Flashes & lighting
Minolta Auto Electroflash 28 / 32 User manual
User manual for Minolta Auto Electroflash 28 / 32. 35 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minolta Auto Electroflash 28 / 32
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 35
- File size
- 6.1 MB
- Category
- Flashes & lighting
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 2 · Read text
The Minolta Auto Electroflash 28 and 32 are conv€nient. versatile units that will
make precise flash exposures automatically over a wide range or can be used manually.
With either model, the flash head swings upward for automatic bounce flash, as well as
direct, Each unit can be used cordlessly with a hot shoe or with its attachable sync,
cord. Coverage is sufficient for lenses down to 28mm wideangle on full-frame 35mm
cameras. These Auto Electroflash units can be powered by sealed carbon-zinc or
alkaline throw-away batteries, or optionally by a quick-rechargeable self-contained
nicad pack, or by household AC through a special adapter. To these basic features, the
Auto Electroflash 32 adds greater flash power, selection of two apertures for auto
operation, and an illuminated computer dial.
Before using your model 28 or 32 for the first time, please read this manual all the
way through - or at least the sections to cover your own needs - while providingpower for your unit, attaching it to the camera, and handling and acquainting yourself
with its parts and features. In this way, you can take good pictures and begin to realize
the potential of your Auto Electroflash right from the start,
,lView original page 2Page 3 · Read text
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CONTENTS
NOTES ON THIS MANUAL Charging ..,....... A5 NA|\TESOF PARTS ................... 6 AC ADAPTER . ..:. 32 SUMMARY OF OPEFIATION ..,.,...... 8 SPECIF ICATIONS 34,l BATTERTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 CARE ANDSTORAGE ......,.,.,, Installrng. . . .......... ...1O
Cold-weatheroperation ......... -.....11 NOTES ON THIS MANUAL
ATTACHING TO CAMERA . .. .. .. . , . ..12 This is a combined instruction manual lor SETTING SYNC, AND SHUTTER .......13 use with the Auto Electrollash models 28 and SETTING FTLMSPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 32, For this reason, some illustrations may POWER SWITCH AND
IV]ON ITOR LAI\4P 14 show features different from your model, and
Dial illumrnation 15 some sections may nol apply to the flashgun
DIR ECT FLASH you own. Proper operation is indicated Ior both
Auto operation 16 models. however. and dillerences between them
Auto flash range 17 are clearly indicated in instructions and specifi-
Manual operation 't9 cations, WIDEANGLE DIFFUSER Unless otherwise indicated, illustrations in AUTO BOUNCE FLASH ........... 24 FILL-IN F LASH this booklet show the Auto Electroflash 32, the model with the full complement oI leatures, OPEN F LASH 27
N I.CD BATTERY PACK .............. 28 with appropriate notes to adapt them for use
Installing ..... with the Auto Electroflash 28.View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
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Control ring
Aperture scale
Distance scale
Computer dial
Fi lm-speed setting grip
Film-speed indicator
Power switch
Ac-adaptor input socket
Nicad charger socket
Monitor lamp
Open-f lash/test button
Sync.-cord socketView original page 5Page 7 · Read text
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reference. This brief guide may also be useful as howwer, a substitute for the detailed instruc-
a quick refresher for good results after you have tions in the rest of this manual, which should
not used your flashgun for some time. lt is not, be thoroughly studied for best results.
A With flash head facing 2f Set "AUTO" aperture (, Move power switch to v forward as shown. push T on flash unit and same v "ON" and wait for shutter release to photo-
one on lens of camera monitor lamp to light graph subject within the
(p. 161. (p. 14). flash range {p. 171.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
BATTERIES
10 To best accommodate your needs, your lnstalling
Auto Electrolfash 28 or 32 is designed to use a 1. Remove the battery+hamber cover by slid-
number of power sources. lt can be powered by ing it off in the direction of the arrow
four 1.s-volt AA (penlightl-size non-recharge- toward the front of the unit and lift out the
abfe batteries of the sealed carbon-zinc (not battery holder.
recommended for model 32l. or alkaline- 2. Alter wiping terminals with a clean, dry
manganese ("AM" or "alkaline") type, Mallory cloth, insert four of the specified batteries
Mn 1500 or equivalent. the latter of which will in the battery holder, making sure that plus
yield considerably more flashes. Information on (+) and minus (-l ends are positioned as
these throw-away batteries is given here. In-
structions for the rechargeable Minolta Ni-Cd
("nickel-cadmium" or "nicad") Battery Pack
NP-l with its Ni-Cd Charger NC-1, both avail-
able together optionally, can be found on p. 28.
