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Sunpak 400 / Auto 401 User manual

User manual for Sunpak 400 / Auto 401. 29 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.

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Brand
Sunpak
Model / document
Sunpak 400 / Auto 401
Document type
User manual
Language
English
Pages
29
File size
1.4 MB
Category
Film cameras
Document date
Not specified in catalog

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Page 3 · Read text
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

When using your. photo-graphic equipment, basic safety pre_
cautions should always be followed, including the following,

 1. Read and understand all instructions.
 2. close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used
   by  or near children. Do not reave          unattended
    while in use.                           "ppli"r.e
3' Do  not  operate  appliance   if  the  appliance. has been
   dropped  or damaged  -  until  it has been examined bv a
   qualified serviceman.


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Page 4 · Read text
4. To  protect  against  electrical  shock  hazards, do  not
   immerse this appliance in water or other liquids.
   To  avoid  electric shock hezard, do not disassemble this      d                                                                                                                                                                                                                     '-4q   appliance, but take it to a qualified serviceman when some                                                                                                                           1;   service or  repair work  is required. Incorrect reassembly
   can cause electric shock hazard when the appliance is used
   subsequently.
  Do not operate appliance with a damaged cord.





                                                                                           {
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Page 6 · Read text
Welcometo the world-widefamily of Sunpakowners! More
     than six million Sunpakelectronicflash systemshave been
     chosen by photographersthroughout the world for  their
     ruggedconstruction,innovativedesign,and fast, easy opera-
      tion. To insurethat you get the most out of your electronic
      flash, pleasetake the few minutesrequiredto check through
      this owner'smanualwith your Sunpakflash in front of you.
                     j

;::,;i-         .!J..,-,,,...-.           .  :t&:;-l,tallil;.*L"-"dJdd*
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Page 8 · Read text
2.  Insert four AA-size batteries (Alkaline or      3.  Presscover until  it snaps into place.
   Nickel-Cadmium)as shown.                 *For information on using Nickel-Cadmium
                                                      batteries, *e page 22.





                                                                        *.    rlii*-d,-     :.i    |;lr&";;'..,';er*;l&i;,':,i:.
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Page 9 · Read text
ll) Mounton Camera





                                                                       'Hot1. Slide Sunpak  into  camera's accessory     2.  For cameras with                                                                   Shoe' (cordless)
   shoe (or shoe of flash bracket if one is         flash contact, no further connection is
   required). Turn the knurled lock ing screw        necessary.(Note: leave PC Cord plugged
   counter-clockwiseto insure rigid mount-          into  retaining pin on Sunpak side;  if
   ing to your camera'sshoe.                        unplugged,   flash   will  not   fire  through
                                                    hot shoe.)
                                                                             'Hot                                                                                          lf camera does not have     Shoe', pull
                                                   out Sunpak's PC Cord (illustrated) and
                                                 plug into camera flash outlet as shown.
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Page 11 · Read text
I I l)  Determine Lens Opening:    Sunpak400                                                 i:f


 1. Check ASA rating (speed)of film in use.                                                                            lilt?,ii.-j;itr   (Example: ASA 50) Line up the Triangle
    (illustrated) on your Sunpak's Exposure                                 iq
   Guide           to              this              number.                                                                                                   "*-          (by2.   Focus              looking                    through the finder or
   by  estimating distance and setting it).                          -3
   Now, read the indicated distance (in feet)
   shown on your camera's focusing ring.          il..ig,tt
   (Example: ASA 50 film and subject at
    9 feet.)
3. The  correct  lens opening  is shown by
   your Sunpak's Exposure Guide below
    this same distance. (Example: ASA 50
      f ilm-subject  at     I   feet;  correct  lens
   opening is f/8.)
4. Set camera lens to this opening (in this
   example, f/B).
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Page 12 · Read text
i f+Effifl
lV) DetermineCorrectLens
    Opening:SunpakAuto 401





