Nikon SB-15/17 - Instruction Manual

Operations in Detail Part II

BLUE section: (For other cameras operating in automatic flash mode) Set the camera's shutter speed for correct flash synchronization. For example, with the Nikon FE, just set the shutter speed dial to "A" as with you are using other dedicated flash like the companion electronic flash SB-10.

Popular Nikon bodies that do not has TTL flash exposure control feature when used with the SB-15 direct like, Nikon F2 bodies (via sync cord or coupler), the Nikkormat (Electronic EL series or mechanical FT series); EM, FG-20, FE, FM, FM2, FM2n models, FM-10 and FE-10).

9-B. Set film speed. Turn the ASA/ISO film speed setting ring (the outside ring of the exposure calculator dial) until the ASA/ISO index is opposite the speed of the film loaded in your camera.

Located at the bottom of the exposure calculator dial are the blue A1 and red A2 aperture indicator bands which provide a choice of two f/stops. For example, with ASA/ISO 100 film, you can choose f/4 or f/8; the auto shooting ranges are 0.6 ~ 6.1m (2~20 ft.) and 0.6~3.1m (2~10 ft.), respectively.

11-B. Set the lens aperture ring to the appropriate f/stop.
In the example, f/4.0 is set on the lens.

12-B. Set the mode mode selector to "A" and the A1/A2 switch to either A1 or A2.

Again using ASA/ISO 100 film as an example, if you select f/4.0, you must set the switch to A2.

13-B. Turn on the flash unit.

Simultaneously the appropriate red LED will light up inside the A2 aperture indicator band bust below the exposure calculator dial) as an indication.

Note: if neither of the light turns on, the most possible culprit is the batteries. Open the battery compartment lid and check the polarity of individual cell resides inside.

If your camera has an LED ready-light inside the viewfinder, make sure that it is lit up, indicating that the SB-15/17 is ready to fire. If you are not attending to the camera (like self timer or remote control operations), use the flash ready-light built into the back of the SB-15/SB-17.

In the case of Nikon F3/SB-15 combination by way of flash coupler (Except for the new AS-17, TTL not possible with any other flash coupler): As soon as the LED ready-light comes on the flash is ready to fire. If you depress the shutter button halfway, you'll notice that the LCD displays 80 indicating that the proper synchronization speed of 1/80 sec. has been automatically set by the speedlight.

The ready light at the back of the SB-15 can also be used to determine the status of the flash charge.

After taking the picture, just monitor inside camera's viewfinder or the back of the flash and see if it blinks. If it does not - then you should have a theoretical good exposure.

15. Take the picture.

If it blinks, use a wider aperture OR if possible move closer (Change to faster film will works as well, but too tedious of a process in the mid of an assignment).

Turn off the flash to conserve power. end.

User tips: Every Nikon SLR camera has a differing maximum sync speed. The slower the speed used in flash photography will determine the amount of ambient light and detail of the surrounding in an eventual image taken with a flash (Most electronic flash has a extremely short flash duration of 1/8800 sec and above to capture an image stilled on film, while the rest of the remaining time ( If you are confused - Just imagine the time remaining from 1/125 sec minus 1/8800 sec..) may absorb the available light presents on any given photographic scene. The slow speed used will not affect the automatic function of any electronic flash, regardless TTL or not. However, if a sense of movement (or ghost image) in your prints/slides is not desirable, the use of higher sync speed will reduce the chances of having double image formed in a brightly lit environment (such as a bright or video light filled receptions or even apply to syncro-sunlight photography). The proper f-stop used, in this case, is to ensure the subject is properly exposed given the distance from the flash unit, the fast or slow shutter speed used for the flash will have a direct effect of detail reveals in a photography.

Shooting Mode Selector

There are four settings to choose from. Note that as soon as the SB-15 is turned on, the appropriate LED (either red or green) on the back of the unit will light up to indicate the setting.

