Speedlight SB-400 Instruction Manual Preparation · · · · · · · · · · For your safety .................................................................................................2 Foreword .........................................................................................................8 Confirm receipt ................................................................................................8 Compatible cameras.......................................................................................10 Speedlight parts .............................................................................................10 Installing the batteries ....................................................................................10 Attach the SB-400 to the camera ...................................................................12 Adjust the flash head .....................................................................................12 Setting the camera's mode.............................................................................13 Flash shooting distance range.........................................................................13 En Basic operation Available flash modes · Slow-sync flash/Red-eye reduction/Red-eye reduction with slow-sync flash mode/Rear-curtain sync/FV (Flash Value) Lock/Exposure compensation and flash output level compensation/Manual mode........................................14 Effective usage of Speedlight · Bounce flash ..................................................................................................15 · Notes on bounce flash....................................................................................16 Reference information · · · · · · · Optional accessories .......................................................................................18 Tips on Speedlight care ..................................................................................18 Notes on handling batteries............................................................................19 Notes on continuous flash shooting................................................................20 A note on microcomputer-controlled Speedlights ...........................................20 Troubleshooting .............................................................................................21 Specifications .................................................................................................22 1 Preparation For your safety Before using your product, please read the following safety precautions carefully and thoroughly to ensure correct and safe use and to help prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or others. For quick reference by those who use the product, please keep these safety instructions near the product. In this manual, safety instructions are indicated with these symbols: En WARNING CAUTION Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol could result in personal injury, or death and property damage. Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol could result in property damage. WARNINGS for Speedlights 1 If corrosive liquids seep from the batteries and get in your eyes, immediately wash your eyes with running water and consult with a doctor. Your eyes could be seriously damaged if they are not treated quickly. Never attempt to disassemble or repair the flash unit by yourself, as this could result in you receiving an electric shock and could also cause the unit to malfunction; such malfunction could lead to personal injury. If corrosive liquids seep from the batteries and come in contact with your skin or clothes, wash immediately with running water. Prolonged contact could injure your skin. 2 3 2 If the flash unit is dropped and damaged, do not touch any exposed interior metal parts. Such parts, especially the speedlight's capacitor and associated parts, could be in a high-charge state and if touched could cause an electric shock. Disconnect the power or remove the batteries and be sure that you do not touch any of the product's electrical components, and then bring the flash unit to your local Nikon dealer or authorized service center for repair. 5 If you detect heat, smoke or notice a burning smell, immediately stop operation and remove the batteries to prevent the unit from catching on fire or melting. Allow the flash unit to cool down so that you can safely touch it and remove the batteries. Then bring the unit to your local Nikon dealer or authorized service center for repair. 6 The flash unit should never be submerged in liquid or exposed to rain, saltwater or moisture unless it is properly protected from the liquids and moisture. Underwater use requires a certified underwater housing. If water or moisture gets inside the unit, this could cause the unit to catch on fire or cause an electric shock. In such instances you should immediately remove the batteries from the speedlight and then bring the unit to your local Nikon dealer or authorized service center for repair. Note: electronic devices that are penetrated by water or moisture are often not economically repairable. 7 Do not use the unit in the presence of flammable or explosive gas. If the flash unit is operated in areas where there is a flammable gas, including propane, gasoline and dust, it could cause an explosion or fire. 8 Do not fire the flash unit directly at the driver of a moving car, as this could temporarily impair the driver's vision and cause an accident. 9 Do not fire the flash unit directly into the eyes of someone that is at close range, as it could damage their eyes' retinas. Never fire the flash unit closer than 1 meter from infants. 10 Do not fire the unit while the flash head is touching a person or object. Such use can result in the person being burned, and/or their clothes igniting from the heat of the flash's firing. 4 En 3 Preparation 11 Keep small accessories out of the reach of children to avoid the possibility of the accessory being swallowed. If an accessory is accidentally swallowed, immediately consult with a doctor. 12 Use only the batteries specified in this instruction manual. Batteries other than those specified could leak corrosive liquids, explode or catch on fire or otherwise not perform satisfactorily. 