Nikon Nikonos Speedlight SB-103 User manual

Nikon
" NIKONOB Speedlight
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

NOMENCLATURE _______ _
CD Joint collar Flash head
no<i ti nrlinn
® !';np, prllir .h t
O-rings and lubricant @
Bracket slot o
00
Cord fastening hanger
@ Bracket screw
socket
@ Bracket Arm knob
Exposure calculation chart
scale Distance scale for underwater photography
" and
"MF ULL" indexes
Distance scale for on-land photog
2

CONTENTS ______ --'---- __
NOMENCLATURE . . . .. . .. . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . 2
FOREWORD ..... ... .. .. . . . . ... . ... .... .. ..... . 4
PREPARATION . ... . .. . .... .. . . ...... ... .... . 4-6
Examining and lubri ca ti ng the O-rings . .. . .. 5
The O-rings and their sealing method ....... 6
BASIC OPERATIONS . ..... .... .. ... ..... ... 7-13
CONTROLS IN DETAIL ... . . . .... . .. ........ 14-23
Bracket ... ... .. .... . ... . . .. .. ... . . . . .. . . . . 14
Arm .. ....... . ........ . . . ..... . ........... 14
Joint . .' .... . . . .. . . . ... ... ..... ... .. .. . 14-15
Synchro Socket .. ........ ... .. . ... . . . ..... 15
Synchronization Speed .... . .. .... . .. . .. . . . 16
Shooting Mode Selector/Power Switch . 16-17
Exposure Calculation Chart ........ . .. .... 17
TTL Automatic Flash Control ... . .. .. .. . 17-18
Manual Flash Control .. .. .. .. .. . . . ........ 19
Exposure Compensation
............. . .... 20
Ready-Light . .... .. ...... .. ... .... ... 20-21
Cord Fastening Hanger .... .. . .. . ... . .. ... 22
Wide-Flash Adapter SW - 103 ... ..... ..... .. 22
Multiple Flash Photography.. .. ... . ... 22-23
Daylight Fill - In Flash Photography . ....... . .23
TIPS ON SPEEDLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY .. ...... ... 24
OPTIMUM BATTERY PERFORMANCE ... ... .. . . .. 24
TIPS ON SPEEDLIGHT CARE .. ..... . . . . .. ...... . . 25
ACCESSORIES . .. ........ ... . . .... ... ...... . . .26
Extension Arm .. ... . .. . . .. . ..... ..... .. ... 26
Double Flash Bracket .. . ... . . ... .. ...... . . .26
Double Sync Cord ... .... ... . ........ .. ... 26
O-rings and Lubricant .. .. . ..... .. ... .. ... 26
SPECIFICATIONS . .. .. ... . . ... . . . .. .. .. ........ 27
3

