind of the bright
light which can cause traffic accidents.
3. Never trigger the Flash Unit directly in front of your eyes! Using the Flash Unit
directly at people or animal‘s eyes might damage the retinas and cause serious
visual disturbances, even blindness.
4. Only use the batteries listed in this manual!
5. Never place the batteries in high-temperature environment, such as under the
sun or in the fire.
6. Remove the drained battery from the Flash Unit, as the alkaline liquid can exude
from the battery which will damage the Flash Unit.
7. Keep the Flash Unit away from water (such as the rain).
8. Protect the Flash Unit from extremely hot or damp environment.
9. Do not put the Flash Unit in the glove box of the car dashboard. Do not put any
light-proof items before or on the reflection shield when the Flash Unit will be
triggered. Please take care that there is no dirt on the reflection as otherwise
the high energy that the Flash Unit emits, will burn the item or damage the
reflection shield.
10. Never open the Flash Unit by yourself! There will be the danger of electric shocks.
Non-professional personal cannot fix the components within the Flash Unit.

37
Specification
Technical Features
Guide Number 56 (ISO 100, 180mm)
Motorised Zoom 18 –180 mm; manual / automatic zoom
TTL Flash Mode TTL, M, 2.4 G Master, 2.4 G Slave, S1, S2, Multi
Wireless Trigger 2.4 G wireless flash, light pulse,
S1/S2 optical flash
WL Visual Flash Distance Indoor up to 30 meters
Outdoor up to 50 meters
WL Transmission Range 2.4 GHz Up to 50 meters
Swivel Reflector Tilt angle (up and down): -7° up to +90°
Rotation angle (left and right): 0° up to +180°
Slave Group and Unit 16 Slave communication channels (1 – 16)
3 Slave unit groups (A,B,C)
Color Temperature 5500 K
Flash Duration 1/200 seconds ~ 1/20,000 seconds
High Speed Synchronisation Up to 1/8,000 seconds
Flash Control 1/128 – 1/1 step length is 0.3 EV,
total 22 fine-tuning gear
Peripheral Interface Hot shoe, PC sync, USB
(for firmware updates only)
Recycle Time 3.0 seconds
Power 4x AA batteries or 4x AA Ni-MH batteries
(any batteries are not included)
Lighting Time 100 ~ 1500 times
Additional Function Sleep mode, overheating protection
Dimensions WxHxD: 75 x 200 x 60 mm
Weight 399 g (without any batteries)
Subject to technical changes. Sony is registered trademark, Sony products are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sony.

38 Nomenclature
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Bounce card
Wide angle diffusor
Flash head / Flash sensors
Battery compartment
Optical transmitter wireless sensor
2.4G wireless transmitter sensor
Auto focus auxiliary lamp
Locking wheel
Pins
Hot shoe
10
9
4
8
5
1
2
3
ENGLISH
5
56
57

39
Nomenclature
Tilt angle scale
Rotation Angle
Wireless option button
Synchronous sockets
Backlight / custom function
USB port
Mode select button
Test button / indicator light
Clear button (both pressed
at the same time)
LCD
Rear Curtain / high-speed sync mode
select key
Zoom / Wireless Settings button
ON-OFF switch
Keypad
1
9
10
11
12
13
14
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2
1
10
11
12
13
14
3
4
5
7
9
8
6

40 Display Icons
ENGLISH
Auto zoom
Manual zoom
Pulled out Bounce card
TTL/M/MULTI
Zoom 8–180mm
(14mm pull-out
diffuser screen-angle)
High-speed
sync
Buzzer
Aperture
Firing rate
FEB
Flash light mode
Flash light icon
Flash light
compensate
M mode
M mode
Multi mode
Number of flashes
Multi mode
Power

41
Receiver mode
SALVE icon
SALVE group
Display Icons
Wireless firing mode
Optical firing mode
2.4G Wireless flash mode
2.4G MASTER
2.4G SLAVE
Channel
Sony master
flash light
Group A/B/C
wireless model
Wireless radio
transmission
SALVE Power
Mode
MASTER on
MASTER off
Master flash light
exposure data
Group A/B/C
exposure data
Optical SLAVE S1
Optical Mode
Output Power

42
ENGLISH
Basic operation
Auto-Focus Auxiliary AF Lamp
When working under dark conditions, the Automatic AF which is positioned in the
middle of the flash light, may temporary project a red light to assist focusing. If this
lamp disturbs the subject that should be shooted you can switch to manual focus
(M) or to custom function (Fn – 08).
This flash unit can be rotated up to 90° and donwards up to 7°. Furthermore a
horizontal rotating from ”left to right“ and ”right to left“ by 180° is possible.
Rotating the flash to the ceiling or wall can make the images look more natural.
90°
7°
180°
180°

