PiXAPRO GIO1 C TTL Li-Ion Round Head Camera Flash Instruction Manual

PiXAPRO GIO1 C TTL Li-Ion Round Head Camera Flash

Foreword

Thank you for purchasing this product.
This GIO1-C camera flash applies to Canon EOS series cameras and is compatible with E-TTL II autoflows. With this E-TTL II compatible flash, your shooting will become simpler. You can easily achieve a correct flash exposure even in complex light-changing environments. This camera flash features:

• With round flash head to achieve soft, even and more creative light effects. It has a 2W LED modeling lamp, which can be used off the camera.
• 76Ws power output at the max step. 81 steps from 1/1 to 1/128.
• Pro 2600mAh Li-ion Battery-max.1.5s recycle-480 full power pops.
• Fully support Canon E-TTL II camera flash. Workable as Transmitter or Receiver unit in a wireless flash group.
• Use dot-matrix LCD panel to make clear and convenient operations.
• With built-in 2.4GHz wireless remote system to support transmitting and receiving.
• Provided multiple functions, include HSS (up to 1/8000s), FEC, FEB, etc.
• Stable consistency and color temperature with good even lighting.
• Support with firmware upgrade.

Warning

• Always keep this product dry. Do not use in rain or in damp conditions.
• Do not disassemble. Should repairs become necessary, this product must be sent to an authorized maintenance center.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Stop using this product if it breaks open due to extrusion, falling or strong hit. Otherwise, electric shock may occur if you touch the electronic parts inside it.
• Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes (especially those of babies) within short distances. Otherwise visual impairment may occur.
• Do not use the flash unit in the presence of flammable gases, chemicals and other similar materials. In certain circumstance, these materials may be sensitive to the strong light emitting from this flash unit and fire or electromagnetic interference may result.
• Do not leave or store the flash unit if the ambient temperature reads over 50℃. Otherwise the electronic parts may be damaged.
• Turn off the flash unit immediately in the event of malfunction.

Conventions used in this Manual

• This manual is based on the assumption that both the camera and camera flash’s power switches are powered on.
• Reference page numbers are indicated by “p.**”.
• The following alert symbols are used in this manual:
  • The Caution symbol gives supplemental information.
  • The Note symbol indicates a warning to prevent shooting problem.

Name of Parts

Body

1. Flash Head
2. LED Modeling Lamp(01~10)
3. Wireless Sensor
4. Focus Assist Beam
5. Sync Cord Jack
6. Type-C USB Port
7. Battery Remove Button
8. Hotshot
9. LCD Panel
10. Hotshot Fixing Buckle
11. Lithium Battery

Control Panel

12. Flash Menu Button/Locking Button
13. < >Wireless Selection Button
14. Select Dial
15. Set Button
16. ON/OFF Power Switch
17. < > Test Button / Flash Ready Indicator
18. Focus Length
19. Mode Selection Button
20. < >Modeling Lamp Setting
21. <+/->Power Output
22. Function Button 1
23. Function Button 2
24. Function Button 3
25. Function Button 4

LCD Panel

(1)E-TTL Autoflash
Zoom : zoom display (Page 24)

• The display will only show the settings currently applied.
• The functions displayed above function buttons 1 to 4, such as S YN C and <A/B/C/D> , change according to settings’ status.
• When a button or dial is operated, the LCD panel illuminated.

Radio Transmission Shooting
Transmitter Unit (TX)

Note: The flash unit attached to the camera is referred to as the “Transmitter”, and other flash units controlled wirelessly are referred to as “Receivers”.

• LCD Panel in Three Modes

• What’s in the Box of GIO1 C

1. Flash Unit
2. Lithium Battery
3. USB Battery Charger
4. USB Line
5. Charger
6. Mini Stand
7. Protection Case
   

• Separately Sold Accessories

The product can be used in combination with the following accessories sold separately, so as to achieve best photography effects: ST-IV & ST-III TTL wireless flash trigger, AK-R1 accessory kit for round flash head, etc .

Battery

Features

1. This flash unit uses Li-ion polymer battery which has long runtime. The available charge-and-discharge times are 500.
2. It is reliably safe. The inner circuit is against overcharge, over discharge, overcurrent, and short circuit.
3. Take only 3.5 hours to fully charge the battery by using the standard battery charger.

