Autofocus Speedlight SB-800 A collection of example photos Enter the exciting world of Nikon's Creative Lighting System with the SB-800. Page numbers in parentheses refer you to explanations in the main instruction manual. En A wealth of advanced flash-shooting techniques await you with the SB-800. Take life-like portraits. " 5 4 Soften the shadows. " 7 Record details of small objects. 8 ! 9 Create more natural-looking pictures by illuminating both the subject and background. $ # % Emulate the results of professional studio photographers. ( ) Use colored gel filters to add specific colors to the scene. + ~ · Numbers on the pictures refer to page numbers of this booklet. Bounce flash Create more flattering portraits by tilting or rotating the flash head to bounce the light off the ceiling or walls. When photographing a person standing in front of a wall, tilt or rotate the flash head up to bounce the light off the ceiling. This softens the light falling on the subject, while throwing the dark shadow behind and below the subject. This is an excellent technique to use indoors to render the subtle tones of the person's face, where direct flash often causes harsh, unattractive lighting (p. 98). 4 Bounce flash Shooting data (Normal flash) Camera: D2H Focal length: 60mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D with flash head in normal position Aperture: f/9 Shooting distance: Approx. 4m (13.1 ft.) Normal flash 90 Shooting data (Bounce flash) Camera: D2H Lens focal length: 60mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D with flash head tilted up Aperture: f/8 Shooting distance: Approx. 4m (13.1 ft.) Flash set-up 50 Tilting the flash head and choosing the reflecting surface Tilt the flash head up at least 50° for the most effective bounce flash. Also, make sure that the light from the flash head does not illuminate the subject directly. Optimum results are obtained when the flash head is positioned 1­2m (3.3­6.6 ft.) from the reflecting surface. When shooting in color, select white or highly reflective surfaces to bounce the light off of. Otherwise, your pictures will come out with an unnatural color cast similar to that of the reflecting surface. Nikon Diffusion Dome Without Nikon Diffusion Dome With Nikon Diffusion Dome Shooting data (Without Nikon Diffusion Dome) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/6.3 Shooting distance: Approx. 2.5m (8.2 ft.) The Nikon Diffusion Dome diffuses the light from the flash to soften shadows and prevent the subject's face from coming out too bright. By attaching the provided Nikon Diffusion Dome over the flash head, you can diffuse the light even more when doing bounce flash, creating extremely soft light with virtually no shadows, while insuring sufficient illumination of the background (p. 101). Shooting data (With Nikon Diffusion Dome) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D with Nikon Diffusion Dome attached Aperture: f/6.3 Shooting distance: Approx. 2.5m (8.2 ft.) 5 Flash set-up Notes on using the Nikon Diffusion Dome Good results are obtained when the flash head is tilted up 60°. Essentially the same lighting effect is produced when the camera is positioned either horizontally or vertically. Use of the built-in wide-flash adapter in conjunction with the Nikon Diffusion Dome produces the maximum amount of diffused light. i-TTL Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash i-TTL Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash Standard i-TTL flash 6 In this mode, the camera automatically controls the flash output to keep both the subject and background properly exposed. This mode is especially effective when shooting scenes that include a mirror, white wall, or other highly reflective surfaces (p. 37). Shooting data (i-TTL Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash) Camera: D2H Focal length: 70mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to Do Aperture: f/14 Auto FP High-Speed Sync Auto FP high-speed sync Flash shooting at normal sync speed Automatic high-speed flash synchronization at shutter speeds exceeding the camera's flash sync speed is possible. When shooting with flash outdoors, faster shutter speeds allow you to use a wider aperture to blur the background and/or freeze fast-moving subjects (p. 60). Shooting data (Auto FP high-speed sync) Camera: D2H Focal length: 125mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to BK Aperture: f/2.8 Shutter speed: 1/3200 sec. Flash Value Lock (FV Lock) Without using FV Lock for an off-center subject Using FV Lock for an off-center subject Shooting data (Without FV Lock) Camera: D2H Focal length: 60mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/8 Using FV Lock, you can obtain the correct exposure, when the subject is off-center and positioned against a dark or light background. Because the flash exposure remains locked in even if you change the aperture or composition, or zoom the lens in and out, you can obtain the correct exposure for the main subject. Without FV Lock, the main subject is overexposed due to the dark background (p. 61). Shooting data (With FV Lock) Camera: D2H Focal length: 60mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to Do Aperture: f/8 7 FV Lock is unnecessary when the main subject is centered. Shooting data (Without FV Lock) Camera: D2H Focal length: 60mm Speedlight: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/8 Close-up photography using multiple flash units Two flash units (one bounced from the side; another used directly from the top rear) Direct on-camera flash Dramatic close-ups of small objects can be created by using one SB-800 off-camera as the master flash and another as the remote flash. 8 A feeling of roundness is provided by this set-up. One SB-800, the master flash, is used off-camera via a cord to bounce the light off a reflector card to diffuse the shadows, while a second SB-800, the remote flash, is positioned above and to the left rear of the subject, providing direct illumination. In this situation, the master flash unit is the fill light, whereas the remote flash is the main light (p. 102). Shooting data (Using two flash units) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D (bounced from the side) 2 Remote flash unit: SB-800 set to D (directly from the top rear) Aperture: f/22 Shooting distance: Approx. 