43
Basic operation
Battery Installation
1. Slide the battery compartment cover down in the
direction of the small arrow.
2. Insert 4x AA alkaline batteries following the
polarity markings stamped into the metal contacts
on the inside of the door.
3. Close the battery compartment cover.
2
3
1

44
ENGLISH
Basic operation
Attach the Flash to the Camera
1. Loose the locking wheel at the bottom of
flash.
2. Slide the flash all the way into the camera’s
hot shoe mount.
3. To secure the flash turn the locking wheel
until it’s tight.
Note:
• Make sure that the flash and camera are
turned off.
• Do not forcibly pull out the flash from the
camera.
1
2
3

45
Basic operation
Turn ON/OFF power
Slide the switch from left to the right to turn it on and
vice versa to turn it off.
To save battery power and prevent battery leakage, the
flash unit is factory set to the following conditions by
default:
If the flash will not be operated within 60 seconds, it will automatically go into
the sleep mode. In this case press any button to wake up the flash. If the flash
unit is not used for a long period of time, it is recommended to use the main
power switch to turn it off and remove the batteries. Before removing the battery,
turn off the flash. After the flash capacitor is fully charged, the flash [ ] button
lights up, indicating that the flash is ready to trigger. This means that
the product can be used for the next shoot.
Charging Indicator
Before shooting, ensure the flash charging indicator
and the camera viewfinder lamp are on.
Extended interface
Through the expansion interface there is the PC
synchronous function.
Plug the sync cable into this socket to synchronize
flashes.

46 Flash light transmitter mode
Mode
1. Common flash
2. 2.4G wireless mode
3. Optical mode
4. Light senors mode S1/S2
2.4G Wireless transmitter mode
Use flash light with 2.4G wireless transmitter function (MASTER/SLAVE).
Attach the master flash (transmitter) to the camera. The transmitter’s setting
information can be shown on the slave light, so you don’t need to operate the slave
light while shooting. It is compatible with same brand flash light, studio flash light,
outdoor flash and TTL remote if the products use the same system.
Wireless transmitter and optical transmitter table
Flash exposure lock (FEL / FV)
The “Flash Exposure Lock” locks the correct flash exposure setting for any part of
the scene. When <TTL> is displayed on the panel, please connect the flash to your
camera correctly (AEL auto exposure lock) button. Then the flash will do a preflash
and the camera will calculate the appropriate flash output. At this point you have
time for re-composition.
After finishing you can press the shutter release for shooting pictures. (This feature
requires you to use the camera support itself, therefore please refer to your camera
manual settings).
ENGLISH
Function Wireless transmitter Light firing
Distance Approx. 50 meters Approx. 15 meters
Groups 3 groups –
Channel Channel (1–16) –

47
Flash light transmitter mode
Automatic flash shooting (TTL)
In TTL mode, the camera‘s metering system detects flash lighting from the subject
and automatically adjusts the amount of flash output, allowing the subject and the
background to be balanced. Exposure compensation, high speed sync, rear curtain
sync and other functions are supported.
Selecting the Flash Mode
Press the mode button repeatedly until TTL
is shown on the display. If master or slave is
not shown on the display then the flash is in
normal flash mode.
Set the flash exposure compensation value
Press the left or right button on the keypad to set the required compensation value.
Press the left button to decrease the value and the right one to increase the value.
Icon
The compensation rate can be set from -3.0 to +3.0
0EV –> +0.3EV –> +0.7EV –> +1.0EV –> +1.3EV –> +1.7EV –> .... –> +3.0EV
0EV –> -0.3EV –> -0.7EV –> -1.0EV –> -1.3EV –> -1.7EV –> .... –> -3.0EV

48
ENGLISH
Flash light transmitter mode
Manual flash mode (M)
If a manual exposure is needed, you can set the value between the lowest power
(1/128) and full power (1/1).
Select the flash mode
Press the mode button repeatedly
until M is shown in the display.
Power settings
1. Press the left and right button of the keypad to adjust the power value.
Icon: 1/128 –> 1/64 –> 1/32 –> ... –> 1/1
Press the left button to decreaes the value and the right one to increase the
value.
Icon: 1/1 –> 1/2 –> 1/4 –> ... –> 1/128
2. Press the up and down button of the keypad to do the fine tunin of the power
value. Press the up button to increase the value and the down one to decrease
the value.
Icon: 0EV –> +0.3EV –> +0.7EV
Icon: 0EV –> –0.3EV –> –0.7EV

