Film cameras
Sunpak Auto 311 User manual
User manual for Sunpak Auto 311. 50 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Sunpak
- Model / document
- Sunpak Auto 311
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 50
- File size
- 5.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 1 · Read text
www.butkus.us 650-311 OWNER'S MANUAL SUNPRH. AUTOSII EILIGTfriONI(g IFIASM UNI]I' nWfrstol]l, -, /View original page 1
Page 3 · Read text
www.butkus.us
tor Battery Compartment Covel
Manual
F/Stop Scale
Manual
Power Ratio Dial
Auto (Computer)
Power Ratio Scale Signat Light
Ready Light/Open Flash
Button
On/Off Switch
Test Flash ContactView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME to the world-wide family of Sunpak owners! Your
Sunpak Auto 3'l 1 is an advanced electronic f lash unit which gives
you...
f lasho Automatic Computer Operation. Perfectly-exposed
pictures-automatically-at distances from 19 inches to 20
feet.
Dual Computer Range. Gives you choice of lens openings fcr
depth-of-f ield control.
o Energy-Saving Thyristor Circuitry. Gives you almost instant
recycling and hundreds of extra f lashes by conserving unused
energy after each shot-in automatic or manual operation'
Exclusive Variable Power Ratio Control. In manual mode, you
can vary light output from Fullpower to an incredible 1/16thView original page 5Page 6 · Read text
www.butkus.us power! Result: perfect f ill-in f lash outdoors. In action photography, take pictures every second or faster-at any distance! Plus exciting special-effects applications. o Beautiful Color Pictures. Sunpak's unique Gold-Toned Flash- tube and highly polished reflector make every shot a sure shot... and the light is the same color as daylight, so no filters are needed with daylight color f ilms. Since this flash is in many ways more versatile than conventional electronic flash units, please take the few minutes required to carefully read this Owner's Manual-with your Sunpak Auto 311 in front of you. You'll be rewarded by superior f lash photographs starting with your first roll of f ilm-and for.many, many years to come....View original page 6
Page 8 · Read text
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I ursceluerueous rNFoRMArroN ]
vil. Manual Operation: Synchro- Xll. Helpful Hints . P.36 Sun Photography (Fill-l n Flash) and other Special Xlll. Choosing Battery Type P.39
Application P.22 XlV. Using Rechargeable Nickel-
vlil. Manual Operation : Constant Cadmium Batteries P.40
Aperture Control in Photo- XV. Multiple Flash Operation with
Macrography.... P.27 Sunpak Auto Slave Unit P.42
tx. Manual Operation: Shooting XVl. Care of Your Electronic
at Controlled Recycling Flash P.44
Times P.31 XVll. Technical Specifications of
x. Manual Operation : Creative Sunpak Auto311 ........ P.46 Special Effects Photography
with the Sunpak Auto 31 1. . P.32 o Warranty P. 48
Manual Operation : Choclsing o About the Manufacturer . . . P.49
Guide Numbers P.34View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
FOUR BASIC STEPS
Gondensed 0perating Instructions
To use your Sunpak Auto 311 Thyristor f lash, here's all you have
to do:
1) Install Batteries (P. B ) The convenient hinged cover opens up
to accept 4 AA Alkaline or Nickel-Cadmium batteries-enough
for hundreds of f lashes.
2) Mount on Camera. (Pl0) Stide flash into camera's accessory
shoe, and lock in place by turning knurled black screw on
' f lash. For 'Hot Shoe' cameras, no other connection is needed.
lf your camera requires a plug-in flash cord, pull out the
built-in cord of the flash and plug it into the camera's'X'
outlet. Set shutter to fastest speed which is synchronized for
electronic flash.
3) Select Lens Opening for Auto Operation (P.1 3 ). Move Selector
Switch (front) to Blue (maximum Range) or Red (MinimumView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
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Range) position. Turn f lash Calculator Dial (side) until correct
ASA speed is shown by Orange triangle. The Blue and Red
arrows at the top of the dial now point to the (Green) lens
//numbers for automatic operation in either range. Set your
lens to the opening indicated for the Auto Range in use.
4) tate the Picture! (P.16). Move switch on back of flash to'On'
postion; in a few seconds, the Green (Auto) window lights up,
conf irming that you're set for automatic operation, next, the
Red (Ready/Test) window lights up...and you're ready to take
the picture!