FOREWORD ________ _
The Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103, an amphibious high-
performance electronic flash unit with a silicon-con-
trolled rectifier and series circuitry,
is designed for use
with the Nikonos-V, Nikonos
IV-A, and Nikonos III. The
88-103 can be submerged to a depth of
50 meters
(160 feet) and withstand pressure of
up to 6kg/cm2
(85Ib/in2 ), enabling it to be used in environments where
regular speedlights could not be taken.
In combination with the Nikonos- V, the 88 - 103 features
automaticthrough-the-Iens (TTL)flash exposure control.
This means the silicon photodiode (8PD)
in the Nikonos-
V's shutter box reads the light passing through the lens
and then automatically signals the speedlight to turn
itself off when the exposure
is correct. 8ecause TTL
flash offers a wide range of useable apertures and
shooting distances,depth of field
is easy to control and
shooting
as close as 0. 3m (1 ft) is possible. Daylight
fill-in flash photography becomes easier when using the
Nikonos-V.
To enable itto be used with the Nikonos IV-A and Nikonos
III ,the 88-103 features manual control with three power
settings: "MFULL," "M1/4," and
"M1/16."
This speedlight has the same area of coverage as
a 28mm lens. When the Wide-Flash Adapter 8W-103
(provided) is used, the area of coverage increases to
that of a 15mm lens.
For multiple flash photography, a double flash bracket
and a double sync cord are available
as options. In
addition, a variety of other optional accessories is avail-
able to increase the versatility of the 88-103.
Even though thisspeedlight is extremelyeasyto operate,
you should still familiarize yourself with the preparatory
steps and basic operations explained
in the first two
sections of this manual. For more detailed information,
refer to "CONTROL8
IN DETAIL " and "TIP8 ON 8PEED-
LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY." A few minutes wisely invested
now will
payoff later in years of rewarding photographic
experiences.
PREPARATION ________ _
STOP! READ THIS NOTICE BEFORE USING YOUR SB·103. THE O·RING SEALS
MUST BE EXAMINED AND LUBRICATED BEFORE USE TO AVOID DAMAGING
THE SPEEDLIGHT.
This Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103 uses O-rings to seal
and waterproof the junctions between parts.
Your
Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103 should not be considered
waterproof until you have examined the O-rings (one
each for the battery chamber cap @, the sync cord's ®
camera and speedlight plugs, and the synchro socket
cover® ).They must be
in perfect,undamaged condition
and properly lubricated prior to each use. Read the
following instructions thoroughly to familiarize yourself
with the maintenance of the O-rings.
8ecause the outer surface of your Nikonos 8peedlight
88-103has been specially treated to make
it waterproof,
it mustbe protected from impact. If it becomes damaged,
send it to a qualified technician for service before the
next use.
Your Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103 is watertight only when
in perfectly serviced condition, when all O-ring seals
are
in perfect condition, and when all components are
properly assembled and closed.
Pay special attention to the instructions for installing
the O-rings because they are what make the Nikonos
8peedlight 88-103watertight. For the O-rings to perform
properly,they must be
in perfect condition (with no cuts,
tears, or other imperfections) and properly lubricated.
If they are not, they will not perform properly and may
allow water to enter your flash unit.
To prevent the
4
accidental use of a defective O-ring, always discard
old O-rings.
The channels into which the O-rings fit must be free of
any foreign matterand
in their original, smoothlyfinished
condition. If they are not, the O-rings will not seat prop-
erly and may allow water to enter your flash unit. If any
channel
in your Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103 becomes
damaged, send the unit to a qualified technician for
service before the next use.
All of the O-rings in your Nikonos 8peedlight 88-103
must be examined at the end of each dive day
and , if
possible,after each dive.

PREPARATION-confinued ______ _
Examining and lubricating the O·rings:
1. To remove the O-rings, except the one in the synchro
socket cover, grasp the
ring between your thumb and
forefinger. Pinch your fingers together
as you slide
them
in the direction of the arrow to create slack in
the O-ring. Then grasp the slack portion with your
other hand and pull the ring off (see
Fig. 1).
To remove the O-ring in the synchro socket cover,
use the edge of a credit card or dive card or some
thin, blunt, instrument. Never use a knife or other
sharp·edged object.
Push up on the center of the
cover with a fingertip (or
pOinted object), insert the
card under the ring,
and pull it up to lift the O-ring out
(see
Fig . 2). Do not scratch the O-ring in the process.
2. Visually examine each O-ring for imperfections. If
any O-ring is damaged (by tears, cuts, or other imper-
fections), discard
it immediately. If any O-ring has dirt,
sand, hair, or foreign matter
on it , rinse the O-ring in
fresh water to remove it.
3. When lubricating the various parts of your flash unit,
use only the special non·water·soluble silicone
lubricant supplied with the speedlight. Never use
other lubricants (such
as Vaseline) which are water-
soluble.
4.
To lubricate the O-rings, smear a small amount of the
special silicone lubricant
on your fingertips and then
gently
run each O-ring between your fingertips. Never
use a brush or similar object to apply the lubricant;
small hairs may fall into the channel and allow water
to enter the flash unit. While lubricating each O-ring,
examine
it with your fingertips for imperfections. If
an O-ring is properly lubricated it will glisten and wi ll
Fig. 1
not have "gobs" of lubricant on it. To ensure the
longest possible flash unit life, apply lubricant when-
ever necessary.Lubrication protectsthe O-rings from
excessive wear; it also makes it easier to attach or
remove other parts.
5. Visually examine the channels into which the O-rings
fit to determine that each
is clean and smooth. If any
channel
is dirty, clean it with a non-lint-bearing mate-
rial. Coat each channel with a thin film of lubricant
while being careful not to apply too much.
6. Reseat all of the O-rings with your fingertips by
in -
serting one side of the ring into the channel and
holding
it in position while rolling the other side of the
ring into place (see Fig . 3) . To insert the O-ring into
the channel of the synchro socket cover, push
up on
the center of the cover with a fingertip (or pointed
object), place the
ring over the channel, then press
it down into place. Check that the O-ring is not twisted
and that each of its edges is properly seated (see
Fig . 4).
7. Check the surfaces which are opposite the O-rings
to determine that each
is clean, smooth, and free of
foreign matter. Clean and lubricate the surfaces
in
the same manner as the channels.
8. When reattaching the parts with O-rings, be sure that
each O-ring seats properly and securely.
All of the
O-rings must be properly aligned and not "pinched."