Cautions

1. Do not short circuit.
2. Do not expose to rain or immerse into water. This battery is not water proof.
3. Keep out of reach of children.
4. No over 24 hours’ continuous charging.
5. Store in dry, cool, ventilated places.
6. Do not put aside or into fire.
7. Dead batteries should be disposed according to local regulations.
8. If the battery had ceased using for over 3 months, please make a full recharge.

Loading and Unloading the Battery

1. To unload the battery, hold down the battery remove button and push the battery downwardly to take it out.
2. To unload the battery, hold down the battery remove button and push the battery downwardly to take it out.

Battery Level Indication

Make sure the battery pack is securely loaded in the flash. Check the battery level indication on the LCD panel to see the remaining battery level .

LED Modeling Lamp

Press the Modeling Lamp Setting button to set the modeling lamp. Short press the Set Button to turn on or off the modeling lamp. When turning the modeling lamp on, turn the select dial to set its brightness. There are 10 levels(01~10) for choice.

Attaching to a Camera

1. Attach the Camera Flash.
2. Rotate the hotshoe fixing buckle to the left and insert the camera flash into the camera’s hotshoe.
3. Secure the Camera Flash .
4. Rotate the hotshoe fixing buckle to the right until it locks up.
5. Detach the Camera Flash.
6. Press the button and rotate the hotshoe fixing buckle to the left until it is loosened.

Power Management

Use ON/OFF Power Switch to power the flash unit on or off. Turn off if it will not be used for an extended period of time. Setting as a transmitter flash, it will turn the power off automatically after a certain period (approx. 90 seconds) of idle use. Pressing the camera shutter halfway or pressing any flash button will wake up the flash unit. Setting as a receiver flash, it will enter sleep mode after a certain period (adjustable, 60 minutes by default) of idle use. Pressing any flash button will wake it up.

• Disabling Auto Power Off function is recommended when the flash is used off camera. (C.Fn-STBY, Page 25)
• Receiver Auto Power Off Timer is set to 60 minutes by default. Another option “30 minutes” is available. (C.Fn-RX STBY, Page 25)

Flash Mode—E-TTL Autoflash

This flash has three flash modes: E-TTL, Manual (M), and Multi
(Stroboscopic). In E-TTL mode, the camera and the flash will work together to calculate the correct exposure for the subject and the background. In this mode, multiple TTL functions are available: FEC, FEB, FEL, HSS, second curtain sync, modeling flash, control with the camera’s menu screen.

• Press < MODE > Mode Selection Button and three flash modes will display on the LCD panel one by one with each pressing.

ETTL Mode
Press < MODE > Mode Selection Button to enter E-TTL mode. The LCD panel will display.

• Press the camera release button halfway to focus. The aperture and effective flash range will be displayed in the viewfinder.
• When the shutter button is fully pressed, the flash will fire a pre-flash that the camera will use to calculate exposure and flash output the instant before the photo is taken.

FEC: Flash Exposure Compensation **

**

With FEC function, this flash can adjust from -3 to +3 in 1/3rd stops. It is useful in situations where minor adjusting of the TTL system is needed based on the environment.
Setting FEC:

1. Press Function Button 2 Press the <+/-> button. The icon < > and flash exposure compensation amount will be highlighted on the LCD panel.
2. Set the flash exposure compensation amount.
3. Turn the Select Dial to set the amount.
4. “0.3”means 1/3 step, “0.7”means 2/3 step.
5. To cancel the flash exposure compensation, set the amount to “+0”.
6. Press Set Button again to confirm the setting.

FEB: Flash Exposure Bracketing

You can take three flash shots while automatically changing the flash output for each shot from -3 to +3 in 1/3rd stops. The camera will record three images with different exposures: one exposed according to camera calculations, one over-exposed and another under-exposed. Over and under exposure amount is user adjustable. This function helps get correct exposure especially in shooting moving objects or when environmental lights are complex.

1. Press function button 3

   < F EB >. The icon < > and the exposure bracketing amount will be highlighted on the LCD panel.

2. Set the flash exposure compensation amount.

3. Turn the Select Dial to set the amount.

4. “0.3”means 1/3 step, “0.7”means 2/3 step.

