Minolta Maxxum Flash 3200i User manual

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                                    trINSTRUCTION MANUAL
                               trMODE D'EMPLOI
  -
MINOLTA
  -

PROGRAM FLASH 32OOi

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  The Program Flash 3200i is designed for totally automatic flash photography with your
Minolta Dynax 7000i or 3000i autofocus SLR. lts internal power zoom system automat-
ically adjusts flash coverage for lens focal lengths from 28mm through 85mm, even while
zooming. Direct (TTL of-the-film) Autoflash Metering operates in all flash modes to en-
sure accurate exposure, and a low power setting can be used for faster recycling. The 3200i
also has a built-in AF illuminator for autofocusing in low light or low-contrast situations.
  The Program Flash 3200i is controlled by the advanced flash control program of your
7000i or 3000i camera. In P mode on either camera, the flash automatically switches on
when necessary, and slow-shutter sync and fill flash are completely automatic. With the
7000i camera, A mode and M mode can also be used. Any aperture can be used in A mode,
and slow-shutter sync and fill flash are also possible. In M mode, you can set both aperture
and shutter speed for creative effects.
   Carefully read this manual to learn about the 3200i's parts and features, and keep this
manual handy for future reference.

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 BATTERIES AND POWER





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  The Program Flash 3200i is powered by  2. Insert batteries with ends as shown inside
four AA-size batteries. Either alkaline or   the chamber.
rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries can  3. Reinsert cover in the grooves and slide
be used.                                      cover fully in.
To install batteries:
1. Slide battery cover out. Wipe terminals
with a clean dry cloth.

NOTE                        o Used batteries should not be discarded in
o  lf the charging time after taking a picture  fire.
is longer than the time listed below, batteries o Keep batteries away from young children.
should be changed or recharged.              .   lf  batteries are not inserted correctly,
                                                  flash will not charge and leaking or bursting
   Alkaline 30 sec. --- change               of batteries may result.
   Nickel-cadmium 10 sec. --- recharge
. To prevent battery leakage or bursting,
never mix batteries of   different types,
brands, or ages.
o  lf flash will not be used for more than
two weeks, batteries should be removed.

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Charging system                              Cold-weather operati on
  The Program Flash 3200i uses two     ln cold weather, always use fresh bat-
condensers to reduce the time required for   teries and keep a spare set warm in an inside
charging the flash. This two-condenser   pocket. For prolonged use near or below
system is controlled in the following way.    0"c (32"F\, Ni-cd batteries are recom-
  The flash system of the camera deter-  mended. Do not discard old batteries. Their
mines the guide number required for the  capacity will be restored as temperature
subject distance and exposure settings. The    rises.
system then starts changing the condensors
in sequence.
When the required charge has been reached,
the flash ready signal appears in the camera's
viewfinder and the picture can be taken.
  To conserve battery power, the 3200i
automatically turns itself off  if  shutter
release is not touched within approximately
5 seconds. Once off, flash can be readied for
firing by touching the shutter-release button.

ATTACHING AND REMOVING FLASH





Before attaching or removing flash, make  To remove: While  pressing the mounting-
sure power is off.                         foot release, slide     f lash straight out of
To attach: Slide flash's mounting foot into   accessory shoe.
the camera's accessory shoe until it locks.

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BASIC INFORMATION
AF illuminator                           Power zoom system
  When required, such as for low-contrast    The Program Flash 3200i is equipped
subjects in low light, the AF illuminator will  with an internal power zoom system which
be activated when the shutter-release button   automatically adjusts the flash coverage for
is pressed halfway. This focus-assist illumina-   lenses with focal lengths from 28mm to
tion is projected on the subject, enabling the  85mm. With zoom lenses, the 3200i's power
camera's autofocus system to determine  zoom system automatically adjusts the flash
focus status and adjust the lens.                coverage as the lens is zoomed.
   For best results, the subject should be be-
tween 0.5m and 9m*. lf the subject is outside
this range, or whenever the camera's focus
signals indicate that autofocusing  is not pos-
sible, set camera to manual focus mode and
focus manually.
* Based on Minolta's standard test method
with 50mm lens.

Power level selection                    To set: With flash power on, press the power
  When the 7000i camera is set to A, S or   level selector. The low power level signal will
M exposure mode, the Program Flash 3200i   light, indicating that flash is set to "Lo"
can be used at the normal power for maxi-  power. Pressing the power level selector
mum flash range or at "Lo" power for faster   again will cause the low power level signal to
recycling or sequential shooting in con-  stop glowing and the flash will return to
tinuous film-advance mode.                  normal power.
o "Lo" power cannot be set when the   Flash range for normal and "Lo" power are
7000i camera is set to P exposure mode, or   shown at right.
when using the 3000i camera.           o With flash set to "Lo" power, up to 40
o  lf the camera is set to S exposure mode   pictures can be taken at 3 frames per second
and the flash is set to "Lo" power, exposure   with full-charged Ni-Cd batteries.
may not be correct.