PREPARATION-continued __ -----'-- ___ _
The preceding instructions must be performed on each
O-ring prior to each dive day and, if possible, prior to
each dive. By following these procedures
and all other
procedures
in this instruction manual, you will be able
to enjoy using your Nikonos.8peedlight 8B-103 for many
years.
Reminder: An extra set of O-rings and a tube of lubri-
cant are supplied with the flash unit. Additional O-rings
and lubricant are available from authorized Nikon
dealers and service centers.
The O-rings and their sealing method
The method used by the O-rings to seal and waterproof
the flash unit
is shown in the following illustrations.
When a low level of pressure exists (for instance, just
underthe water'ssurface),each O-ring seals its channel
by its own elastic force (see Chart
A). When the pressure
increases (at greater depths), the O-ring's shape
is
altered and its sealing ability is increased to withstand
the greater pressure.
The pressure changes the ring
from its original "0" shape (when looking at a cross-
sectional view) to a
"D " shape (see Chart B).
Pressure
i Jr-
Chart A Chart B
oSlight compression
6
0°"'"
300
D-ring lubricant

BASIC OPERATIONS ;:::::::::::::::::::;:::::=====;---;;;;;::::=====;;;:;
1 Remove the battery
• chamber cap @.
Turn the battery chamber cap coun-
terclockwise and pull
it off the
speedlight case.
Note: The small numbers in circles identify
parts
of the speedlight as listed in the
NOMENCLATURE section.
o Do not :Insert the batteries improperly, leave
the batteries installed when the flash unit
will not be used for an extended period, or
leave the shooting mode selector/power
switch ® turned on except when using the
flash unit. Any
of these may damage the
speedlight
or cause the batteries to explode.
oAlways use only one brand
or type of battery
at the same time.
When replacing batteries,
replace all four at the same time.
o The use of NiCd batteries is recommended
because
of their short recycling time; the
use
of manganese batteries is not recom-
mendedbecause they do nothave sufficient
power
to operate the S8-103 at full capacity.
o For more information, see "OPTIMUM
BATTERY PERFORMANCE" on page
24 .
2 Remove the AA-type
• batterycartridge @
from thebatterychamber.
Turn the speedlight upside down so
the battery cartridge slides out of
the battery chamber.
o lf the battery cartridge does not slide out
when the speedlight
is upside down, shake
the speedlight until it does.
4 Replace the battery
• cartridge
in thebattery
chamber .
Be sure the speedlight shooting
mode selector/power switch
is at
the "OFF" position, then align the
positioning groove @
on the battery
cartridge with the notch
on the
inside of the battery chamber and
slide the battery cartridge into the
chamber.
3 Install the'batteries.
• Install four 1.5V AA-type alka-
line-maganese or four 1.2V re-
chargeable
NiCd batteries, making
sure the positive and negative
(+ and -) terminals are installed as
shown in the diagrams on the car-
tridge.
7

BASIC OPERATIONS-continued -;:::::==:::;= ~ == :::::::;
6 Loosen the joint
-knob ®l .
To loosen thejoint knob,turn it coun-
terclockwise while holding the jOint
plate
@.
9. Lock the joint.
-Align the flash head positioning
index @ with the "normal" position
mark
on the flash head positioning
scale,then turn the joint knob clock-
wise until the joint
is locked in posi-
ti on .
• See page 15 for info rm at io n about removing
the joint.
8
1 Properly position the
-
joint plate.
Turn the joint knob so the flat sides
of the
jOint plate are parallel with
the flat edges of the joint.
10 Loosen the joint
-Iever @.
Turn the joint lever counterclock-
wise as far
as it will go to loosen it.
8 Insert the joint plate
-
Into the joint collar CD .
While holding the base of the joint
knob against the joint,slide the joint
plate into the joint collar until it
is
fully seated. '
• W he n inserting the joint plate into the joint
collar,be sure the
fla tedges of thejoint plate
remain parallel to the flat edges
of the joint.
11 Insert the arm @ into
- the joint.
Insert the arm positioning screw @J
into the slot in the joint.The arm can
be inserted from either side of the
joint. The normal position
is shown
in the photo.