5. Press Set Button again to confirm the setting. Then your FEC and FEB settings are displayed on the LCD panel.

• FEB will be cancelled after three photos are taken.
• For best results, set the camera drive mode to “single” and ensure the flash is ready before shooting.
• FEB can be used with FEC and FEL.

You can prevent the FEB from being cancelled automatically after three photos are taken. (C. Fn-FEB ACL , Page 25)

FEL: Flash Exposure Lock

FEL can lock the correct flash exposure setting for any part of the scene. With displayed on the LCD panel, press the camera’s button. If the camera does not have the button, press the < * > button.

1. Focus the subject.
2. Press the button.
   • Aim the subject at the center of the viewfinder and press button.
   • The camera flash will fire a perflate and the required flash output for the subject is retained in memory.
   • Each time the button is pressed, a perflate will be fired and a new flash exposure setting will be locked.

• If the subject is too far away and underexposure, the < > icon will blink in the viewfinder. Move closer to the subject and try the FE lock again.
• If is not displayed on the LCD panel, FE lock cannot be set.
• If the subject is too small, FE lock might not be very effective.

High-Speed Sync **

**

High Speed Sync (FP flash) enables the flash to synchronize with all camera shutter speeds. This is convenient when you want to use aperture priority for fill-flash portraits.

1. Press Function Button 2 so that < > is displayed.
2. Check that < > is displayed in the viewfinder.

• If you set a shutter speed that is the same as or slower than the camera’s maximum flash sync speed, < > will not be displayed in the viewfinder.
• With high-speed sync, the faster the shutter speed, the shorter the effective flash range.
• To return to normal flash, press < SY NC > button again. Then < > will disappear.
• Multi flash mode cannot be set in high-speed sync mode.
• Over-temperature protection may be activated after 15 consecutive high-speed sync flashes.

Second-Curtain Sync **

**

With a slow shutter speed, you can create a light train following the subject. The flash fires right before the shutter closes.

• Press function button 2 < SY NC > button so that < > is displayed on the LCD panel.

M: Manual Flash

The flash output is adjustable from 1/1 full power to 1/256th power in 1/10th stop increments. To obtain a correct flash exposure, use a hand-held flash meter to determine the required flash output.

1. Press < MODE > button so that < M > is displayed.
2. Turn the Select Dial to choose a desired flash output amount.
3. Press Set Button again to confirm the setting.

Optic S1 Secondary Unit Setting
In M manual flash mode, press <S1/S2> button so that this flash can function as an optic S1 secondary flash with optic sensor. With this function, the flash will fire synchronously when the main flash fires, the same effect as that by the use of radio triggers. This helps create multiple lighting effects.

Optic S2 Secondary Unit Setting
Press <S1/S2> button so that this flash can also function as an optic S2 secondary flash with optic sensor in M manual flash mode. This is useful when cameras have pre-flash function. With this function, the flash will ignore a single “perflate” from the main flash and will only fire in response to the second, actual flash from the main unit.

• S1 and S2 optic triggering is only available in M manual flash mode.

Multi: Stroboscopic Flash

With stroboscopic flash, a rapid series of flashes is fired. It can be used to capture a multiple images of a moving subject in a single photograph. You can set the firing frequency (number of flashes per sec. expressed as Hz), the number of flashes, and the flash output.

1. Press button so  that < > is displayed.
2. Set the flash frequency and flash times.
   • Press the Function Button 2 to select the flash times. Turn the Select Dial to set the number.
   •  Press the Function Button 3 to select the flash frequency. Turn the Select Dial to set the number.
3. Turn the Select Dial to choose a desired flash output.
   • After you finish the setting, press Set Button and all the settings will be displayed.

Calculating the Shutter Speed
During stroboscopic flash, the shutter remains open until the firing stops. Use the formula below to calculate the shutter speed and set it with the camera.

Number of Flashes / Flash Frequency = Shutter Speed
For example, if the number of flashes is 10 and the firing frequency is 5 Hz, the shutter speed should be at least 2 seconds.

