Nissin Digital Flashes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Lithium Ion 3.7v 1000mAH
4x Li-on batteries: 14.8 volts
Power: 1/1 (up to 360 flashes with 4000 mAh)
1.2 - 1.4 second recycle

AA NiMH Rechargeable 1.2v
4x NiMH: 4.8 volts
Power: 1/1 (up to 250 flashes)
3.0 second recycle

AA Alkaline 1.5v
4x alkaline: 6 volts
Power: 1/1 (up to 120 flashes)
3.7 second recycle

Search for your camera model on our Nissin flash compatibility search page. 

The Nissin Air R Receiver is compatible with your existing Canon, Nikon, Sony, or Nissin flashes:

• Canon: 220EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 430 EX, 430 EX II, 430 EX III-RT, 550EX, 580 EX, 580 EX II, 600 EX RT, 600 EX RT II
• Nikon: SB 500, SB 600, SB800, SB 900, SB 910, SB5000
• Nissin: i40, i400, i600
• Sony: HVL-F32M, HVL-F42AM, HVL-43M, HVL-F58AM, HVL-F60M

Nissin officially does not support third party off-camera TTL cords for use with their flashes. However, customers have reported that E-TTL compatible Canon cords can be used with Fujifilm model Nissin flashes.

Visit our firmware updates page to get the latest information on firmware updates and how to install them. Some Nissin flashes require your flash to be shipped to our California facility to update. Other flashes have user-upgradeable firmware.

In general, Nissin firmware updates provide updated compatibility for new camera models and may fix functionality issues. If your flash is working properly with your current camera model, it is generally not necessary to update the flash's firmware.

Visit our firmware update page for more information on updating your flash's firmware.

For Canon, Sony, and Four Thirds (Olympus / Panasonic) camera systems HSS is activated on the flash itself (please see instructions for your specific flash model).

On Nikon and Fujifilm camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu.

To Activate HSS on Nikon cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash > Flash Sync Speed > Select "Auto FP"

To Activate HSS on Fujifilm cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash Setting > Flash Function Setting > Sync Mode >  select "Auto FP (HSS)"

Some camera manufacturers, including Sony, disable HSS when the flash head is moved to a bounce position because the higher power consumption of HSS's rapid fire flashing reduces the flash's effective range. This renders bounce flash ineffective under most conditions.  Nissin follows each manufacturer's protocols with regards to allowing bounce flash when using HSS.

Your flash is not malfunctioning.  

Nissin flashes offer a range of 1/1 to 1/32 power when using HSS in Manual mode, and power output levels below 1/32 are not permitted.  If you attempt to shoot with the power set lower than 1/32 the flash will automatically reset to 1/32 (minimum factory default for HSS).

Why?  Nissin set a 1/32 minimum power level when HSS is enabled because they determined lower power settings do not produce sufficient light to expose an image during a HSS exposure.  This is because of how the HSS functions; in order to sync with faster shutter speeds the flash supplies the energy normally provided for a single flash and instead meters it out over a series of rapid, less powerful flashes.  This results in less power, and therefore less light output for each of the individual flashes during a HSS firing sequence.

To activate / deactivate HSS on the Nissin i60A (Sony and Olympus / Panasonic models only) press and hold the H↯ (HSS) button on the selector dial for 3 seconds. On Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu. When HSS is activated the yellow H↯ icon will appear on the flash's LCD display.

On Fujifilm cameras the HSS function is controlled from the camera flash sub-menu.  Once you activate HSS from your camera you will be able to use faster shutter speeds with your flash.  See example below:

FUJIFILM XT2:  Flash Function Setting > Sync > select Auto FB (HSS)

Note, to access the flash Sync sub-menu you must place the flash or wireless commander in your camera’s hot shoe and turn the power on.  If there is no flash in the camera’s hot shoe, or the if flash is in the hot shoe and the flash is powered off then you may not be able to access the flash Sync sub-menu option.  In this instance you may only see the message “Sync Terminal Off” displayed.

Yes, the LED modeling light on the Nissin MF18 can be used to help focus your camera in low light.  To turn on/off the modeling light press the "Set" button for 2 seconds.

Yes. Once the MF18 modeling light is turned on you can independently adjust the Side A or B light output pressing the UP or DOWN arrow buttons respectively on the flash’s control unit.

The Nissin MF18 Macro Ring Flash will go to sleep after 10 seconds of inactivity to conserve battery power, and it will fully power-off after 10-60 minutes of inactivity (depending on the flash's "Auto Off" setting).

You cannot disable the sleep mode on the MF18, but if the flash goes into sleep mode due to inactivity it will "wake-up" when you press the camera shutter button, or any of the buttons on the back of the flash's control unit.

If you were using the modeling light when the flash went to sleep it will turn back on when the flash wakes up.