12 Position the arm.
• Al i gn the arm positioning
screw with the arm
pOp itioning
index ®
on the joint by turning the
arm 90°
15 Attach the bracket
• @ to the arm.
. Slide the open end of the bracket
between the arm knob and the grip,
seat the two bracket positioning
pins
in the two indentations on the
bracket, and turn the arm knob
clockwise
as far as it will go to lock
the bracket into position.
• Th e correct ar m/bracket position is with the
th r ee was hers on the un derside of the
bracket and the rubber side
of the bracket
facing u
p.
13 Lock the arm.
• After aligning the arm pos i-
tioning screw with the arm posi-
tioning inde
x, turn the joint lever
clockwise
as far as it will go to lock
the arm into position.
14 Loosen the arm
•
knob @.
Turn the arm knob counterclock-
wise
as far as it will go to loosen it
(the two bracket positioning pi
ns on
the bottom of the grip ® will be
visible).
16 Attach the cord
•fastening hanger
@ to the bracket.
As shown in the photo, slide the cord
fastening hanger onto the bracket.
9

BASIC OPERATIONS-confinued ___ _
17. Remove the
• camera's flash sync
socket cover.
Turn the camera's sync socket
cover counterclockwise with a coin
to
remove it.
10
18 Attach the camera
• body
to the bracket.
With the camera against the rubber
side of the bracketand the camera's
tripod socket over the bracket
screw,screwthe bracket screw into
the camera's tripod socket until the
camera and bracket are securely
attached.
Nikonos·V or Nikonos IV·A
20 Remove the synchro
•socket cover ®.
Turn the synchro socketcover coun·
terclockwise,then pull
it up.
19 Connect the sync
•cord ® to the
camera.
Remove the dust·proof plastic cap
from the sync cord's camera plug
(silver locking ring).
In sert the
camera plug
in the camera's flash
socket after aligning the white index
on the flash synchro socket with the
red dot on the camera plug. When
the camera plug is in serted, turn
its locking ring clockwise as far as
it will go to secure the plug.
• Do not apply excessive force to t he sync
cord
's cameraplug an d, as much as possible,
avoid twisting the
cor d.
21 Connect the sync
• cord to the 58-103 .
Remove the dust·proof plastic cap
from the sync cord'sspeedlight plug
(black locking ring). Insert the
speedlight plug into the synchro
socket after aligning the synchro
socket index @ with the
red index
on the speedlight plug. When the
speedlight plug
is inserted, turn its
locking ring clockwise
as far as it
will go to secure the plug.
• To keep t he sync cord out of the way while
shooting, attach
it to t he hook of the cord
fastening hanger.

ASA / ISO
24 Select an fI stop from
• the exposure
calculation chart 0 .
Select an aperture from the range
of apertures that can be used at the
existing flash-to-subject distance.
22 Confirm the position
• of the flash head.
Confirm that the arm positioning
screw
is aligned with the arm posi-
tioning index, the flash head posi-
tioning index
is aligned with the
"normal" position mark
on the flash
head positioning scale, and the flash
head
is facing in the same direction
as the camera's lens. If the arm
positioning screw
is not properly
aligned, loosen the joint lever to
reposition
it. If the flash head posi-
tioning index
is not properly aligned,
loosen the joint knob to reposition
it.
o See page 15 for informati on about positioning
the flash head for close-up shooting within
approximately 1m (3.3ft).
23 Set the shutter speed
•
on the camera.
When using the Nikonos-V, set the
shutter speed/mode selector dial
to
"A" or any shutter speed setting
from 1/1000 to 1/125sec
.; when
using the Nikonos
IV-A, set the
shutter speed dial to
"A "; when
using the Nikonos III, set the shutter
speed dial to 1/60sec.
When using either the Nikonos-V
or Nikonos
IV-A , the proper syn-
chronization speed (1/90sec.) will
be automatically set when the
S8-103's shooting mode selectorl
power switch is turned on .
ASA/ISO
TTL flash operation with the
Nikonos·V: For example, when
shooting a subject underwater
at
1.2m (4.3ft) without the wide-flash
adapter while using ASAIISO
100
film, the useable aperture range is
from f/2.Bto fiB.
Manual flash operation with th e
Niko
rl os ·V, IV·A, or III: For exam-
ple, when shooting asubject
on land
at 1.2m (4.3tt) without the wide-
flash adapter while using ASAIISO
100 film, the appropriate f/stop at
"MFULL" is f/16, at "M1/4" is fiB,
and at "M1/16" is f/4.
o The exposure calculation chart is adhesive-
backed, enabling it to be attached to the
speedlight case.
11

