Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Speedlight SB-800. To get the most out of your Speedlight, please read this instruction manual thoroughly before use. Also, read the separate booklet, “A collection of example photos,” which provides an overview of the SB-800’s flash- shooting capabilities with example photos. In addition, keep your camera instruction manual handy for quick reference.
■■■ Main features and functions of the SB-800
•The SB-800 is a high-performance Speedlight with a guide number of 38/125 (ISO 100, m/ft.) or 53/174 (ISO 200, m/ft.) (at the 35mm zoom-head position, 20°C/68°F.) According to the camera and lens combination used with the SB-800, you can perform various types of TTL auto flash (p. 37), Non-TTL auto flash (p. 38), and Manual flash (p. 42).
•A power zoom function automatically adjusts the zoom-head position to match the lens focal length (with the exception of some camera/lens combinations) (p. 26). When the built-in wide-flash adapter is used or the Nikon Diffusion Dome is attached (p. 27), the zoom-head position is automatically set to match a 14mm or 17mm lens.
•The flash head tilts up to 90° or down to –7° and rotates horizontally 180° to the left and 90° to the right, enabling bounce flash (p. 98) or close-up flash photography (p. 102).
•The Nikon Creative Lighting System provides a variety of advanced wireless multiple flash operations when the SB-800 is used with compatible cameras (p. 5).
•When doing bounce flash or taking close-ups with flash, you can use the built-in wide-flash adapter in conjunction with Nikon Diffusion Dome to create extremely soft, diffused lighting with virtually no shadows, while maintaining balanced lighting for the main subject and the background (pp. 101, 104).
•Custom functions are provided to set values, or activate or cancel functions that are unnecessary to set each time (p. 67).
uLife-long learning
As part of Nikon’s “Life-long learning” commitment to ongoing product support and education, continually-updated information is available on-line at the following sites:
•For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/
•For users in Europe: http://www.europe-nikon.com/support
•For users in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa: http://www.nikon-asia.com/
Visit these sites to keep up-to-date with the latest product information, tips, answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs), and general advice on digital imaging and photography. Additional information may be available from the Nikon representative in your area. See the URL below for contact information:
http://nikonimaging.com/
Foreword