First, check to confirm that your camera settings were not inadvertently changed. If your camera settings did not change, then the software on your MF18 may have become corrupted.

Corrupted software can cause the MF18 to malfunction in Auto and TTL mode. If your MF18 suddenly and inexplicably starts overexposing or underexposing images, then try resetting the flash's software. 

To reset the software on the MF18:

1. Press the "Set" button
2. Select the "Custom Setting Mode" (purple icon with white wrench)
3. Scroll down to "Reset" using the down arrow 
4. Press the right arrow to select "Yes"
5. Press the "Set" button to confirm that you wish to reset the flash

First, check that your batteries are fully charged. Batteries degrade over time, and the charge on old or depleted batteries can drop below minimum voltage levels required to power the flash.

If you have tested your batteries and are satisfied that they are not the source of the power failure, then the problem may be caused by a circuit failure in the MF18's removable battery magazine.  

If you suspect the problem is the battery magazine, then please contact us directly for support. We will replace the part if the flash is under the Nissin's original factory warranty, or the part can be purchased separately for $19.95 on our website if the warranty has expired.

The Nissin MF18 macro ring flash will connect to the Nissin PS8 External Power Pack (sold separately) when rapid recycle times or high volume shooting is required. 

The MF18 uses a power cable compatible with a particular camera brand. For instance, the MF18 Nikon uses a Nikon compatible power cable.

Try resetting the firmware on the MF18. This is a very quick procedure accessed through the settings menu. To reset the firmware please see the FAQ for step by step instructions.

If you reset the firmware and your MF18 is still consistently over or underexposing images, then use MY TTL under the settings menu to make global adjustments to the flash output.

The MY TTL setting will adjust the flash output when using AUTO and TTL mode. Any adjustment made under the MY TTL setting will be in addition to compensation applied using TTL mode. For example, it's possible to achieve up to +6 f/stop when applying +3 to MY TTL and +3 to TTL compensation.

To reset the software on the Nissin MF18:

1. Press the "Set" button
2. Select the "Custom Setting Mode" (purple icon with white wrench)
3. Scroll down to "Reset" using the down arrow 
4. Press the right arrow to select "Yes"
5. Press the "Set" button to confirm that you wish to reset the flash

If you use macro lenses with the aperture set to f/16 or higher to achieve maximum depth-of-field, then your flash is likely firing at 1/1 full power. Full power flashes use more power and generate higher heat while requiring longer recycle times than lower power flashes.

You can improve your flash recycle time and extend the life of your flash, flash tubes, and batteries by increasing your camera’s sensitivity to light by adjusting its ISO setting from 100 to 200, 400, or higher. For example, increasing the ISO from 100 to 200 doubles your camera’s sensitivity to light, which effectively reduces the light required from your flash by 50%. Increasing the ISO from 100 to 400 effectively reduces the power required from the flash by 75%.

Please note that image quality depends on a variety of factors, including the ISO setting and camera model. Most current digital cameras are capable of capturing images at ISO 400, 800, or higher without a degradation in image quality, but in some instances older cameras may not yield acceptable images when used at higher ISO settings.

1.  Check the exposure and flash compensation settings on your camera and flash and confirm they are set to +0.

2.  Are you using the Auto mode on your camera in combination with Auto/TTL mode on your flash?

If your camera is overexposing images in Auto mode, then try setting your camera to Apreture, Shutter, or Manual mode when using Auto/TTL mode on your flash.  

Also, when using your camera's Aperture, Shutter, or Manual mode confirm that Auto ISO is turned off.

Press the set button until the desired group light begins to blink; then quickly press the on/off button to turn the group on/off.

Yes, the Nissin commander and flash will pair successfully, but if they are on different channels you will not be able to control the flash.  If the commander and flashes are paired but not firing confirm that they are on the same channel, and the same group (A, B, or C).

For convenience, when pairing the i60A with a Nissin commander we recommend setting the flash channel to "A" (auto). 

To change the zoom setting on your remote flashes with the Nissin Air 1 Commander:  

1)  Press the "Mode" button on the Air 1 until "Z" and "24 35 50 70 85 105 135 200" appears across the bottom of the display.

2)  Press the "S" button to select the flash's group (A, B, or C) that you want to adjust.

3)  Rotate the selector dial to manually adjust the desired group's zoom setting (manual zoom only).

The ability to turn a selected group off/on can be useful when shooting with multiple flashes in different groups, for example a 3-light portrait set-up using a main, background, and hair light.

If you do not see Group A, B, or C on your Air 1 Commander, and you did not deliberately turn off the group, then it was most likely turned off by mistake.

To activate/deactivate a group on the Air 1 Commander simply press the Set button until the desired group is active (blinking), then quickly press the on/off button.

