Sekonic LITEMASTER PRO L-478DR-A-EL User manual

Light Meter
L-478DR-A-EL
L-478DR-U-EL
carefully to fully understand the features of this product before
use and keep it for future use.
Please read the operating manual and safety precaution
Keep the operating manual in a safe place.
This manual is specic for Elinchrom operation.
Operating Manual
LITEMASTER PRO
L-478DR-EL

2
Table of Contents
1 About EL-Skyport System by Elinchrom............................................3
1-1. How to use L-478DR-EL Series with EL-Skyport System by
Elinchrom.....................................................................................3
1-2. Turning the Power ON .................................................................3
1-3. Setting EL-Skyport Mode ............................................................ 4
2 Measuring .............................................................................................5
2-1. Selecting the Frequency Channel and Group..............................5
2-2. Measuring in Radio Flash Mode .................................................. 6
2-2-1. How to use Radio Triggering.............................................6
2-2-2. How to use Flash Power Control ......................................7
2-2-3. How to use Modeling Lamp Power Control...................... 8
2-3. Measuring in Radio Multiple (Cumulative) Flash Mode ...............9
3 Functions.............................................................................................10
3-1. Custom Setting Function........................................................... 10
3-1-1. Custom Setting Function List .........................................10
3-1-2. How to enter Custom Setting ......................................... 10
4 Specications .....................................................................................11
5 Legal Requirements ........................................................................... 12
FCC & IC Compliance ........................................................................13
Elinchrom is the registered trademark of Elinchrom SA.

3
1About EL-Skyport System by Elinchrom
1-1. How to use L-478DR-EL Series with EL-Skyport System by Elinchrom
Plug-in external or built-in EL-Skyport receivers are required to work with the EL-
Skyport radio system by Elinchrom. Radio triggering enables a single photographer to
easily trigger and control ash units.
The radio transmitter built into the L-478DR-EL Series is only compatible with EL-
Skyport radio system by Elinchrom. Please read the instruction manuals provided with
these products for details about using them. Please go to http://www.elinchrom.com/ to
learn more about their products and compatibilities.
•
Successfulradiotriggeringdependsonseveralfactors.PleasereadthesesetupstepsbeforeusingtheL-478DR-EL
Seriestoradiotriggerashunits.
1. Itisthebesttopositionthemeterinsightoftheradioreceiver(orashhead).
2. Positiontheradioreceiversothatitisawayfromlargemetallicobjects,concrete,orcontainersofwater(like
people).
3. Sometimes,conditionsdonotallowradioreception.Thesecouldincludestronglocalradiointerferenceor
beingnearobjectsthatblockorabsorbthesignal.Repositioningtheradio,evenslightly,canreestablishcontact.
Alternatively,checktoseeiftheradioreceiverisbehindobjectsthatabsorborblockradiowaves,suchasconcrete,
metalorlowhill.
4. Operationisthebestwhenthemetertoreceiverdistanceiswithin30meters.Theworkingdistanceoftheradio
triggeringsystemcanvarywiththeorientationandlocationofthemeterandreceivers.
1-2. Turning the Power ON
Press and hold the Power button for about 1 second to start up the meter. The startup
screen will be displayed, followed by the Measuring screen.
Startup screen for L-478DR-EL Series (Elinchrom) Measuring screen
Power button

4
1-3. Setting EL-Skyport Mode
Set Normal mode or Speed mode on both the Skyport transmitter and receiver
according to shutter speed in use for desired effect.
1) Press the Menu button on the meter to open the Menu screen.
2) Touch [3. Custom Setting] and select [c-i) EL-Skyport Mode]
under [6.Flash Mode] in the displayed Menu screen.
3) Touch the radio button to select Normal or Speed mode.
Menu screen Custom Setting screen EL-Skyport Mode screen
4) Touch [OK] to complete the setting and return to the Custom Setting screen.
(Touch [Cancel] to return to the Custom Setting screen without change.)
5) Press the Menu button at the Custom Setting screen to return to the top of Menu
screen. Press the Menu button again to return to the Measuring screen.
6) In the Radio Flash mode, the Measuring screen shows the setting of Normal mode or
Speed mode.
EL-Skyport Normal Mode
EL-Skyport Speed Mode
• Setboththemeterandplug-inexternalorbuilt-inEL-SkyportreceiverstothesameEL-Skyportmode(NormalorSpeed).
Menu button
EL-Skyport
Mode
Measuring screen
(Radio Triggering screen)

