Minolta Maxxum Flash 4000AF User manual

www.orphancameras.com

                                E]OWNER'SMANUAL
                               trMODED'EMPLOI
MAXXUMFLASH4OOOAF

www.orphancameras.com


  The MAXXUM  Flash 4000AF  is designedfor totally automatic flash photography with
your Minolta AF SLR. lts power zoom head automatically adjusts flash coveragefor lens
focal lengths from 28mm through 70mm, even while zooming. The LCD flash data panel
shows complete flash information, including pbwer  level, flash-coveragesetting, and
minimum and maximum flash ranges.For simplified operation, the 4000AF  is automati-
cally set for  full power, TTL metering, and auto zooming when you switch on the unit.
The built-in AF illuminator is activatedautomatically for autofocusingin low light or total
darkness.
   Minolta Direct Autoflash Metering (TTL off-the-film) assuresaccurateexposuresin all                                                                                \lmodes. The 40004F uses Minolta's new flash program for professionalresults: In P mode,
fill flash is completely automatic with no calculations or manual settings needed. Any
aperture can be used in A mode, while slow-shuttersync and fill flash are also possible.ln
M mode, aperture and shutter speed can be set for creative control with either TTL flash
metering or full manual control of exposure.
   Carefully read this manual to learn about your 40004F's parts and features,and keep it
handy for future reference.

www.orphancameras.com
BATTERIES AND POWER





  The MAXXUM  Flash is powered by four  To install batteries:
AA-size batteries.Either alkaline-manganese 1. With power off, slide battery cover out.
or rechargeablenickel-cadmiumbatteriescan  Wipe terminalswith a cleandry cloth.
be used.                                         2. Insert batterieswith ends as indicated.
                                                   3. Reinsert cover in grooves, and slide it
                                                    fully in.

www.orphancameras.com

                                                                            &
  NOTES                                 Checking batteries
  o To  prevent battery leakage or  bursting,    To  check  battery  capacity:  Turn  on
  never mix  batteries of  different  types, power and wait until the flash-readysignal
  brands,or ages.                           glows, indicating flash is fully charged. lf
  o  lf flash will not be used for more than two  charging time  is longer than listed below,          '.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           '  weeks, batteriesshould be removed.          batteriesshould be changedor recharged.
  o Used batteries should not be discarded in     Alkaline-manganese30 sec. -change
   fire.                                     Nickel-cadmium   15 sec.- recharge
  o Keep batteriesaway from young children.
  o  lf batteries are not inserted correctly, f lash  Test button                                                                        ,
   will  not charge and leakageor bursting of     Test firing is possible by pressingTEST           ii
  batteriesmay result.                        button after flash is charged.





6&ii{a.

www.orphancameras.com


Cold-weather operation                      Automatic charge control
    In cold weather, always use fresh bat-    To conserve battery power, the 4000AF
teries and carry a spareset in a warm pocket.  automatically turns  itself  off   if camera's
For prolonged cold-weather use at approx.  operating button  is not touched within 15
O'C (32"F) or lower, use of nickel-cadmium minutes after full charge is reached. lf this
batteries is recommended. Battery capacity  happens, flash can be  readied for  firing
will be restoredas their temperature rises.    by touching operating button.





                                                                    '&

www.orphancameras.com
ATTACHING AND REMOVING FLASH





To attach: With power off, turn mounting  To  remove: Switch power  off, then com-
clamp fully to the right. Then slide flash's  pletely loosen mounting clamp. Grasp base
mounting foot fully into camera'saccessory of  flash, and  slide flash straight out  of
shoe and turn clamp to the left to secure accessoryshoe.
u n i t .

www.orphancameras.com
BASIC IN FORMATION
Flash data panel                                                  A'   MD %a UB 1A  y2  ( rull)  The LCD panel on the 400OAF shows the
following kinds of datat power level, flash   B.                                                               fA-ffiOr]   5 L']-, m mcoverage with  either manual or automatic                                                                                                                           i.lzooming, and flash rangewith TTL metering   C'                                                                                                             I       m                               TTL      rtLI'.                          IEor manual (M) f lash exposures.With camera's
meter on and flash fully charged,flash range                                             A. power level
is displayedin flash data panel. Rangecan be    ;'  -;_
disprayedin reetor metersuv,..iing;il                                 3: Filll :."ffJ'n'switch accordingly.
  Whenever an adapter panel (wideangle
adapter, color panel, bounce ref lector)  is
attached to zoom head, "PANEL"   is dis-
played in data panel.
   In  low  light,  f lash data panel can be
illuminated by  pressing the  panel light
button (marked LIGHT). Light remains on
for 8 sec.after pressingbutton.