When pairing, we recommending using the "A" Auto Channel setting.

Confirm that your Nissin Air 1 Commander is properly seated in the camera's hot shoe.  Gently push the Air Commander all the way forward until you hear a "Click" sound.

For Sony Users, the Air 1 Commander must be in the camera's hot shoe AND "WL" must be selected in the camera's flash menu.  If the "WL" mode is not selected in the camera menu the remote flash will not fire.

The Nissin i60A must be in group A, B, or C to communicate with the Nissin Air 1 Commander.  Also, confirm that the Air 1 Commander and the i60A are set to the same channel.  If they are on different channels the flash will not fire. 

All Nissin NAS system flashes will emit an audio confirmation "beep" whenever a setting is changed.  To mute this sound, simply press the on/off button on the Air 1 (A, B, or C must NOT be flashing). The color of the flash test button will change from orange (beep) to white (mute).

If you are getting radio interference and need to change the channel on the Air 1 Commander, then press and hold the “S” set button for 3 seconds. Rotate the center dial to select 1 of the 8 available channels displayed in the “B” row (the channels are represented by orange bars). Press the set button again to confirm your selection.

If your Air 1 Commander is paired to the Nissin Di700A flash, then you do not need to change any settings on your flash. The Di700A will automatically update its channel to match the Air 1 Commander.

If your Air 1 Commander is paired to the Nissin i60A, and the flash is set to the “A” Auto Channel, then you do not need to change any settings on your flash. However, if the i60A has been manually set to channels 1-8, then you will need to manually update channel on your flash to match the new Air 1 Commander channel.

Confirm that the Air 1 Commander and the Air R Receiver are set to the same channel.  If they are on different channels the flash will not fire. 

First, confirm that your camera model supports HSS (not all cameras do). 

To use HSS on Canon, Sony, and Micro Four Thirds cameras you must activate the HSS function on your Nissin Air 1 Commander.  To activate HSS on the Air 1 press the pilot button for 3 seconds until the button starts to blink (this button will blink while HSS is active).  To deactivate HSS, press the pilot button again until the button stops blinking.  

To use HSS on Nikon and Fujifilm cameras you must activate HSS (FP) from the camera's flash menu. You do not need to change any other Air 1 or flash settings.

To Activate HSS on Nikon cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash > Flash Sync Speed > Select "Auto FP"

To Activate HSS on Fujifilm cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash Setting > Flash Function Setting > Sync Mode >  select "Auto FP (HSS)"

To control an off-camera flash a Sony Camera must be in the "WL" mode. Place the Nissin Air 1 Commander in the hot shoe, then activate the "WL" mode in the flash menu.

Rear Curtain Sync cannot be activated on older model Sony cameras when also using the WL mode for off-camera flash.  This is because two functions located in the same Sony camera sub-menu cannot be activated at the same time.

Note.  Sony updated the flash menu to separate the WL feature from other flash functions on newer cameras such as the A7III and A7RIII.  On these cameras it is possible to activate the Rear Curtain Sync mode when using off-camera flash with the WL mode activated.

The Nissin Air 1 Commander can be used to control Nissin’s MG flashes only when the flashes are assigned to Basic Group A, B, or C. 

The Air 1 is compatible with Manual, TTL, Flash Zoom, and HSS functionality when the MG flashes are in Basic Groups A,B, or C.

Note.  The Air 1 cannot be used to control the MG flashes’ in Advanced Group mode.  The Air 1 also cannot be used to control the MG flashes' modeling light, Open Mode, or the MG10 remote shutter trigger.

Yes, the Nissin Air 10s Commander for Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, or Sony can be used with any other NAS equipped Nissin flash model (Di700A, i60A, MG60, MG80, MG10), even if the flash model is for a different camera platform.

For example, the Air 10s Commander (Nikon) mounted to a Nikon camera can be used to wirelessly control an off-camera Nissin Di700A (Canon), i60A (Fuji), or MG80 Pro (Sony).  

Nissin flash models Di700A and i60A are only compatible with Nissin Air 10s Basic Groups A, B, or C.

Note.  Nissin flash models without the built-in NAS radio wireless technology (i400, i40, and i600) cannot be used with the Nissin Air 10s Commander. 

Yes, the Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander and Nissin flash will maintain their pairing after the devices are turned off (powered off).  Removing the batteries will also not affect the pairing.

1) Confirm the Air 10s and flash are paired.

2) Check the Air 10s and flash to confirm the Open Mode is turned off.

3) Check the Air 10s display to confirm that the flash’s individual group (A,B,C,D or Ȧ,Ḃ,Ċ,Ḋ) is turned on.

4) To change flash settings the flash group should be active on the Air 10s display, for example if the flash is set to Basic Group A, B, C, D you should see groups A, B, C, D on the Air 10s display.

