SB-900
About this user’s manual
How to find what you are looking for
Terms used in this user’s manual
Camera and lens combinations
Tips on identifying CPU Nikkor lenses
Marks used in this manual
Simple search by objective
About settings and operation
About Speedlight parts and indications
About flash photography
Others
About accessories
Contents
Tips on Speedlight care and reference information
For use with cameras other than CLS compatible SLR cameras
Nikon product or injury to yourself or others
For your safety
Preparation
For your safety
Preparation
For your safety
Preparation
Check before Use
Color Filter Holder SZ-2 Warranty card
Foreword
Included items
Take trial shots
Tips on using the Speedlight
Have Nikon spot-check your Speedlight regularly
Use your Speedlight with Nikon equipment
Life-long learning
Check before Use
About the SB-900
BAbout the SB-900
Features of the SB-900
SB-900 features
Compatible cameras
CLS-compatible SLR cameras
What is the Nikon Creative Lighting System CLS?
Flash modes and functions on the SB-900
Main functions
Support functions
Functions that are set on the camera
Main functions
SB-900 status and settings functions
Operation
Operation
Speedlight parts
Control buttons kC-8
Basic operation
Slide the battery chamber lid open
Inserting the batteries
Suitable batteries
Detaching the SB-900 from the camera
Attaching the SB-900 to the camera
Turn the lock lever to L
Turn the lock lever 90 to the left
Basic operation
Adjusting the flash head
Turning the SB-900 and camera on
Turn the SB-900 and the camera body on
Flash mode icons kC-10
Selecting the flash mode
Changing the flash mode
Rotate to turn power on and off
Press to adjust zoom position. kD-57
Control buttons
Names and functions of control buttons
Press the OK button to confirm setting
Change the setting by rotating the selector dial
Control button operation
Two-button operation
LCD panel
Flash mode icons
Flash icons
For more information about manual mode, see D-16
Distance information
ISO sensitivity
Zoom position Light distribution angle
Indication with power zoom on
For flash output level compensation, see D-37 Operation
Aperture value
Flash output level compensation
Tilt 7 down
SB-900 condition
Test firing button functions
Remote mode with Nikon Advanced Wireless Lighting kD-43
Master mode with Advanced Wireless Lighting kD-43
Repeating flash
Functions controlled by Function buttons
When using a single flash unit
Group Channel
Operation
Custom functions and icons
Custom functions and settings
LCD returns to normal display Operation
Custom setting
Highlighted item can be set
Available Custom functions and settings
Custom functions and settings
Set AF-assist illumination on/off and flash on/off
Select Power zoom on/off
Adjusting the time before the standby function is activated
Setting the Thermal Cut-out function on or off
Setting ISO sensitivity. ISO sensitivity range is ISO 3 to
Setting the LCD panel illuminator to turn on or off
Show firmware version
Select items displayed on the LCD in custom setting
Set the unit of measuring distance
LCD returns to normal display
How to set My menu
My menu
Batteries
Batteries
Standby function to conserve battery power
To cancel Standby
Explanation of the SB-900’s flash modes and functions
Setting the i-TTL mode
TTL mode
Display for i-TTL mode
TTL Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash
SB-900 flash shooting distance range
Auto setting of ISO sensitivity, aperture and focal length
Monitor pre-flashes
Changing camera’s metering mode
TTL mode
When insufficient light for correct exposure is indicated
Display for Auto aperture flash
Setting the Auto aperture flash mode
Auto aperture flash
Auto aperture flash
Flash shooting distance range in Auto aperture flash mode
Ready-light is on, then shoot
Taking a picture in Auto aperture flash mode
While reading the flash shooting
Display for Non-TTL auto flash
Setting the Non-TTL auto mode
Non-TTL auto flash
When using a telephoto lens in the Non-TTL auto flash mode
Flash shooting distance range in Non-TTL auto flash mode
Non-TTL auto flash
Taking a picture in Non-TTL auto flash mode
Distance priority manual flash
Setting the Distance-priority manual flash
See charts for flash shooting distance range
Shooting in Distance priority manual flash mode
Distance priority manual flash
Press the OK button Set the aperture on the camera
Insufficient light for correct exposure
Setting Manual mode
Manual mode
Press the Mode button
Display for Manual mode
Taking a picture in Manual mode
Setting the flash output level
Manual mode
128
Flash output level Small
Display for Repeating flash
Setting the Repeating flash
Repeating flash
Maximum number of repeating flashes per frame
Repeating flash
Shooting with Repeating flash
Set the shutter speed
Exposure compensation in Repeating flash mode
When the aperture value is not displayed in the SB-900s LCD
Guide number GN at ISO 100 m/ft
For others, see Specifications kF-18
ISO sensitivity factors
Calculating the correct aperture
Distance-priority, Manual and Repeating flash modes
Obtaining the correct flash output level
Calculating the shooting distance
Center-weighted