1 . Check ASA rating (speed)of film in use.
   (Example: ASA 50.) Line up the triangle
    at the bottom of your Sunpak's Exposure
   Calculator (illustrated)so it's pointing to
                                         For SunpakAuto 401 only   this number.
2. To shoot at greatest distancesas well as
   close-ups,follow the curved blue line at
   the top  of your Exposure Calculator,
   The lens opening shown where this line
   sfops  is the correct lens opening  f or
   photographsfrom 19 inches to 18 feet.
   (With ASA 50 film, the blue line stops at
    fi4.) Set your lens to this opening.
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Page 13 · Read text
ffiI'i:iitljl'.#                           Lii





i:,;i!f!*,f:{til,"trrii,!                                                 ,  irffS,i'Fji4jd;FiEiei]i;iiflirlf;p","1.pgryfgffiffi
    For Sunpak Auto 401 only                     For Sunpak Auto 401 only

     3. Move the switch on the front  of your       4. No furtheradjustment is needed . . . your
        flash to the  left, so  it's under the blue          pictures will  automatically receive the
        ind icator.                                       correct volume of  light at all distances
                                               between 19 inchesand 1B feet.
                                                        Alternatively, your Sunpak. Auto 401
                                              perm its you to use a smaller lens opening:
                                                                this gives you the advantage of greater
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Page 14 · Read text
depth-of-field, so that more objects in          Bl Move the switch on the front of your
front  of  and behind the subject will                    ff ash to the right, so it's under the red
appear in sharp focus. (Extra depth-of-             indicator.
field is also helpful when you're shooting       C) No further adjustment is needed .  .  .
a moving object  -  children at play, for           your pictures will automatically re-
example  -  and  it's  difficult  to focus           ceive the correct volume of light at all
precisely.)Here's how:                            d istances between 19  inches and 9
                                                            feet.
Al  After having set the ASA speed along-
   side the triangle (illustrated)on your
   exposure calculator, f ollow the cu rved         Note:  lf the range selector switch (on the
   red line near the top of the calculator.         front)  is in the middle position, your
   The lens opening shown where this                 f lash  will  operate  in manual mode.
    line stops is the correct lens opening        Generally, it's desirable to use this only
    for photographs from 1 9 inches to 9       when you  wish  to  shoot  at distances
   feet. (With ASA 50 film, the red line        greaterthan 18 feet. (See instructions for
   stops at  f/8.) Set your  lens to this        determining correct lens opening manu-
   opening.                                         ally. page 7.)
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Page 16 · Read text
t
      Vll Shoot





      1 . Press On/Off  Switch  (at back) to  the
           right (so red is visible). You'll hear a faint
       hum (that's the unit warming up) and in
         a couple of secondsthe indicator light on        check distance(if you're closer or further
          the back will start to glow: that means       away, re-set the lens opening as indicated
         your flash is ready to fire.                    on  the  Exposure Guide)        and
                                                      continue shooting, picture after picture,        Take the picture!
                                                             with no further adjustments. (Of course,
         For succeedingpictures, just wait until       when you're done shooting remember to
          the indicator light glows (usually after         turn the On/Off switch 'Off '. The indica-
       G9 seconds following the last shot wjth          tor   light may  continue  to  glow  for
        model400);                                   severalminutes;that's O. K. )L
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Page 17 · Read text
'FLASHMATIC'  USEWITH
 CAMERAS





   Some cameras (and interchangeable lenses)    (Example: For ASA 50 film, correct opening
                                                                                't/7.5;   have built-in devices that calculate and set      at ten feet is       the number is 75.) Set
    the correct lens opening for  you, as you      this "Guide Number" on the control ring
    focus. To do this, they have to know the     around your  lens     and shoot. (Check
   "Guide Number" for your flash/film combi-    camera instruction manual for exact opera-
    nation. To  find  this, take the correct lens         t i o n . )
   opening (see page 7l  tor your.f ilm type at a    IMPORTANT: With'Flashmatic' cameras,
    distance of ten feet, and multiply by ten.     use Model Auto 401 in manual mode (with
                                              range selector switch  in middle position).