5) Confirm the Air 10s and flash are set to the same radio channel, or simply set the flash to Ch A (Auto).

Confirm the Air 10s Commander AND flashes are using the same radio wireless channel.  For convenience, we recommend using Channel "A" (auto). 

Confirm the Air 10s Commander is set to "Basic Mode" when using the Nissin flashes Di700A, i60A, or Air R Receiver.  The Air 10s Commander offers a "Basic Mode" and "Advanced Mode", and the i60A, Di700A, and Air R Receiver are not compatible with the Advanced Mode.  When the Advanced Mode is active you will see a dot appear directly above the group letters Ȧ, Ḃ, Ċ, Ḋ.  To toggle between the Basic and Advanced Groups simply push and hold the Air 10s modeling light button for 3 seconds.

If your Air 10s Commander is not communicating with your i60A or Air R Receiver, then confirm that the i60A or Air R Receiver ARE NOT manually set to channel 1.  These units are not compatible with the Air 10s on Channel 1.  

When pairing the Air 10s Commander with the Nissin i60A, Di700A, and Air R Receiver, the Air 10s will automatically default to radio wireless channel 2.  To ensure proper communication between your Air 10s and flashes, confirm that your flashes are set to the Auto channel (recommended), or manually set them to channel 2.  If you are experiencing radio interference on channel 2, then choose another channel for the network (choose from channels 2-8).  

Confirm that Open Mode is not active on the Air 10s Commander.  The Di700A, i60A, and Air R Receiver will not respond to the Air 10s Commander if Open Mode is active on the Air 10s.  Press and hold the M/TTL button for 3 seconds to toggle the Open Mode on/off. 

If the i60A is not responding to the 1/3 EV steps from the Air 10s Commander, but is responding to other commands from the Air 10s, then the i60A requires a firmware update.  Please contact us for instructions about how to update the firmware on your flash.

First, confirm that your camera model supports HSS (not all cameras do). 

To use HSS on Canon, Sony and Micro Four Thirds (Olympus / Panasonic) cameras you must activate the HSS function on your Nissin Air 10s Commander.  Press and hold "H↯" on the Air 10s selector dial until the HSS icon "H↯" appears on the display. To deactivate HSS, press "H↯" on the selector dial again until the HSS icon disappears from the display.

To use HSS on Nikon, and Fujifilm cameras you must activate HSS from the camera's flash menu. You do not need to change any other Air 10s or flash settings.

To Activate HSS on Nikon cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash > Flash Sync Speed > Select "Auto FP"

To Activate HSS on Fujifilm cameras:

1. Insert Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s into camera hot shoe

2. Power on the camera and Air 1 / Air 10s

3. Camera Menu > Flash Setting > Flash Function Setting > Sync Mode >  select "Auto FP (HSS)"

The Open Mode on the Air 10s Commander is not compatible with the Di700A, i60A, or the Air R Receiver.  The Di700A, i60A, and Air R Receiver will not respond to the Air 10s if "Open" mode is active.

Nissin's Open Mode technology is only compatible with the Nissin MG80 Pro, MG10, and MG8.

The remote shutter release cables included with the Air 10s are included for use with the Nissin MG10 when using the MG10's remote shutter release function.

Your Nissin Air R Receiver may require a firmware update to be compatible with the newer Nissin Air 10s Commander.  Follow these simple instructions about how to check the firmware version installed on your Nissin Air R Receiver.

Please contact us if your Nissin Air R Receiver requires a firmware update.

When the batteries in your Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander run down, the Commander may initially pair normally but then drop the connection. Put brand new or fully charged batteries in your Air 1 or Air 10s Commander and the flashes will stay connected without dropping the pairing.

Confirm the Open Mode is active on the Air 10s and all flashes.

If your Nissin Air 10s will not wake your Nissin Di700A flash from sleep mode, then your Air 10s or Di700A flash may have older firmware installed.  Upgrading the firmware on your Nissin products will update the internal software to fix problems, add features, or add compatibility with new cameras.

The firmware on the Nissin Air 10s Commander is user upgradeable.  Please follow the instructions here for detailed instructions how to upgrade the firmware on your Nissin Air 10s Commander.

The Nissin Di700A is an older model flash, and its firmware is NOT user upgradeable.  To update the firmware on the Nissin Di700A you must send the flash to our offices in California.  Please follow the instructions here to contact us about upgrading the firmware on your Di700A.

Confirm that the 'Ch' radio channel on the MG10 is set to 'A' (recommended), or to the same radio channel (1-8) selected on the Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander.

Confirm that the 'Gr' group (A,B,C,D,•A,•B,•C,•D) selected on the MG10 is activated (turned on) on the Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander.

