Nikon INSTRUCTION MANUAL
NOMENCLATURE CD Wide -Flash Adapter SW-3 o Tilting flash head mode selector CD Sensor Unit SU-2 ® ~:Y,..,no",-.
f/stop scale (black) @ Power switch @ @ Distance scale ind ex @ ASA/ISO film Open-flash button @ Ready-light ® dots @ @ External power terminal Attachment screw slots @ Releaselloc chamber Iid @ stand socket @ Handle @ 3
CONTENTS---------NOMENCLATURE . . . . . . . .... . ... . ... . .. . . .. . ... 2 - 3 FOREWORD ....... . ............ . . ... . .. . ... . ... . . 5 BASIC OPERATION ....................... .. ... 6-12 CONTROLS IN DETAIL . ... . . . . . . . . . ..... . ... . . 13-21 Bracket SK-4 . . . . . .... .. ... . . .. .. . .... ... . .. . . 13 Bracket Mounting Adapter ........ .. . . . ..... ... 13 Tilting Flash Head ... . .... . .. . ................ 14 Wide-Flash Adapter SW -3 .....................
FOREWORD--------Compafible wifh all Nikon SLR cameras, fhe brackefmounfing Nikon Speedlighf SB-ll feafures aufomafic confrol of fhe flash exposure fo mafch fhe flash-fo-subject disfance. By ufilizing a silicon-confrolled rectifier and series circuifry, fhe speedlighf is also able fo conserve ifs excess energy for fhe nexf shof when shoofing subjects af close range thus reducing recycling fime and increasing fhe number of flashes per battery sef.
BASIC O P E R A T I O N - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. Open the battery chamber. Unscrew the lid @ at the base of the handle and remove the battery clip . 6 2 Attach the bracket • mounting adapter ® to the speedlight's handle @ . First , use the screwdriver provided to loosen the two screws on the bracket mounting adapter. Then, slip the adapter onto the speedlight's handle and slide it to. the desired position.
4. Load the batteries. 5. Install the battery clip. Insert eight AA-type penlight batteries following the + and symbols on the inside of the battery clip. Insert the battery clip into the battery chamber. Make sure the terminal end goes in first. Then line up the V-shaped notch on the end of the cli p with the white dot on the rim of the battery chamber . Push the clip until it drops into the fully seated position. 6. Close the battery chamber. Screw the battery lid back into place.
- ·BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ • f - ~ - - -- I - ~- -- 7. Attach the bracket @ to 8. Attach the .bracket to Position the camera in the bracket with the bracket mounting pin @) on the same side of the camera as its rewind knob. Then, screw the bracket's attachment screw @ into the camera's tripod socket to secure the two units together tightly. Insert the bracket mounting pin into the hole in the bracket mounting adapter with the two dots @ aligned; rotate the camera forward .
10. Attach the sync cord@. Screw one end of the SC-ll Sync Cord into either of the speedlight's sync/multiple flash sockets ® ; screw the other end into the camera's sync terminal. 11. Plug in the sensor 0 . With the "Nikon" name up, push the Sensor Unit SU-2 into the sensor socket CD until it click-locks into place. 12 Rotate the flash head CD • to the normal shooting position.
-BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ 13. Set the camera's shutter 14 speed for proper synchronization. Set the shutler speed dial to the highest synchronization speed for electronic flash (e.g. set the F3 to the "X" setting). For other camera models, refer to the chart on page 21. 10 Set the exposure • calculator dial ® . Turn the dial until the ASAJISO index @ is opposite the speed of the film in use.
16. Set the shooting mode selector 0 . Turn the ring on the front of the sensor until the white index is opposite the color corresponding to that of the £/stop selected. This sets the speedlight for automatic operation. 17. Turn on the speedlight. 18. Watch the ready-light® . Slide the power switch @ to uncover the red mark. As soon as the LED ready-light comes on, the speedlight is ready to fire.
-BASIC OPERATION-continued------------ 19. Take the picture. After the speedlight fires, if the ~eady - light, does not blink, you have a perfect flash exposure. 12 20. Turn off the speedlight. To conserve battery power between shooting sessions, slide the power switch to the OFF position.
CONTROLS IN D E T A I L - - - - - - - - - - - For MD-ll, MD-I2, MD-I4, MD-I5 For F3-series, F-30I1N2000 (withAH-3J.
-CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Tilting Flash Head CD The SB-11 's tilting flash head has click-stops at 30°, 60°, 90°, and approx. 120°. For normal shooting, point the flash head straight ahead. In this position, the light travels directly out to the subject providing the maximum amount of light possible. However, to soften the shadows and lower the contrast for indoor snapshots, you can tilt the flash head back to bounce the light off the ceiling or walls. Consult the illustration for details .
Wide-Flash Adapter SW-3 CD The angle of illumination of the SB-ll by itself is 56° horizontally and 40° vertically-wide enough for use with a 35mm wideangle lens. When the Wide-Flash Adapter is clipped onto the front of the flash head, it increases the illumination to 67° horizontally and 48° vertically providing just the right amount of coverage when a 28mm lens is used.
