Braun F700 Professional electronic flash User manual

Gomponents





The Braun F 700 professional electronic
flashgun consists of a generator unit
housing the NC or Barix batteries, and a
flash-head with detachable, tilting
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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                                 Attaching 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
about axis and attached to the bracket at
angles of 30 to 30o.

Besides a screw for attaching  it to camera
or generator unit, the bracket has also a
special bush for screwing onto a tripod.

The reflector unit can be detached from
the holder by undoing a knurled screw,                                                                                                                         ,-=ffi                   --.-:.-..-;:..,..;..:..::::::,::::::::f  l:g
and can be slid into the accessory 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  f ilm or for soecial effects).

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Switching on

The unit is switched on by pressing the
symbols     1". The automatic device then          "0;
ensures further switching on and off de-
pending on the requirements of the current.
Note:To prevent any inadvertent switching
on, the unit only switches on - even after
the button has been depressed -  if the
lamp head is connected to the generator
(see remarks under                    "Connections,,).
The unit is switched off by again pressing
the same button.

Readiness for flash               Shutter speed

After switching on the unit will be ready     The flash has a duration of approx.
for use when one of the neon indicator       1/700 second. Discharge is instantaneous
lamps on the back of the ref lector lights     when the sutter is open. With central
up, in the case of part energy, or both          shutter any shutter speed is possible. We
                                                                                      r/rzs sec.neon lamps for full energy (see light        recommend
intensity, iater parag raph).
                                        The focal plane shutter, however, is an
When these neon lamps glow, the flash       exception, and should be adjusted
will occur automatically when the shutter    according to the manufacturer's
release is pressed. lt is also possible to         instructions.
release the flash independently of the
camera by pressing the button on the left-
hand side at the back of the reflector
(manual release).

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 the symbols O; O
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 approximately 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
illumination. When the small lever at the
side of the reflector is as far back as it can
go, the angle of ilumination  is approx.55'
(standard angle). Pushing this lever to the
front increases the angle to approx. 80o
(wide-angle). Changing the angle of
illumination obviously affects the luminous
intensity. Wide-angle adjustment requires
one full stop larger than the standard
angle.

Aperture disc

The aperture disc gives the correct
 aperture for any distance between flash
and subject, and will be found on top of
the reflector. The central rotable disc                     JA
 carries ASA  f ilm speed numbers on its                                                 to
lower semi-circle                  with                      the                     DIN numbers
underneath            them.                            numbers                                  r-i-              The                      aperture
are engraved on the upper semicircle, and
the flash-to-subject distances on the
outer ring.
Adjust the film speed. The aperture
numbers will then be opposite the corres-
ponding distances (in metres and feet).

Full energy: Set the film speed number to
the arrow with the full circle.
                                             Example:
Part energy: Set the film speed number to      50 ASA (18 DIN) colour film
the arrow with the semi-circle.                     Full energy
                                           Wide-angle illumination
Wide-angle illumination: Cut in half the         Flash-to-subject distance 20 feet
ASA-speed (Decrease the film speed by       Set the red arrow (for full energy) at
3 DIN), or open the diaphragm by one          50 ASA (18 DrN).
full stop.                                   Cut in half the ASA-speed : 25 ASA
                                           (Decrease by 3 DIN for wide-angle adjust-
                                       ment : 15 DlN.)

                                        The outer ring will now indicatet/4
                                              opposite 20 feet. Set the diaphragm to
                                                              f/5,6.

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       Bounce flash

           For bounce flash (indirect lighting) the
             reflector unit can be tilted back through
          an angle of g0o without interfering with
           the attachment of the flash-head to the
           camera. A single operation  is sufficient
             to change from direct to bounce flash.
         The reflector can be stopped at any
           desired angle of tilting, and clicks in at
           0o (direct flash). Bounce flash requires
            11/z-2stops larger aperture than indicated
           by the aperture disc, because of the
           longer path of the light (tube - ceiling -
             subject).





I

Extension flash-heads

Extension flash-heads two FL 300 and two
FZK 80 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
intensity previously emitted by the main
tube alone. With two FL 300 units, each
tube emits one third of the total intensity.
The unit must be switched to full energy         of flashes per battery charge will be
when FL 300 extension flash-heads are        decreased accordingly.
used.
                                          Both extension flash-heads have adjust-
The FZK 80, on the other hand, has its own     ments for bounce flash and illumination
capacitor and thus produces its own             angle, just as the main flash-head. The
energy. lts guide number of 30 makes  it         extension flash-heads are discharged at
almost as powerful as the main tube. The        precisely the same moment as the main
full light output of the main tube remains        tube.
unchanged when one or more FZK 80
extension flash-heads are connected.
Each FZK 80 contributes additional light.
The recycling period is increased because
of the increase in energy. The number

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Gharging 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 700 has a built-in
charging unit. For charging, the mains
unit is plugged into the socket on the
narrow side of the generator, where the
voltage selector is also placed, and
connected to a mains outlet.

Before the unit is connected to the mains,
check that its voltage  is the same as that
indicated on the voltage selector.  lf not,                    www.butkus.us
adjust the latter to the correct voltage by
means of a coin.

The fuse will be found below the socket
for the mains cable and can be exchanged
after unscrewing the cover. A 0.063 A
semi-slow fuse is used for 220-240V
mains voltage and a 0.125 A slow fuse for
110-130 V.

Prior to exchanging fuse, pull out mains
plug. The button for switching on the unit
(symbols 0; 1) should never be pressed
during charging. A lamp provided next
to this button will tight up during charging.
Charging of the battery also charges the
flash capacitor.

Batteries should not be stored in a
ciischarged condition. For Barix batteries
especially  it is important that they are
recharged immediately 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 the
little balls are at the surface of the liquid.
When the black balls have sunk down, the
batteries are one-third discharged; when
the red balls have sunk to the bottom,
they are two-thirds exhausted. When the
green balls have sunk as well, the entire
capacity has been spent and the unit          Charging of Barix batteries takes 12-14
should be recharged immediately.              hours after complete exhaustion. Always
                                             charge for an additional hour after all the
NC batteries have no sight tubes. Their         black balls have risen to the surface.
place is taken by an indicator instrument
in the top of the generator unit. The capa-     With NC batteries, charging of completely
city of the batteries has decreased to          exhausted batteries takes approx.15 hours.
approx. 25 per cent when the pointer can         Slightly exceeding the charging time
not reach the green area but remains in         (max. 100/o) does not harm, but prolonged
the red one, when the unit is switched on.       overcharging will shorten the life of the
lf desired, this indicator instrument can          battery.
also be built into units using Barix
batteries.

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Topping-up of Barix batteries

It is sometimes necessary to top up Barix
batteries with distilled water (never with
acid!). This is necessary when, immedia-
tely 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 the batteries after
unscrewing and removing the battery
chamber cover. Use a coin to open the
locking screws of the battery cells and
add distilled water with the pipette supp-
lied until the level once more reaches the
top mark. After closing 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 36 (24) for wide-angle
24 (17). Recycling period for battery ope-
ration 3 (2) seconds. Number of flashes
per charge 300 (600), with NC batteries
200 (350). Angle of illumination approx. 55o
or approx. 80o (wide-angle).
Colour temperature approx. 5,6000 K.
Flash duration: Half value time VE
0.60 msec., TE 0.55 msec., 1/1Oth value
time VE 1.4 msec., TE 1.4 msec.
Weight of unit with Barix batteries 6.6 lbs.

Subject to changes due to technical
improvements.