If the Channel and Group settings on the MG10 match the settings on your Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander and your flash is still not firing, then you may need to update the firmware on your Nissin MG10. Click here for instructions to check the firmware version installed on your flash. If your firmware is out of date, follow the instructions to download and install the latest version on your flash.  

Yes, the Nissin MG10 will connect to an external battery, such as the Nissin PS8, with a Sony style power cord.  When using an external battery the MG10 requires internal AA or Li-on type 26650 batteries to power the flash's electronics because an external battery only provides power to the flash head when firing.

The Nissin MG10 was designed to use multiple battery types, including 2x lithium ion type 26650 batteries (5000 mAh each).  These lithium ion batteries offer 3x more energy capacity than the PS8 battery pack (10,000 mAh vs. 3000 mAh) without the additional size, weight, and higher cost of a battery pack. 

However, the PS8 battery pack delivers an ultra fast recycle time of .5 -.7 seconds compared to the full power recycle time of 1.5 seconds for lithium ion batteries.

To activate the X-Sync Mode on the MG10 attach the cable (supplied with the Air 10s) to the camera and MG10. Next, rotate the 'GR' dial on the MG10 to the 'Red Dot' setting. 

To control the power on the MG10 rotate the 'Ch' dial to the A,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 setting. For example, Ch A setting yields 1/256 power, Ch 1 yields 1/128, Ch 2 yields 1/64, etc.  For further information, please see page 15 of the MG10 user manual:  Download Manual.

Connect the Nissin Air 10s Commander to your camera using the shutter release cable supplied with the Air 10s. Confirm the 'Gr' dial on the MG10 is set to the Red Dot.

Use Advanced Group Å on the Air 10s to adjust the TTL and Manual Power settings on the MG10 (this is the default group setting for the remote shutter release function).  

To toggle between the Basic and Advanced Groups on the Air 10s press and hold the Air 10s modeling light button.

In order to use the MG10’s Remote Shutter feature, the MG10 should be set to the Remote Shutter Group (red dot). In the Remote Shutter Group, the MG10 will default to Advanced Group Å.  

If the Air 10s is set to Basic Group Mode, it will not communicate with the MG10 in Advanced Group mode. In order to toggle the Air 10s to the Advanced Group mode, press and hold the Air 10s modeling light button for 3 seconds. There should now be a dot above the group letter, indicating the Air 10s is in Advanced Mode. The Air 10s should now communicate properly with the MG10 in Remote Shutter Mode.

No. The Nissin MG10 relies on a superior heat resistant design and materials, including quartz flash tubes, cooling vents, and a silent cooling fan to allow a high volume of continuous flashes before heat protection interruption. 

The flash is not broken. The modeling light power adjustment feature was disabled through a firmware update as most photographers want the light set to maximum and the power adjustment feature made the modeling light more awkward to use.

Confirm that the TTL compensation settings on your Nissin Air 10s Commander and in your camera flash menu are both set to "0" (flash compensation settings applied in the camera and flash are additive). 

If your flash compensation settings are "0", and the MG10 is still underexposing images, then you may need to update the firmware on your Nissin Air 10s Commander. 

Click here for instructions to check the firmware version installed on your device.  If your firmware is out of date, follow the instructions to download and install it on your Air 10s.  

You can easily remove the external zoom head (fresnel lens) by pulling down on the thumb tab on the underside of the zoom head while sliding it off.

Yes. You can fire multiple flashes when using Nissin's MG10 remote shutter function to trigger the camera. Make sure that all flashes are paired with the Air 10s Commander, and that all of the assigned flash groups are activated on the Air 10s Commander.

No, the MG10's Remote Shutter Trigger cannot be used with Open Mode activated on the Air 10s or MG10.

To use the remote shutter trigger on the MG8 or MG10 you will need a compatible shutter release cable to connect the Air 10s to your camera's remote shutter terminal port.  The Nissin Air 10s port requires a cable with a 2.5mm 3-pole (TRS) connection jack, but the end of the cable that plugs into your camera body varies depending on your camera model.

Canon cables:  2.5mm 3-pole connection to N3 connection, or 2.5mm 3-pole connection to E3 (2.5mm 3-pole) connection

Nikon cables:  2.5mm 3-pole connection to 10-pin (round) connection, 2.5mm 3-pole connection to accessory (square) connection, 2.5mm 3-pole connection to Mini USB connection, or 2.5mm 3-pole connection to Micro USB connection

Fujifilm cables:  2.5mm 3-pole connection to Mini USB for use with RR-80 camera terminal, or 2.5mm 3-pole connection to Micro USB for use with RR-90 camera terminal

Olympus / OM System cables:  2.5mm 3-pole connection to multi-USB connection for use with RM-UC1 camera terminal, or 2.5mm 3-pole connection to 2.5mm 3-pole connection for use with RM-CB2 camera terminal

Lumix cables:  2.5mm 3-pole connection to 2.5mm 4-pole connection

Please check your camera and refer to your camera manual to confirm the cable type your camera requires before purchase.

