Vivitar 271 Flash User manual

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I      l o       o 1
urvrtarautomaticelectronic f lash
Model 271


Owner'sManual

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CONGRATULATIONS. . . AND WELCOME
to the ever-increasingnumberof photographersnow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ienjoyingVivitarElectronicFlash.
Your VivitarModel 271is an excitingnew way to take
flash picturesand becausewe know you'll want to get                   ri  l l
startedimmediately,here is a SHORTCOURSEOF                                                          I
INSTRUCTIONSto show you how to take perfectlyex-
posedphotographseverytime.The detailedinstructions                 a
whichfollow offer a more completeexplanationof how to use
your new Vivitar271 and also providehandy hintson flash
photography.
YourOwner'sManualis a handy referenceguide and
shouldbe referredto wheneverquestionsarise.We
knowthatyou will enjoyyour new electronicflash and
we wish you manyyearsof picturetakingfun.





                                            tL

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Table of contents




      2-3  Short courseof instructions
       4   First,chargethe unit
       5  Formthe capacitor
       6  Your flash will operatefrom severalpowersources
       8  Attachingflash to camera
       9  Multiplef/stop control
   10-11 Get readyto shoot.. . automatically
      12  Manualoperation
      13  You're readyto shoot lF
      14 Cameraswith built-inautomaticflashcontrol
      15  Afteryou'refinishedshooting
   15-17 Heloful hints
           Eliminatingshadows    Flashfill
        Bounceflash         Stop action flash
          Mirrors              Synchronizationspeed
        Groupshots
      18  Multiplef lashwith Vivitarslaveunits
   19-20 Troubleshooting
      21  Informationand assistance
      21  Warrantyregistration
   22-23 Model271 specifications

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 llluminatedCalculatorDia.l
On-OffSwitch
ReadyLight/OpenFlashButton

Descriptionof parts


PC SynchronizationCord
Hot Shoe PC Terminaland StorageArea
MountingShoe
Shoe Lock Nut
ChargeTerminationIndicator
AC/Charge Receptacle





Sensor
Auto/ManualControlSwitch
AC/ChargeUnit
ChargerVoltageSelector

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Short course of instructions
1T
Setchargervoltageselector
to properline voltage.(See
page 4.)
2
Chargeunitfor t houror until
chargeterminationindicator
glows.(Seepage4.)
                                                                                                                                                                                    DN:org,Date:cn=Mikec=US2024.04.21signedButkus,by17:27:32Mikeo=ButkusButkus-04'00'camera manuals, ou=butkus.org, email=mike@butkus.                       Mike Butkus                                       Digitally


 Flashunit5 timesto form
 capacitor.(Seepage 5.)



 -T
 DetachAC/ChargeUnit and
 mountf lashon camera.Attach
            'rX" PC cord to    terminal.
 Fc
 Set camerato correctshutter
 speedfor electronicf lash.

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a\o
SetASA film speedon calcu-
latordial.Readf /stop within
color-keyedtrianglefor auto
f/stop you prefer.

2T
SetAuto/ManualControl
Switchto the samecolor.
(Seepage 9 )



\J
Set f/stop on cameralens.
No furtheradjustmentsare
requiredwithinauto range.
o\.,
SlideOn-OffSwitchto "ON"
position.Takethe picturewhen
readylightglows.

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Detailedoperatinginstructions

First,charge the unit
YourVivitarModel 271 can be chargedon either120volt
AC (U.S.A.voltage)or 220volt AC (manyEuropeancoun-
tries)currents.Set the ChargerVoltageSelector@ on the
AC/ChargeUnit @  to matchthe linevoltageyou will use.
CA1T ION:The chargervoltagese/ector mustbe sef correctly
to preventdamage to Yourcharger.