5
2Measuring
2-1. Selecting the Frequency Channel and Group
Select the FCH (frequency channel) both the meter and plug-in external or built-in EL-
Skyport receivers to the same channel number to use.
1) Touch the Tool Box icon ( ) at the bottom right of the Measuring screen to display
the Tool Box screen.
2) Touch the [Radio FCH/Group] button to display the Radio FCH/Group Setting
screen.
3) Touch the arrows ▲/▼or slide your nger over the screen to select a FCH (frequency
channel) from 1 to 20.
4) Touch one of the Group buttons (G1, G2, G3 or G4) or ALL button to select the ash
Group you want to use.
* Group to use can be selected from Power Control screen as well.
5) Touch [OK] to conrm settings and return to the Measuring screen. (Touch [Cancel]
to go back to the Measuring screen without change.)
Radio FCH/Group Setting screen
Measuring screen Tool Box screen
Frequency Channel
Numbers
Groups
•
Setboththemeterandplug-inexternalorbuilt-inEL-SkyportreceiverstothesameFCH(frequencychannel)and
Group(s)touse.
•
EL-SkyportsystemenablesselectingonlyonebuttonforGroupselection,whichmeanseitherG1,G2,G3,G4or
ALLbuttoncanbeselected.
•
ThelastselectedGroupineitherFlashPowerControlscreenorRadioFCH/GroupSettingscreeninToolBoxis
activatedinMeasuringscreen.

6
2-2. Measuring in Radio Flash Mode
2-2-1. How to use Radio Triggering
1) Touch the Measuring mode icon ( ) at the top left of the Measuring screen and then
select the Radio Flash Mode ( ).
Measuring screen Measuring Mode Selection screen Measuring screen
2) Set ISO sensitivity on the ISO icon.
3) Set shutter speed on the T (shutter speed) icon.
4) Make sure that the channel and Group are the
same for the meter and receivers in use.
* Select the Group to trigger from the Flash Power Control
screen (See below) or Tool Box. Then return to the
Measuring screen to take the ash measurement.
5) Press the Measuring button to trigger the ash
units. The measured value (f-stop) is displayed.
•
Whenringtheash,iftheashbrightnessis8EVlowerthanthe
ambientlight,themetermayfailtodetecttheashlight.Inthis
case,makemeasurementsusingtheCord(PC)FlashMode(See
L-478SeriesCommonOperatingManualfordetails).
•
Rapidstartuorescentlampsandspeciallightingaresometimes
mistakenforash,andaccidentallymeasured.Inthiscase,make
measurementsusingtheCord(PC)FlashMode(SeeL-478Series
CommonOperatingManualfordetails)
•
Thewaveformofaashbulbhasaslightslopeandthereisa
possibilitythatthelightmetercannotrecognizetheashbulbin
CordlessFlashMode.Inthiscase,makemeasurementsusingthe
Cord(PC)FlashMode(SeeL-478SeriesCommonOperating
Manualfordetails).
Measuring screen
Set channel
number and
Group
Go to Flash
Power Control
screen
Tool Box
Measuring screen
(After Measurement)

7
2-2-2. How to use Flash Power Control
1) Touch the Measuring mode icon at the top left of the
Measuring screen and then select the Radio Flash Mode
( ).
2) Touch the Flash Power Control icon ( ) on the Measuring
screen to display the Flash Power Control screen.
3) Select one of Groups (G1 to G4) 3and press the
Measuring button to trigger the ash units for selected
Group.
4) The measured value is displayed at the top of the screen
1and over the selected Group button 2. Press [+] or [-]
button 4to change the power of ash. Set power level is
displayed in the area of 5.
* Up to +/-9.9 step of value (f stop) can be controlled.
* Set power level returns to 0 (zero) when taking a new measurement,
selecting another Group or turning the power off/on.
5) Press the Measuring button for measurement to conrm
that the ash power is set to desired value.
6) Repeat 3) to 5) above for other Groups 3until each ash
unit’s brightness is set to proper value for the effect you
want.
7) Select [ALL] button and press the Measuring button.
Measured values of each Group 2will not change. The
measured F number for the measured brightness of all lights
will be displayed at the top of the screen 1.
8) Press [+] or [-] button 4to change the total power of ash
units while each Group lighting ratio is kept.
* Press Modeling Lamp ON/OFF icon ( ) if necessary after selecting the
desired Group.
* To set ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, press the Radio Flash Mode
icon ( ) to go back to the Measuring screen.
Measuring screen
Flash Power Control screen
1
2
3
4
Flash Power Control
screen (After Measurement)
Settings
(EL-Skyport mode, FCH,
shutter speed and ISO
sensitivity)
5