To verify correct exposure, press the 'Ready/Test' button with
your flash aimed at the subject. lf exposure is correct, the
green lamp will flicker rapidly immediately following your
'test'flash
Picture after picture-different subjects, different distances,
different surroundings. All perfectly-exposed, automatically,
with your Sunpak Auto 31 1.....View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
OPERATION
l) Install Batteries
Slide cover of battery compartment
(back) partially towards top. Now,
gently fold down cover in direction
shown.View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
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-ffi i1'
2. Insert.four AA-size batteries (Alkaline Press cover until it snapS into place.
or Nickel-Cadmium) as shown. For information on using N ickel-
Cadmium batteries, see page 40.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
ll) Mount on Camera
1. Raise the knurled Locking Screw on 2. For cameras with 'Hot Shoe' (cordless)'
the flash by turning it clockwise. flash contact, no further connection is
Slide f lash into camera's accessory shoe necessary. (Note: leave PC Cord
(or shoe of flash bracket, if one is plugged into retaining pin on Sunpak
used). Turn the locking screw counter- side; if unplugged, flash will not fire
clockwise fully to secure f lash in shoe. through hot shoe.l
lf camera does not have 'Hot Shoe',
pull out Sunpak's PC Cord (illustrated)
and plug into camera flash outlet as
snown.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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Set shutter to fastest spe€d synchro-
nized with electronic flash. For non-
interchangeable-lens cameras, th is is
usually the fastest speed. With inter-
changeable-lens cameras, the highest
usable speed is generally 1 /60th
second; however, cameras with the
vertical-travel Copal'Square' shutter
(or similar type) permit electronic f lash
synchronization up to 1l125th second.
3. lf camera has separate flash outlets Most cameras ind icate the fastest
marked'M' and'X' attach Sunpak cord 'X'-synch speed either by showing the
to 'X' outlet. letter'X'on the speed dial, or by
4. lf camera has switch (usually around marking the fastest usable speed in a
lens barrel) marked 'M' and 'X', set special color. lf in doubt, check with
switch to 'X' position. your camera dealer (or in camera's
instruction manual). Should this not be
immediately possible, set shutter to
1/25th or 1/30th second: at this speed,
all modern cameras are synchronized.
11View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
,-------.;
tl t:i, rt
lii:ii
6. Select Flash Postion \----./ lI Your Sunpak flash is equipped with a
il unique 3-way mounting system. Simply
turn the flash unit in the desired direc-
tion as shown. Select the Position
which is most comfortable, and gives
you the best access to your camera's
controls.
When shooting with wide-angle lenses, Note: Your f lash is designed to provide
always place flash in horizontal posi- optimum illumination over the field
tion. This assures a wide light path, of a 35mm wide-angle lens. 29mm
enabling you to use 35mm wide-angle wide-angle lenses may also be used
lenses on your 35mm camera with with acceptable results. lf you own a
excellent evenness of illumination 28mm wide-angle lens, take a series of
throughout the entire picture area. test f lash pictures to determine
whether you will obtain satisfactory
results under the conditions representa-
tive of your normal picture-taking.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
III) AUTOMATIC www.butkus.us
OPERATION:
SELECT LENS OPENING
Your Sunpak Auto 3l1 measures the light
reflected by your subject-and auto-
matically regulates lighting volume for
correct exposure. The Auto ('.Computer')
sensor is housed in the front of your flash,
below the flash reflector. By moving the
selector switch (black) to either the Blue
or Red mark, your flash is set for auto-
matic operation.
1. Move Calculator Dial on side of flash
so that ASA Film Speed in use is
shown by Orange Triangle at bottom.
(Example: ASA'100.)
Note: lf the ASA number for yodr film is not printed on the ASA Film
Speed Scale, use an intermediate marking as shown:View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
2. The Blue and Red Arrows (upper part
of Dial) now point to the correct lens
openings (Green //numbers) for auto-
matic operation. Set your camera's lens
to the opening indicated for the Auto-
matic Range you prefer. Then, move
the Selector Switch (on front) to the rsr A sp..t match ing-color symbol.
Al For maximum distance nnge in For maximum distance range in automatic operation (Blue) automatic operation, set your lens
to the opening indicated by the Blue arrow. (For ASA 100 f ilm, the #
lens opening is/4.) Ill
Bl Move Selector Switch (on front of
flash) to theBlue symbol.
Your flash and lens are now set for
correct exposure at all distances
between 19 inchesand 20feet,14View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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Cl For maximum depth-of-field
(greatest sharpness in front of, and
in back of, subject) set your lens to
the opening indicated by the ,1ed
arrow. (For ASA 100 film, the lens
opening is/8.) E..;m#
Dl Move Selector Switch (on front of lsl I sgr.r ff ash) to the Red symbor.