Switching illumination pattern
Standard
Even
To set/confirm illumination pattern
Flash
Setting the flash head
Bounce flash operation
Bounce flash operation
Setting the SB-900’s flash mode
Setting the camera’s aperture
Bounce flash operation
Using the built-in bounce card
Setting the built-in bounce card
Attaching the Nikon Diffusion Dome
Shooting with the Nikon Diffusion Dome
Taking close-up photographs with bounce-down flash
Taking close-ups with bounce-down flash
Setting the built-in wide-flash adapter
Mode and metering mode
Taking close-up photographs with bounce-down flash
When shooting subjects closer than 0.6 m 2 ft
Setting the aperture in off-camera close-up flash operation
Flash photography with color filters
Using color filters
Fold along the line marked on the color filter
How to use color filters
Flash photography with color filters
LCD indication while attaching An FL-G1 filter
Confirm the color filter indicator is displayed
D1H
Balancing light from the flash using color filters
Making flash output level compensation
Canceling flash output level compensation
Flash output level compensation and exposure compensation
Non-TTL auto flash and Manual flash mode
I-TTL and Auto Aperture flash mode
Making exposure compensation
Flash output level compensation and exposure compensation
Flash shooting with Advanced Wireless Lighting
Wireless multiple flash shooting
SU-4 type wireless multiple flash shooting
Master flash unit and remote flash units
Wireless multiple flash shooting
Using the Speedlight Stand
Ready-light Sound monitor Speedlight condition
Mechanism of the Advanced Wireless Lighting
Flash shooting in Advanced Wireless Lighting
See Notes on the remote flash. kD-40
Flash shooting in Advanced Wireless Lighting
Flash set-up in the Advanced Wireless Lighting
Setting the SB-900 as
Setting the SB-900 to Advanced Wireless Lighting
Align the index on the Power ON-OFF switch/wireless setting
Switch to Master Switch to Remote Flash modes and functions
Master flash unit
Turn the selector dial to choose Desired flash output level
Flash shooting in Advanced Wireless Lighting
Group name and channel number being set appears larger
Commander function
Repeating flash shooting
LCD display in the repeating flash mode
Setting switch with Master
Setting the SB-900 to SU-4 type wireless multiple flash
Align the index on the Wireless
Manual mode
Auto mode
Master flash unit
Remote flash unit
Canceling monitor pre-flashes
SU-4 type wireless multiple flash shooting
Manual Set the flash mode of the master flash unit
Procedures for SU-4 type wireless multiple flash shooting
To a Aperture-Priority Auto or
Manual
SU-4 type wireless multiple flash shooting
Slow-sync flash
Auto FP High-Speed Sync mode
Flash Value Lock FV Lock
Rear-curtain sync
Available functions to be set on the camera
Red-eye reduction/Red-eye reduction with slow-sync flash
Setting the zoom position manually
Power zoom function
Canceling the power zoom function
Flash shooting support functions
AF-Assist Illuminator
Flash shooting support functions
For cameras having a built-in Speedlight
Using the SB-900 off-camera
AF-assist illuminator/flash firing off
Setting the ISO sensitivity manually
Setting the ISO sensitivity
Setting the test firing
Test firing function
This function operates only after the ready-light comes on
Modeling illuminator function
Manual switching of light distribution angle
Automatic switching between FX-/DX-format
FX/DX selection
Image
For use with cameras other than CLS compatible SLR cameras
CLS-compatible cameras
Using the SB-900 with non-CLS-compatible SLR cameras
For use with i-TTL compatible Coolpix cameras
For usage with i-TTL-compatible Coolpix cameras
Page
Tips on Speedlight care and reference information
Problems with the SB-900
Troubleshooting
Cause Solution
Microcomputer characteristics
Troubleshooting
Flash mode Max. number of continuous
Thermal Cut-out
Temperature warning indicators
Thermal Cut-out On
Thermal Cut-out Off
Agents when cleaning the Speedlight
Cleaning
Tips on Speedlight care
Storage
To protect the environment, do not dispose
Ni-MH batteries
Used rechargeable batteries yourself
Instead, take these batteries to your nearest
Adjusting the LCD panel’s contrast
Characteristics of the LCD panel
About the LCD panel
LCD panel illuminator ON/OFF
Updating firmware
Cameras compatible with SB-900 firmware update
Speedlight Stand AS-21
Optional accessories
Color Filter Set SJ-3
Water Guard WG-AS1, WG-AS2, WG-AS3
Connecting to an external power source
Optional accessories
External power source
Specifications
TTL
Specifications
5000 sec. at M1/8 output
FX-format, standard illumination pattern
Specifications
Angle of coverage in DX-format
Angle of coverage in FX-format
ISO 100 · m
Guide number table
Guide number table in DX-format
Guide number table in FX-format
Standard illumination pattern, at ISO 100 m/ft
Standard illumination pattern, at ISO 100 m/ft in DX-format
Guide number table with Auto FP High-Speed Sync
Standard illumination pattern, at ISO 100 m/ft in FX-format
Min. number of flashes/recycling time of each battery
Index
Symbol
22, D-24
C-9
Index
Page
Nikon Corporation
TT8F01