Nikon SB-10 User Manual

Nikon

INST

RUCTION

MANUAL

NOMENCLATURE

Battery

com

partment

Exposure calcul

Shooting

Shooting

Ligh t sen

Flash l

2

mode

mode

sor

amp

ator

indicator

sel

ector

Power

sw itch

Op

en-fl

Mounting

Ready-I

Ready-light

ash

button

Sync

socket

Locking

foot

ight

contact

/

nut

3

CONTENTS

Foreword

Settingup

Installing

Attaching

Flash

Automatic

Exposure

Se

The

'Red

Taking

Ready-light/open-f

Ready-light
Manual
Multiple flash

Accessories

Features/specifications

Camera

4

......

...

..

the batteries

the

synchronization

exposure

calculator

tting

the f/number .....•

reflector

Eyes'

...

phenomenon ...

an

auto

flash

in

override ....

operat

.....

/speed light

. .

...

. .

...

..

....

.....

58·10

to

the

...

....

operation ......

...........

. . .

.... ....

photograph

lash

button

the FE

camera

............

ion

...

.

......

. . . .

combi

nation chart

........

. . .

........

.. ..

. .....

camera .......

.......

..

...

.......

. .... ....

...

........

...

.......

...

.......

finder

......

..

. . .

........

.

.. ..

.....

.............

.......

. .

..

..

.....

....

. .

..

...

. .

5
6
6
7

. 9

12
12
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
18

20
22
23

FOREWORD

The Nikon Speedlight SB-10 brings you the advantage
weight, compactness and advanced circuitry. The use
circuit configuration employing silicon-controlled rectifiers en-

that

sures
for ultra-rapid recycling.
and
ing
the unused charge
power
Despite the unit's small size, there
power.
flash lamp, gives corner-to-corner brightness and even illumina­tion. An accessory clip-on diffuser extends flash coverage up to
67° horizontally and 48° vertically, perfect for use with 28mm
wideangle lenses. Additionally, the SB-10 has a built-in ready­light
unique feature provides for greater convenience
graphy.
To obtain the best results from this unit, read this instruction
manual carefully before use. Keep this booklet handy for quick
reference until you have fully mastered operation. A few minutes
of

preparation

the unit retains

an

aperture

time

is
An

contact

of

is

less

required, and you get more flashes per battery load.

advanced reflector design, coupled with a high-output

f/4 (ASA 100

than 1 second

for exclusive use with the Nikon

will

help you avoid costly mistakes.

all

When

in

on

the capacitor

the unused charge

working

fil

automatic operation. Also, since

at

m speed), for instance, recycl-

is

conserved,

is

no loss

in

a distance

of

FE

of

of

a series-

the capacitor

of

1 meter

less

battery

illumination

camera. This

in

flash photo-

light-

5

SETTING

6

UP

Install ing
Power
teries.
the
the
pop
and
the
are installed
holder. To
into
into

light

the

minate

batteries

the

Batteries

is

supplied

To

install

knurled

unit.

out

positive and negative

place.

batteries

insert

the

for

the

.

surfaces

The

at

the
four

according

replace

battery

If

some

for

risk

you

by

four

the

on

Battery

side.

Next,

batteries,

to

the
compartment
foresee

time,

it

separate

of

damage

1.5V

batteries,

the

top

Holder

I ift

making

(+

and - )

the

diagr

battery

not

using

is

advisable

storage .

caused

AA-type

first

and

bottom

MS-2 will

out

the

sure

terminals

am inside
holder,
until

it clicks

your

to

This

by leaking

bat-

depress

of

then

holder

that

the

slip it

speed­remove
will eli-

Attaching
Nikon
ELW,
Turn

FE:,

FT2

the

the

EL2
and
locking

until it reaches
mounting
accessory
tighten
from

foot

shoe

the

locking

accidentally

S8-1O

to

the

Camera

and

FM,

and

FT3

nut

on

the

the

upper

limit.

forward

onto

as far as it will go.

nut

to

prevent

slipping off.

Nikkormat

mounting

Next,

slide

the

camera's

Then

the

EL,

foot

the

re-

unit

7

Nikon F2-series

First,

mount

the

camera's
locking
until it reaches
mounting

of

locking
tally slipping

Nikon

First, plug

socket
nut
upper
onto
will go.
vent
I
speedlight

8

the

on

nsert

nut

on

foot

AS-'

as far as it will go. Retighten

nut

to

off.

