Nikon SB-5000 User manual

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SB-5000

Speedlight

Reference Manual

En-01

A-1

Preparation

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Preparation

About the SB-5000 and This

Reference Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Speedlight SB-5000. To get the most

out of your Speedlight, please read the user’s manual and the reference

manual (this manual) thoroughly before use.

How to find what you are looking for

iTable of contents (0A-12)

You can search by item, such as operation method, flash mode or function.

iQ&A index (0A-9)

You can search according to objective without knowing the specific name

or term of an item.

iIndex (0H-31)

You can search using the alphabetical index.

iTroubleshooting (0H-1)

This is handy when there is a problem with your Speedlight.

For your safety

Before using the Speedlight for the first time, read the safety instructions in

“For Your Safety” (0A-16 – A-19).

SB-5000

Model Name: N1502

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About the SB-5000

The SB-5000 is a high-performance Speedlight compatible with Nikon

Creative Lighting System (CLS) with a guide number of 34.5/113 (ISO 100,

m/ft) (at the 35 mm zoom head position in Nikon FX format with standard

illumination pattern). In addition to conventional optical control, radio

control is possible in wireless multiple flash-unit photography.

CLS-compatible cameras

Nikon digital SLR (Nikon FX/DX format) cameras (except

D1 series and D100), F6, CLS-compatible COOLPIX

cameras (0G-1)

About this reference manual

This manual has been compiled with the assumption that the

SB-5000 will be used in combination with a camera compatible

with CLS and a CPU lens (0A-3).To get the most out of your

Speedlight, please read the user’s manual and the reference manual (this

manual) thoroughly before use.

• For use with non-CLS-compatible SLR cameras, see “For Use with Non-

CLS-compatible SLR Cameras”(0F-1).

• For use with i-TTL-compatible COOLPIX cameras (P5100, P5000, E8800,

E8700, E8400), see “For Use with COOLPIX Cameras”(0G-1).

• For details about camera functions and settings, see the camera user’s

manual.

• Illustrations and monitor content shown in this manual may differ from

the actual product.

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Icons used in this manual

vDescribes a point to which you should pay particular attention

in order to avoid Speedlight malfunctions or mistakes.

tIncludes information or tips to make Speedlight use easier.

0Reference to other pages in this manual

tTips on identifying CPU NIKKOR lenses

CPU lenses have CPU contacts.

CPU contacts

• The SB-5000 cannot be used with IX-Nikkor

lenses.

tA collection of example photos

“A collection of example photos”provides an overview of the SB-5000’s

flash photography capabilities with example images. To download the PDF

file of “A collection of example photos”, access the link below.

http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/

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Terminology

■Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

A lighting system that enables various flash photography functions with

improved communication between Nikon Speedlights and cameras

■Unified flash control

A function that enables flash function settings to be shared by the

Speedlight and the camera

■i-TTL mode

Flash mode in which the Speedlight fires monitor pre-flashes and the

camera measures the reflected light and controls the Speedlight flash

output

i-TTL balanced fill-flash

i-TTL mode type in which flash output level is adjusted to well-

balanced exposure of the main subject and background

Standard i-TTL

i-TTL mode type in which flash output level is adjusted to the correct

exposure of the main subject regardless of background brightness

■Manual flash mode

Flash mode in which the flash output level and aperture are manually set

to obtain the desired exposure

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■Auto aperture flash mode

Non-TTL auto flash mode with aperture priority; the Speedlight measures

the reflected flash and controls the flash output according to the reflected

flash data and the lens and camera information

■Non-TTL auto flash mode

Auto flash mode without TTL; the Speedlight measures the reflected flash

and controls the flash output according to the reflected flash data

■Distance-priority manual flash mode

Manual flash mode with distance priority; the flash-to-subject distance is

set and the Speedlight flash output level is adjusted in accordance with

the camera settings

■Repeating flash mode

Flash mode in which the Speedlight fires repeatedly during a single

exposure to create stroboscopic multiple effects

■Wireless multiple flash-unit photography

Flash photography with multiple wireless flash units simultaneously firing

Radio control

A type of control for multiple flash units using radio signals

Optical control

A type of control for multiple flash units using an optical pulse

Master flash unit

The flash unit attached to a camera in multiple flash-unit photography

Remote flash unit

A flash unit that fires following commands from the master flash unit

or camera

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Advanced Wireless Lighting

Wireless multiple flash-unit photography with CLS; multiple remote

flash unit groups can be controlled with the master flash unit.