Your f lash and lens are now
adjusted for correct exposure at all For maximum depth-of-field in
automatic operation (Red) distances between 19 inches and 10
feet.
Nots Do not move Selector Switch fr
to White symbol unless manual
exposure control is desired (see
p. 18).View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
IV} TAKE THE PICTUREI
It's easy-just follow these
steps:
1. Move OfflOn Switch (on back of flash)
to 'On' position (so Red is visible).
Within seconds, you'll notice the...
2. Green 'Auto Mode' window will light
up. This conf irms that your flash is set
for automatic operation. Then, the...
3, 'Ready/Test' light will glow...showing
that your flash is ready to fire at full
oower. * To verify correct automatic exposure,
iust aim your flash directly toward
4. Take thc Picture! your subject and press in the'Ready/
For succeedrng exposures, just wait un- Test' button. This will cause the flash
til the Ready/Test Light comes on; to fire without actually exposing any
make sure you're within the distance film. lf the automatic exposure is cor-
range for Automatic operation (19"-10' rect for your subject, the green 'Auto
at minimum range, 19"-2O' at maxi- Signal' lamp will flicker rapidly im-
. and shoot! mediately after the 'test' exposure. lf16 -r- range) . .View original page 19Page 20 · Read text
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Because your Sunpak Auto 31 1
incorporates energy-saving Thyristor
circuitry, you'll find you're able to
take pictures within a few seconds-or
fractions of a second! The closer you
are to your subject, the less energy the
flash requires-and the faster the
interval between flashes ('recycling
time'}. When your subject is 3 feet
away or closer, you'll be able to click
the, lamp does not flicker, move closer off picture as fast as you're able to
to your subject (or, if you're shooting advance f ilm in your camerp!
in Red/Minimum range, switch to Blue/ When you're done taking . flash
Maximum range and adiust aperture pictures, turn the OfflOn Switch to
accordingly). This green lamp thus 'Off' position (Black is visiblel. No
provides positive verification that your energy is now being consumed. (The
picture will be correctly exposed auto- 'Auto Mode' and 'Ready/Test' lights
matically. may continue to glow for several
minutes; that's O. K.) 17View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
V) MANUAL OPERATION:
At Maximum Power
:;;4Using your flash manually at full power is 7e7".!e4:,io .!
generally beneficial only when subjects are + . 1: runmore than 20 teet away and/or use of
smallest possible lens openings is desired.
Here's how:
1. Move Selector switch on front of flash rsl A spr.a
to center oosition (under the white
'M'). This disengages the auto com-
puter circuit of your flash. You will
note that the green auto signal light
will not glow.
2. Move Power Ratio dial (on side, in
center of calculator dial) so that the
word "Full" is indicated by the white
mark below the dial.
3. Move (outer) calculator dial to show
correct ASA film speed. (ExamPle:
ASA 100).18View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
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. ?"n
?v;:3+.:u.tio
- 1? sut
4, Your flash calculator now shows the
correct lens opening for pictures at
distances frorn 1.6 feet to 40 feet. Find
the flash-to-subject distance by
focusing in the normal way, and noting
the distance shown by your lens.
(Example: 40 feet).
5. Set your lens to the lens opening
shown for this distance. (Examole:
with ASA 100 film, correct leDs open-
ingat40 feetis[21.
6. Shoot! All photographs taken at this
flash-to-subject distance will be cor-
rectly exposed.View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
VI} MANUAL OPERATION:
Selecting Light Output for
Different Lens Openings
s2e q."l-e/ Your Sunpak Auto 31 1 electronic flash a
has the uniqub capability of variable light 1e:tio .
output, even when.used in manual mode. :.1: rur
This enables.you to shoot at wider or
smaffer lens openings for selective depth-of
field control and, as the energy-saving lsa A sp".l thyristor circuitry continues to function,
simultaneously shortens recycling times
and provides greater numbers of flashes. 3. Focus as you normally do. Note the
Yet, this remarkable feature is extremely distance shown by the distance indica-
easy to use: tor on your lens. (Example: 1O feet).
1. Move Selector switch on f ront of f lash 4. Now, simply move the Power Batio
to center position (under the white Dial (in center of calculator diall until
'M'). This disengages the auto com- the desired lens opening appears under
puter circuit of your flash. the correct flash-to-subject distance
2. Move (outer) calculator dial to show (10 feet). With ASA 100 film at 10
correct ASA film speed. (Example: feet from your subject, you can select
20 ASA 100). lens openings from f 2.O (1/16thView 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.