If your MG60 functionas normally when using AA batteries, but does not power on when using 14500 li-ion batteries, then your MG60 may need a firmware update. 

To check the firmware version installed on your Nissin MG60 you must first turn off the flash.  Then press and hold the power button and the pilot light button simultaneously for 3 seconds.  The three digit numerical code that appears on the LCD screen denotes the flash's firmware version, e.g. 002.

To download the latest firmware for your Nissin MG60 please follow the instructions on the manufacturer's website at nissindigital.com.

The Nissin Air 10s Commander and Nissin MG80 Pro must be paired, set to the same radio channel, and using the same Group.

1. Confirm the MG80 Pro and Air 10s Commander are paired correctly.  You can watch a quick 30 second video about how to pair them here or read written step by step instructions.
2. To use the MG80 Pro off-camera the flash must be set to the 'SL' slave mode. With the flash turned on, press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to select 'On', CO', or 'SL'. Rotate the dial to 'SL' then press the center of the dial to confirm.
3. Set the radio channel on the MG80 Pro to 'A'.  If experiencing radio interference then manually select another radio channel for the MG80 Pro and Air 10s Commander (the same channel for both).
4. The default group for the MG80 Pro is Advanced Group Ȧ, but the flash can be set to one of 8 different groups including, Advanced Group Ȧ, Ḃ, Ċ, Ḋ, or Basic Group A, B, C, D.  The MG80 Pro's group setting is displayed along the left edge of the screen.  To switch the MG80 Pro from an Advanced Group to a Basic Group press and hold the modeling light button for 3 seconds, then press the A, B, C, or D button to assign the flash to that group.
5. Confirm the Air 10s Commander displays the same Advanced or Basic group that is assigned to the MG80 Pro. For example, the Air 10s must display Advanced Group Å if the flash is set to Advanced Group Å. To change the group selected on the Air 10s from Basic to Advanced press and hold the modeling light button on the Air 10s for 3 seconds.

The color of the pilot light (green/red/yellow) on the Nissin MG80 Pro indicates the battery status.

1. Green:  flash is ready to fire.
2. Red:  flash is charging - pilot light will turn green when flash is ready.
3. Yellow:  battery problem - turn off flash and check batteries. 

• low battery power
• incorrect installation of battery polarity or type
• battery temperature (too hot)

The MG80 Pro utilizes a quartz flash tube because this type of flash tube delivers superior heat resistance, durability, and a longer life span than a standard glass flash tube.

The MG80 Pro flash head can be set to the following vertical positions for lighting subjects in front of the camera as well as for bounce flash:  -7˚, 0˚, 45˚, 60˚, 75˚, and 90˚.

The MG80 Pro's Auto Zoom function only works when the flash head is in the 0˚ position (straight ahead). If the flash head is in any other position, for example -7˚ (pointing slightly down), then the Auto Zoom will not sync the flash with your lens' focal length.  To use Auto Zoom confirm that your flash head is at 0˚.

Use Manual Zoom to change the zoom setting on the flash when the flash's head is in any position other than 0˚.

Yes, the MG80 Pro supports both flat top and button top type batteries.  However, we recommend using button top batteries because this type includes built-in safety circuitry designed to protect the battery against over charging.

No.  Do not mix and match battery types in the Nissin MG80 Pro.  Only use the same battery type at one time, for example 4x 14500 lithium ion, 4x AA NiMH Rechargeable, or 4x AA Alkaline batteries.  If you accidentally install different battery types the pilot light will display yellow and the flash will not function.

The Nissin MG80 Pro defaults to Advanced Group Å.  To access the command screen for the Advanced Group when the flash is displaying the Basic Group simply press and hold the modeling light button for 3 seconds. 

No, the Nissin MG80 Pro does not have an external battery pack connector.  The MG80 Pro was designed to use multiple battery types, including 4x lithium ion type 14500 batteries.  The 14500 lithium ion batteries offer comparable performance compared to an external battery pack without the battery pack's additional size and weight.  The 14500 lithium ion batteries are also much less expensive than a battery pack.

Nissin Di700A and i60A flashes for Fuji and Micro Four-Thirds systems require a Sony type cable for use with the Nissin PS8 Power Pack.

Yes, batteries are needed in the flash to provide power for the flash's controls. The PS8 Power pack only provides power to the flash head when firing.

Firmly push the PS8 cable down onto the PS8 body until you hear it lock with an audible “Click.”

A blinking red light on the PS8 indicates the battery power is below 10%.

To activate / deactivate HSS on the Nissin i40 (Sony and 4/3 models only) press and hold the pilot light for 3 seconds.  On Canon, Nikon, and Fuji camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu.