-CONTROLS IN DETAIL- continued-------::::::====::::::::-- - - - - Example 1 Exposure Calculator Dial ® For Automatic Operation The SB-ll 's exposure calculator dial helps you select the usable range of £/stops for the speed of the film in use and the flash -to,subject distance. On the dial, there are three £/stops to choose from. Each £/stop determines the usable distance range in which you can obtain the correct automatic exposure.
Example 2 Example 2 With ASAIISO 100 and a subject three meters 00 feet) away, you can shoot at either fl4, fl5.6, or fl8. If a short recycling time is preferable, use fl4. If greater depth of field is desired, use fl8. Once you've selected an appropriate flstop for the film in use and the flash -to-subject distance, set this flnumber on your lens and fire away. Your pictures will come out properly exposed.
-CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- Sensor Unit SU-2 CD The plug -in Sensor Unit SU-2 controls the operation of the SB-ll Speedlight. It has five settings to choose from. At the Auto Positions To shoot on Auto, lift up and turn the knurled ring on the outside of the sensor to one of the three positions (orange, yellow, or blue) which are color-coded for use with the exposure calculator dial.
Ready-Light @ Built into the back of the SB-ll's flash head is a readylight which comes on as soon as the speedlight is recycled and ready to fire. As an additional feature, the readylight blinks if the speedlight fires at its maximum output indicating that the light might be insufficient for correct exposure on Automatic. The warning blinks last for approximately two seconds. Open-Flash Button @ The red open-flash button is used to fire the speedlight manually without having to trip the camera's shutter.
-CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued---------- External Power Terminal @ Sync/Multiple Flash Sockets ® This terminal is for connection of a separate battery pack. Two standard Nikon screw-in type terminals are provided on the SB-ll SpeedJight. Either terminal can be used to attach the Sync Cord SC-ll, while the other is provided for connecting the SB-ll with another speedJight in series for multiple flash operation.
Synchronization Chart Nikon Camera Sync Cord Sell ® This cord has standard Nikon connections at both ends for positive attachment of the SB-11 to a Nikon camera having a screw-in type sync terminal. Proper synchronization speed (sec.) F3 -series 1/80 (X) or slower FA 11250 or slower FE2 11250 or slower FE 1/ 125 or slower FM2 (with 1I250sec. sync speed) 1/250 or slower FM2 (with 1/200sec.
-ACCESSORIES------------TTL Remote Cords SC-12 and SC-23 The SC-12 is for the Nikon F3-series cameras; the SC-23 is for the Nikon FA, FE2 , F-30l1N2000 and FG cameras. Connecting the SB-l l and an appropriate camera with SC-12 or SC-23 provides TTL control of the flash exposure. Automatic switchover of shutter speed to a p roper flash sync speed and a ready-light indication in the camera's viewfinder are also provided. alkaline-manganese or general NiCd type.
"RED EYE~-'I- - - - "Red eye" is a phenomenon in flash photography where the center portions of the subject's eyes appear as bright red orbs in color photographs (or white in black and white pictures). This is a result of the light from the flash illuminating the retina directly. If the subject looks straight into the lens and there is little or no ambient light, the pupil is wide open, making the retina clearly visible in the picture.
- TIPS ON SPEEDLIGHT C A R E - - - - - - - - - ----, 1(; " \ • To remove dirt or fingerprints, wipe with a dry soft or silicontreated cloth. Never use thinner, benzine or alcohol, since they might damage the plastic parts. To clean the Wide-Flash Adapter, wash it with soap and water. Never use a brush, as this may damage it. 24 • If you do not plan to use the unit for more than two weeks, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage to the circuitry by battery leakage.
• If your SB-ll has not been used for a long time, its recycling time may be longer . To maintain the built-in condenser in peak condition, thereby enabling you to use the SB-ll for many years, fire the flash unit a few times every month. After firing, wait until the ready-light lights, then turn off the power switch, remove the batteries , and store the SB-ll in a suitable location . This will prevent the condenser from deteriorating . • Keep the flash unit away from salt water and out of the rain .
- OPTIMUM BATTERY PERFORMANCE--- - - New batterie s. Between manufacturing and first use, all batteries exhibit some drain . Therefore, care should be taken to purchase the newest (and freshest) ones possible. To help you do this, some manufacturers stamp the date of manufacture on the bottom of each battery. Ask your camera dealer for assistance in interpreting the codes. Temperature. Battery life ratings are based on operation at around 25°C (77 °F). At other temperatures, battery life is shortened .
SPECIFICATIONS-----------Light output control Automatic: flash output control with silicon controlled rectifier (thyristor) using Sensor Unit SU-2; Manual: full output Guide number (ASA/ISO 100 and 36 (25 with Wide-Flash Adapter meters) SW-3) (ASA/ISO 25 and feet) 60 (42 with Wide-Flash Adapter SW-3); Angle of coverage Horizontal: 56 0 (67 0 with 'sw -3); Vertical: 40 0 (48 0 with SW-3) Automatic shooting 0.6-9m (2-30ft) at fl4; range 0.6-6.4m (2-21£t) at fl5 .6; (at ASA/ISO 100) 0.6-4.
(Nlko,,) No reproduction in any form of this booklet, in whole or in part (except for brief quotation in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written authorization from Nippon Kogaku K.K. NIPPON KOGAKU K.K. Fuji Bldg .