• To avoid overheating and deteriorating the flash head, do not use stroboscopic flash more than 10 times in succession. After 10 times, allow the camera flash to rest for at least 15 minutes. If you try to use the stroboscopic flash more than 10 times in succession, the firing might stop automatically to protect the flash head. If this happens, allow at least 15 minutes’ rest for the camera flash.
  • Stroboscopic flash is most effective with a highly reflective subject against a dark background.
  • Using a tripod and a remote control is recommended.
  • A flash output of 1/1 and 1/2 cannot be set for stroboscopic flash.
  • Stroboscopic flash can be used with “bulb”.
  • If the number of flashes is displayed as “–”, the firing will continue until the shutter closes or the battery is exhausted. The number of flashes will be limited as shown by the following table.

Maximum Stroboscopic Flashes:

Flash        Hz

output

| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6-7| 8-9
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
1/4| 8| 6| 4| 3| 3| 2| 2
1/8| 14| 14| 12| 10| 8| 6| 5
1/16| 30| 30| 30| 20| 20| 20| 10
1/32| 60| 60| 60| 50| 50| 40| 30
1/64| 90| 90| 90| 80| 80| 70| 60
1/128| 100| 100| 100| 100| 100| 90| 80
1/256| 100| 100| 100| 100| 100| 90| 80
Flash        Hz

output

| 10| 11| 12-14| 15-19| 20-50| 60-199
---|---|---|---|---|---|---
1/4| 2| 2| 2| 2| 2| 2
1/8| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4| 4
1/16| 8| 8| 8| 8| 8| 8
1/32| 20| 20| 20| 18| 16| 12
1/64| 50| 40| 40| 35| 30| 20
1/128| 70| 70| 60| 50| 40| 40
1/256| 70| 70| 60| 50| 40| 40

Wireless Flash Shooting: Radio (2.4G) Transmission

• The GIO1-C attach to the camera is called the transmitter unit, and a GIO1-C that is wirelessly controlled is called the receiver unit.
• You can also wirelessly control the GIO1-C set as the receiver unit with the transmitter X1T-C (sold separately). For details on setting the transmitter unit functions, see the transmitter’s instructions.

Using a flash (transmitter/receiver) with a radio transmission wireless shooting function make it easy to shoot with advanced wireless multiple flash lighting, in the same way as E-TTL II autoflows shooting.
The basic relative position and operation range are as shown in the picture. You can then perform wireless E-TTL II autoflows shooting just by setting the transmitter unit to .

Positioning and Operation Range (Example of wireless flash shooting )

• Auto flash Shooting with One Receiver Unit
• Use the supplied mini stand to position the Receiver unit.
• Before shooting, perform a test flash and test shooting.
• The transmission distance might be shorter depending on the conditions such as positioning of Receiver units, the surrounding environment and whether conditions.

Wireless Multiple Flash Shooting
You can divide the Receiver units into two or three groups and perform E-TTL II auto flash while changing the flash ratio (factor). In addition, you can set and shoot with a different flash mode for each firing group, for up to 4 groups.

• Auto Shooting with Two Receiver Groups
  

• Auto Shooting with Three Receiver Groups
  

• Shooting with a Different Flash Mode set for Each Group
  

• The flash mode settings are indicated only as an example

Wireless Settings
You can switch between normal flash and wireless flash. For normal flash shooting, be sure to set the wireless setting to OFF.

Transmitter Unit Setting

• Press < > button so that < > is displayed on the LCD panel.
  

Receiver Unit Setting

• Press < > button so that < > or < > are displayed on the LCD panel.

Transmitter Unit’s Flash OFF
When the Transmitter unit is set to OFF, only the Receiver units will fire a flash.

1. Press Button to enter C. Fn Transmitter setting.
2. Set Transmitter to ON/OFF to control the On/Off of the Transmitter unit.
3. < >：The Transmitter unit flash

firing is ON.

1. 1. < >：The Transmitter unit flash

firing is OFF.

•  Even if the Transmitter unit flash firing is disabled, it still fires a pre flash to transmit wireless signals.

Setting the Communication Channel
If there are other wireless flash systems nearby, you can change the channel IDs to prevent signal interference. The channel IDs of the Transmitter unit and the Receiver unit(s) must be set to the same.

• Press Button to enter C. Fn CH setting.
• In C.Fn CH, turn the Select Dial to choose channel ID from 1 to 32.
• Press the Set Button to confirm.

Wireless ID Settings
Change the wireless channels and wireless ID to avoid interference for it can only be triggered after the wireless IDs and channels of the Transmitter unit and the Receiver unit are set to the same. Press the