FLASHMATE Operating Manual s SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WARNING and CAUTION This manual uses the following safety labels for that you must follow. WARNING CAUTION NOTE: Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in severe personal injury or death. Indicates hazards or unsafe practices that can result in the personal injury or damage to your L-308S exposure meter. Indicates a caution or limitation that accompanies operation. Please read the note to avoid incorrect operation. Provides the reference information and related functions that are useful in operating the L-308S. We recommend that you read these reference. q Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck. There is danger of strangulation. q Keep the Lumidisc and synchro terminal cap out of reach of young children, as swallowing such objects can cause suffocation. q Never place batteries in fire, short disassemble heat or charge them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident, injury or pollute the environment. REFERENCE: WARNING CAUTION q There is a danger of electric shock if the meter is handled with wet hands, during rain, in areas splashed by water or where there is a lot of moisture, if you use cord flash mode. Also, such action may damage the product. Table of Contents Safety Precautions Table of Contents 1. Parts Designation .......................................................................... 1 2. Explanation of the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) .......................... 2 3. Before Using .................................................................................. 3 1. Attach the strap .......................................................................... 3 2. Inserting the battery ................................................................... 3 3. Checking battery capacity .......................................................... 4 4. Replacing battery during measurement ..................................... 4 5. Auto Power OFF function ............................................................ 5 6. Setting ISO film speed ................................................................ 5 4. Basic Operation ............................................................................. 6 1. Incident or reflected light measuring .......................................... 6 2. Setting measuring mode ............................................................ 6 3. When set for incident light ......................................................... 8 4. When set for reflected light ........................................................ 9 5. Measurement .............................................................................. 10 1. Measuring Ambient Light ......................................................... 10 1-1 Shutter Speed Priority mode ............................................ 10 1-2 EV mode .......................................................................... 11 1-3 Cinematography ............................................................... 13 2. Measuring Flash Light .............................................................. 14 2-1 Cord Flash mode .............................................................. 14 2-2 Auto Reset Cordless Flash mode ..................................... 16 6. Advanced Functions .................................................................... 18 1. Measuring Light Contrast ......................................................... 18 2. How to use an incident illuminance (LUX or FC) meter ............ 19 3. Custom setting function ........................................................... 20 7. Accessories ................................................................................. 21 8. Technical Data ............................................................................. 22 9. Safty Guide and Maintenance ..................................................... 23 1. Parts Designation Power Button(ON/OFF Switch) Lens Lumisphere Lumisphere Mode Button Measuring Button Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Up Button Down Button ISO Button Strap Eyelet Flash Synchro Terminal Battery Compartment Cover Synchro Terminal Cap Lumidisc Strap 2. Explanation of the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) the display illustrated here shows icons * For explanation purposes,Actual display will never appear like this.and readouts simultaneously. q Measuring Mode icons Ambient (See page 10) Auto Reset Cordless Flash (See page 16) Cord Flash (See page 14) ISO Display (See page 5) Displays ISO Film setting. Aperture/EV display Appears when aperture value is displayed. Appears when using EV mode. (See page 11) 0.1 step display Depending on set mode, this displays measurement value at 1/10 aperture or 1/10 EV. (See page 10) Shutter Priority indicator, Shutter speed display for still photography or frames per second (f/s) for cinematography Appears when Shutter Priority (T) mode. (See page 10) Appears when shutter speed is in full seconds. (See page 10) Appears when cine speed is set in frames per seconds. (See page 13) Battery Power Indicator (See page 4) w e r t y 3. Before Using 1. Attach the strap 1) Attach the Strap !5 by passing the small end loop through the strap eyelet !2 and passing the other end of strap through it. WARNING q Please place in a location where an infant cannot reach and accidentally get the strap wrapped around his or her neck. There is danger of strangulation. 2. Inserting the battery 1) Requires type-AA 1.5-volt manganese dry cell battery (R6P) or type-AA 1.5-volt alkali dry cell battery (LR6) or type-AA 1.5-volt lithium dry cell battery (FR6). Do not use any battery other than the designated types. 2) Slide down the battery compartment cover !1 in the direction of the arrow to remove. 3) Insert the battery observing the polarity with the +, - marks in the battery compartment. 4) Align battery compartment cover with main unit and slide shut. Make sure that the cover is properly in place and closed. NOTE: q Nickel and cadmium storage batteries (NiCd) and nickel and hydrogen batteries (NiH) cannot be used. q Remove battery if meter is not used for an extended period. Batteries can leak and damage the exposure meter. Dispose of used batteries properly. q If the LCD does not light, check that the battery capacity is sufficient, and check that the battery positive and negative terminals are not reversed. 