Nikon SB-16A/B - Part IV

Exposure compensation In TTL or non-TTL automatic operation with a dark subject (one with low reflectivity) or one light in tone (having high-reflectivity), over or underexposure may occur. To prevent this, exposure compensation is required. Note: If you photograph a subject of very high reflectivity such as when shooting directly into a mirror or metallic surface underexposure is certain to occur In this case. take the picture on manual.

When shooting TTL auto flash pictures, you can use the camera's exposure compensation dial (or the exposure compensation button also available when using the Nikon FG) in the normal way to make exposure compensation according to the shooting situation or to make intentionally over or underexposed photographs.

Turn the dial in the + direction to give more exposure and turn it in the opposite (-) direction to give less exposure (refer to the camera's instruction manual for more information). The TTL auto shooting range changes according to the amount of exposure compensation.

Exposure compensation/ Film Speed in use	+2	+1	0	-1	-2
25			25	50	100
50		25	50	100	200
100	25	50	100	200	400
200	50	100	200	400	880*
400	100	200	400	880*
880*	200	400	880
1000*	250	500	1000
	Not possible; make the necessary compensation in the non-TTL automatic mode (see the following) or shoot on manual

In the non-TTL automatic exposure mode, exposure compensation can be performed by stopping down or opening up the lens. With a dark subject, use a smaller aperture. When a subject is light in tone, use a larger aperture.

Ready Light After the ON/OFF switch is turned on, the ready-light at the back of the SB-16 lights up to indicate that the SB-16 is recycled and ready to fire. At the same time, the ready light inside the viewfinder of all Nikon F3-series cameras, in addition to the FA, FE2, FM2, FE, F-501/N2020, F-301/N2000, FG, FG-20, EM and Nikonos-V also lights up. Thus, without removing your eye from the eyepiece, you can tell when the flash unit is ready for the next shot.

<< -- Nikon F3 Nikon FA ---->>

<<<---- F501; F301 Nikon FG, FG-20 ---->>

Notes: 1) With the Nikon FA, FE2, F-501/N2020, F-301/N2000, FG, EM. FG-20 or Nikonos-V, the meter must first be turned on by depressing the shutter release button halfway to activate the ready-light function. 2)The ready-light will light up when the SB-16 is recycled to approx. 80% full capacity Therefore, It is a good idea to wait for a few more seconds when shooting subjects located at the far limit of the auto shooting range. 3) With alkaline-manganese batteries, if the ready-light takes more than 30sec. to light up, you should replace the batteries with a fresh set. 4) The voltage of NiCd batteries decreases rapidly when their power is almost exhausted, increasing the recycling time. When this occurs, stop using them immediately and recharge them or they may be damaged.

Warning functions In the TTL or non-TTL automatic mode, both the ready lights on the flash unit and in the camera's viewfinder blink for 3 seconds after the flash unit fired at its maximum output, indicating that the light might have been insufficient for correct exposure. In this case, check the subject distance and if it is out of the automatic shooting range, use a wider aperture if possible or move closer to the subject. Because the voltage of batteries decreases with use, the guide number might also be reduced slightly. The flash output of the SB-16 depends on the available ambient light and the reflectivity of the subject. Note that, because of these factors, the ready-light may blink to indicate that the light output was insufficient for correct exposure, even if the subject is within the auto shooting range. Other warnings shown by the ready-light's blinking vary according to the type of flash unit and the camera in use.

With the SB-16A As soon as the flash unit is turned on, both ready~lights blink in the following cases: 1) When the AS-8's mounting foot is not securely locked. 2) When using the TTL mode with the Nikon F3-series camera and the camera's film speed setting is set well beyond the usable range of ASA/ISO 25-400 without exposure compensation. 3) When the shooting mode selector is set at TTL with any camera other than the Nikon F3-series.

Note that when the shutter speed setting on the Nikon FE or FM2(n) is improper for correct flash synchronization and the camera's meter is on (only in the case of the FE), just the camera's ready-light blinks as a warning, while the one on the flash unit does not blink but simply lights up to indicate when the flash is ready to fire.