                                                                                                                                                            t:dff*

www.orphancameras.com


Power-level selection                CAUTION
  The MAXXUM  Flash 4000AF  has six   When using the Control Grip CG-l000
p o w e r l e v e l s F: U L L ,  ' 1 1 2 1, 1 4 ,1 1 8 , 1 / 1 6 ,a n d  and full power,do not shoot flashsequences
MD. For maximum flash range,FULL power  of more than twenty frames, as this may
should be selected. Other settings can be  damagethe flash unit's internal circuitry.
selected to  reduce recycling time, control
flash range, etc. At  "MD"  (motor  drive)
setting, unit recyclesat up to two frames per
sec.for shooting flash sequences.
  Power level is set by pressingpower-level
selector (marked LEVEL). Each time button
is pressed,power level changesin the follow-
i n g o r d e r : F U L L , 1 1 2 , 1 1 4 , 1 1 8 ,1 / 1 6 , M D ,
FU LL, and so on.  ln   f lash data panel,
brackets appear around power level selected.
Guide numbers at each power level for ISO
100 film are listed on page 32.





                                                         -;*.i.    , rr-..    . ^:".,    ,.*  -         "  rilsi*:i i:':*

www.orphancameras.com


Power zoom head                          pressed, setting changes in the following
  As soon as the 4000AF  is switched on, it  order: auto zoom, manual zoom 28mm,
is set for automatic power zooming. When  manual zoom 35mm, manual zoom 50mm,
camera's meter is on, the 4000AF's power  manual zoom  70mm,  auto  zoom,  etc.
zoom head  is adjusted automatically for  Always use ZOOM  button  to  adjust flash
correct flash coverage from 28mm through  coverage;do not push or  pull zoom head
70mm focal lengths.With zoom lenses,head  manually.
adjustsautomatically as lens is zoomed.         Store flash unit with zoorn head adjusted
  Zoom  head can  also be adjusted by   to  its shortest position. To do this quickly,
pressing zoom  head  control   to  extend  simply switch power on, wait a moment for
flash range with short-focal-lengthlensesor  head to  adjust to 28mm  position, then
when taking bounce-flashphotos. Each time  switch power off.
zoom  head control  (marked ZOOM)   is





                                                                                                r*&**

www.orphancameras.com


Wideangleadapter
  When lenseshaving focal lengths of less
than 28mm are mounted on camera, flash-
coverage setting in flash data panel shows
 t  l    -       -  m m t t
  The wideangle adapter snaps onto  the
zoom head and increasesflash coverageto
that required for 24mm lenses.Whenever
adapter is attached; "PANEL"  is displayed
in flash data panel. Also, with zoom head
at its shortestposition, flash rangefor 24mm  To  attach: While holding adapter by  its
lensesis displayed.                         sides and with  its open edge pointing down-
                                         ward, gently snap  it onto front  of zoom
                                        head.
                                     To  remove: Hold  tabs on  either side of
                                        panel and detach one side at a t i m e .

www.orphancameras.com


Exposure adjustment
  The camera's exposure-adjustmentcon-
trol can be used to vary normal TTL flash
exposure. Refer to the explanation in the
camera owner's manual for detailed informa-
tion  on how and when  to  use exposure
adjustment.

www.orphancameras.com                                                                          ,:

AF illuminator                           The AF  illuminator's range is based on           :
  When required for low-contrast subjects Minolta's standardtest method with a 50mm            .
in low light, the AF illuminator is activated lens. With longer focal lengths,camera may     4
by pressingoperating button halfway. This  not focus lens accurately. In this case, or               l
focus-assistillumination is projected on the  whenever focus signalsblink, set focus mode            I
s u b j e c t , t h u s e n a b | i n g t h e c a m e r a , S a u t o - s w i t c h t o M a n d f o c u s | e n s m a n u a | | y .
focus system to determine focus status and
adjust the lens. AF  illuminator is activated
only when flash is fully charged.
  The working rangefor the AF illuminator
is 1m (3.3 ft.) to approx.Tm (ZS ft.). These
distances are  for  autofocusing  in  totaldarkness and are not related to the flash                                                                                                                                 ir4I
unit's maximum flash range indicated on the
flash data panel.