BASIC OPERATIONS-confinued _ __ _
25 Setthe fI stop on
-the lens.
For TTL flash operation, select the
best aperture from the exposure
calculation chart
by considering
the desir
ed amount of depth of field
and recycling time. For manual
flash operation, select the best
aperture from among those corre-
sponding to the "MFULL," "M1/4,"
and "M1/16" settings by consid-
ering the desired amount of depth
of field.
In the photograph,f/4 is s et.
27, Wait for the ready-
-
light @ to light.
As soon as the flash ready-light
lights, the SB-103
is ready to fire.
Except for Nikonos
III , if the camera
you are using has a viewfinder
ready-light,
it will light when the
SB - 10 3 is completely recycled.
Note that with the Nikonos-V and
Nikonos
IV-A , the exposure meter
must
be turned on to activate the
viewfinder ready-light.
12
26 Set the shooting
-modeselectorI
power
switch CW .
For TTL flash operation, set the
shooting mode selector/power
switch to "
TTL. " For manual flash
operation, set it to "MFULL
,"
"M1/4 ," or "M 1/16 ."
Because this switch doubles
as
apower switch,the SB-103 is turned
on whenever the switch is set to
other than "OFF."
o With a set of fully recharged NiCd ba tteries,
the ready·light will light in approximately
6 seconds; wi
th a fresh set of alkaline-
manganese batte
ries, it will light in approx-
imately 9 seconds.
ol
feit her the S8- 103 's or the camera 's ready-
light does not light
or blink, check that: the
batteries are properly installed, the camera
and flash unit are securely connected; and
the shutter speed/shooting mode and ASAI
I
SO film speed setting on the camera are
correctfy set.
o See page 21 for in fo rm ationabout ready-light
exposure
wa rn ing in fo rm ation.
o TTL automatic flash operation is ' possible
only with the Nikonos·V
oAs soon as yo u tu rn on the 58· 103 when '
using the Nikonos-V, the shutter speed LED
in dicator inside the viewfinder will blink if
the shutter speed/mode selector
dia l is set
at "A" or at any
sh utter speed from 1/ 1000
to 1/30sec. If the selector dial is set at
" MOO " or "8," no sh utter speed indicator
will blink or light. As soon as
yo u tu rn on t he
58· 10 3 when using t he Nikonos I VA the
red
vie wf in der LED tu rns off.
o For in formation about the va rious shooting
modes,seepages 16to
17.
28 Take the picture.
- When the shutter is released,
the speedlight fires. After a few
seconds,the ready-lights inside
the
camera's viewfinder and on the
speedlight will light againto indicate
the flash unit
is fully recycled and
ready for the ne xt shot.

o lf the flash unit fires at its maximum output
during
TTL flash operation, its ready·light
will blink for approximately 2 secon
ds after
the shutter
is released to warn that the shot
may have been underexposed. In th
is case,
recheck the shooting distance/apertu
re
combination selected or move closer to the
subject,
if necessary. This warning is also
indicated by the viewfinder ready·light
of the
Nikonos·V.
29 TUrn off the flash unit.
• To conserve battery power
between shooting sessions,turn the
shooting mode selector/power
switch
on the speedlight to "OFF."
o Turning the shooting mode selector/power
switch
off between sessions will also help
prevent batteryleakage.
13

