Air10s FAQ

A. We have recently received reports that when attaching our flash or NAS commander (Air 1) to the Panasonic GH5, it is too tight and difficult to attach, or cannot be attached at all.
Our products with locking buttons (one-touch type) cannot be tightened after attachment to the camera, so the metal plate of the mounting foot is made slightly thicker than that of the camera manufacturer's genuine flash to ensure a snug fit.
Our Four Thirds products are compatible with both Panasonic and Olympus cameras; however, since the hot shoe dimensions (the height between the left and right rails) differ slightly, they are a bit tighter on Panasonic cameras.
Among Panasonic cameras, the GH5 is particularly tight (the height between the left and right rails is low), so if the hot shoe or the flash's mounting foot is even slightly dirty, it may be physically impossible to attach.
Therefore, if you cannot attach our flash to the GH5, please try inserting it into the camera's hot shoe while pressing the flash's Unlock button. If it still does not attach, please try cleaning the camera's hot shoe and the flash (commander) foot. (Please refer here for cleaning instructions.)
After attaching the flash, gently pull it toward you without pressing the Unlock button; if it does not come off, it is attached in the correct position.
If it comes off, it is possible it was not inserted fully.
Red text added on 2017/9/11.

A.

We have received reports that when attaching our flash or NAS commander (Air 1, Air10s) to the Nikon D5600, it is too tight and difficult to attach, or cannot be attached at all.

Our products with locking buttons (one-touch type) cannot be tightened after attachment to the camera, so the metal plate of the mounting foot is made slightly thicker than that of the camera manufacturer's genuine flash to ensure a snug fit.

Among Nikon cameras, the D5600 is particularly tight (the hot shoe is narrow, and the height between the left and right rails is low), so if the hot shoe or the flash (commander) mounting foot is even slightly dirty, it may be physically impossible to attach.
Therefore, if you cannot attach our flash to the D5600, please try cleaning the camera's hot shoe and the flash (commander) foot. (Please refer here for cleaning instructions.)

However, if you cannot even insert the tip of the mounting foot into the hot shoe, there is a possibility of a defect such as a deformed hot shoe or mounting foot.

Also, if the camera or flash (commander) is new, repeated attaching and detaching will help the hot shoe break in, making it easier to attach.

When detaching the flash, be sure to press the Unlock button all the way in; failing to do so may cause the mounting foot to break.

Furthermore, if the hot shoe is tight, do not force it to remove it all at once, as it may suddenly release and cause unexpected injury. Please remove it slowly and bit by bit.

A. The Air1 had a two-mode switch: "Standard Mode (MODE1)," which operates the same way as a flash mounted on top of the camera, and "MODE2," which mimics the ST-E3-RT for reliable synchronization on high-performance cameras where communication timing may not align.
In the Air10s and MG80 Pro (Commander Mode), to enhance functionality and stabilize communication quality, the device is fixed in the same state as the Air1's MODE2. Therefore, just like the genuine ST-E3-RT, rear-curtain sync photography is not supported. It cannot be set from the camera either. This is due to hardware specifications, so rear-curtain sync will not be supported via future firmware updates. Thank you for your understanding.
If you wish to use rear-curtain sync photography, please use our conventional model, the Air1.

A. Pairing, settings, and flash firing will work without issues.
However, since the light control step width depends on the flash's specifications, it will change in 1/2 EV steps in TTL mode and 1 EV step in manual flash mode. The display step width on the Air10s or MG80 Pro (Commander Mode) will not change, and the flash will be set to the nearest approximation.
Additionally, models that cannot adjust light intensity in 1/3 EV steps also cannot set the flash zoom to 28mm, so it will be set to 24mm instead.
*By updating the AirR to the latest firmware, 1/3 EV step light intensity adjustment and 28mm zoom settings will become possible.
Note that because the Canon-version Air10s and MG80 Pro (Commander Mode) do not support rear-curtain sync, if you wish to use rear-curtain sync on a Canon camera, please use the Air1 (discontinued).