www.orphancameras.com


Camera settings                            Flash settings
   After attaching the flash unit, check the  1. For maximum flash range,set 4000AF to
following camerasettings:                 "FULL"  power. Lower power settings can
 1. Film-speedsetting for TTL Direct Auto-  be used for faster recycling,controlling flash
flash Metering:                            range, etc.  For  shooting sequences, set
   MAXXUM 5000/7000  - ISO 25 to      power level to "MD:'  which provides recy-
                            tso 1000  cling at up to two frames per sec.
  MAXXUM9000- ISO12to tSO1000  2. For simplest operation, auto zoom setting
2. Focus mode  switch: AF  position  for  should be used. Power zoom head then
autofocusing,M for manual focusing.        adjusts automatically  for  uniform    f lash
3. MAXXUM  5000: No other settings are  coverage at the focal length in use. When
requ i red.                                   desired for creative control or bounce-flash
MAXXUM  7000: For single-frameadvance, photos, manual zoom settingscan be used.
set drive mode to "S". For continuous film
advance,set drive mode to "C".
MAXXUM  9000: When advancing the film
manually, no other settings are required.
When  using  the  optional  Motor  Drive
MD-90,  refer to   its owner's manual  for
information about flash operation.

                                                                                                       o*w,

www.orphancameras.com
PROGRAMMEDAUTOFLASHOPERATION(P MODE}
  P-mode flash is ideal for point-and-shoot 3. After  focusing, check  whether  main
flash photography, since the camera sets  subject is within  flash range displayed on
                                                                                                                          'tboth shutter speed and aperture according to   flash data panel.  lf   <  "  appears beside
its flash program. In bright sunlight, expo-  minimum distance,use a higher power level.
sure for   fill flash is automatically set for     lf  " >  " appears beside maximum distance,
optimum results.To use:                      refer to page 33 to determine actual maxi-
1. Set camerato P mode.             mum flash distance.
2. Switch  flash unit on  to  start charging.  4. Pressoperating button all the way down
When charged, flash-ready signal glows on   to releaseshutter. lf exposurewas sufficient,
back of flash unit and the flash signalblinks  flash signal in viewfinder blinks rapidly and
in viewfinder. Also, camera-selectedX-sync  "OK" signalon flash unit glows.
speed and aperture are displayed in camera's
viewfinder and data display panel.        NOTE
                                        Program shift is not possiblewhen using
                                                                              fl ash.





                                                                               .MAK

www.orphancameras.com


Programmedfill flash
   In P mode, fill-flash exposure is calcu-
lated automatically.In bright sunlight,flash
du ration is reduced to  f ill shadowswithout
overexposingthe main subject. X-sync speed
is automaticallyset according to the ambient
light level,thus givingmore natural rendition
of the background.

                                                 Without flash





                                               With programmed fill flash

www.orphancameras.com
A.MODE AUTOFLASHOPERATION
    ln A mode, any availableaperture can be  3. After   focusing,  check  whether  main
used. Set smaller apertures for more depth  subject is within  flash range for aperture
of  field, or larger aperturesto obtain maxi-  selected. lf not, move closer or use a larger
mum flash range for distant subjects, Also,  aperture. lf  " <  " appearsbesideminimum
flash recycling time  is reduced when larger distance, use higher power level or set a
aperturesare set for close subjects.To use:       f arger aperture.  lf   " >  "  appears beside
1. With  camera in A  mode, set desired maximum  distance, refer to  page 33  to
apertu re.                                determine actual maximum flash distance.
2. Switch flash on to start charging. When  4. Press operating button all the way down
charged,flash-readysignal glows on back of   to releaseshutter. lf exposurewas sufficient,
f lash unit and   f lash signal in viewfinder  flash signal in viewfinder blinks rapidly and
blinks. Also, X-sync speed and selected "OK" signalon flash unit glows.
aperture are displayedin camera'sviewfinder
and data displaypanel.