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Page 20 · Read text
HELPFULHINTS





You'll get more enjoyment out  of your
Sunpakif you follow thesehandy tips:
1. Use Alkaline  Batteries. All  brands are
   good. and all give you a lot more f lashes
   than   ordinary   (zinc-carbon  type)
   batteries. Alkalines  hold  their power         Alkaline Battery Numbers
   longer, and are more stable (in warm or        Eveready E-91        BurgessAL-9
   cold weather) than  ordinary batteries.     M a l l o r y M N - 1 5 0 0    N E D A 1 5 A
   While Alkalines are somewhat more ex-       Ray-O-Vac815
   pensive, they  pay  for  themselves in
   greater number of  f lashesand greaterde-
   pendability. (Use of other battery types
   won't hurt your  f lash in any way, but  it
    will mean you'llget fanuerf lashesper set.)
                                                                                                       1 6
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Page 21 · Read text
2. Check Camera  Controls.  With  cameras      3. Use the Fastest Possible Shutter Speed. lf
                           'hot'   which do not have     shoe, make sure        your  camera'synchs' with  electronic
                                                  'X'   the flash cord  is plugged into the              flash up  to  1l125th second, shoot at
    outlet, or that the synch switch ("M-X")           1l125th (instead of a slower speed).The
               'X'.    is set at     Of course, make certain the          faster the speed, the less likely that the
   cord is firmly plugged in. And, remember         existing (ambient) light will cause an
    to  adjust the  lens opening when you        image to  register on  the  film  (this is
   move closer to  or  further away from           c a l l e d a ' g h o s t ' i m a g e , a n d   i t ' s q u i t e
   your subject when using Model40O, ex-         annoying). Use the fastest speed possible
   cept with'Flashmatic' camera models.              for best results.
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Page 22 · Read text
4. Use Test  Flash' to Check  Lighting  Ef-
         fects. Your Sunpak can be fired without
        actually exposingf ilm, to let you preview
        a lighting effect. (The feature is handyF         for a final check before taking important
        pictures, too.) How to do: Just pressthe
       'Ready                 Light' window. This  trips the
        flash without exposingany film.
                                                                                             1 8                         fi
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Page 23 · Read text
CAREOF YOUR ELECTRONIC
FLASH




Your  Sunpak  electronic flash has been       appearance:sometimes, even the best of                 ,
                                    'main-engineered to  require almost no                                                    batteriesdischargeor leak some chemical                I
tenance' in the normal senseof the word.        materialthrough the jacket...and leaves
Still, to insure best performance year-in and        a whitish-powder on the battery, which
year-out, follow these basic pointers;             passesonto your Sunpak's electricalcon-
                                                     tacts. (lf this has happened,replacethe                 I
                                                  batteries after cleaning the Sunpak's
1. Inspect Batteries Frequently.'lnspect'          internal battery contacts with  a pen-                ,
   meansfor reasonablerecyclingtime (the         knife.) Finally, it's a good idea to remove
   length of time it takes the indicator light        the batteries once in a while and wipe
    to come on between flashes): if it's more       them with a handkerchief -  the cleaner
  'than        10 or 15 seconds, a fresh pair of        thebattery surface,the easierit is for the
   alkaline batteriesshould be obtained. lt's        energy to pass through your flashgun's
   also wise to check your  batteries for         electricalsystem.
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Page 24 · Read text
2. Remove  Batteries.   lf  for  some reason      3. Service. In the unlikely event that your
   you do not intend to use your flash for a        Sunpak electronic flash requires service,
   period of several weeks or more, remove         return  it to your dealer or the sole U.S.
   the  batteries and store them separately         Distributor  at  the  address shown on
   (inside a plastic bag is a good way).              page 24. Do  not, under any conditions,
                                                         attempt   to  disassemble  and/or  adjust    it
                                                        yourself:  electronic  flash  operates on
                                                       pretty high voltage, and should not be
                                                taken apart. However, keep in mind that
                                                      flash failure is more likely to result from
                                          weak  batteries than any  other single
                                                 cause: if   it doesn't fire, check batteries
                                             and contacts carefu lly.
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Page 25 · Read text
CHOOSINGBATTERYTYPE




