Braun F300 Electronic flash User manual

Gomponents





The Braun Hobby F 300 electronic flashgun
consists of a generator unit housing the NC
or Barix batteries. and a flash-head with
detachable, tiltrng reflector. A bracket can be
attached to the flash-head for connecting  it
either to the generator unit (for carrying
purposes) or to the camera or tripod (for
picture taking). Synchronization and mains
cables complete the outfit.

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                                  Attachlng the flash-head

The flash-head clicks into position on the
bracket. The lock can be released by pressing
a button at the lower end of the holder.
The flash-head can be rotated around its
axis and attached to the bracket at angles
of 30 to 30'.

Besides a screw for attaching  it to camera or
generator unit, the bracket has also a special
bush for screwing onto a tripod.       &ihe reflector unit can be detached from the
holder by undoing a knurled screw, and can
be slid into the accessorv shoe of the
camera.

There are two filter slots in the front of the
reflector for accommodating gelatine filters
for changing the colour temperature of the
light (for use with different types of colour
film or for special effects).

Connections

Reflector and generator units are connected
by means of a coiled-cord cable. This cable
is plugged into the socket on top of the
generator unit next to the pressbuttons.

Simultaneous operation of flash and shutter
is ensured by the synchronization cable with
plugs on both ends. The plug with the flat
pin is intended for the reflector unit, while the
coaxral plug is inserted into the camera,
which should be adjusted for X-synchroni-
zation.
Long synchronization cables (up to '16 feet)
and cables with special plugs for Leica and
Rollei cameras are available as extras.

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Switching on



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1.1 ji (tThe unit is switched on for battery operation by
pressing the button marked <Batt.>. The auto-
matic device then ensures further switching
on and off depending on the requirements
of the current. The unit is switched off by
again pressing the same button.

Before the unit is connected to the mains,
check that its voltage is the same as indi-
cated on the voltage selector.  lf not, adjust
the latter to the correct voltage by means of
a coin
                                        The unit is only working on the mains if the
For mains operatron, the small end of the           battery-lid is closed.
cable is plugged into the socket on the
narrow side of the generator unit where the
voltage selector is also placed, and the
other end of the mains cable is plugged
into a mains socket (A. C.only).
The button marked "Batt." should never be
pressed for mains operation!
Should the unrt not function with mains
operation, check the fuse and replace  if
necessary, after disconnecting the mains
cable.

The fuse will be found underneath the cover
of the voltage selector, which can be un-
screwed. An 0.2 A slow blow fuse is used
for 220-240 v mains voltage, and an
0.4 A semi-slow fuse for 1 10-160 v.

Readiness for flash              Shutter speed

Afterswitching on (or plugging in the mains    The flash has duration of approx. t/1000
cable) the unit will be ready for use when one    second. Discharge is instantaneous when the
of the neon indicator lamps on the back of         shutter is open. This duration is so short
the reflector lights up, in the case of part          that  it can be used even when the shutter is
energy, or both neon lamps for full energy       set to t/500 second. But it can equally well be
{see light intensity, later paragraph).          used with all other (longer) shutter speeds
                                       when artificial or daylight also contributes to
When these neon lamps glow, the flash will       the illumination.
occur automatically when the shutter release
is pressed. lt is also possible to release        The focal plane shutter, however, is an
the flash independently of the camera by         exception, and should be adjusted to
                                                                                      to the manufac-pressing the button on the left-hand side at       'lso-'leosecond,  according
the back of the reflector (manual release).       turer's instructions.

After a flash has been discharged, a few
seconds will lapse before the neon lamps
once more indicate readiness for flash. For
recycling periods, see technical data.

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Luminous intensity and angle
of illumination
The unit can be operated at two levels of
energy.  lt will operate at full energy when the
button marked with a semi-circle on top of
the generator unit is not pressed, and at part
energy when this button has been pressed.
The difference in luminous intensity between
full and part energy corresponds to approxi-
mately one full stop.

Note:  lf the unit is ready for flash at full
energy,  i. e. if both neon lamps are ignited,  it
is necessary to discharge this flash first.

It is also possible to adjust the angle of illu-
mination. When the small lever at the side
of the reflector is as far back as it can go, the
angle of illumination is approx 55" (standard
angle). Pushing this lever to the front increa-
ses the angle to approx. 80" (wide-angle).
Changing the angle of illumination obviously
affects the luminous intensity. Wide-angle
adjustment reguires one full stop larger than
the standard angle.

Aperture disc

The aperture disc gives the correct aperture

                                                                                                                                                    ?_+for any distance between flash and subject,                                                         t  n'l q u1o
and will be found on top of the reflector. The                                                                          "%
central rotable disc carries ASA film speed                             6
numbers on its lower semi-circle with the                                                          -p- o
DIN numbers underneath them. The aperture                                                                     *                                                                                               trs     f.t6numbers are engraved on the upper semi-                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                f       fl
circle, and the flash -  to -  subject distan-ces on the outer ring.

Adjust the film speed. The aperture numbers
will then be opposite the corresponding
distances (in metres and feet).                   Set the red arrow (for full energy) at 50 ASA
                                                   (18 DrN).
Full energy: Set the film speed number to the     Cut in half the ASA-speed : 25 ASA
arrow with the frril circle.                        (Decrease by 3 DIN for wide-angle adjust-
                                          ment :  15 DlN.)
Part energy: Set the film speed number to the
arrow with the semi-circle.                      fhe outer ring will now indicate f/4 opposite
                                             20 feet. Set the diaphragm to  f t4.
Wide-angle illumination: Cut in half the ASA-
speed (Decrease the film speed by 3 DIN),
or open the diaphragm by one full stop.