8
2-2-3. How to use Modeling Lamp Power Control
1) Press the Modeling Lamp icon ( ) at the bottom right of the
Flash Power Control screen.
2) Select one of Groups (G1 to G4) 3and press the Modeling
Lamp ON/OFF icon ( ) to turn ON the lamp of the selected
Group.
3) Press the Measuring button to measure the brightness of
the light(s) in the selected Group.
4) The measured value is displayed at the top of the screen
1and over the selected Group button 2. Press [+] or [-]
button 4to change the power of modeling lamp. Set power
level is displayed in the area of 5.
* Up to +/-9.9 step of value (f stop) can be controlled.
* Set power level returns to 0 (zero) when taking a measurement, selecting
another Group or turning power off/on.
5) Press the Measuring button again to check that the
modeling lamp power is set to desired value.
6) Repeat 2) to 5) above for other Groups to check that each
ash unit’s modeling lamp brightness is set to proper value
for the effect you want.
7) Select [ALL] button and press the Measuring button.
Measured values of each Group 2are xed to keep the
lighting ratio data. The measured F number 1indicates the
total exposure for all lights.
8) Press [+] or [-] button 4to change the total power of
modeling lamps while maintaining the established ratio.
* Press Modeling Lamp ON/OFF icon ( ) if necessary after selecting the
desired Group.
* To set ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, press the Radio Flash Mode
icon ( ) to go back to the Measuring screen.
* To go back to Flash Power Control screen, touch the Flash Power
Control icon ( )
•
ModelingLampPowerControlmodeisambientlight
measurement.
Flash Power Control
screen
Modeling Lamp Power
Control screen
1
2
3
4
Modeling Lamp Power
Control screen
Settings
(EL-Skyport mode, FCH,
shutter speed and ISO
sensitivity)
5

9
2-3. Measuring in Radio Multiple (Cumulative) Flash Mode
1) Touch the Measuring mode icon ( ) at the top left of the Measuring screen and then
select the Radio Multiple (Cumulative) Flash Mode ( ).
Measuring screen Measuring Mode Selection screen Measuring screen
2) Set ISO sensitivity on the ISO icon.
3) Set shutter speed on the T (shutter speed)
icon.
4) Make sure that the channel and Group are the
same for the meter and receivers in use.
* Select the Group to trigger from the Flash Power
Control screen (See below) or Tool Box. Then return to
the Measuring screen to take the ash measurement.
5) Press the Measuring button to trigger the
ash units. The measured value (f-stop) is
displayed.
6) Repeat 5) above until you get the accumulated
measured value (f-stop) you want to use.
The number of cumulative ashes is displayed at
the top of screen.
* It is not possible to take cumulative ash measurements
while the meter displays the Flash Power Control screen.
Be sure to set the meter to display the main Measuring screen
when taking cumulative ash measurements. The measured
value will be cleared when going from the Measuring screen
to the Flash Power Control screen when in Radio Multi (Cumulative)
Flash Mode.
•
Whenringtheash,iftheashbrightnessis8EVlowerthantheambientlight,the
metermayfailtodetecttheashlight.Inthiscase,makemeasurementsusingthe
Cord(PC)FlashMode(SeeL-478SeriesCommonOperatingManualfordetails).
•
Rapidstartuorescentlampsandspeciallightingaresometimesmistakenfor
ash,andaccidentallymeasured.Inthiscase,makemeasurementsusingtheCord
(PC)FlashMode(SeeL-478SeriesCommonOperatingManualfordetails)
•
Thewaveformofaashbulbhasaslightslopeandthereisapossibilitythatthe
lightmetercannotrecognizetheashbulbinCordlessFlashMode.Inthiscase,
makemeasurementsusingtheCord(PC)FlashMode(SeeL-478SeriesCommon
OperatingManualfordetails).
Measuring screen
(After measurement)
Measuring screen
The number of
cumulative ashes
Set
channel
number
and
Group
Tool Box
Go to Flash
Power Control
screen

10
3 Functions
3-1. Custom Setting Function
This enables quick and easy setup of individual meter preference.
For other Custom Setting, please refer to the L-478 Series Common Operating Manual.
Custom Setting specic to L-478DR-EL Series for Elinchrom is as follows.
3-1-1. Custom Setting Function List
Setting No. Custom Setting Name Item Default Setting
6 Flash Mode*1 On Off - On
c) Radio Mode*1,*2 On Off - On
c - i) EL-Skyport Mode *2 Normal Speed - Normal
*1 When Flash Mode is set to “Off”, the sub settings of all ash modes: a) Cordless
Mode to d) Multiple (Cumu.) Flash Mode cannot be selected.
*2 When Radio Flash Mode is set to “Off”, the sub setting of c-i) EL-Skyport Mode
cannot be selected.
3-1-2. How to enter Custom Setting
1) Press the Menu button on the meter to open the Menu screen.
2) Touch [3. Custom Setting] and select [c-i) EL-Skyport Mode]
under [6. Flash Mode] in the displayed Menu screen.
3) Touch the radio button to select Normal or Speed mode.
Menu screen Custom Setting screen EL-Skyport Mode screen
4) Touch [OK] to complete the setting and return to the Custom Setting screen. (Touch
[Cancel] to return to the Custom Setting screen without change.)
5) Press the Menu button at the Custom Setting screen to return to the top of Menu
screen. Press the Menu button again to return to the Measuring screen.
Menu button