 Slidethe On-OffSwitch@to the "OFF" positionto pre-
ventbatterydrain and insertthe ChargeCord into the
 AC/ChargeReceptacle@  Plugthe AC/ChargeUnit into
 any standardAC wall outletand chargethe 271 for t hour
 or untilthe ChargeTerminationIndicator@ glows.
The Chargerof your Vivltar271 will automaticallyswitchdown
 to a "tricklecharge"and a built-insafetycircuitwill protect
 your flashfrom overcharging.
 Undernormalcircumstancesyour Vivitar271 will fully re-
 chargein t hour but the chargetime may vary somewhat
 dependingon variationsin both linevoltageand ambient
 roomtemperatureand the conditionof the built-inNickel
 Cadmiumbatteries.The ChargeTerminationIndicatormay
 take upto 11/zhoursto lightand this shouldbe considered
 normalwherevariationsin chargingconditionsexist.

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   An important feature
   YourVivitarModel271has the abilityto deliverenough
   flashesto shootan entireroll of film afteronly a fevrmin-
'   utesof charging.The chartbelowshowsthe numberof
   flashesobtainableas the chargingtime increases.

   ChargingTime  Numberof Flashes(avg.).
    5 m i n u t es             1 0
   10 minutes           20                                      * B a s e d  o n b a t t e r i e s
   15 minutes           25                           being completely
   30 m inutes           40                          drainedp o w e r  r e mWherea i n s  f somer o m
   45 m inutes            70                            np ur emvbi oeur so cf hf laarsgheess,                                  :
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          l , -   60 minutes         85+                  wincreasedi l l b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y

  Form the capacitor

   The capacitorof the f lashdrawselectricalenergyf rom the
    batteries,storesit and dischargesthis energyto the f lash
   tubewhenthe circuitis triggered.Whenthe flashis new or
   when it has not been usedfor a long periodof time,the
   capacitormay losesome of its abilityto storeelectricity.
  Whenthis occurs,the followingstepswill re-buildor "reform"
   the capacitor.
   Afteryour Model271ischarged,slidethe On-OffSwitch@
    to the "ON" positionand fire the flashby pressingthe Ready
   Light/OpenFlashButton@. n.peat this about5 times
   allowingthe ReadyLight@ to glow aftereachf lash.Your'   capacitorwill then be formedand you can disconnectthe
   AC/ChargeUnit @
     It'sa good ideato flashyour unit periodicallyto keepthe
    capacitorformed.

Your ffashwillwww.orphancameras.comoperatefrom several
power sources

 Multiple Voltage AC Operation
AC operationis handy if your batteriesare low on power.
YourVivitar271 will operateon two differentAC voltages:
A. 120 volt AC (U.S.A.-Canada)
To use yourflashon 120 voltAC current,set the charger
Voltageselector @ on the Ac/charge Uniton the "120v"
position.slide the on-off switch@ to the "oN" position
and attacnthe AclCharge Unitto both the flash€)and wall
outlet.when the ReadyLight@ glows,your flash is ready
for usel





B. 220 volt AC (Most Other Countries)
To use your flash where 220 volt AC currentis standard,set
the chargerVoltageselector @ on the AC/chargeUnit
to the "220v'' position.Slidethe On-OffSwitch@ to tne
"oN" positionand attachthe AC/charge Unitto both the
f lash@ and wall outlet.The ReadyLight@ *iil glow when
the flashis readyto be fired.
In countrieswherethe standardvoltageis between120volts
and 240volts,set your charger voltage selectorto the
"220v'' position.Voltageslessthan 220volts wiil extend

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Attachingyour flash to the camera
1t
Selectverticalor horizontaloperationby pullingout on the
MountingShoe@ and movingit to the properposition.lf
the camerabeingused is a half-frame35mm camera,use
the verticalposition.For f ull-frame35mmcamerasand
Instamatic126type cameras,usethe horizontalposition.


L
Insertthe MountingShoe@ intothe accessoryclip on the
cameraand tightenwiththe ShoeLocklrtut@. Plugthe PC
Cord@ intothe flashterminalon the camera.Usethe ter-
mfnalmarked"X". lf an "X" terminalis not provided,set the
camerasynchronizationswitchto "X". (Referto your camera
instructionsfor specific informationregardingyour camera's
f lash synchronization).
^\t
lf your camerais suppliedwith a Hot Shoe,you can leave
the PC Cord@on the flashin its storageareawiththe
PC tip connectedto the built-in terminal.

