The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

Nikon’s advanced Creative Lighting System (CLS) offers improved communication between the camera and compatible flash units for improved flash photography. Refer to the documentation provided with the flash unit for details.

❚❚CLS-Compatible Flash Units

The camera can be used with the following CLS-compatible flash units:

•The SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, and SB-R200:

 

Flash unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feature

 

SB-910 1

SB-900 1

SB-800

SB-700 1

SB-600

SB-400 2

SB-R200 3

Guide No. 4

ISO 100

34/111

34/111

38/125

28/92

30/98

21/69

10/33

ISO 200

48/157

48/157

53/174

39/128

42/138

30/98

14/46

 

1If a color filter is attached to the SB-910, SB-900, or SB-700 when vor N(flash) is selected for white balance, the camera will automatically detect the filter and adjust white balance appropriately.

2 Wireless flash control is not available with the SB-400.

3Controlled remotely with built-in flash in commander mode or using optional SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 flash unit or SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander.

4m/ft, 20 °C (68 °F), SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 at 35 mm zoom head position; SB-910, SB-900, and SB-700 with standard illumination.

•SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander: When mounted on a CLS-compatible camera, the SU-800 can be used as a commander for remote SB-910,SB-900,SB-800,SB-700,SB-600, or SB-R200 flash units in up to three groups. The SU-800 itself is not equipped with a flash.

 

 

A Guide Number

 

 

To calculate the range of the flash at full power, divide the Guide Number by the aperture. If,

 

 

for example, the flash unit has a Guide Number of 34 m or 111 ft (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F); its

 

 

range at an aperture of f/5.6 is 34÷5.6 or about 6.1 meters (or in feet,

 

 

111÷5.6=approximately 19 ft 10 in.). For each twofold increase in ISO sensitivity, multiply

n

 

the Guide Number by the square root of two (approximately 1.4).

 

 

 

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