For information on the optional Minolta AC
Adapter-2, see p. 32.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
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indicated on it and then insert the holder CAUTION 11
into the unit. (There is a T-shaped stop in lf the flash unit is not to be used for more
the chamber that must fit into a correspond- than a month, batteries should be removed to
ing hole in the other end of holder, so that avoid the possibility of corrosion.
it cannot be fully inserted wrong.) Cold.weather operation
3 Close the chamber by aligning the cover Batteries generally tend to decrease in capa-
carefully, depreising ends of batteries slight- city and flash recycling times increase accord-
ly with it, and sliding it toward the rear of ingly as the temperature goes down. This is true
the unit until it snaps securely in place. to varying extents with alkaline and sealed
carbon-zinc batteries as well as with ordinary
ones. lt is thus recommended that batteries be
fresh if they are to be used in the Auto
Electroflash 28 or 32 in cold weather (down to
perhaps O"C or 32"F) and that you carry fresh
spares with you for replacement if necessary
during such operation.
{Wth the nicad battery pack described on
p.28, no particular care is necessary in cold
weather, except with regard to charging; see
p. 31.1View original page 9Page 10 · Read text
ATTACHING TO CAMERA
l2 Wth cameras wired for cordless flash, simp- With other cameras, secure the bracket in
ly slide the attaching bracket of the flashgun as the accessory or flashgun shoe in the same way;
far as it will go into the camera hot shoe and insert the singlegrong plug on one end of the
turn the bracket clamp as shown to secure it attachable sync.-cord provided into the flash-
there. gun's sync.-cord socket until it snaps in place;
and plug the PC connection on the other end
into the camera terminal for "X" synchroniza-
tion.
*.
www.butkus.us *.-View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
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SETTING SYNC. AND SHUTTER
1. Make sure that the camera is set for X or slower for full-frame 35mm cameras 13
synchronization and/or that the flashgun is having horizontal-run focal-plane shutters;
properly connected with the X sync. termi- between-the-lens shutters with X sync, can
nal of the camera. be used at all speeds).
Also make sure that the camera is nof set
for a shutter speed faster than the manufac- NOTE
turer's recommendation for electronic flash On cameras equipped with the "flashmatic"
(usually the special "X" setting or 1 /60 sec. system which varies the aperture automatically
with distance focused, use the Auto Electro-
flash 28 on manual with a camera GN setting of
28 in meters at ASA 100, 46 in ft. at ASA 25,
or 20 in meters at DIN 18. etc., With the model
32, set the camera for a GN of 32,52, or 22,
respeciwely.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
SETTING FILM SPEED POWER SWITCH AND MONITOR LAMP
14 By means of the grip provided, move the To turn the unit on and charge its capacitor
film-speed scale until the indication for the film with batteries (p. 10) or the nicad pack (p. 28),
in use clicks into place opposite the triangular move the power sl ritch to "ON." With the AC
index. Marks between those for numbers on the adapter (pp.32-331. the capacitor will start
scale indicate film speeds as follovtrs: charging when the flash is connected with the
400 power source. 25 50 100 200 r,,1,,1,,1,'l The monitor lamp should light to indicate
' 32 40 64 80 125 160 250 ?0 recycling as shown in the table:View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
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Dial illumination 15 Auto Electroflash
Power source model With the Auto Electroflash 32, a green dial illuminator will come on before the monitor 28 32 lamp lights to facilitate using the unit in dark Fresh seal ed carbon-zinc
batteries 9 places. The dial will glow as long as the power
Fresh al kaline batteries I 11 sruitch is left on with serviceable power supply,
Ni-Cd Battery Pack NP-1 3 4 going out briefly when the flash is fired. When
AC Adapter-2 7 9 the switch is moved to "OFF", the dial will
continue to glow for several minutes before
Recycling time will increase as batteries are going out.