49
Flash light transmitter mode
Multi flash mode (MULTI)
Set the camera to multi mode. When you use the strobe mode, it can emit a series of
quick flashes, which allows you to perform multiple flash strokes on a single photo,
freezing a series of actions in sequence. In this mode, the flash light output power,
the number of flashes as well as the flash frequency (the number of flashes per
second in HZ) can be set to your needs. This mode is more common when shooting
moving objects. To prevent the flash light from overheating and damage, do not
perform strobe flash continuous shooting for more than 10 continue times. Between
two multiple exposure operations, let the light have enough time to call back. Flash
10 times, please let the light cool down for at least 15 minutes. If you are trying
to perform a strobe flash burst for more than 10 consecutive strokes, to prevent
flashing the lamp may overheat and the flash may stop automatically.
If this happens, let the flash light cool down at least 15 minutes.
Select the flash mode
Press the mode button repeatedly until Multi is
shown on the display.
Frequency setting
Press the middle button of the keypad until the
frequency (HZ) is hightlighted. Then press the left
and right buttons to set the frequency. You can set it
between 1HZ – 199 HZ.
Number of flash settings
Press the middle button of the keypad until the
number is highlighted. Press the left or right button
to change the number of flashes which can be set
from 1–40.

50 Flash light transmitter mode
Exposure power setting
Press the left and right key of keypad to set flash light power.
Flash power and the number of flash relations table
Power 1/128 1/64 1/32 1/16 1/8 1/4
The number of flashes 1-40 1-20 1-12 1-8 1-4 1-2
Shutter speed = Times of flash / Flash frequency (HZ)
ENGLISH
Zoom setting
1. Press the zoom button repeatedly until the zoom
value is highlighted.
2. Then press the left and right button to set the
right value.
3. Press the zoom button again to finish the input.
Note
• A: Auto zoom, M: Manual zom, W: Pulled out wide angle diffusor
• 18–180 mm
• If zoom is adjusted manually, please ensure that the flash coverage covers the
lens zoom, so that the picture will not show the edge of a shadow.
A WAMMMMMMMMMM
Automatic 14 Auto 18 24 28 35 50 70 85 105 135 180

51
2.4G wireless transmitter
The wireless flash system can be used to make a set of various flashes and combine
them to work together. Therefore you can create different lighting effects.
1. If the flash is in wireless slave mode you can still press the mode button to
change the mode or the flash parameters. But if you connect this flash with a
camera and you press the shutter it will not flash. Therefore you need to
manually exit the slave mode.
2. The flash which is in slave mode will not go into the sleep mode to ensure that
all information from the master flash can be well received.
Set wireless channel
Press the zoom button repeatedly until the channel number is highlighted. Then
press the left and right button to change the channel between 1 – 16.
To set the main unit flash on / off:
You can disable the MASTER unit so that only the slave unit‘s flash fires.
To set the Master Flash press the zoom button repeatedly until < > is blinking.
Press the left and right key to set the main flash output. When master flash function
is disabled the icon< > is displayed. When the Master Flash is turned on, the icon
< > is displayed.

52
ENGLISH
2.4G wireless transmitter
2.4G Master
The wireless flash system is powered by a number of flash units with wireless
flash, allowing you to create a variety of lighting effects.
Press the wireless option button to set the flash mode of the flash. The flash
will be in the 2.4G wireless MASTER, 2.4G wireless SLAVE, S1 or S2 mode or you
can also deactivate the wireless function.
Press the wireless option button repeatedly until the icon < > and [Master Sony]
is shown on the display.

53
2.4G wireless transmitter
2.4G Master
Note: You can freely set the slave unit group mode and power.

54
ENGLISH
2.4G wireless transmitter
2.4G Master TTL
If the master unit is in 2.4G wireless TTL or M mode, the slave uit supports three
modes: wireless off, TTL or M mode.
1. Press the mode button repeatedly to set the master
unit in TTL or M mode.
2. Slave unit group settings:
Group A: Press the zoom button repeatedly until the group A is highlighted.
Press the left and right button to change the group A mode (off, TTL or M).
Press the middle button to exit or press the zoom button to enter the group B.
Group B: Press the zoom button repeatedly until the group B is highlighted.
Press the left and right button to change the group A mode (off, TTL or M).
Press the middle button to exit or press the zoom button to enter the group C.
Group C: Press the zoom button repeatedly until the group C is highlighted.
Press the left and right button to change the group A mode (off, TTL or M).
Press the middle button or the zoom button to exit.
3. Power settings for each slave unit
If all slave units have a mode (TTL or M) you can set the power of each group.
Therefore press the middle button repeatedly until group A is highlighted. Press
the left and right button to change the values and press the middle button again
to enter the next group.