Quick wireless control

Wireless multiple flash-unit photography in which the flash output

level ratios of 2 remote flash unit groups (A and B) can be easily

balanced

Direct remote wireless multiple flash-unit photography

Wireless multiple flash-unit photography suited to taking pictures of

a fast-moving subjects; the master and remote flash units fire almost

simultaneously because the master flash unit does not emit monitor

pre-flashes.

Link mode

Enables selection of communication type between Nikon Speedlight

and camera. Available selections are pairing and PIN code.

Pairing

Speedlight and a camera paired beforehand communicate.

PIN code

Speedlight and a camera with the same 4-digit PIN code

communicate.

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■Monitor pre-flashes

A series of flashes emitted for a very short time before the actual firing that

enables the camera to measure the light reflected on a subject

■Effective flash output distance

Flash-to-subject distance with correctly adjusted flash output

■Effective flash output distance range

Range of effective flash output distance

■Zoom head position

Position of a Speedlight zoom head; the angle of coverage changes as the

zoom head position changes.

■Flash exposure compensation

Intentional flash output change to obtain the desired subject brightness

■Default settings

Function and mode settings at the time of purchase

■Illumination patterns

Control types of light falloff at edges; the SB-5000 provides 3 illumination

patterns, standard, even and center-weighted.

■Test firing

Flash firing to determine whether the Speedlight fires properly

■Modeling illumination

Repeated flash firings at a reduced flash output level to check the glare

and shadows cast on a subject

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■FX format/DX format

Nikon digital SLR camera image area types (FX format: 36 × 24, DX format:

24 × 16)

■Guide number (GN)

The amount of light generated by a flash unit; as the number increases,

the light extends further. There is a relation represented by an equation,

GN = flash-to-subject distance (m or ft) × aperture f-number (ISO 100).

■Step

A unit of the shutter speed or aperture change; a change of 1 step halves/

doubles the amount of light entering the camera

■EV (Exposure Value)

Each increment of 1 in exposure value corresponds to a 1-step change in

exposure, which is made by halving/doubling shutter speed or aperture.

An aperture of f/1.4 and a shutter speed of 1 second correspond to EV 1

which provides correct exposure or proper brightness of the subject. As

the exposure value increases, the exposure of the film or imaging device

increases.

■Front-curtain sync/rear-curtain sync

In front-curtain sync, the flash fires immediately after the front curtain

is fully open; the subject frozen by the flash appears behind the blurred

movement. In rear-curtain sync, the flash fires moments before the rear

curtain starts to close; the blur of a moving subject appears behind the

subject and not in front, creating natural pictures.

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Q&A Index

You can search for specific explanations according to objective.

Flash photography 1

Using the SB-5000 attached to a camera’s accessory shoe

Question Key phrase 0

Which ash mode can I take pictures with? Flash modes C-1

How can I take pictures in the simplest way? Basic operations B-16

How can I change the ash mode? Changing the ash mode B-22

How can I conrm the amount of underexposure

due to insucient ash output in i-TTL mode?

Amount of

underexposure due to

insucient ash output

C-4

How can I adjust the zoom head position? Power zoom function E-22

How can I adjust the zoom head position

automatically to match the lens focal length? Power zoom function E-22

How can I adjust the aperture? Non-TTL auto ash mode C-11

How can I adjust the ash output level? Manual ash mode C-5

How can I take formal group shots? Illumination pattern: Even E-2

How can I take portrait photos emphasizing the

main subject?

Illumination pattern:

Center-weighted E-2

How can I take pictures with soft shadows cast

on a wall? Bounce ash operation E-4

How can I take brighter (or darker) pictures of

the subject?

Flash exposure

compensation E-20

How can I conrm lighting conditions? Modeling illumination E-27

How can I take pictures under uorescent light

and incandescent light and balance the lights’

color eects?

Color compensation

lters E-14

How can I take pictures adding specic color to

the light of the Speedlight? Color lters E-14

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