1m (3.3 ft.) Off-camera flash directly from the side Off-camera flash bounced from the side 2 1 Flash set-up Three flash units (one flash bounced from the side + two flashes from the top and rear) On-camera flash Two flash units: Off-camera flash bounced from the side + one directly from the top Two flash units: one flash back-lit from the side + another from the bottom using a reflector and gel filter. With a single on-camera flash unit, distinct shadows appear behind the subject, contributing to a sense of flatness. Bounced illumination from the side and direct illumination from the top rear provided by two SB-800s eliminate the shadows and emphasize the motorcycle's contours such as the wheels. In this way, a much more vivid rendition of both the miniature model of the bike and the figure beside it are created (p. 102). Shooting data (Two flash units: Off-camera flash bounced from the side + another directly from the top rear) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D (bounced from the side) 2 Remote flash unit: SB-800 set to D (directly from the top rear) Aperture: f/22 Shooting distance: Approx. 1.5m (4.9 ft.) 9 Flash set-up 2 1 Close-up photography using multiple flash units (cont.) Two flash units (one from the side and another from above) A single flash unit from above By using more than one SB-800, you can take Shooting data breath-taking close-ups of subjects like flowers. (Using a single flash unit from above) To bring out the gorgeous colors and textures of the purple cattleyas, two SB-800s were used, one on the left front (as the master unit via a cord) and another (as the remote unit) on the right rear and slightly above the flowers. Although both Speedlights were used directly, this lighting set-up produces soft shadows with enhanced subject detail (p. 102). Shooting data (Using two flash units) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D 2 Remote flash unit: SB-800 set to D (from the top) Aperture: f/32 Shooting distance: Approx. 1m (3.3 ft.) Camera: D2H Focal length: 105mm Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/25 Shooting distance: Approx. 1m (3.3 ft.) ! Flash set-up 2 1 Wireless multiple flash shooting in the TTL auto flash mode Current wireless multiple flash shooting Advanced Wireless Lighting shooting (Two flash units: on-camera flash + remote flash from the side) Shooting data (Advanced Wireless Lighting) Camera: D2H Focal length: 70mm Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D Remote flash unit: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/11 In addition to the master flash unit used on-camera, the remote flash unit illuminates the subject from the side to create a more natural-looking portrait. In current wireless multiple flash shooting, the overlapping portions illuminated by two flash units are overexposed. However, with Advanced Wireless Lighting in the TTL auto flash mode, the subject comes out correctly exposed (p. 76). " Single on-camera flash Shooting data (Using two flash units) Camera: D2H Focal length: 70mm Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D Remote flash unit: SB-800 set to D Aperture: f/14 Two flash units: on-camera flash + remote flash from the rear The master flash unit is used on-camera while the remote flash unit illuminates the subject from the rear to emphasize the subject's contour and bring out the delicate details of subject's hair. This lighting set-up is particularly effective when shooting portraits against dark backgrounds (p. 76). Multiple flash shooting (1) Three flash units (on-camera flash + one remote unit bounced off the ceiling + one remote unit with red gel filter in the fireplace) Single on-camera flash Use more than one flash to illuminate both the subject and the background. With one SB-800 used on-camera, the subject in front is properly illuminated, while the background comes out too dark. To create a more naturallooking picture of the woman sitting in the room, one remote flash unit was placed behind the subject and on the right, then bounced off the ceiling to light the background. Another remote flash unit with a red gel filter attached was positioned in the fireplace behind a log to create the impression of flames (p. 80). Shooting data (Using three flash units) Camera: D2H Focal length: 25mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D 2 Remote flash unit A: SB-800 set to D (bounced off the ceiling) 3 Remote flash unit B: SB-800 set to G (with red gel filter) Aperture: f/5.6 # Two flash units (one on-camera flash + one remote unit bounced from the ceiling) Flash set-up Fireplace 2 3 1 Multiple flash shooting (2) Single off-camera flash Three flash units (One off-camera on the left + one on the right + one behind the subject bounced off the back wall) The master flash illuminates the subject from the side, while two remote flash units soften and eliminate the shadows. In this setup, the master flash was placed offcamera on the left to emphasize the subject contours, but casts shadows on the woman's face and a harsh shadow on the back wall. Remote flash A was positioned on the right to soften the shadows. However, the shadow on the wall still exists. To remove it, remote flash B was placed at the subject's feet to bounce light off the wall, resulting in a dramatic portrait (p. 76). Shooting data (Using three flash units) Camera: D2H Focal length: 48mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D 2 Remote flash unit A: SB-800 set to D 3 Remote flash unit B: SB-800 set to G Aperture: f/8 $ Two flash units (One off-camera on the left + one on the right) Flash set-up 3 1 2 Slow-sync flash shooting with multiple flash Four flash units using a slow shutter speed Four flash units using a normal shutter speed Using a slow shutter speed with more than one Shooting data flash produces more natural-looking pictures of (Using a normal shutter speed) Camera: D2H the subject and background. Focal length: 40mm % Four flash units were used to illuminate the subject and the room in back. Remote flash unit A was added to the master flash unit used on-camera to illuminate the subject from the side to create a more vivid rendition of the woman and the fruit in the basket. Two more remote flash units B and C were placed in the room behind the subject. Light from remote flash unit B was bounced off the wall, while that of remote flash unit C was bounced off the ceiling to illuminate the entire room and add accent. Furthermore, a slow shutter speed was used to make the tones of the subject and the background come out brighter (pp. 58, 76). Shooting data (Using a slow shutter speed) Camera: D2H Focal length: 40mm 1 Master flash unit: SB-800 set to D 2 Remote flash unit A: SB-800 set to B 3 Remote flash unit B: SB-800 set to B 4 Remote flas ...