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Multiplef/stop control

The VivitarModel271 can be set to operateautomaticallyat
two f/stops.The largerf/stop position(BLUE)permits
you to decreasethe depthof field (areain sharpfocus)and
alsoenablesyou to take picturesat an extendedautomatic
range.The smaltert lstop position(RED)shouldbe used
for takingcloseup pictureswith fastfilms,and in situations
whenyou want to increaseyour depthof f ield.
The Auto/ManualControlSwitch @  has three positions:
M -  In this position,yourflashwill operatein the manual
mode.See page12.
BLUE -  In this position,the automaticrangeof your unit
is 2 to 15 feetfrom flashto subject.When in this mode,use
the BLUEtriangleon the CalculatorDialO  to readyour
autof/stop setting.





RED-  In this mode,the automaticrangeof your271 is 2
to 10 feetfromflashto subject.Whenusingthis mode,read
the REDtrianglefor your autof /stop setting.

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Get readyto shoot. . . ?utomatically
 1I
 Setthe camerashutterspeed
 to 1/60,1/30 or "X"-
 Nofe:You should referto your
 camerainstructionsfor the
 properspeedsettingfor elec-
 tronic f lash.
 ,^lz
Set the correctASA film speed
on the calculatordialO The                                                                                                       I
ASA speedcan be found in the
data sheetthat comes packed
withyourfilm.
Example;ForKodachromell, set
theASAmarkto 25.

rr
\'
Readf /stop withincolor-
keyedtrianglefor auto f /stop
you prefer.Set the auto/man-
ual controlswitch@) to same
colorand set your lensto the
correctf/stop.

                       1 0

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                                                                                                                                                                                 t

Note:The correct auto f/stop set-
tingsfor most popularfilms are
listedfor both auto rangesin the
specifications,page 22.





.T
Slidethe On-Offswitch@
to the "ON" position.
Yourflashunitwill automati-
callygive you a perfectex-
posureof any subjectwithin
the automaticrangeyou have
selectedwithoutfurther
f/stop adjustments.





                         1 1

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Manualoperation

Whenyou wish to use yourYivitar271 in the manualmode
(forexample,picturesbeyondthe autof lash range)-                                                       'l
IISet the Auto/ManualControlSwitch@         J
to the manualposition("M").
rrz
Setthe correctASA f ilm speedon the            {rFnTCalculatorDial@
\Je
Focusyourcameraand estimatethe distancef rom the f lashto
subject.You can usuallydo this "by eye" or you can referto the
distanceindicatedon the cameralens barrelafterfocusing.
 -TA
Readthe f /stop indicatedoppositethe
distancescaleon the CalculatorDial
and set thisf /stop on your cameralens.

 Example;lf you are 15 feet from Your
 subjectand you are usingKodachrome
 ll (ASA25),set the lensf /stop to f2.8.

 F   l\                                                  Il
 vt
 SlidetheOn-OffSwitch@ to the "ON"
 position.

                       12

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  You'rereadyto shoot..' lF:



                      1) YOUR READYLIGHT
                                           I S O N
                                     2) YOURPC CORDlS
                          PROPERLYPLUGGEDIN
     3) YOURAUTO/MANUAL
    CONTROLSWITCHIS SET
        IrulIE PROPERPOSITION

     4) YOU HAVESETTHE
    CORRECTF/STOPON
    YOURCAMERALENS

     5) YOURSHUTTERlS
    COCKED

Il



                          1 3

www.orphancameras.comautomaticCameraswith built-in
flash control

Manynewcamerashavea uniquefeaturewhichautomatically
setsthe correctexposurefor flashas you focus.For the
cameraand Vivitar271 lo operateautomaticallytogetheryou
mustset the properguidenumberon the GuideNumber
Scaleof your camera(referto your camerainstructionsfor
the locationof the GuideNumberRing).Theproperflash
guidenumbercorrespondingto the ASA film speedyou are
usingis indicatedon the chartbelow:

ASA film speed   25 64  80 100 125 160 200 400 800
FlashGuideNo.   40 65  75  85  95 110 120 170 240

Note;Makesurethe Auto/ManualControlSwitch @  is in
the manualposition("M").