discharged. When the monitor lamp fails to light
within 30 seconds, batteries should be replaced
with fresh ones (all four at the same time) or NOTE
the nicad pack recharged (see p.29!-. When recycling time is long with batteries
When you are not taking pictures, the poraer that are partially discharged or if the flash is to
sruitch should be kept in the "OFF" position be fired immediately after the monitor lamp
with batteries as a power source or the AC comes on with fresh batteries or a fully charged
adapter disconnected from the power source. nicad pack, observe the respective cautionary
notes in each section (pp. 18 and 23l if you are
using reversal-type color film (for slides).View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
DIRECT FLASH
16 Auto operation
1. With the Auto Electroflash 28. make sure 2. Set the aperture of the camera lens to the
the dot on the control ring is set all the way same f-number that appears opposite the
to its left-hand click-stop at the "AUTO" the flash computer dial.
index; with the 32 model, at the "AUTO" 3. Move the power switch to "ON" (except
index click-stop for the f-number to be with the AC adapter, see p. 331, and wait
used. Do not set the dot between indexes. for the monitor lamp to light.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
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4. With the monitor lamp glowing, release the 17
camera shutter to take the picture. The unit
will automatically vary flash duration from
1 /40,000 to 1/1,000 sec. for proper ex-
posure with average conditions and subjects
between maximum and minimum flash-to-
subiect distances.
Auto flash range
Marks on the distance scale (o on 28, o
and o on 32) indicate the maximum subject
distance for usual correct auto exposure; sub-
jects farther than this from the flash will
normally be underexposed. (Marks with a "w"
besides them are used with the wideangle
diffuser, see p.22.
On both units, the minimum subject dis-
tance for auto exposure is O.7m (2.3 ft.);
subjects closer than this to the flash will
normal ly be overexposed.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
to NOTE o Further, when recycling time is long with
The following apply if you are using rever- partially discharged batteries or if the flash
sal-type color f ilm (for slides): is to be fired immediately after the monitor
o lf your subject does not fill enough of the lamp comes on with fresh batteries or a
center part of the frame against a dark fully charged nicad pack, the maximum
background (such as outdoors at night), it subject distance should be considered to be
may be necessary to close the lens down the distance-scale indication opposite the
a half stop more than the aperture set first aperture to right of the one at which
on the flash dial (e.9., if the dial is set the index dot is set (e.9., if the dot is set at
at t15.6, lens would be set between f/5.6 f/5.6 with a film-speed of ASA 100, maxi-
and f/8). For similar subiects against very mum subject distance to assure adequate
light-colored backgrounds (such as a white exposure should be about 3.6m or 12ft.on
wall), on the other hand, it may be de- model 28, as indicated opposite f/81.
sirable to open the camera lens a half
stop more than the aperture set on the dial CAUTION
(e.g., if the flash dial is set at f/5.6, lens Make sure the sensor window is kept clean
woufd be between f 14 and f/5.6). The exact and is not obstructed by anything while you are
setting will be determined by individual taking pictures'
conditions in either case.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
www.butkus.us Manual operation 1. Make sure the index of the control ring 2. Move the power switch to "ON" (exceot 19 on the Auto Electroflash is set at the with the AC adapter; see p. 32), click-stop designated "M".View original page 17
Page 18 · Read text
20 3. For proper exposure with normal sublects be t12.8 for 10m or 33 ft., between f/8 and
and conditions, set the lens aperture on the f 111 tor 3m or 10 ft., or between f/l6 and
camera to the f-number that appears oppo- Il22 for 1.5m or 5 ft. on the Auto Electro-
site the flash-to-subject distance on the flash 28; tl2 for 15m or 50 ft., f/5.6 for 6m
computer dial (e.9., with a film-speed of or 19 ft., or f 116 for 2m or 7 tt. on the 32
ASA 100 or DIN 21 set, the aperture would model). For proper exposure with wideangle
.ozo, *X*View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
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I
rd ;i
diffuser; see p. 23 ). fresh batteries or a fully charged nicad pack, 21
4. With the monitor lamp glowing, release the or when recycling time is long with batteries
camera shutter to take the picture. Flash that are partially discharged, the lens should
duration remains f ixed at 1/1 ,000 sec. be opened a further half to one stop more
than indicated above (e.9., if the indicated
NOTE aperture is f 18, set the camera aperture
The following apply if you are using rever- between f/5.6 and f/8 or at f/5.6)
sal-type color film (for slides):
o For dark subjects or in poor ref lecting
conditions (such as outdoors at night or in
dark surroundings indoors) on manual
mode, it is generally recommended that the
lens be opened a half stop more than
indicated by the dial (e.g., if the aperture
indicated is between tl8 and f 111, set
the camera lens at f/8.)