R 10

and

the

on

the

the

mounting

limit . Slide

the

camera's

Then

the

unit

the

sync cord

sync terminal

and F cameras

the

Flash Un it Cou pier

accessory

the

the

forward

prevent

R8
Sync

58-'

retighten

from

shoe. Next,

mounting

upper

limit.

onto

the

Super

Zoom

Cord SC-7

O.

Next,

foot

the

mounting

accessory

the

accidentally

contact

(7)

AS-'

turn

foot

of

the

58-'

Then

slide

the

accessory shoe

unit

from

acciden-

into

the

turn

the

locking

until it reaches

foot

forward

shoe

as far as it

locking

slipping

point

on

nut

the

to

into

camera.

on

the

0

the

the

sync

the

pre­off.

the

FLASH

Nikon
When
ing
and
meter
camera
light
glows, it indicates readiness
When
at
when
for
is

ready-light flickers as a
However, it

is

depressed (i.e.,

The

need

SYNCHRONIZATION

FE

the

camera

the

58-10

turning

automatically

at 1/90

built

in

manual

1/125

sec.

the

ready-light lights

flash

photography.

set

beyond

built-in

for a sync

on

into

is

unit

both

second.

the

or

the

kept

hot

cord.

is

in

automatic

onto

the

set

eyepiece

mode,

slower.

camera's

lit if

turning

shoe

the

When

contact

the

unit

And

set

Turn

sync

the

off

mode,

mount-

FE

camera

and

shutter

when

of

the

for

flash

the

shutter

on

up,

you

the

shutter

sync range,

warning

film-advance lever

the

meter).

eliminates

the

speed

the

FE

shooting.

the

are

body

camera's

of
ready-

camera

speed

unit

ready
speed

signal.

the

and

the

the

With

the
shutter
and

the

(7')

shoe

the

With

FT2
1/125

matic
only
operation.

nates

speed

turn

shu

tter-speed

appears

contact

58-10

the

and

sec.

sync

step

the

Nikkormat

at

1/125

the

knurled

di

in

the

built

eliminates

Nikon

EL2. and

FT3,

set

or

slower. Due

switchover

necessary

The

built-in

need

for a sync

EL

al

into

the

sync

u nti I

selector

the

camera

to

and

ELW, first set

sec.

or

slower.

selector

the I igh

window. A hot-

the

mounting

need

for

FM,

and

shutter

to

the

mechanism,

ensure

hot

shoe

cord.

Then

ring

tn ing

a sync

Nikkormat

speed

built-in

this

proper

contact

the

lift

around

symbol

foot

of

cord.

for

auto-

is

the

flash

elimi-

9

With

the N ikon
selector
adjustment

mechanism

automatical
speeds: simply
the

desired
red line
sec. A
foot

of

setting

between 1/60

hot-shoe

the

58-10

cord, although

Coupler

10

AS-'

rotate

contact

eliminates

the

for

use

F2-series

camera,

controls

slower

the

ly as

you

the

shutter-speed

than 1/80

and 1/125

built

into

the

unit

requires

with F2-series

a bu i I t-

speedlight

change

sync

shutter

dial

sec.

The

indicates 1/80

the

mounting

need

for

a sync

the

Flash

Unit

cameras

.

in

to

With

the

adjust

the

set

the

Then

I ift

ring

around

until

the
window.
removed
ring.) A
ing

foot

a

sync
Flash
Nikon

F.

Nikon

F,

camera

shutter

and

(The
to

hot-shoe

of

for

speed

turn

the

shutter-speed

FX

mark

Photomic

gain access

contact

the

58-10

cord, although

Unit

Coup

ler AS-1

the

sync

use

at 1/60

the

appears

eliminates

selector

with

speedlights.

knurled

dial

FTN

to

the sync

built

the

unit

for

sec.

sync sel

of

in

the sel

finder

into

the

requires

use

is

or

the

the

with

used

First

slower.

ector

camera

ector

must

selector

mount-

need

for
the
the

to

be

R 10 and R8 Super Zoom
Flash synchronization

is

possible only with
single-frame shooting. Automatic exposure con­trol can

be

made within the specified distance

range.

With the

R10, depress the lock release button

and turn the running speed control dial until
the

"SF"

(Single Frame) mark clicks into place

opposite the white index. Then fully open the

angle

of

the shutter blade opening by depress-

ing

the shutter blade opening control and

turning it clockwise.