www.orphancameras.com


A-mode slow-shuttersync                       4. While  still pressing AE  lock, focus on
    ln low  light, such as at dusk or dawn,  main subject and check whether it is within
slower X-sync speedscan be set to increase flash rangefor aperture selected,then release
background exposure while  maintaining  shutter.  lf  exposure was sufficient, flash
normal exposureof the main subject.         signal  in  viewfinder  blinks  rapidly and
1. With  flash unit  turned  off,  select an  "OK" signalon flash unit glows.
aperture so that the metered speed is 1/60
sec. or slower with MAXXUM 7000, 11125 NOTES
sec.or slower with MAXXUM 9000.          o Metered speed should be at least one stop
2. Turn  on  the  flash unit. When unit  is  slower than the camera's maximum X-sync
charged,shutter speed will be set to camera's speed.  lf  not, subject may be overexposed
maximum X-sync speed.                    since  required shutter speed cannot be
3. Press and hold camera's AE lock (AEL  obtained.
button). Shutter speed is now set one stop    . When shutter speed is too slow for hand-
faster than metered speed to prevent over-  held pictures,mount cameraon a tripod.
exposure of main subject. For example, if
metered speed was 1/30 sec., speed is set to
1/60 sec.


                                                                                                1 9

www.orphancameras.com

     Fill flash in A-mode
       In most situations,Program mode can be
   used for automatic fill flash without special
   settings or  calculations. A-mode  fill  flash
   should be used for greater control of back-
   ground exposure or when you want to set
   smaller apertures for  increased depth  of
      f i e l d .
     The procedure for  fill flash in A mode is
   the same as for slow-shuttersync operation;
   however, since subject brightness may be
   higher, you may need to use a neutral-
   density filter on the lens to set shutter speed
   below camera'smaximum X-sync speed.





20
                                                                                         ;e"

www.orphancameras.com
   S.MODEAUTOFLASH OPERATION(MAXXUM 9000 ONLY)
       S-mode autoflash can only be used with   2. Switch flash unit on. When flash reaches
     thE MAXXUM 9OOO.If thE MAXXUM TOOO full charge, aperture is set automatically to
        is set to S mode, operation is the same as in   t/5.6, flash signal in viewfinder blinks, and
     P mode.                                    flash-readysignalon flash unit glows.
        With the MAXXUM 9000 in S mode, any   3. After  focusing, check  whether  main
      shutter speed from 1l25O to 30 sec. can be  subject is within  flash range displayed on
      set, and  aperture  is set automatically  to   flash data panel. lf not, change distance to
      t15.6. TTL    f lash metering automatically  subject or adjust power level.
      controls exposure for  this aperture setting.  4. Press operating button  all the Way down
     For S-mode autoflash operation:                to  release the  shutter.   lf  exposure was
      1. With MAXXUM  9000  in S mode, set  sufficient, flash signal in viewfinder blinks
     desired shutter speed. For hand-held shots,  rapidly and "OK"  signalon flash unit glows.
      shutter speeds from  1/60 to 11250 sec. are
I  recommended.

[     ;;,*.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              .    "          -         r 1 . 1 , ,             i

www.orphancameras.com


Fill flashand slow-shuttersync in S mode      2. Switch flash unit on. When flash reaches
  S mode is particularlyusefulfor mixing  full charge, aperture is automatically set to
flash illumination with  ambient light.  115.6,flash signal in viewfinder blinks, and
Shutter speed can be adjustedto control  flash-readysignalon flash unit glows.
background exposure, and  by  pressing 3. After focusing on main subject, pressand
camera'sAE lock, apertureis set automati- hold  camera's AE  lock  (AEL  button).
cally to that requiredfor normal background Aperture will now be set one stop smaller
exposure. When shutter is releasedwhile  for normal exposureof the background.
pressing AE  lock, TTL    f lash metering 4. While pressing AE  lock, check whether
reduces f lash duration to  prevent over-  subject is within flash range. lf not, change
exposureof main subject.To use:            distance to subject or adjust power level.
1. With MAXXUM 9000 in S mode, set  5. While still pressingAE lock, pressoperat-
desiredshutterspeed.Any speedfrom 11250 ing button  all the way down to releasethe
sec.to 30 sec. can be set. Set fasterspeeds shutter.   lf  exposure was suff icient,   f lash
for lessbackgroundexposure,slowerspeeds signal in viewfinder blinks rapidly and "OK"
for more backgroundexposure.              signalon flash unit glows.