The exact setting will be determined by
individual conditions.
o Further, if the flash is to be fired immedi-
ately after the monitor lamp comes on withView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
WIDEANGLE DIFFUSER
22 Just as it is, your Auto Electroflash 28 or 32 The diffuser decreases light reaching the
provides sufficient coverage for 35mm or great- subject by one half. The electronic circuit will
er focal length lenses with the full-frame of course increase flash duration as much as
35mm format. To extend coverage for lenses possible to compensate for this so that no
down to 28mm wideangle, snap the wideangle special exposure setting is necessary in auto
diffuser supplied with the flash unit securely on operation, but the maximum subject range for
over the flash-tube guard window as shown. correct exposure will decrease. Thus, on the
model 28, instead of appearing opposite the
plain yellow dot on the distance scale opposite
the "AUTO" setting, the maximum subject
distance for auto direct flash is at the dot to the
right of it marked with a "W," viz., 3.5m or
11.7 It. Similarly, with the model 32, the maxi-
mum subject distances for direct flash for either
"AUTO" setting appear opposite the respective
distance-scale dots marked with a "W," viz.,
4m or 13 ft. for the left-hand setting and 2m or # 6.7 ft. for the right.View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
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In operating either unit at the "M" (manual) 23
setting with the wideangle diffuser attached,
open the camera lens one stop more than
without it (see p. 19). In other words, choose
the next f-number to the left of the one that
appears on the aperture scale opposite the
subject distance; e.9., if your subject is at 8m
with ASA 100 film, set the camera aperture at
f12.8 rather than f/4 with model 32, between
f 12 and f 12.8 rather than between f 12.8 and f l4
with model 28.View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
AUTO BOUNCE FLASH 1. With the Auto Electroflash 28, make sure
that the unit is set for automatic mode.
24 lnstead of using the direct light of the flash, With the model 32, set the computer dial
it is often possible to reflect it from some for the larger of the apertures available nearby surface to illuminate the subiect. This is (with the camera lens set to the same
called "bounce" flash and not only provides f-number), this is advisable since the com-
softer and often more pleasing light but may parative strength of light falling on the
improve saturation in color work as well. To subject is considerably reduced with bounce
employ this technique with the automatic flash, the exact amount varying widely with
exposure control of your Auto Electroflash 28 bounce conditions.
or 32: Maximum subject distance for correct ex-
posure also decreases considerably; though
individual conditions determine just how
much, it may be convenient to consider it
about one half that indicated by the flash
dial (e.9., if the dial irldication is 5m or
about 16 ft., estimate maximum range at
2.5m or about 8 ft.). With a bounce surface
of good reflectivity.
2. With the unit mounted as usual on the
camera, turn the flash head away from its
forward position so that it points toward
the surface you wish to bounce the light
from, such as the ceiling with the cameraView original page 22Page 23 · Read text
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held horizontally or a wall with the camera usual way.
in position for vertical pictures.
The flash head can be set by friction at any NOTE 25
point up to 90o from straight ahead and has Wideangle diffuser should not be used in
click-stops at 50o and 650 as well as at the bounce-f lash operation, since it reduces light of
extremes. the flash and is not necessary even with 28mm
To avoid uneven exposure from direct-flash wideangle lenses.
light also falling in the picture area, the head
should be set at the second click-stop or
farther f rom straight ahead with lenses
down to 28mm wideangle on full-frame
35mm. With 50mm or longer telephoto
lenses, the head may be set at the click-stop
nearer straight ahead or any point between
there and 90o. These ranges are indicated on
the flash-unit body above the computer dial.
Surfaces from which flash is bounced should
generally be as light and as neutral in color
as possible (e.9., mat white), slnce dark ones
will not reflect enough and colored ones will
affect the baiance of the light falling on the
subject. This is particularly important with
color f ilm.
3. Fire the flash to take the picture in theView original page 23From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.