• The secondary reflector does not support the stroboscopic, remote and model-
ling light (ML) flash modes. In these modes the secondary reflector cannot be
activated, or the secondary reflector does not trigger a flash.
• The main reflector is in its normal position or tilted downwards.
The secondary reflector flashes even though it is switched off.
• The mecablitz operates as a master in the remote system. The secondary
reflector of the master flash unit controls the slave flash units. The light of the
secondary reflector does not contribute to the exposure of the shot in this
case.
TTL
The TTL fill-in flash
BL cannot be set.
• There has been no exchange of data between the flash unit and the camera.
Tap the camera's shutter release.
• The camera does not support TTL fill-in flash mode.
• The camera is switched to spot metering. Choose another metering type, for
example multi-zone metering.
The setting for manual TTL flash exposure correction has no effect.
• The camera does not support manual TTL flash exposure correction on the
flash unit (Group A cameras, for example).
Flash unit cannot be set for wireless remote operation as the master flash unit.
• Wireless remote operation is supported only by Group E cameras. Remote
flash operation is not available with other cameras.
• There has been no exchange of data between the flash unit and the camera.
Tap the camera's shutter release.
Automatic switching to the flash sync speed fails to occur.
• The camera has a between-the-lens shutter (as do most compact cameras),
Switching to sync speed is therefore unnecessary.
• The camera operates with FP high-speed synchronisation (camera setting). In
this case no switching to sync speed occurs.
• The camera operates with shutter speeds that are slower than the flash sync
speed. Depending on the camera mode, there is no switch to flash sync speed
114
(see the camera's operating instructions).
The shots have shadows in the bottom of the image.
• Because of parallax error between lens and flash unit, close-up shots may not,
depending on the focal length at the bottom of the image, be fully illuminated.
Tilt the main reflector downwards or turn the wide-angle diffuser in front of
the reflector.
The shots are too dark.
• The subject is beyond the range of the flash unit. Note: Using bounce flash
reduces the range of the flash unit.
• The subject contains very bright or highly reflective areas. The metering
system of the camera or flash unit is deceived as a result. Set a positive manu-
al flash exposure correction, e.g., +1 EV.
The shots are too bright.
• For close-ups it is necessary to ensure that certain minimum lighting distances
are maintained to avoid overexposure. The minimum distance from the sub-
ject should be at least 10% of the maximum flash range indicated on the
display.
The flash parameters for ISO film speed and the aperture (f-stop) cannot be
adjusted on the flash unit.
• There is an exchange of digital data between flash unit and camera through
which the ISO and aperture (f) values are automatically adjusted on the flash
unit. ISO and aperture are adjustable only when no digital data exchange is
taking place, as for example with Group A cameras.