Example:
50 ASA (18 DIN) colour film
Full energy
Wide-angle illumination
Flash-to-subject distance 20 feet

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       Bounce flash

            For bounce flash (indirect lighting) the reflec-
              tor unit can be tilted back through an angleI             of 90' without interfering with the attachment
I            ofhandgripthe flash-headis sufficientto theto camera.change fomA singledirect to
           bounce flash. The reflector can be stopped at
           any desired angle of tilting, and clicks in at
           0' (direct flash). Bounce flash requirel 1112-2
           stops larger aperture than indicated by the
            aperture disc, because of the longer path of
            the light (tube -  ceihng -  subject).





il

Extension flash-heads

Extension flash-heads FL 300 and FZK B0 can
be connected to the unit.

Extension flash-head FL 300 derives its
energy together with the main tube from the
capacitor of the basic unit. The total luminous
intensity remains the same, but is evenly
distributed over the various tubes.

When an FL 300 extension flash-head is
connected, the latter and the main tube will
each emit 50 per cent of the luminous inten-
sity previously emitted by the main tube
alone. With two FL 300 units, each tube emits
one third of the total intensity; with three
FL 300 units, one quarter. The F 300 unit must
be switched to full energy when FL 300
extension flash-heads are used"

The FZK 80, on the other hand, has its own
capacitor and thus produces its own energy.      Both extension flash-heads have adjustments
Its guide number of 100 (for 50 ASA) makes        for bounce flash and illumination angle, just
it almost as powerful as the main tube. The        as the main flash-head. The extension
full light output of the main tube remains un-       flash-heads are discharged at precisely the
changed when one or more FZK 80 extension     same moment as the main tube.
flash-heads are connected. Each FZK 80
contributes additional    li ght.
The recycling period is increased because of
the increase in energy. When mains operation
is not used, the number of flashes per battery
charge will be decreased accordingly.

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Charging the battery

Batteries for electronic flash units store
current for a limited number of flashes (or
idling periods). When the current has been
used up, the batteries must be recharged
from the mains. The F 300 has a built-in
charge unit. Charging is effected in the same
way as for mains operation, by plugging into
a mains outlet and pressing the button for
part energy. A glowing lamp in the
window next to the voltage selector will light
up when charging. Similarly as with mains                                                                       Digitally signed by Mike Butkus
                                                                                                                                         DN:                                                                                                                                           cn=Mikeoperation, the button marked .Batt." should                                                                                                                                                     manuals,                                                                                                                                                                 ou=butkus.org,                             Mike Butkus email=mike@butkus.org,Butkus, o=Butkusc=US cameranever be pressed during charging.                                                                                 Date: 2021.12.01 17:03:29 -05'00'

Batteries should not be stored in a dischar-
ged condition. For Barix batteries especially
it is important that they are recharged imme-
diately after a number of flashes has been
exhausted, or when the partly discharged
battery is stored away for a long period.
The charge position of Barix batteries can be
seen from the sight tubes visible in the rear
of the unit. The batteries are fully charged
when all little balls are at the surface of the
liquid. When the black balls have sunk down,    NC batteries have no sight tubes. Their
the batteries are one-third discharged; when       place is taken by an indicator instrument in
the red balls have sunk to the bottom, they         the top of the generator unit. The capacity
are two-thirds exhausted. When the green          of the batteries has decreased to approx.
balls have sunk as well, the entire capacity       25 per cent when the pointer can not reach
has been spent and the unit should be             the green area but remains in the red one,
recharged immediately.                     when the unit is switched on. lf desired, this

indicator instrument can also be built into
units using Barix batteries.

Charging of Barix batteries takes 12-14
hours after complete exhaustion. Always
charge for an additional hour after all the
balls have risen to the surface.

With NC batteries, charging of completely
exhausted battenes takes approx.  1 6 hours.
Slightly exceeding the charging time
(max. 100/6) does not harm, but prolonged
overcharging will shorten the life of the
battery.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I

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Topping-up of Barix batteries

It is sometimes necessary to top up Barix
batteries with distilled water (neverwith acid!)
fhis is necessary when, immediately after
charging, the level of the liquid in the sight
tubes remains below the two marks on the
glass. lt is immaterial whether the level is
too low at any time other than immediately
after recharging, and no topping up should be
done without prior charging.

For topping up, pull out tl're batteries after
unscrewing and removrng the battery
chamber cover. Use a coin to open the
locking screws of the battery cells and add
distilled water with the pipette supplied until
the level once more reaches the top mark.
After closrng and inserting, again charge the
battery when the balls have sunk because
of the topping up.

Technical data
(values for part energy in brackets)

Capacity 120 (60) jouls. Guide number for
standard angle 1 14 (72), for wide-angle
72 (52). Recycling period for battery ope-
ration 7-B (4) seconds. Re-cycle time is
6-10 (4) sec. Number of flashes per charge
120; with NC batteries 180. Angle of illu-
mination approx. 55' (standard angle) or
approx. 80" (wide-angle). Colour temperature
approx. 5,600' K. Third-part value  f lash
duration 0.9 (1.1) millisecond. Weight of unit
with Barix batteries 5l/2 lbs.