  Your Sunpak electronic flash accepts both       Alkaline    batteries   provide   the  greatest
  AA-size Alkaline  batteries and rechargeable    number of continuous flashes: approximate-
  nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) cells. Each type        ly 225 per set, enough for several rolls of
   offers practical advantages.                           film. The interval between flashes (recycling
                                                     time)  averages 6 seconds. When recycling
                                                   time becomes much  longer, the  batteries
                                                 should be replaced with a fresh set. Thus,
                                                   Alkaline  batteries represent an  excellent
                                                 choice for occasional use, use where several
                                                            rolls of film are to be shot at one time, or
                                                                                  'spare'                                                  simply as a dependable      energy source
                                                        that's always ready.


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Page 26 · Read text
USINGRECHARGEABLE
   NICKELCADMIUM
   BATTERIES



      Your Sunpak electronic flash unit accepts      but you'll accumulateenough energy within
      standard AA-size nickel-cadmium batteries     one hour  to permit 20 flashes or more  -
       (4). These let you take approximately 125     enough to expose an entire  roll  of 35mm
       flash  pictures;  then,  simply  remove the        film! Many photographersfind  it convenient
      hatteries and recharge them  in the Sunpak       to work  with  fwo  sets of nickel-cadmium
     Nickel-Cadmium Battery Charger. A   full        batteries, keeping one set in their flash while
     chargeis obtained overnight n4  -  16 hours),      the other set is being recharged.

*

      Battery  Type.  Your  Sunpak  dealer can      Gharger.  The  Sunpak  Nickel-Cadmium
     supply you  with  General Electric GC-1,      Battery Charger is exclusively designed for
     Eveready CH-500, Bright Star 8O00, Sanyo      use with AA-size nickel-cadmium batteries.
     N-500-AA,   or  equivalent  1.25v AA-size           It features a unique selector switch which
      n ickel-cadmium batteries.                             lets you charge either two or four batteries
                                                                                      22
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Page 27 · Read text
at  one time, and a convenient  indicator      Performance. Nickel-cadmium batteries re-
lamp which  lights up to strow that batteries      present the most dependable power source
are correctly positioned. Another  practical       for your electronic flash. In general. they
feature  of  this  compact  charger  is a  slot       provide  faster recycling times than other
allowing you  to wall-mount   it   if desired.      battery  types. The  initial  investment for
You'll  find   it a welcome addition  to your      nickel-cadmium batteries and charger is soon
Sunpak q/stem  . . . and probably find lots of       repaid by the ability to recharge the batteries
other  applications for  using your  nickel-        literally hundreds of times  .  . . enough for a
cadmium batteries in radios, tape recorders,       lifetime of flash photography.
movie cameras, and other instruments using
this popular battery type.



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Page 29 · Read text
Flash Duration ..             ..1/1o00th  sec. -1l50.000th sec. (model Auto 401);
                              1/10o0th sec. (model 40O)
Angle of lllumination  .             . . . bso Horizontal x 600 Vertical;allows use of 35mm
                                lenseson 35mm cameras,75mm lenseson 2% x 2%"
                              cameras, 90mm lenseson 2% x 2-3/4" cameras
Color Temperature                         . 55000 kelvin, balanced for standard daylight color
                                                              f i l m s
Synchronization Contacts . . . . . . Built-in PC Cord and Hot Shoe Contact
Dimensions                                     . 1.4" x 3.5" x 3.6" (exclusiveof mounting shoe)
Weight                          7.9 oz. (lessbatteries;model Auto 401);
                                 7.4 oz. (lessbatteries: model 4OO)
S u p p l i e d W i t h .                       . . . . D u a l - V o l t a g e A C A d a p t e r
Optional Accessories         Sunpak  Nicad  Charger  and  Nickel-Cadmium
                                  Batteries;Sunpak Auto Slave Unit
* Applies To Model 401 Exclusively


Notice: Features and specifications are subject to change with out prior notice.
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From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.

PDF verified 2026-10-10.