Pentax 40 MZ-3i operating instructions Partial light output levels in the auto mode

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9. Working with partial light output levels

￿ Partial light output levels are manually adjustable fractions of the full-power

9. Working with partial light output levels

light output.

Partial light output levels can be set in all operating modes except the TTL remote mode. The recycling times are shorter when partial light output levels are adjusted (see Technical Data, Table 1) instead of full-power flashes. At the same time the guide

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number of the flashgun is diminished, together with the flash-to-subject distance or flash range, because only part of the flash power is emitted.

☞Partial light output cannot be set for TTL remote operation. In strobos- copic mode, the maximum possible partial light output is always indicated.

Partial light output levels in the auto mode

Partial light output may be adjusted in the auto mode to ensure that a flash is always triggered with serial shots (winder mode).

The actual light output level for a given flash frequency and number of flashes is specified in Table 5 of the Technical Data.

Partial light output levels in the manual mode

Some situations make it necessary to reduce the amount of light emitted by the flashgun because the selected flash-to-subject distance may result in an excessively high f-number and undesired large depth of field. This is where the partial light output level function comes to the rescue.

The partial light output levels are adjustable within very close increments. The distance value of the flashgun can therefore be easily matched to the subject distance if a specific aperture has to be retained. Thus, professional flash photo- graphy is made possible in a very simple manner to deal with difficult situations (great differences in contrast, extreme level of reflection) when the automatic system would not produce optimal results.

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Fig. 19: Partial light output levels in the manual mode

Setting procedure for manual mode with partial light output:

• Adjust the camera in the manner described in the operating instructions. 1 Switch on the flashgun with the main switch .

2 Adjust the operating mode selector		to M.
• *Press the ISO button	and then adjust the film speed with the + or
- button

• *Press the Zoom button		and use the + or - button	to adjust the zoom
value that equals the focal length of the camera lens.
3 Press the	button.
4 Use the + or - button		to continuously change the flashgun’s aperture until

the required aperture appears on the LC display. Now set the same aperture on the camera.

☞If an SCA 3000 adapter is used, some cameras automatically transmit the f-number. Should this be the case, the aperture on the camera must be changed until the required f-number appears on the LC display of the flashgun.

5 Press the P button , and then use the + or - button to continuously change the partial light output level until the required distance appears on the LC display.

*must additionally be set on some cameras

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