A. Due to the nature of flash intensity control, light intensity cannot be set to 1/32 or lower when high-speed sync is enabled. If you set it to a value lower than 1/32, it will fire at 1/32 intensity, and the display will change to 1/32.
This is normal behavior based on the unit's specifications.
Q4-01

A. Today, let's review how to insert batteries into the NAS commander.
If you thought, "Huh? Why now??" you might already know the drill. It is all written in the manual, but since people might be in a rush or not used to it, let's go over it again here. The Air10s, Air1, and AirR all operate on two AAA batteries. The insertion direction is indicated by a sticker inside the battery compartment... though it might be a bit hard to see. When viewed from the front, the battery on the back side should have the plus side facing left (towards the cover), and the one on the front side should have the minus side facing left. The unit will not work if both are inserted in the same direction. Naturally, it won't work in reverse either. They shouldn't be in the same direction! Make sure they are inserted in opposite directions.
When in a hurry, it happens "quite frequently" that batteries are inserted in the wrong direction or both in the same direction. Don't rush; first, take a moment to check the insertion direction.

A. A common inquiry is, "The Air's battery cover came off! Is it broken? How much for repairs?"
Actually, the cover is designed to be removable. So if only the cover came off, you can simply snap it back into place carefully.
Don't panic if the cover falls off. If the part is not broken, it will go back on just by snapping it in place! Position the cover so the tabs sit on the rails on both sides of the battery terminal... then push it all the way in, and it's fixed.
This battery cover is a shared part across the Air10s, Air1, and AirR models. If you happen to break or lose it, we sell the cover separately at our Nissin Digital Direct Amazon store, so please take advantage of that.

A. When using a Canon or Nikon version of the Air10s or MG80 Pro (Commander Mode), you must update the firmware of your AirR to the latest version (the version supporting 1/3 EV step control).
If the AirR's firmware is old (the version not supporting 1/3 EV step control), you can temporarily downgrade the Air10s firmware to control the AirR (the MG80 Pro cannot control old-firmware AirR units even if downgraded), but advanced modes like Advanced Mode, OPEN Mode, or Remote Shutter Mode on the MG80 Pro/MG10/MG8 will not function properly. Therefore, you will need to update the firmware as necessary.
For information on how to update firmware, please refer to the Air10s product information page or the MG80 Pro product information page.

A.

When Auto Zoom is set on the Air10s or MG80 Pro (Commander Mode), if the flash head of the MG80 Pro (Slave Mode), MG10, or MG8 is pointed in any direction other than straight forward (or the shutter button side for MG10/MG8), including tilting it down by 7 degrees, the zoom will be fixed at 50mm. It will not track the lens's focal length.

Also, the hole about 1mm in diameter at the bottom of the flash head (near the serial number label) and the corresponding hole that faces it when the head is facing forward act as a head position sensor, so please do not cover these holes with labels or other items.
Note that it is possible to disable Auto Zoom on the Air10s or MG80 Pro and set a manual zoom angle.

A. 1. Attach the paired Air10s or MG80 Pro (in Commander Mode) to the camera's hot shoe.2. Connect the Air10s/MG80 Pro to the camera using the separately sold remote cable.3. If the Air10s/MG80 Pro and MG10/MG8 are in OPEN Mode, disable it.*4. Set the Channel Dial of the MG10/MG8 to "A" or to the same channel set on the Air10s/MG80 Pro.5. Set the Group Dial of the MG10/MG8 to "◎".6. Adjust the light intensity of the MG10/MG8 using the A group (Advanced Mode) on the Air10s/MG80 Pro.7. The shutter button on the MG10/MG8 will now trigger the camera's shutter.* As of September 28, 2018, there is a known bug where if you switch the Air10s to OPEN Mode and then back, the remote shutter stops working. In this case, disable OPEN Mode and restart the Air10s to restore remote shutter functionality. Please use this workaround until it is fixed via a firmware update.
Note 1: You cannot trigger multiple cameras simultaneously using the shutter button on a single MG10/MG8.
Note 2: If multiple MG10/MG8 units set to "◎" are nearby, radio interference may occur, making the wireless shutter unusable. For units not using this function, either turn them off or change them to a different group.
Note 3: If the Air10s firmware is a version that does not support the MG10/MG8, the remote shutter function cannot be used. Please refer to the "Firmware Update" tab on the Air10s product information page and update to the latest firmware.