TTL Mode (Through the lens) OTF (Off the film-plane) flash Metering

This mode is usable only with some of the manual focus based Nikon SLR bodies that offer TTL flash exposure control such as Nikon FA, FE2 and FG (Nikon F3 in the case of SB-17). Except when the FA or FE2 is set to M250 or B, or when the FG is set to M90 or B (Which are all mechanically governed and operated), this mode provides automatic through-the-lens (TTL) control of flash exposure at any aperture from f/2.0 to f/22 to match the flash-to-subject distance: the farther away the subject, the more light emitted by the flash unit; the closer the subject, the less light given off. In addition, recycling time varies with distance; the closer the subject, the shorter the recycling time and vice versa. The key to successful TTL flash is NOT to stress the flash working distance and select an appropriate f-stop which is within the flash maximum output.

Warning: Also note that the usable film speeds in this mode are recommended to be within ASA/ISO 25 to 400.

"A" Mode: Automatic electronic flash exposure mode.

In the automatic (A) mode, the light output of the flash varies automatically to match the flash-to-subject distance, but instead of the light being measured through the lens, it is read by the light sensor on the front of the SB-15/SB-17. At any film speed setting, you have a choice of two working apertures indicated by the blue and red (A1 and A2) aperture indicator bands on the top of the flash unit just below the exposure calculator dial. Some usable Nikon SLRs are Nikon F2 series camera models (via coupler AS-1 for SB-15, AS-5 for SB-17, or sync cord to the PC terminal); the old workhorse bodies like the mechanical Nikkormat FT series or electronic EL series models, mechanical Nikon FM, FM2, FM2n models, current highly controversial Nikon FM-10; electronic Nikon FE, EM, FG-20, F-301 and the current FE-10 etc..).

"M" Mode for back to the basic, manual flash control.

At the manual (M) setting, the SB-15/SB-17 fires at its maximum light output regardless of the flash-to-subject distance. To insure correct exposure when the subject is closer than the near limit of the automatic shooting range, it is recommended to shoot on manual; likewise when the subject is near the far limit of the auto shooting range, it is a good idea to use the SB-15/SB-17 on manual. In this case, you have to calculate the exposure manually using the exposure calculator dial or the a simple flash equation. On manual, the guide number is 25 (ASA/ISO 100 and meters) or 41 (ASA/ISO 25 and feet). The SB-15 or SB-17 virtually will work with any Nikon SLR camera bodies either by way of direct attachment or via a flash coupler or through a sync cable plug into the PC terminal of the camera body.

"MD" Mode - Motor Drive Mode

At the motor drive (MD) setting, the SB-15/SB-17 is able to recycle fast enough to synchronize with a motor driven camera firing continuously up to 3.5 frames per second. It is possible to take up to four flash pictures in rapid succession in this way. At MD, the SB-15's light output is reduced to approx. one-thirteenth that of its maximum power; the MD guide number is 7 (ASA/ISO 100 and meters) or 11 (ASA/ISO 25 and feet). Like the M setting, this is also a manual setting; therefore, the exposure must be calculated manually using the exposure calculator dial or guide number equation.

Synchronization Speed

In flash photography, the shutter speed with which electronic flash will synchronize depends on the camera in use. With the Nikon FA, FE2, FG, F3-series, FG-20, EM or FE camera set for automatic operation or at certain manual shutter speeds, the correct shutter speed is automatically set by simply turning on the SB-15/SB-17. However, with ail other Nikon cameras, the correct synchronization speed must be set manually. Refer to the following chart for the shutter speeds which are usable with your camera.

Note and Updated info: Automatic switching to the correct synchronization speed only occurs when the SB-15 is mounted in the camera 's hot shoe and turned on; it does not occur when the SB-15 is turned off or when a sync cord is used for off-camera operation.

However, the SB-17/F3 combination has the edge over the SB-15 + Nikon bodies, because the SB-17 has an additional TTL sync socket which enable full feature to be retained as long as you are using a TTL sync cord. The newly introduced AS-17 should also provide same functionality when a SB-15 is used on the Nikon F3.