With

the

R8, first set the camera at 18 fps,

and slide the changeover switch toward the

"5"
(Single frame) mark. Then fully open the angle
of

the shutter blade opening by depressing the

shutter blade opening control and turning

it
clockwise.
Note

that

the fully charged SB-10 may fire

when mounting it

onto

the- accessory shoe

of
either R 10 or R8. To avoid this, insert the Sync
Cord

SC-7

in

the sync socket on the speedlight

unit

before mounting it on the cine camera.

11

AUTOMATIC

The

S8-1O controls the
depending
further
em

its;

In

the

the rec

Exposure
The exp
usable range
th

e film
tance
two f/numb

f/

numbers
range
mum
the f/numb
smaller the f/
the s
range
speed while
for all

12

on

away

the closer

additi

on,

di

sta

nce.

yc

l ing ti me.

Calculator

osure

you

range.

ers

determines

the auto exposure can control.

dist

anc e rem ains O.6m (2 ft) regardless

er.

hor

ter

the

of

usab le

the

speeds.

EXPOSURE OPERATION

the

flash-to-subject

the

subject i

the subje

the

recycling

The

closer the

calculator

of f/numbers

are using and t he
For any

to choose

With

the

numb

er

(the

flash

duration.

f/numbers

distance

amount

s,

the

ct,

the
time
subject,

helps you

for the

film speed,

from.

the

max

distan

ce

unch

larger

Of

changes

range

remains t he same

of

I ig

ht output

distanc

e.

The

more li

ght

less it emits.

changes

to

effect

Each

imum distance

the aperture),

with

the

shorter

select

speed

ive dis-

you

of

The

anged,

course,

the

with

the

of

have

the

mini-

of

the

the

film

First, position
number)
the

it

knurled
tween the
represent inter
etc.,

as illu

the

ora
ly as
in

both meters

ed

block.

f/

number
depth
manual
a

ppears

oppos

ite

rim

numbers

med i

strate

nge and

the

of

opposite

blue

max

imum

Then

which gives you

field

and flash

contro

l, read

the

of

d. N

and

read

the

speed of

the

white

the cal

on

ate

settings

ote

the f/numb

indi

cator

distance

feet

off

duration

off

distance

the

delta

culator

the film-speed scale

such as 32,

blocks

range

opposite

the

the

the

f/number

you

film (ASA

by t

. Lin

ers

respective-

is

ind

each colo

most

distance

you

want.

want.

urning
es

oppos

icated

suitab

range,

which

be-

64,

ite

r-

le

On

Example

If
subjects
(2 ft)

(10ft)

Example

you

1

are

using a film

at

to

6m

at

fiB.

2

any

flash-to-subject

(20

When using a film
subject

f/4

the
use

or

f/4

the

distance

fiB.

fiB

If a

setting.

'

setting.

of
short
If a

rated

ft)

at

f/4

rated

3m

(10ft), you can

flash

greater

ASA

and

from 0.6m

ASA

duration

depth

100, you

distance

100

with a flash-to-

shoot

is

preferable,

of

field

can

from

(2

is

ft)

shoot

0.6m

to

3m

at either

use

desired,

800

400

200

1

60

100

64

50

32

25

13

Setting
To
slide
panel
on

the f /number

set

the

the

of

the

top
colored
f/number.
to

the

same

14

desired

shooting

the

unit

of

the

block

corresponding

Then,

f/number.

f/number
mode

until

unit

set

the

selector

the

white

is

positioned

lens

aperture

on

the

indicator

to

the

speedlight,

on

the

front

block

opposite

appropriate

according

the

With

the

RlO,
by a 2/3-stop
by

depressing

setting

ring

clockwise.

the

the

R8,

more

the

A-M-C

With

1/3-stop
depressing
ing
wise.

more

and

set

the

than

the

turning

set

the

than
central
knob

needle

in

the

the

indicated

EE

lock/manual

it

clockwise

viewfinder needle

the

indicated

locking

clockwise

button

or

counterclock-

viewfinder

f/number

aperture

or

counter-

f/number

and

by

by

turn-

a

The Reflector

On the 5B-10, the reflector tilts through
an

arc

of

1800 with click-stops every

90~

With the speedlight unit mounted on the
camera, set the reflector
position (calculator. on top). The use
the speedlight
generally
result

in

at

the corners.

in

not

recommended, since this

the coverage

in

the horizontal

the vertical position

of

light falling

of

will

off

Eyes' Phenomenon

'Red

'Red eyes,'
which a subject's eyes appear red

an

optical phenomenon

in

in
photographs taken with a flash unit, are
a result

of

the flash light directly illumi-

nating the retina. This happens when the

is

subject looks straight into the camera

is

on which a flash unit

mounted. The

effect becomes more pronounced if there

is

little or no ambient light.

iris

of

the

the eye

illuminated retina

is

is

clearly visible.

wide open, and the

In

this case,

To avoid 'red eyes' you can take any or
all

of

the following steps:

1.