A. This product uses a one-push button system for securing the shoe. (This applies to the Sony, Four Thirds, and Fujifilm versions of the Di700A).
Always press and hold the lock release button when attaching or detaching.
[How to attach] When attaching, press and hold the lock release button labeled "PUSH" on the bottom of the unit, and slide it straight into the camera shoe. Always ensure it is inserted fully. There may be differences in ease of attachment depending on the model.
The photo above shows an example where it stopped halfway because it felt stiff, resulting in it being half-inserted.
In this state, not only will it not fire, but it is not locked, creating a risk of it falling off.
Press the lock release button and ensure it is inserted all the way in.
[How to detach] While pressing the lock release button labeled PUSH, place your finger on the front of the flash and pull it straight out. (It may be quite tight depending on the model.)

A. If the Air10s or MG80 Pro (Commander Mode) is not communicating (cannot be controlled) with flashes other than the MG series (Di700A, i60A, AirR), please check the following 5 points:1. If there is a dot (•) next to the group display A-D on the Air10s or MG80 Pro, long-press the Modeling button to turn the dot off. The dot indicates an Advanced Group. Advanced Groups cannot be used when paired with flashes other than the MG series, so return to the basic group.2. If the Air10s or MG80 Pro displays "OPEN", long-press the "M/TTL" button to disable OPEN Mode. When in OPEN Mode, pairing is temporarily disabled.3. Are the flashes assigned to a group such as A, B, or C? (Is the flash mounted on the AirR in TTL mode?) If it is in a mode other than wireless, it will not fire. (Flashes mounted on the AirR must be in TTL mode to fire at the correct intensity.)4. Is the channel on the Air10s or MG80 Pro set to something other than 1? Channel 1 is exclusive to the MG series, so if using other flashes or the AirR, please set it to any channel from 2 to 8.5. Is the flash channel set to A (Auto)? (No setting required for Di700A) Even if the channel is set to A (Auto), if you change the channel on the Air10s or MG80 Pro while the flash or AirR is turned off (or in a poor communication environment), that information is not transmitted, leading to a communication failure. If communication is lost, either manually align the channels of the Air10s/MG80 Pro and the flash/AirR, or re-pair them.

A.

The setting value changes only slightly when the dial is rotated quickly

When the flash or commander is attached to the camera, if the light intensity adjustment dial is moved quickly, the communication specs may prevent it from tracking correctly; please try rotating it a bit more slowly.

The setting value does not change, jumps abruptly, or changes in the opposite direction when rotating the dial slowly

If the electrical contacts inside the dial have poor connectivity due to dirt or oxidation, it may cause malfunctions.
For the Air10s and i60A, we released firmware to reduce malfunctions in February and [Month] 2021 respectively, so if you are using a unit with old firmware, we recommend updating to the latest version.

How to check the Air10s firmware version and update:
Please refer to the "Firmware Update" section on the Air10s product information page.

How to check the i60A firmware version and request an update:
Please refer to the "Firmware Update" section on the i60A product information page.

Note: If malfunctions persist even with the MG60, MG80 Pro, or the latest firmware on the Air10s or i60A, please request a repair.

Also, if there is clearly abnormal behavior, such as gaps in the light intensity bar graph, please try resetting the product or replacing the batteries.

A.

Air10s Reset (Method 1)

1. With the power on, long-press the pilot lamp for more than 5 seconds.
   
2. Reset is complete when the Advanced or TTL mode display switches to 0.0 (no compensation), or to 1/256 intensity in M mode, and you release your finger.
   
3. Pairing information is not deleted during a reset, so you generally do not need to perform the pairing process again. Only do so if the commander and flash are not syncing properly.

Air10s Reset (Method 2)

1. With the power on, long-press the power on/off button for more than 3 seconds.
   
2. Reset is complete when the firmware version is displayed on the screen and you release your finger.
   
3. Pairing information is not deleted during a reset, so you generally do not need to perform the pairing process again. Only do so if the commander and flash are not syncing properly.