User manual NIKON SB-26

[. . . ] E FOREWORD Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Autofocus Speedlight SB-26. Used with Nikon's newest SLRs (F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, F-801/N8008, F-801s/N8008s, F-601/N6006, F-601M/N6000, F50-Series/ N50, 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-26, 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-26 with your camera. [. . . ] 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 g or on the SB-26 Â. 82 83 Chapter 3 Non-TTL Auto Flash A Mode Manual Flash i Mode -- Manual Light-Output Control With the SB-26's flash mode selector at i, you can perform manual flash photography. For manual flash photography, it is important to choose an appropriate aperture and shooting distance to achieve your desired effect. To help approximate these variables, you can use the SB-26's LCD panel and control buttons as a "calculator", or use "guide numbers" (see page 118). To enhance this feature, the SB-26 lets you manually adjust flash output levels from full power (1/1) to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, and FP1 and FP2. E USE SINGLE-FRAME SHOOTING (S) FILM ADVANCE MODE. 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-26. 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. Note that shooting distance range indication / corresponds to the aperture value set on the SB-26 -- not on the camera. In general, you may want to take a series of pictures using exposure bracketing. If ready-light  blinks for a few seconds after shooting, flash has fired at maximum output but the light may have been insufficient. Reconfirm shooting distance and, if necessary, move closer to subject or select a wider aperture to compensate underexposure. APPLICABLE NIKON SLR MODELS F5 E F-601M/N6000 E FE2 F90X/N90s E F50-Series/N50 E FG F90-Series/N90 E F-401x/N5005 E Nikonos V F70-Series/N70 E F-501/N2020 E F3-Series F4-Series E F-301/N2000 E F2-Series F-801/N8008 E F-401/N4004 E FM2 F-801s/N8008s E F-401s/N4004s E FG-20 F-601/N6006 E FA E E E E E E E E 85 84 Chapter 3 Manual Flash i Mode Set Up and Practice 2 Flash sync mode selector at NORMAL 1 Flash mode selector at Manual Flash 1 2 3 Choose i position (flash mode selector). Choose W position (flash sync mode selector*). 3 ISO film speed in use and zoom-head position 6 Aperture value * q position is used for Rear-Curtain Sync Flash, and only with the F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, F-801/N8008, and F-801s/N8008s. For details, see page105. Set ISO film speed and the built-in zoom head position. 4 Flash output level For instructions, see "Setting ISO Film Speed (Manual Adjustment), " pages 27 to 28, and "Setting Zoom-Head Position (Manual Adjustment), " pages 29 to 30. Automatic ISO film speed/zoom-head position adjustment: F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, F-801/ N8008, or F-801s/ N8008s used with an AF Nikkor lens (including the latest D-Type) or Nikkor lens having a built-in CPU The film speed and zoom-head position in use are automatically set and indicated in the SB-26's LCD panel. See "Setting ISO Film Speed (Manual Adjustment), " pages 27 to 28, and "Setting Zoom-Head Position (Manual Adjustment), " pages 29 to 30. 4 Press i button to choose desired light output. You can choose an amount ranging from full power (1/1) to one sixty-fourth (1/64). With the F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90 and F70Series/N70, indication 1, and then 2 will appear after ;. This applies exclusively to FP High-Speed Sync Flash and is discussed in the following pages (see pages 98 to 103). Fine light-output adjustment: F5, F90X/N90s, F90Series/N90 and F70-Series/N70 with AF Nikkor lens (including the latest D-Type) or Nikkor lens having a built-in CPU Additionally, you can manipulate light output in finer increments of ±1/3, as long as light output is set between ' and ;. By pressing button, you can increase the light amount by +1/3 (blinking +0. 3 below the L mark), by +2/3 (blinking +0. 7), or by +1 (blinking 0. 0). To decrease, use Ç in the same manner; blinking numbers change from _0. 3 (by -1/3) to _0. 7 (by -2/3) to 0. 0 (by -1). *At ', you cannot increase the light amount. 86 87 Chapter 3 Manual Flash i Mode 5 For aperture-priority auto, set desired aperture on the camera. For manual exposure mode, set desired aperture and shutter speed* on the camera. * Camera automatically shifts to the fastest synchronization speed if you choose a speed that is not within the synchronization range. Automatic aperture adjustment: F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, F-801/N8008, or F-801s/ N8008s used with an AF Nikkor lens (including latest D-Type) or Nikkor lens having a built-in CPU The aperture in use and an indicator bar / are automatically indicated in the SB-26's LCD panel. [. . . ] If SB-26 is already powered by the SD-7 or SD-8, the SK-6 can be used as a secondary external power source. Zoom capability: Eight settings -- 18mm and 20mm (with the built-in wide flash adapter), 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, 85mm; auto power zoom with the Nikon F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, 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 F5, F90X/N90s, F90-Series/N90, F70-Series/N70, F4-Series, F-801/ N8008, F-801s/N8008s, F-601/N6006, F-601M/N6000, F50-Series/N50, 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-26 turns off automatically when flash unit is not used for approx. @ 1/64 output 143 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. [. . . ]