No, the Nissin i40 cannot be used with the Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander because it does not have a built-in radio receiver.

The A, B, and C groups indicated on the i40 can only be used in conjunction with the camera manufacturers’ own infrared TTL optical systems, such as Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS).

This is a quick reference chart that refers to the Nissin i40’s zoom head setting. The color of the i40’s pilot light will change to match one of the colors on the chart, and its corresponding zoom head setting. For example, a green pilot light indicates the flash’s zoom is set to Auto, a blue pilot light indicates the zoom is set to 24mm, etc.

You can manually adjust the zoom setting of the i40 when using the flash off-camera in the M, SD, SF, or wireless mode. To change the zoom setting, simply hold down the on/off button for 3 seconds (with the flash already turned on). The pilot light will change color to reflect the new zoom setting. Repeat this step to set the flash to the next zoom setting on the quick reference color chart.

When the pilot light is green the flash is in the Auto Zoom mode, and when mounted on a camera the flash will communicate with the camera body to automatically set the zoom head to the proper position.

To activate / deactivate HSS on the Nissin i400 (Sony and Olympus/Panasonic models only) press and hold the pilot light button for 3 seconds. On Canon, Nikon, and Fuji camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu. When HSS is activated the white indicator light to the left of the M, A, TTL dial (Light A) will blink.

When the Nissin i400 is in the “A” or “TTL” mode the flash will default to the “Auto” flash zoom head setting (green pilot light), which means the flash zoom will sync with the focal length of your camera’s lens. It is not possible to change the Auto zoom setting when using the flash in the “A” or “TTL” mode.

However, when the Nissin i400 is set to Manual mode you can manually change the flash’s zoom from Auto to one of the following fixed zoom settings: Auto (green), 24 (blue), 50 (pink), 80 (aqua), 105 (yellow). Each zoom setting is represented by a different color pilot light. For example, a green pilot light indicates the flash’s zoom is set to Auto, a blue pilot light indicates the zoom is set to 24mm, etc.

To change the flash's zoom setting when in Manual mode, simply hold down the on/off button for 3 seconds (with the flash already turned on). The pilot light will change color to reflect the new zoom setting. Repeat this step to set the flash to the desired zoom setting.

You have activated HSS (high-speed sync) on your Nissin i400.  To activate / deactivate HSS on the i400 (Sony and 4/3 models only) press and hold the pilot light for 3 seconds.  On Canon, Nikon, and Fuji camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu.

To activate / deactivate HSS on the Nissin i600 (Sony and 4/3 models only) press and hold the pilot light for 3 seconds.  On Canon, Nikon, and Fuji camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu.

You have inadvertently activated HSS (high-speed sync) on your Nissin i600. To activate / deactivate HSS on the i600 (Sony, 4/3, and Fuji models) press and hold the pilot light for 3 seconds.  On Canon and Nikon camera systems HSS is activated through your camera menu.

No, the Nissin i600 cannot be used with the Nissin Air 1 or Air 10s Commander because it does not have a built-in radio receiver.

The A, B, and C groups indicated on the i600 can only be used in conjunction with the camera manufacturers’ own infrared TTL optical systems, such as Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS).

Nissin's Open Mode allows photographers using Nissin Air 10s Commanders on different camera platforms (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus/Panasonic) to trigger the same MG10, MG8, and MG80 flashes.

Open Mode is supported by the Nissin MG10, MG8, and MG80 Pro flashes.

The Nissin Air 10s Commander supports Open Mode.  The Nissin Air 1 Commander does not support Open Mode.

Confirm all Nissin Air 10s commanders are paired with all flash(es), then activate Open Mode on all commanders and flashes.  To activate Open Mode on the Nissin Air 10s Commander and the Nissin MG80 Pro flash, hold down the M/TTL button until you will see the word "OPEN" appear in the lower left corner of the display.  To activate Open Mode on the Nissin MG10 and MG8 flashes simply press the Open button.  The Open button should light-up when activated. 

To use the Open Mode with the MG80 Pro off-camera the flash must be set to the 'SL' slave mode. To confirm that your MG80 Pro is set to the 'SL' mode; with the flash turned on, press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to display the mode selection screen 'On', CO', or 'SL'. Rotate the dial to 'SL' then press the center of the dial to confirm.

The SD and SF optical slave modes are used to trigger off-camera flashes in the absence of a wireless radio commander, or when the flashes lack radio receives.  When an off-camera flash is set to the SD or SF slave mode, it will fire when its optical sensor receives light input from the firing of another flash. 

The SD, or slave digital setting should be used on the slave flash when the master flash is set to TTL. In the SD setting, the slave flash will ignore the TTL “pre-flash” from the master flash and synchronize with the second “exposure” flash. When using the SD slave mode, set the power of the slave flash manually.