13 Do not mix battery types, brands or old and new batteries, as the batteries could leak corrosive liquids, explode or catch on fire. When using more than one battery in a product, always use identical batteries that were purchased at the same time. 14 Non-rechargeable batteries such as manganese, alkalinemanganese and lithium batteries should never be charged in a battery charger because they could leak corrosive liquids, explode or catch on fire. 15 When using standard size (AA, AAA, C, D) or other common rechargeable batteries such as NiCd and Ni-MH battery types, or when recharging them, be sure to use only the battery charger specified by the battery maker and read the instructions thoroughly. Do not recharge these batteries with their terminals reversed in the charger or before the batteries have cooled off sufficiently because they could leak corrosive liquids, explode or catch on fire. The same caution also applies to using the rechargeable batteries that may be supplied by the photo product's manufacturer. En 4 CAUTIONS for Speedlights 1 2 Do not touch the flash unit with wet hands, as this could cause an electric shock. Keep the flash unit away from children to prevent them from putting the unit in or near their mouth, or otherwise touching a dangerous part of the product; as such contact could cause an electric shock. Do not apply strong physical shocks to the unit, as this could cause a malfunction that could cause the unit to explode or catch on fire. Never use active agents that contain flammable substances such as paint thinner, benzene or paint remover to clean the unit, never spray any insect deterrent spray on the unit, and never store the unit in locations containing chemicals such as camphor and naphthalene, as this could damage the plastic case, cause a fire or cause an electric shock. Remove any batteries from the unit before storing the unit for a long time to prevent the unit from catching on fire or leaking corrosive liquids. En 3 4 5 WARNINGS for Batteries 1 2 3 4 Never heat or throw batteries into a fire, as this could cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Do not short-circuit or disassemble the batteries because this could cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Do not mix battery types, brands or old and new batteries, as this could cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Do not install batteries in the reverse direction as this could cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Even if only one battery is installed in reverse it will cause the speedlight to malfunction. Be sure to use the battery charger specified by the battery maker to avoid the possibility of batteries leaking corrosive liquids, generating heat or exploding. 5 5 Preparation 6 Do not carry or store batteries along with metallic materials such as necklaces and hair pins because such materials could cause the batteries to short-circuit, leading to battery leakage, heat generation or an explosion. In addition, specially when carrying a quantity of batteries, place them carefully in a storage case that prevents the battery terminals from touching another battery's terminals because if they touch in reverse order it could also cause the batteries to short-circuit, leading to battery leakage, heat generation or an explosion. If corrosive liquids seep from the batteries and get in your eyes, immediately wash your eyes with running water and consult with a doctor. Your eyes could be seriously damaged if they are not treated quickly. Always follow the warnings and instructions printed on the batteries to avoid activities that could cause the batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or catch on fire. Be sure to use only batteries specified in this instruction manual, to avoid the possibility of batteries leaking corrosive liquids, generating heat or exploding. Never open the casing surrounding batteries or use batteries whose casing has been breached as such batteries could leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Keep batteries out of the reach of children to help avoid the possibility of them being swallowed. If a battery is accidentally swallowed, immediately consult with a doctor. Batteries should not be submerged in water, exposed to rain, moisture or saltwater unless they are properly protected from the wet environment. If water or moisture gets inside the batteries, this could cause them to leak corrosive liquids or generate heat. Do not use any battery that appears abnormal in any way, including a change in color or shape. Such batteries could leak corrosive liquids or generate heat. Stop recharging rechargeable batteries if you notice that recharging is not completed within the specified time to help prevent the possibility of the battery leaking corrosive liquids or generating heat. En 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 15 If corrosive liquids seep from the batteries and come in contact with your skin or clothes, wash immediately with running water. Prolonged contact could injure your skin. 16 When recycling or disposing of batteries, be sure to insulate their terminals with tape. If the battery's positive and negative terminals shortcircuit after coming into contact with metallic objects, it could cause fire, heat generation or an explosion. Dispose of used batteries in accordance with local government regulations. 17 Non-rechargeable batteries should never be charged in a battery charger because they could leak corrosive liquids or generate heat. 18 Remove dead batteries from your equipment immediately, leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. En CAUTION for Batteries 1 Do not throw or apply strong physical shocks to the batteries as this could cause batteries to leak corrosive liquids, generate heat or explode. Symbol for separate collection applicable in European countries This symbol indicates that this product is to be collected separately. The following apply only to users in European countries. · This product is designated for separate collection at an appropriate collection point. Do not dispose of as household waste. · For more information, contact the retailer or the local authorities in charge of waste management. 7 Preparation Foreword En Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Speedlight SB-400. To get the most out of your Speedlight, please read this instruction manual thoroughly before use. In addition, keep your camera instruction manual handy for quick reference. Confirm receipt Confirm receipt of contents in your kit Instruction manual Warranty ...