                          1 4

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 Afteryou're finishedshooting

 Let it glow!
 Do not discharge(flash)the unit beforeputtingit away.
  It'sbetterto leave the ready light glowing. The next time you
 useit,yourflashunitwill "reform"fasterand this procedure
 willinsurethe long lifeof your equipment.
 Use the case
 storingyour unit in the convenientcarryingcasewill protect
 it fromaccidentaldamageand keep it lookinglike new.
Helpfufhints

Shadows
To avoidharshshadowsin your pictures,positionyour sub-
jectsat least3 to 4 feet from wafls or use "bounceflash."
Bounce flash
soft,subtlylightedpictureswhich mostcloselyresemble
openshadelightingconditionscan be achievedby ,,bounc-
ing" the lightfromyourflashunitoff a ceilingthatis not
too high.Aim the flashgun at the ceiling(you'llhaveto re-
movethe flashfrom your camera)and allowan increaseof
abouttwo f/stopsto compensatefor the lossof lightintensity,
                                               / \
                                                      \
                                                           \



                     Open cameralens
                          2 additionalf /stops

                            1 5

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Mirrors
Nevershootf lash picturesstraightinto mirrors,glass,or
otherhighlyreflectivesurfaces.Reflectionswill resultand
causepoor pictures.Standat an angleso that any reflec-
tionswill be directedawayfrcrn the camera.Hint: lf you
can'tsee yourselfin the mirror,you'resafe.
Groupshots
Don'tloseSomeof your friendsin the shadows!Be surethat
the wholegroupis aboutthe samedistancef romthe camera.
lf you'renot carefulpeopleclosestto the camerawill be
"washed-out,"and thosef urthestawaywill be dark because
not enoughlightreachedtheirspot in the picture.
Flash fill
Outdoors,electronicflash is usedextensivelyby profession-
als to "f ill-in" shadowareas.lt softenshard shadows
resultingfrom brightsunlightand is particularlyusefulwith
colorf ilm which can only recorda limitedcontrastrange.
Thereare timeswhen the sun disappears,but the picture
callsfor sunlight.The electronicflashcan then be used as
the mainlightand verysuccessfullysimulatesunlight.





 Hard shadowsresult      Electronicflashfills in
 from directsunlight.     shadowareas.


                              1 6

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Stop-action
Theflashdurationof the Vivitar271 variesfrom 1/1000 sec.
to about1 /30,000sec.This extremelyfastflashduration
can be used advantageouslyto obtainvery creativepictures
whenthe flash is set to the Auto mode and is closeto the
subjectbeing photographed(approx. 2 ft).
Picturesof balloonsbursting,glassbreakingor shattering,
watersplashingand other motionstoppingeffectscan easily
                                      'be achieved.
For properSynchronization,Setcamerato "8" operation,
photographyour subjectin a dark area,and shortcircuitthe
PC contactsby usingswitchesmadeof aluminumfoil or
othersmallpiecesof wire in such a mannerthat contactwill
be madeat the momentit is mostdesirableto obtainan
exposure.





Synchronization sPeed
Whentakingf lash pictureswith your Vivitar271 alwaystry
 to use the fastestpossiblecamerashutterspeedthat pro-
videsfull electronicflash synchronization(referto your cam-
 era instructionsfor this information).Thiswill eliminate
 "ghosts"or blurryimagesof brightlylit objectsin the
 background.

                          1 7

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Multipleflash with Vivitar slave units

Whentakingportraitsor picturesof largegroups,many
photographerspreferto use morethan one flash unitto pro-
ducea betterlight balance.To do this,you must be ableto
f ireboththe mainf lashand eachremotef lashsimultaneously.
VivitarSlaveUnitsare solid statelight sensitivedevices
which when attachedto the PC cord of a flash unit automati-
caffy triggerthe f lash in perfectsynchronizationwith the
mainf lashunit withoutexternalcablesor wires.





                                                                                                               Ii 4 feet

        tsoi;yfiir*:x;                                 \\\\\flashand three    ry    i*-45"._">......
remoteflashunits                                 i                  "..'-.
to balancethe light.                                 i               Z.-
                                            ,                 ,r--
              MainFtash      -       KeYFlasnt'
        sameheisht                as subject   lwv:ffir      3,fiJ.?n,1ilJiTl                                      ance as main flash
                         1 8