CONTROLS IN DETAIL _____ _
Nikonos III
Nikonos-V or Nikonos IV-A
Bracket @
As indicated in the diagram, there are two positions for
the bracket screw
@: one for the Nikonos-V and Nikonos
IV-A and another for the Nikonos III. To reposition the
bracket screw, unscrew
it , then screw it back into the
hole or the threaded end of the bracket slot @ . Once
screwed into the bracket slot,the bracket screw can
be
moved to any position.
The larger hole in the center allows the sync cord to be
connected through the bracket to the Nikonos III.
The small hole
on the underside of the bracket is the
tripod socket ®. The small hole that goes completely
through the bracket
is not used with the Nikonos 8B-103.
the arm knob and the grip, seat the two bracket posi-
tioning pins
in the two indentations on the bracket, and
turn the arm knob clockwise
as far as it will go to lock
the bracket into position. The correct arm/bracket
position
is with the three washers on the underside of
the bracket and the rubber side ofthe bracket facing
up .
14
Arm @
To attach the arm to the jOint @, insert the arm posi- .
tioning screw@ into the slot
in the joint from either side.
Al ign the arm positioning screwwith the arm positioning
index ® on the joint by turning the arm 90°. After align-
ing the arm positioning screw with the arm positioning
index,turn the joint lever @ clockwise
as far as it will go
to lock the arm into position. When the arm
is attached
in this manner, the speedlight's axis will always intersect
with the lens's optical axis, even if the flash head
is
moved up or down on the arm. (Normally, the joint is
locked at the top of the arm.) Before diving, be sure the
.
jOint knob @ and joint lever are locked tightly.
To attach the arm to the bracket, turn the arm knob @
counterclockwise as far as it will go to loosen it (the two
bracket positioning pins
on the bottom of the grip ®will
be visible).
81ide the open end of the bracket between
Joint ®
The joint connects the arm to the speedlight and allows
the flash head to
be positioned as required for various
shooting situations.
The arm can
be inserted from either side of the jOint ,
but to use it
in the normal position, insert it as shown in
the photo. When using two 8B-103 8peedlights (or an
8B- 103 and an 8B-102) and the optional Double Flash
Bracket, insert the arm that is next to the camera's film
advance lever into the joint from the direction opposite
that shown
in the photo. (Flash head positioning scales
are provided on both sides ofthe joint.)
The joint lever allows the flash head to be turned on the
arm's axis and moved
up or down the arm as required.
The joint knob
is used to adjust the angle of the flash
head (the angle of intersection between the speedlight's
a
xi s and the lens's optical axis).The normal angle of the
flash head
is with the flash head positioning index @ at

the "normal" positioning mark @ on the flash head
po sitioning scale. The "normal" position is used for
shooting between 1m
(3 .3ft) and infinity. For close-up
shooting within approximately 1m
(3 .3ft), loosen the
jOint knob , point the flash head toward the subject,then
tighten
the joint knob. In addition to the "normal" posi-
tion mark
on the flash head positioning scale, " O.6m
(2ft) "@ and "O .3m (1 ft)" @positionmarksareprovided
for
use when shooting subjects at these distances.
However, when the flash head
is not in the "normal"
positi
on ,the joint must be attached to the top of the arm
or
the flash head will not be pointed at the subject.
To detach the joint from the speedlight, turn the joint
knob counterclockwise and slide the joint plate out of
the joint collar while pulling the joint knob.
cord or when washing the speedlight with the speedlight
plug removed from the synchro socket, attach the
synchro socket cover to protect the socket.
To attach
the socket cover,press it against the socket to seat the
O-r i ng , then turn its locking ring clockwise as far as .
it will go .
• To simplify identification, both the tip of the sync co rd's speedlight plug
andthe inside
of the synchro socket are color ·code d yellow.
Synchro Socket @
To connect the sync cord ® to the speedlight, remove
the synchro socket cover ®
by turning it counterclock-
wise and pulling
it up. Remove the dust-proof plastic
cap from the sync cord's speedlight plug ® (black
locking ring). Insert the speedlight plug into the synchro
socket after aligning the synchro socket index ® with
the
red index on the speedlight plug. When the speed-
light plug
is inserted, turn its locking ring clockwise as
far as it will go to secure the plug.
Never submerge the speedlight in water with the
synchro socket cover removed or get the sync cord
plugs wet. Always make sure the sync cord plugs are
securely attached before entering the water.
After shooting underwater, wipe off any water droplets
with a soft cloth before removing the plug to prevent
water from entering the socket. When not using the sync
15

CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued ___ _
Camera I Sync Speed I
Nikonos· V· 1/90 sec. or slower
Nikonos IV·A" 1/90 sec. or slower
Nikonos
III
1/60 sec. or slower
Synchronization Speed
The shutter speed at which the S8-103 synchronizes
with a camera depends upon the camera being used.
The table shows the flash sync speeds of various
cameras.
80th the Nikonos-V and Nikonos
IV-A cameras auto-
matically switch to the proper synchronization speed
when the S8-
103 's shooting mode selector/power
switch
is set to "TTL," "MFULL," "M1/4," or "M1/16 ";
when it is set to "OFF," the automatic switchover func-
tion
is canceled.
oAperture-priority exposure mode (" A ") operation on the Nikonos-V
and Nikonos
IV-A is canceled wh en th e S8·103 is turned on. To deter-
mine the correctaperture, use the S8·103's exposure calculation chart
(see page
17 ).
Camera Setting
I Operable
Shutter Speed I
Viewfinder Information
A 1/90 sec.
1/1000 to 1 /125 sec. 1/90 sec. Correct shutter s pe ed b li nks"
1/60 to 1/30 sec. as se t
M90 or B as set -
A 1/90 sec. LED do es not li g ht
M (1/90 sec.) or B as set -
-as set -
I Remarks
TTL operable
TTL inopera bl e
• When battefles In the Nlkonos- Vor Nlkonos IV-A are exhausted, reset the Nlkonos-V's shutter speed/mode selector dIal to M90 (1/90 sec.) or B
(Bulb),
or the Nikonos IV-A's shutter speed dial to M (1190 sec.) or B (B Ulb). TTL automatic flash contr ol is not possible when the Nikonos-V is
in the M 90 or B modes.
•• This indicates the correct shutter speed as determined by the subject's brightness and the aperture setting. Although this is not a speedlight
function, it is helpful when using daylight fill-in flash shooting.
Shooting Mode Selector/Power Switch ®
The shooting mode selector/power switch has five c!ick-
stop settings.
The shoot ing modes that can be used with
specific cameras are listed above.
"OFF" position
The speedlight is turned off when the switch is set at
this position.
"TTL" position-TTL (through·the·lens) Automatic
Flash Mode
This mode, which can be used only in conjunction with
the Nikonos-V camera, automatically controls the flash
exposure Through·The·Lens (TTL).
In this mode, the
Nikonos-V's
SPD (silicon photodiode) reads the light
passing through the lens and automatically signals the
S8-
103 to turn itself off when the exposure is correct.
16
The range of useable apertures is larger (from f/2.8 to
f/22 when using ASAIISO
100 film) with TTL flash, and
you can easily control the depth of field. In addition, the
TTL mode makes daylight fill- in flash and close- up
photography easier than ever.
o The useable film speed range for TTL operation is from ASA/ISO 25
to
400 . Forinformation about the apertures that can be used at v ar ious
film speed
s, see page 18 .
o TTL operation is not po ssible with the Nikonos IV·A or III or when the
Nikonos-V 's shutter speed/mode selectordial is s et at M90 (t /90sec.)
or B(BulbY.
o Even if the Nikonos-V 's shutter speed/mode selector dial is set at "A"
or from 1/30 to 1/ I000 sec" TTL operation is not po ss ible when: the
s
yn c cord is not securely connected, the ASA/ ISO film is set beyond
ASA/ISO 400,
or the batteries are completelyexhausted,
ol n TTL automatic flash operation, the SB - 103 emits amounts of light
sufficient for subjects having average reflectivity,
Th erefore, corre ct
ex po sure maynotbe obtainable if the subject 's reflectivity isextremely
low or hi gh.