3. Before Using 3. Checking battery capacity When the Power button q is ON, the battery power indicator on the LCD t is displayed. (Displayed) Battery power level is good. (Displayed) Battery power level is low. Have a spare battery ready. (Blinking) Replace battery immediately. REFERENCE: · If the liquid crystal display extinguishes immediately after the display appears when power is first applied, that is an indication that the battery is dead. Please promptly replace the battery. · In case of continuous measuring, the battery life of this unit is as below in normal temperature. Manganese dry cell about 10 hours Alkali dry cell about 20 hours (according to our test condition) · The battery accompanying with this unit when you purchased might die with in less than the above battery life because it is for sample-use. 4. Replacing battery during measurement 1) Always turn the power OFF before replacing batteries. If batteries are removed with the power ON, measurements and settings can no longer be recalled. 2) If after replacing the battery, or during measurements, strange screens (displays that have not been set) appear in the LCD, or nothing happens, no matter what button is pushed, remove the battery and wait at least ten seconds and then replace the battery. This allows the software to automatically reset. WARNING NOTE: q Never place batteries in fire, short, disassemble, heat or charge them. The batteries might break down, and cause an accident, injury or pollute the environment. q A three second pause between power ON and OFF is recommended to avoid damage to the meter. 3. Before Using 5. Auto Power OFF function 1) To conserve battery power, the meter will turn OFF about four minutes after last use. 2) Whether the Auto Power OFF function turns the power OFF or the Power button q is pressed, the settings and measured values remain stored in memory. When the Power button is pressed again the last settings are displayed. REFERENCE: · The power shuts OFF automatically after one minute when the power button is pressed and held. 6. Setting ISO film speed 1) Hold down the ISO button i and press either the Up button y or Down button u to select ISO film speed for the film being used. 2) You can also change the ISO film speed after taking measurements. The new value is automatically displayed. ISO REFERENCE: · Setting value will change consecutively if the Up button or Down button is depressed for one second or longer. 4. Basic Operation 1. Incident or reflected light measuring 1) To set for either incident or reflected light operation, slide the Lumisphere w mounting until it clicks. Incident light mode NOTE: Reflected light mode Setting operation q Always use the Lumisphere mounting for setting. Hand operation of the Lumisphere may cause damage. q The Lumisphere is an important light receiving unit. Please handle with care and try not to mark or soil. Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty. Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean Lumisphere. 2. Setting measuring mode 1) Press the Mode button e to select a mode. The mode switching sequence is as follows. MODE Shutter Speed Priority mode (ambient light) [see page 10] EV mode (ambient light) [see page 11] Cord Flash [see page 14] Auto Reset Cordless Flash mode [see page 16] 4. Basic Operation 2) Interchangeably switch between EV mode and Shutter Speed Priority mode by pressing the Mode button e while holding down the ISO button i in Ambient mode. Measurement value also will be automatically calculated when a switch is made after measuring. MODE ISO REFERENCE: · Ambient light refers to continuous light like natural light (sunlight), tungsten lamps or fluorescent lamps. · Flash light is a brief, intense burst of light made by such as electronic flash units or flash bulbs. 4. Basic Operation 3. When set for incident light Incident light measuring is the measurement method that employs either the Lumisphere or Lumidisc functions. Measure with the lumisphere ai med in the camera direction at the position of the subject. 1) Using Lumisphere to Measure Lumisphere is used to measure people and buildings and other such solid objects. Measurements are basically made by the method of measuring with the Lumisphere aimed in the camera direction (more precisely, in the direction of the lens axis) at the position of the subject. 2) Using Lumidisc to Measure This is used to measure manuscripts, paintings or other flat copy, or otherwise for measuring light contrast (see page 18) or using as an illumino meter. To switch to the Lumidisc function, slide the Lumisphere mounting to the right (same as if measuring reflected light), insert at an angle section B of the Lumidisc into slot A of the light receiver and then press down the strap eyelet C to secure the Lumidisc. Strap eyelet C Slot A Section B Lumidisc The Lumidisc is removed in reverse order to the mounting method. At this time the strap eyelet of the Lumidisc should be pulled away from the main unit. NOTE: q Be sure to handle the Lumidisc correctly to prevent damage that may occur if mounting or removal is incorrect. q Do not fit the Lumidisc next to the Lumisphere when you take incident light metering Otherwise, the Limidisc will affect the exposure in reading. q The Lumisphere is an important light receiving unit. Please handle with care and try not to mark or soil. Wipe Lumisphere with a dry soft cloth if it becomes dirty. Never use organic cleaners (like thinner or benzene) to clean Lumisphere.lumisphere. 4. Basic Operation 4. When set for reflected light Point the lens of the exposure meter toward the part of the subject to be measured from the camera position or from the camera direction and then measure. 1) This method is used to measure the brightness (luminance) of light reflected from the subject and is useful for metering subjects that cannot be approached or light-generating subjects (neon signs, etc.), highly reflective surfaces or translucent subjects (stained glass, etc.). 2) Point the lens of the exposure meter toward the part of the subject to be measured from the camera position or from the camera direction and then measure. NOTE: q If you measure from the camera position, the entire object is measured in average. q If you want to measure only part of the object, do it at as close a position as possible to the part to be measured. Take care not to cast a shadow with the meter, etc. into the part to be measured. q ...