Exposure adjustment                         X-sync speed
     The 7000i's exposure-adjustment func-    The X-sync speed is set automatically
    tion can be used to increase or decrease flash  when flash is activated. When using the
    exposure from +4 to     stops. For detailed   7000i, if the shutter is released before flash                    -4    information on when to use exposure    is charged, flash may not fire and exposure
    adjustment, refer to the explanation in the  may not be correct. When using the 3000i
    camera's instruction manual.                    shutter will be locked and cannot be released
                                                            until flash is charged.





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7000i                                    Camera settings
P mode: Set automatically between 1/125      After attaching the flash unit, check the
sec. and 1/2O sec., depending on the focal     fol lowing camera settings.
length of the lens                              1. Check that the  f ilm-speed setting  is
A mode: Set automatically to 1/125 sec.       within the camera's range for TTL Direct
S mode: Same as P mode                    Autoflash Metering: ISO 25 to 1000 for
M mode: 1/125 sec. or slower shutter speeds   7000i camera, ISO 32 to 1000 for 3000i
can be set manually"                           camera.
* When flash is activated, speed is reset to   2. 3000i: No other settings required.
1/125 sec., if higher speed has been set      7000i: Set film-advance mode to ESI for
manually.                                      single-frame advance or to @  for con-
                                              tinuous advance.3000i
   Set automatically between 1/60 sec. and
1l2O sec., depending on the focal length of
the lens

PROGRAMME D AUTOF LASH OPE RA-
   TION (P mode)
      Program mode flash is ideal for "point-
    and-shoot" flash photography. In this mode,
   the camera automatically switches on the
    flash when necessary and controls exposure.
   No manual settings are required to obtain
   good results. To take pictures in program
    mode:


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                                                 1. Press program-reset button on 7000i to
                                              set camera to flash program mode. Flash
                                         program mode is automatically set on the
                                          3000i when flash is attached and switched
                                                    on.
                                                       .  Program-mode flash signal will light on
                                          the back of the 3200i and flash will auto-
                                                     matically begin charging. (Flash-on signal will
                                               appear in the viewfinder of the 7000i).


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  I   o When flash is charged, flash-ready signal   3. After focusing, check whether main
     on 3200i will glow and flash-ready signal in  subject is within the flash range for the f ilm
      camera's viewfinder will blink slowly.         speed in use. Flash ranges for ISO 100 are
        .  Shutter speed and aperture will  be   listed on page 23.
      displayed in the viewfinder and data panel of
       7000i.                                      4. To take a picture, press the shutter-
                                                         release button all the way down.
     2. For autofocusing, press and hold shutter- o After taking a picture, the flash-ready
       release button partway down.                  signal in the viewfinder will blink rapidly  if    o  lf the camera's focus signals indicate that  exposure was sufficient.
     autofocusing is not possible, set camera to o  lf the shutter will not release, set camera
     manual focus mode and focus manually.       to manual focus mode, focus manually, and
    o  lf the AF illuminator  is lit, focus will not   release the shutter.
     be adjusted continuously.                           .   lf 7000i is set to shutter-priority (S)
                                           mode, operation is the same as in program
                                             mode.

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P-mode slow-shutter sync (7000i only)
   In low light, such as at dusk or down,
slower X-sync speeds can be set to increase
background exposure while maintaining
normal exposure of the main subject.
1. Frame the main subject, and press and
hold the shutter-release button halfway
down.

                                             2. Press and hold the camera's spot-metering
                                               button, and a shutter speed slower than the
                                                   original shutter speed will be set automati-
                                                   cally. Flash output will be adjusted to pre-
                                                vent overexposure of the main subject.





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3. While still pressing spot-metering button,
release shutter.
o After taking a picture, the  f lash-ready
signal in the viewfinder will blink rapidly if
exposure was sufficient.
o  lf shutter speed is too slow for hand-held
pictures, mount camera on a tripod.


                                                With slow-shutter sync





                                                With conventional  f lash

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A.MODE AUTOF LASH OPERATION
   Aperture-priority (A) mode can be used  2. Set the lens aperture for the effect
with the 7000i camera. In A mode, any  desired: set smaller apertures (higher num-
available aperture can be set to control   bers; e.g., f 111 or tl16l for more sharpness;
sharpness, to increase  f lash range, or for  or set larger apertures {lower numbers; e.9.,
faster recycling. To take pictures in A      f /1.7 or tl2l  for photographing distant
mode:                                      subjects or for faster recycling between
                                                 exposures.
1. Set camera to A mode and press 3200i's
on/off button to switch flash on. Shutter  3. For autofocusing, press and hold shutter-
speed will automatically be set to 1/125 sec.   release button halfway down. After focusing,
o When flash unit is charged, flash-ready  check whether main subject is within the
signal on 3200i will glow, flash-ready signal   flash range for the film speed in use. lf not,
in viewfinder will blink slowly.          move closer or use a larger aperture.                             o Flash ranges for ISO 100 are listed on
                                              page 23.

