User manual NIKON SB-25 AF SPEEDLIGHT

[. . . ] Autofocus Speedlight Instruction Manual E WWW. LENSINC. NET FOREWORD Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Autofocus Speedlight SB-25. Used with Nikon's newest SLRs (F90-Series/N90, F4-Series, F-801/N8008, F-801s/N8008s, F-601/N6006, F-601M/N6000, F-401x/N5005, F-401/N4004 and F-401s/ N4004s), it offers you the most advanced and complete system for automatic flash photography available. To get the maximum performance from your new SB-25, be sure to take time to read the instruction manual carefully. For Effective Use of This Manual Using this manual is simple. These index tabs lead you to all of the information you need to learn about using the SB-25 with your camera. [. . . ] Always keep the unit away from salt water, rain or water splashes. 76 77 WWW. LENSINC. NET For instruction, see "Setting Zoom-Head Position (Manual Adjustment), " pages 29 to 30. Shooting indicator bars in the LCD panel move as the figure input changes. Chapter 3 TTL Auto Flash Confirm Settings Firing Flash Mode: For FA, FE2, FG and Nikonos V Users 7 Set aperture in use. Quick reference on relationship between usable apertures and flash shooting distance Use table on page 142 in this instruction manual. 78 79 WWW. LENSINC. NET For instruction, see "Setting Aperture Value (Manual Adjustment), " pages 28 to 29. Shooting indicator bars in the LCD panel move as the figure input changes. Determine approximate flash-shooting distance range by reading indicator bars. 8 Look into camera viewfinder, compose and lightly press the shutter release button. Check if ready-light is on in camera's viewfinder or on the SB-25 . 9 10 Fully depress the shutter release button to fire flash. Recheck ready-light to see if it is blinking. If ready-light blinks for a few seconds after shooting, flash has fired at its maximum output but the light may have been insufficient. Reconfirm shooting distance and, if necessary, move closer to subject or select a wider aperture (in aperture-priority auto or manual exposure mode) to compensate underexposure. Chapter 3 Non-TTL Auto Flash Mode -- Shooting with Various Lens Apertures Set Up and Practice To use various lens apertures for the same subject or when camera/lens combination is incompatible with TTL Auto Flash mode, set the SB-25's flash mode selector to for Non-TTL Auto Flash operation. In Non-TTL Auto Flash shooting, light output automatically changes to match the flash-to-subject distance, but instead of light being measured through the lens, it is measured by the light sensor on the front of the SB-25. The SB-25 can be used in Non-TTL Auto Flash mode with any Nikon camera/lens combination. USE SINGLE-SERVO AUTOFOCUS (S or A) OR MANUAL FOCUS (M). 2 Flash sync mode selector at NORMAL 1 Flash mode selector at Non-TTL Auto 1 * Choose position (flash mode selector). Choose position (flash sync mode selector*). 3 ISO film speed in use and zoom-head position 2 3 position is used for Rear-Curtain Sync Flash, and only with the F90-Series/N90, F4Series, F-801/N8008, and F-801s/N8008s. For details, see page 105. 4 Aperture value Set ISO film speed and position the built-in zoom head. For instructions, see "Setting ISO Film Speed (Manual Adjustment), " pages 27 to 28, and "Setting Zoom-Head Position (Manual Adjustment), " pages 29 to 30. 4 Set desired aperture in the SB-25's LCD panel, then set again on the camera. For instructions, see "Setting Aperture Value (Manual Adjustment), " pages 28 to 29. Indicator bars show a appropriate shooting distance range. APPLICABLE NIKON SLR MODELS F90-Series/N90 F4-Series F-801/N8008 F-801s/N8008s F-601/N6006 F-601M/N6000 F-401x/N5005 80 F-501/N2020 F-301/N2000 F-401/N4004 F-401s/N4004s FA FE2 FG Nikonos V F3-Series F2-Series FM2 FG-20 5 Appears when flash is fully charged and ready to fire. Blinks after firing indicates possible underexposure. 81 WWW. LENSINC. NET Chapter 3 Non-TTL Auto Flash Mode F90-Series/N90's viewfinder 5 82 83 WWW. LENSINC. NET Push button for a test firing (see page 110) when you are not sure whether subject is within the flash shooting range. If ready-light blinks for a few seconds after test firing, flash has fired at its maximum output but light might not have been sufficient. Select a wider aperture or move closer to subject. 6 Look into the camera viewfinder, compose and lightly the press shutter release button to confirm that subject is in focus. Check that ready-light is on in the camera's viewfinder or on the SB-25 . 7 8 Fully depress shutter release button to fire flash. Recheck ready-light to see if it is blinking. Exposure compensation Exposure compensation in Non-TTL Auto Flash mode is achieved by purposely setting a different aperture value on the camera (actually on the lens in most cases) than on the SB-25. Use an aperture 1/3 to one stop smaller for an entirely dark background (low reflectance). For backgrounds that include a highly reflective object, use an aperture 1/3 to one stop larger. [. . . ] Guide number (at ISO 100: for m/ft. ): Light output 1/1 (full) 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64 Zoom-head position 20mm 20/66 14/46 10/33 7/23 5/16 3. 5/11 2. 5/8. 2 24mm 30/98 21/69 15/49 10/33 7. 5/25 5. 3/17 3. 8/17 28mm 32/105 23/75 16/52 11/36 8/26 5. 7/19 4/13 35mm 36/118 26/85 18/59 13/43 9/30 6. 4/21 4. 5/15 50mm 42/138 30/98 21/69 15/49 10/33 7. 5/25 5. 3/17 70mm 48/157 34/112 24/79 17/56 12/39 8. 5/28 6/20 85mm 50/164 36/118 25/82 18/59 13/43 9/30 6. 3/21 Angle of coverage: Zoom-head position 20mm 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 70mm 85mm Horizontal coverage 102° 78° 70° 60° 46° 36° 31° Vertical coverage 90° 60° 53° 45° 34° 26° 23° Repeating Flash 139 WWW. LENSINC. NET Zoom capability: Seven settings -- 20mm (with the built-in wide flash adapter), 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 85mm; auto power zoom with the Nikon F90-Series/N90, F4Series, F-801/N8008 and F-801s/N8008s; manually set with other cameras. Bounce capability: Flash head tilts down to ­7° or up to 90° with click stops; flash head rotates through an arc of 270°, 90° clockwise and 180° counterclockwise with click stops; at front and vertical positions, flash head can be locked Power source: Four 1. 5 AA-type penlight alkaline-manganese, or 1. 2V NiCd batteries; optional Battery Pack SD-8 and SD-7 are available as an external power source. Power switch: Three positions are provided -- OFF, STBY (standby) and ON; at STBY position with Nikon F90-Series/N90, F4-Series, F-801/N8008, F-801s/N8008s, F-601/N6006, F-601M/N6000, F-401x/N5005, F-501/N2020, F-301/ N2000, F-401/N4004, F-401s/N4004s, FA, FE2, FG, Nikonos V, FM2 or FG-20, SB-25 turns off automatically when flash unit is not used for approx. @ 1/64 output Chapter 5 Specifications Number of flash and recycling time at manual full light output: Number Minimum Recyclof flash recycling ing time time** (approx. ) (approx. ) (approx. ) AA-type alkaline-manganese 100 times 7 sec. [. . . ]