Nikon Manual focus SLR camera Models	Proper Sync speed	Camera Settings	Actual Shutter speed for proper Synchronization
Nikon FA *	1/250 sec or slower	P, S, A (all shutter speed dial settings except M250 and B) or M (1/500 sec. or faster)	1/250 sec.
		P, S, A (M250 or B)	As set
		M (1/250 sec. or slower)	As set
Nikon FE2	1/250 sec or slower	A or 1/500 sec. or faster	1/250 sec.
Nikon FE2	1/250 sec or slower	1/250 sec. or slower	As set
Nikon FG **	1/90 sec or slower	P, A or 1/125 sec. or faster	1/90 sec
Nikon FG **	1/90 sec or slower	1/90 sec. (M90) or slower	As set
Nikon F3 models ***	1/80 sec or slower	A or 1/125 or faster	1/80 sec.
Nikon F3 models ***	1/80 sec or slower	1/80 sec. ( x ) or slower	As set
Nikon FM2 (1/250 sec) ****	1/250 sec or slower	1/250 sec or slower	As set
Nikon FM2 (1/200 sec) ****	1/200 sec or slower	1/200 sec. (X-200) or slower	As set
Nikon FE ****	1/125 sec or slower	AUTO	1/125 sec
Nikon FE ****	1/125 sec or slower	1/125 sec. or slower	As set
Nikon FG-20	1/90 sec or slower	A, M or 1/125 sec. or faster	1/90 sec
Nikon FG-20	1/90 sec or slower	1/60 sec. or slower	As set
Nikon EM	1/90 sec or slower	AUTO	1/90 sec
Nikon EM	1/90 sec or slower	M90 or B	As set

* With the Nikon FA, the LCD indication in the viewfinder varies according to the settings: 250 appears in the (P, S, and A) automatic exposure modes, M250 appears at a manual setting of 1/500 or faster, M and the shutter speed set (e.g., M125) appears at a manual setting of 1/250 or slower, while no indication appears at M250 and B.
** With the Nikon FG, the viewfinder indications vary according to the settings: two adjacent LEDs indicating 1/90 sec. appear at P, A, or 1/125 sec. or faster, one LED indicating shutter speed as set at 1/60 or slower, while no indication appears at B or M90.
*** With Nikon F3-series cameras the LCD indication in the viewfinder varies according to the settings: 80 appears on A, M80 appears at X or 1/125 or faster, the shutter speed set (e.g., M60) appears at a manual setting of 1/60 or slower: while M~appears at B and T.
**** When the shutter speed dial setting is improper for flash synchronization, the camera's ready-light blinks as a warning.

Exposure Calculator Dial (For Automatic Operation)

The SB-15/SB-17's exposure calculator dial helps you select the usable range of f/stops for the speed of the film in use and the camera-to-subject distance. On the dial there are eight f/stops to choose from. Each f/stop determines the usable distance range in which you can obtain the correct automatic exposure. The automatic shooting range for each f/stop is indicated by a color-coded line. When the subject distance remains the same, the larger the aperture selected, the less the depth of field in the final photograph, and the maximum shooting distance is greater, but the recycling time of the speedlight is shorter. On the other hand, the smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field, but the recycling time is longer and the maximum shooting distance is less. Therefore, in choosing an f/stop, all these factors should be taken into consideration.

The exposure calculator dial on the top of the SB-15 helps you select the aperture you must set on the lens depending on the camera-to-subject distance. To use the dial, follow these steps:

To set the ASA/ISO film speed, turn the ASA/ISO film speed setting ring until the number corresponding to the speed of your film is opposite the ASA/ISO film speed index. Note: Dots between the numbers on the film speed sea/e represent intermediate settings.

2) Setting the mode setting knob Located in the center of the exposure calculator dial is the mode setting knob.

There are three settings to choose from: "N" is for normal shooting, "W" is used when the Wide-Flash Adapter is in place, while "MD" should be set when operating the SB-15 in the MD shooting mode. To change the setting, grasp the knob with your fingertips and turn it until the appropriate N, W, or MD is aligned with the white index.