4. To take a picture, press the shutter-
     release button all the way down.
   o After taking a picture, the  f lash-ready
    signal in the viewfinder will blink rapidly  if
    exposure was suff icient.




                                       A-mode slow-shutter sync
                                                    Slow-shutter sync can be used in A mode
                                                  to increase the background exposure.
                                                    1. Set the desired lens aperture. Shutter
                                               speed will be automatically set to 11125 sec.





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2. Frame the main subject, and press and     Fill flash in A mode
hold the shutter-release button halfway      In most situations, program mode can be
down.                                     used for automatic  fill flash without special
                                                     settings or calculations. A mode fill flash can3. Press and hold the camera's spot-metering                                   be used for greater control of backgroundbutton. Shutter speed will be set slower than                                          exposure or when you want to set smaller1/125 sec. Flash output will be adjusted to                                                apertures for increased depth of field.prevent overexposure of the main subject.                                        The procedure for fill flash in A mode is
4. While still pressing spot-metering button,   the same as for slow-shutter sync operation;
release shutter.                            however, subject brightness will be higher
o After taking a picture, the flash-ready   and you may need to use a neutral-density
signal in the viewfinder will blink rapidly if    filter on the lens to set shutter speed below
exposure was suff icient.                         "l1125 sec.
o  lf shutter speed is too slow for hand-held
pictures, mount camera on a tripod.

M-MODE AUTOFLASH
     Manual (M) mode autoflash is possible   2. For natural background exposure, set
   with the 7000i camera. In this mode, you   aperture and shutter speed according to the
   can set both the shutter speed and the   metering indications in the viewfinder.
    aperture for the effect desired. The camera                                             3. For autofocusing, press and hold shutter-    controls the flash exposure, so no calcula-                                                    release button halfway down. After focus-    tions are needed.                                                   ing, check whether main subject is within
    1. Set camera to M mode and press 3200i's  the flash range for the film speed in use. lf
    on/off button to switch flash on.               not, move closer or use a larger aperture.
  o When flash is charged, flash-ready signal   .  Flash ranges for ISO 100 are listed on
   on 3200i will glow and flash-ready signal in   page 23.
    camera's viewfinder will blink slowly.                                               4. To take a picture, press the shutter-release
                                               button all the wav down.
                               o After taking a picture, the flash-ready
                                                     signal in the viewfinder will blink rapidly if
                                               exposure was suff icient.




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CARE AND STORAGE
o Keep flash unit away from water and o When storing flash for more than two
other liquids. Never handle unit with wet  weeks, remove the batteries and keep flash
hands.                                    in a cool, dry place away from dust or
o Flash unit may not operate satisfactorily   chemicals.
at temperatures above 50"C (120"F) or o Never attempt to disassemble the flash.
                                                            be done by an authorizedbelow -10"C (15'F).                   Any repairs shouldo Never fire flash at close range into the  Minolta service faci  I ity.
eyes of people or animals.             o  Fire flash several times a month to keep it
o When dirty, flash unit may be wiped with   in good operating condition.
a clean dry cloth. Do not allow alcohol or
other chemicals to touch surfaces.          To assure prompt service, contact your
o Never subject flash unit to shock, high  nearest authorized Minolta service facility
heat, or high humidity. Be particularly   before shipping your flash unit.
careful not to leave it in the glove compart-
ment or other places in motor vehicles where
it may be subjected to high temperatures.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
  Type: Fully dedicated autoflash for Dynax Controls and indications: Controls: On/off
   7000i and 3000i cameras; with TTL meter- button, power-level selector; Indicators:         '
    ing and AF illuminator for autofocusing   "AUTO" program mode, f lash "ON " /"OFF",
   Exposure control: Direct (TTL off-the-film)  flash ready, "Lo" power level
   Autof lash metering in all flash exposure Flash coverage: Internal power zoom system
  modes based on the camera's film-speed automatically adjusts flash coverage for
  setting                                            lenses from 28mm to 85mm
  AF illuminator: When required for low- Power levels: Manually selectable: Normal
   contrast subjects in low light, illuminator is  for full power and maximum flash range;
   automatically triggered for autofocusing; "Lo" for sequential shooting and faster
   range: 0.5 to 9m based on Minolta's stand- recycling
   ard test method with 50mm lens                                                           a





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