Accessory Shoe 78 and Sync Terminal 14
The accessory shoe of the FA allows direct mounting of the Nikon Speedlight SB-15, SB-16B, SB-18, SB-19 or other electronic flash with an ISO-type mounting foot. Other flash units may be mounted with a flash unit coupler (see table on page 61). Four electrica contacts 59 60 61 67 in the shoe provide the following: proper synchronization of the flash unit, automatic flash output stop, identification of a TTL flash unit, and both ready-light indication in the camera's viewfinder (via and LED) and autoswitching to the proper sync speed of 1/250sec. with Nikon dedicated flash units.
To use flashbulbs or an electronic flash unit without a hot- shoe contact, use the camera's sync terminal. The FA's sync terminal with a protective screw-in cover, accepts all standard plug-in PC cords It is also threaded for use with a Nikon screw-in PC cord.
The FA features an X-sync contact only, allowing electronic flash units to be synchronized at a speed of 1/250sec or slower To prevent mistakes, the camera also offers automatic switchover of the shutter speed for proper synchronization with the SB-15, SB-16B, SB-18, SB-19, etc., as shown in the table on the next page. For creative fill-in flash effects, you can set the speed manually to 1/250sec or below and the shutter fires at the speed set with the speed in use displayed in the viewfinder.
Flashhulbs can also be used at the following shutter speed sync ranges.
Shutter speed 1/4000 1/2000 1/1000 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30-1 M250 B (sec.)
Speedlight
M, FP and MF
Flashbulbs
Synchronized
Cannot be use
•The use of other manufacturers' flash units, even with the same ISO-type mounting foot, may cause abnormalities to the IC circuitry. Units having a high voltage synchro circuit may also affect shutter speed precision.
•When using a special electronic flash unit that has provision for time lag, adjust the shutter speed down to 1/125 sec. or slower according to the time lag.