The SF, or slave film setting should be used on the slave flash when the master flash is set to Manual. Since there is no pre-flash when shooting in Manual, in the SF setting the slave flash will synchronize with the master flash every time it fires. When using the SF slave mode, set the power of the slave flash manually.

Confirm the master flash is in TTL mode. When using the SD slave mode, the slave flash will not fire when the Master Flash is in Manual mode.

Check to confirm the optical sensor on the slave flash is receiving light from the Master flash.  The slave flash will not fire if its optical sensor is blocked, or shielded from light emitted by the Master Flash.

The Master Flash is set to TTL, and the slave flash is firing on the TTL pre-flash (before the image capture). Change the slave flash to the SD optical slave mode.

Check the negative contacts on your flash’s AA battery magazine. The metal springs located at the bottom of the battery magazine should be angled up at approximately 30˚ to maintain contact with the battery. If one or more of these contacts have flattened then the flash will not power on.

Fortunately, there is a quick and easy solution. You can restore the angle of the metal spring to its original position by placing the tip of a small screw driver under the end of the metal spring and gently lifting up. Be careful not to lift the metal spring beyond 45˚.

If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself then please contact us directly to inquire about a repair. Additional battery magazines are also available for purchase here.

If the i60A is not responding to the 1/3 EV steps from the Air 10s Commander, then the i60A requires a firmware update.  Please contact us for instructions about how to update the firmware on your flash.

The following Nissin Flashes include a built-in AF-assist light (AFAL):  i400, i600, i40, i60A, Di700A, MG80.

When a camera body has its own built-in AF-Assist light the camera will not send a signal to a flash to activate the on-flash AF-Assist light.

This means that your flash's AF-assist light WILL activate when used with a camera body that DOES NOT have its own AFAL, and your flash’s AF-assist light WILL NOT activate when used with a camera body that DOES have its own AFAL.

Resetting your Nissin flash or commander is a useful troubleshooting step and can sometimes solve issues. Please follow the instructions for your particular flash or commander model in order to reset your unit.

No, Nissin flashes do not have a stroboscopic function (multi-flash mode).

For off-camera only.  The Leica SF C1 Commander is compatible with Nissin i60A and Di700A flashes, provided the May 2018 “Leica support” firmware has been installed on the flashes.  This firmware update enables Leica TTL and HSS compatibility when the flashes are paired with a Leica Commander.  

The Leica SF C1 Commander is NOT compatible with any other Nissin flashes.

No. Nissin flashes cannot be used in the Leica on-camera hot shoe. For on-camera flash photography you must use a Leica version flash such as the SF 60.

Watch these Nissin pairing videos to see how to pair an Air 1 or Air 10s commander to a Nissin Flash. You can also read how to pair the Nissin MG80 Pro and Air 10s Commander .

The Nissin Air 10s Commander offers users the option of selecting "A" Auto Zoom or Manual Zoom mode on flashes in remote groups.  When in the Auto Zoom mode a remote flash's zoom automatically syncs with the camera lens' focal length.

To change the zoom setting on a remote flash press and hold "M. zoom" on the Selector Dial of the Air 10s for about 2 seconds. Next, press the flash's group button (A, B, C, or D) until the group letter blinks, then rotate the Selector Dial to the desired zoom focal length. Press "M. zoom" again for approximately 2 seconds to confirm the change.

The Nissin Air R Receiver is a wireless radio receiver that enables full off-camera TTL and Manual functionality on your flash when paired with a compatible Nissin Air 1 Commander (wireless radio transmitter).

The Nissin Air 1 Commander and Nissin Air R Receiver must both be compatible with your camera system, for example:

• For Canon cameras with a Canon flash - use Air 1 Commander (for Canon) + Air R Receiver (for Canon)
• For Nikon cameras with a Nikon flash - use Air 1 Commander (for Nikon) + Air R Receiver (for Nikon)
• For Sony cameras with a Sony flash - use Air 1 Commander (for Sony) + Air R Receiver (for Sony)

Confirm the following settings on your Nissin Commander (Air 1, Air 10s), Nissin Air R Receiver, and Flash.

• Radio Channel (Auto, 1-8) - Set your Nissin Air R Receiver to Auto.
• Flash Group -  Is your Nissin Air R Receiver set to Group A, B, or C?  Confirm that the Air R's group is active on your Nissin Commander (it's possible the group is turned 'off').
• Set Flash to TTL or Auto - Your flash must be set to TTL or Auto to receive the signal from the Nissin Air R Receiver.  If you wish to use your flash in Manual Mode then select Manual from your Nissin Commander.

Yes, the Fuji EF-W1 wireless radio commander is compatible with the following Nissin Digital flashes:  MG80 Pro, MG10, MG8, i60A.