Brighten the room to minimize the

opening

of

the subject's pupils.

2. Instruct the subject not to look
straight into the camera.

3.

Keep the flash unit as far away as
possible from the camera by means

of

Note that once 'red eyes' appears, there

a sync cord.

no way

of

retouching the negatives.

is

15

TAKING

To

activate

the

ON

position.

you

will hear a

in

charged.

unit

and

camera.

subject

the

f/number

Be sure to

volume

is

lens

when

creases

fully

the
f/number
camera
focus
the
determines
the
of

Note:

position

16

AN

the

unit,

The
ready
on

the

at

the

press

The

the

correct

remains

indicated

slid e

you

AUTO

slide

While

the

soft

whining

as

the

speedlight

ready-light

to

fire.
speedlight.

same

the

shutter-release
speed light

flash

within

the

are

not

using

FLASH

the powe

capacitor

sound

Select

f/number,

intensity

the

on

the

power

switch

the

PHOTOGRAPH

r switch

is

which de-

unit

indicates

the

appropriate

Next,

compose,

button

automatically

as long as

shooting

speed light.

to

flash

unit

to

charging,

becomes

that

set

the

on

range

the

OFF

.

Ready-Light/Open

The

ready-light
button.
parent
test-firing. It
shutter
effects,

Caution:
(1)

(2)

To

activate,

ready-light.

held

etc.

To

create

flash

is

fired

open

at

from

the

will

not

work,

Remember

ing,

the

immediately

ready-light

is

open

"stroboscopic"

independently

"B,"

FE.

that

Flash

doubles

push

The

also used

at

the B sett

the

5B-10
Otherwise,
and

the

even

before

glows.

after

the

Button

as

the

down

open

flash

for

firing with

effects,

with the
must
the

open-flash

flash uni t

comp

If

the

lamp lights

open

on

the

is

ing

for

in

which

shutter

be

disconnected

cannot

letion

speed light

up,

used

strobe

button

be

of

picture

flash

trans-

for
the

the

held

fired.

charg-

fires

s

taken

will

be

slightly

this,

open
shoot
However,
times
for

the

Ready-Light

The Nikon

up

several

perfect

in

automatic

furthest

in

the

FE

has a built-in ready-light

underexposed. To

the

lens

second s after

distance

by a half-stop

exposures

exposure

range.

FE

Camera Finder

the

can

operation,

lam

plights up.

be

made

prevent

more,

at

except

in

or

all

the
finder eyepiece, with which you can check
speedlight r

ea

diness

without

removing your eye
from the viewfinder. Slipping the mounting
foot

of

the

SB-1 0 onto

the camera's accessory
shoe connects the ready-light with the speed­light.

MANUAL

In

addition
your SB-lO can also
ing

the unit to manual sets the flash circuit

OVERRIDE

to

its use

in

be

the automatic mode,

used manually. Switch-

to

full power for each exposure. Applications for

this include mUltiple flash shooting, or when
using GN-Nikkor lenses.

To

set the unit on manual, slide the shooting
mode selector until the white indicator
jacent to 'M,'

in

between the two automatic

is

ad-

mode indicators.

17

MULTIPLE FLASH OPERATION

Note the following instructions when perform­ing

mUltiple flash photography with the Nikon

Speedlight SB-2,

units.

• These Nikon Speedlight units employ a spe­cial low-voltage triggering circuit
electric shock and damage on the hot-shoe
contact.
Speedlight units with flash units
makes for multiple flash photography, unless
you use slave sensors for remote triggering.
Otherwise, incorrect operation and /or damage
to the unit may result.

•

Be

sure to set the shooting mode selector to

'manual.' If the selector

rect exposure cannot

•

With

the SB-2 or SB-7E flash unit mounted
on the camera's
flash unit's sync socket. However, with the
SB-3, SB-8E and SB-lO, you cannot.