Camera	Shutter Speed (sec)	Shooting mode	SB-16's Ready Light	Camera's Ready Light
Camera	Shutter Speed (sec)	Shooting mode	SB-16's Ready Light	meter-ON	meter-OFF
F3 models*	all settings	TTL	lights up*	lights up*	lights up*
F3 models*	all settings	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	lights up* *
FA via AS-6	all settings except M250 & B on P, S, A and M	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
	all settings except M250 & B on P, S, A and M	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	Does not lights up
	M250 & B on P, S, A and M	TTL	blinks		blinks
	M250 & B on P, S, A and M	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *		lights up* *
FE2 via AS-6	all settings except M250 & B	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
	all settings except M250 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	Does not lights up
	M250 & B	TTL	blinks		blinks
	M250 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *		lights up* *
FE via AS-6	AUTO, 125 & slower	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks
	AUTO, 125 & slower	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	blinks	lights up* *
	250 & faster	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks
	250 & faster	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	blinks	lights up
FM2(n) via AS-6 (1/250 sec)	250 & slower	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks
	250 & slower	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	lights up
	500 & faster	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks* * *
	500 & faster	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	blinks	blinks
FM2 via AS-6 (1/200 sec)	X200, 1/200 & slower	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks
	X200, 1/200 & slower	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	lights up
	250 & faster	TTL	blinks	blinks	blinks
	250 & faster	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	blinks	blinks

F501, F301 via AS-6	all settings	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
F501, F301 via AS-6	all settings	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up	Does not lights up
FG via AS-6	all settings except M90 & B	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
	all settings except M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	Does not lights up
	M90 & B	TTL	blinks		blinks
	M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *		lights up* *
FG20, EM via AS-6	all settings except M90 & B	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
	all settings except M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	Does not lights up
	M90 & B	TTL	blinks		blinks
	M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *		lights up* *
Nikonos V via V-type cord, AS-6	all settings except M90 & B	TTL	blinks	blinks	Does not lights up
	all settings except M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	lights up* *	Does not lights up
	M90 & B	TTL	blinks	.	blinks
	M90 & B	A1, A2, N, MD	lights up* *	.	lights up* *

* Except Nikon F3P, F3H with DE-5 prism
* It blinks when the film speed setting on the camera is beyond the usable range for the TTL mode or when the mounting foot is not securely locked.
* * It blinks when the mounting foot is not secure/y locked
* * * It blinks irregularly

Red rectangle = Proper flash synchronization is impossible due to improper setting of shutter speed or shooting mode.
Note: With a mechanical shutter speed set on the camera, the camera's exposure meter remains off even if you depress the shutter release button.

With the SB-16B As soon as the flash unit is turned on, the ready-light on the flash unit lights up when the flash is ready to fire, while the ready-light in the camera's viewfinder blinks in the following cases: 1) When the shooting mode selector is set at TTL with any camera other than the Nikon FA, FE2, F-501/N2020, F-301/N2000, FG, or Nikons-V. 2) When using the FA, FE2, FG or Nikonos-V to perform TTL automatic flash photography with the camera's shutter speed dial set at a mechanical setting (M250, M90 or B). The B setting on the F-501/N2020 and F-301/N2000 camera is not a mechanical setting; you can use any setting on the camera's shooting mode selector. 3) When using the FA, FE2, F-501/N2020, F-301/N2000, FG or Nikonos-V to perform TTL automatic flash photography with a camera film speed setting over the usable range, without exposure compensation (or when using DX-coded film with film speed higher than ISO 1000 for the F-501/N2020 and F-301/N2000).

Make sure to use film within the usable range for TTL flash photography (ISO 25 to 400 with the FA, FE2, FG or Nikonos-V, or ISO 25 to 1000 with the F-501/N2020 and F-301/N2000).
<<<---- (404K) PDF file

With the FA, the ready-light also blinks when the film speed setting on the camera is near ISO 12, with or without exposure compensation in the + direction. 4) When the shutter speed setting on the FM2 or FE is improper for flash synchronization and the camera's meter is on (only in the case of the FE).

Camera	Shutter Speed (sec)	Shooting mode	SB-16's Ready Light	Camera's Ready Light
				meter-ON	meter-OFF
F3 models* via AS-4, AS-7	all settings	TTL	lights up	blinks	blinks
		A1, A2, N, MD	lights up	lights up	lights up
F3 models* via AS-17	all settings	TTL	lights up	lights up	lights up
		A1, A2, N, MD	lights up	lights up	lights up