18

We

3,

4,

5,

7E, 8E, and 10 flash

do

not

recommend mixing Nikon

is

set on

be

assured.

hot

shoe, you may use the

to

prevent

of

'auto,'

other

cor-

•

When

the camera
the flash unit has to be connected
camera
connection
use.
ing

• The units may trigger inadvertently
are connecting them. This
cause for concern.

via

In

this case, use slave sensors for trigger-

the remote flash .

is

not

fitted with a

the sync cord. Consequently, sync

is

not possible for mUltiple flash

is

normal and

hot

whi

shoe,

to

the

le you

is

no

Combination Examples for Multiple

Flash

Operation

SB-

2,7E

Tl5'6

~

Nikon

SB-2,7E

~5'6,

F2,F

c:g

eeL

SC-5,6,7

~

AS-2

L

C:::I

* *

*Nikon

FM,

and

EL2, FE
EL , ELW,

FT3

Nikkormat
FT2

SB-3,8E,10

c:::=v

l5

Nikon

F2

SB-3,~E,10

~~

SC-5,6,7

l=:J

and

,F

19

ACCESSORIES

15cm

Sync

Cord

SC-5

J25cm

Connects

no
1 m Coiled

This coiled

off-camera shooting with

cameras.

Flash Unit Coupler
Adapts

cameras. Has a hot-shoe

nates

the

hot sho

the

the

nee d for a sync

SB-10
e.
Sync

'-meter

5B-1O

to

the

Cord SC-6

extension

AS-1

to

the

Sync

Cord

SC-7

cameras which have

cord

permits

all

types

of

Nikon

F2

and

F~series

contact

cord

which elimi-

.

SC-5

Nikon

• Please use
others

may

20

only

damage

Nikon

this

Sync
speed

Cords

light.

(SC-5,

6,

7), as

AS-'

Wide-Flash

Adapter

Clips easily over

increase
to 67°
40° to 48°
ensures
the
is
(meters) with

Battery

Handy

the

angle

when

positioned

when

adequate

viewfield

when

used. Reduces

an

Holder

holder

to

5W-2

the

reflector

of

flash from

horizontally

positioned

lighting

the

28mm

the

guide

ASA

100

M5-2

accommodate

of

the

the

normal

vertically. It also

at

the

perimeter

wideangle lens

number

film

on

manual.

spare

batteries

5B-1O

and

to

to

56°

from

of

18

.

21

FEA

lURES

Light

output

& series circuitry

fier

/SPECIFICA

control:

Silicon

liONS

controlled

Guide number: 25 (meters) with ASA

on manual

Number

No figures
will vary
generally,
and

matic

tim

22

of

depending

you

shorter

operation,

e becomes

flashes:

are

given
will

recycling

extended

obtain

as

for

automatic

on

actual

a larger

time.

In

the

batteries

and

numberofflashes

operation

operating

number

both

manual

age, th e rec ycling

recti-

100

film

as

these

conditions;

of

flashes

and

auto·

reduced

Angle

of

coverage:

covering a wideangle lens

56°

horizont

al; 40° vertical

of

length (speedlight positioned horizontally)

Choice

Automatic

Power source:

of

f/numbers:

100

ASA

film

shooting range

0.6m- 6m (2 ft-

0.6m-3m

(2 ft- 1 0 ft)

Four

Two

- f/4 and f/8 with

(at

ASA

20

ft)

at

f/4

at

f/8

1.5V AA-type batteries

Ready-light: Provided

Open-flash

Ready-light
Flash
Dimensions:

the

Weight

Accessories:

.

button:

contact

foot

: Tilts through an arc

mounting

(without

Doubles

for

110

x 79 x 37mm

foot)

batteries):

Soft

case SS-7

as ready-light

FE

camera: Provided

of

(not

Approx.

35mm

100):

180

°
including

270g

focal

CAMERA/SPEEDLIGHT

'When a sync

light,

plug
before
camera.

you

the

mount

cord

sync

is

used

cord

the

speedlight

into

with

the

the
speedlight

COMBINATION

*Sync

speed-

onto

the

Flash
adapter

(X

unit

contact)

cord

SC-5 SC-6

SC-7' ,

I'r

CHART

0

51

:J!l

Flash
coupler

AS-l

unit

Non-Nikon
cameras
without
hot

shoe

cameras
with
hot

shoe

Nikon Nikon

Rl0, R8

Super

Zoom

E L2
Nikkormat
ELW,

and

FT2,

FE,

FM,

Nikon F Nikon

EL,

FT3

F2-series

cameras

23

No

reproduction

in

whole

critical
written

or

articles or reviews),

authorization

in

part

in

any

(except

form

from

of

for

brief

may

be

the

publishers.

(Nikon)

NIPPON KOGAKU K.K.

this

booklet,

quotation

made

in

without

Printed

in Japan

(79.12.AO) &-10