"MFULL," "M1/4," and "M1/16"-Manual Flash
Modes
These modes can be used with the Nikonos-V, Nikonos
IV-A ,and Nikonos III. Manual control is very convenient
when the correct exposure cannot
be obtained through
TTL automatic operation.The SB-103 has three manual
control modes for selection according to the flash-to-
subject distance and the shooting situation. The guide
numbers are
GN 20 (10) at the "MFULL" position, GN
10 (5) at "M1/4," and GN 5 (2 .5) at "M1/16" when using
ASAIISO
100 film. (The guide numbers in parentheses
are for underwater photography).
To determine the cor-
rect aperture, use the exposure calculation chart or
perform the calculations by yourself (see page
19) .
TTL Automctic Flcsh Control
In TTL automatic flash photography, the useable aper-
tures are from f/2.8 to f/22 (when using ASAIISO
100
film), although the actual range for a specific shooting
situation depends upon the flash-to-subject distance,
the ASAIISO film speed, the type of photography (on-
land or underwater), and whether or not the wide-flash
adapter
is being used.
The actual ranges for specific situations can be easily
determined with the exposure calculation chart.
Exposure \,,;CIICLIlCTlon
In flash photography, which apertures can be used is
closely related to the flash-to-subject distance. To de-
termine the useable apertures, use the exposure calcu-
lation chart.
Example 1:
When shooting on land at f/4 without the wide-flash
adapter while using ASA/ISO
100 film, you can take
pictures of subjects located between 0.
9m (3ft) and
5m (16.4ft).
In the same manner, when shooting underwater at f/11
with the wide-flash adapter while using ASAIISO 400
film,you can shoot subjects located between 0
.3 m (1 ft)
and 1.
2m (4 .3ft).
Before you select
an aperture, always take the flash-to-
subject distance into consideration.
To increase the
flash-to-subject coupling distance as much as possible,
select a larger flstop (a numerically smaller f-number).
In the opposite case, close-up shooting, select a smaller
flstop (a numerically larger f-number).
17

CONTROLS IN DETAIL - continued ====:;:;: ::;:;------::----:-
Example 2:
When shooting underwater at 2.5m (8.2ft) without the
wide-flash adapter while using ASA/ISO
50 film, you
must use f/2. 8.
When several flstops are useable at a specific flash·to-
subject distance, make your selection by taking the
desired depth of field
and speedlight recycling time into
consideration.
When using
an ASAIISO film speed not shown in the
exposure calculation chart (for example, ASAIISO 64),
calculate the difference between the film speed
in use
and the closest film speed in the chart to determine
the appropriate intermediate aperture setting to
use.
For example, when shooting underwater at 0.3m (1 ft)
with the wide-flash adapter while using ASA/ISO
64 film,
determine the closest film speed (ASA/ISO 50)
and its
useable aperture range (f/2.8 to f/11). Since
64 is ap-
proximately one-third larger than
50, the correct inter-
mediate aperture settings will be one-third larger than
those shown
in the chart for ASA/ISO 50 film. For in-
stance, if the correct aperture when using ASAIISO 50
ASA/ISO
Example 3:
When shooting on land at 1.2m (4.3ft) without the wide-
flash adapter while using ASAIISO
100 film and you
want the largest depth of field possible, select f/16. If
you want to minimize recycling time as much as possible,
select f/2.8.
Even though the exposure calculation chart may appear
to indicate otherwise, the minimum flash-to-subject
coupling distance for underwater photography
is 0.3m
(1 ft).
film
is f/2.8, the correct aperture when using ASA/ISO
64 film is f/2.8 plus one-third (one third closer to f/4).
Likewise, if the aperture shown in the chart is f/11, the
correct aperture
is f/11 plus one-third (one third closer
to f/16).
In the TTL automatic mode, the S8-103's useable ASAI
ISO film speed range is from ASA/ISO 25 to 400, its
useable aperture range
is from f/2.8 to f/22, and its
flash-to-subject coupling distance range
is from 0.3m
(1ft) to
14 m (46ft).
• These figures should only be used as a guide because flash· to·subject coupling distance ranges are affectedby the existing conditions
(water
quality, surroundings, subjects, andso on).
18

Man
Manual flash operation allows you to control the light
output of the SB-103 by setting the shooting mode
selector/power switch to one of three positions:
"MFULL
," "M1/4," or "M1/16 ."
To determine which setting to use, select an aperture
from the exposure calculation chart
and set it on the
lens.
At each intersection of a distance line ® and an
aperture line on the aperture scale @,one of four condi-
tions will
be present: 1) the distance line will intersect
the extreme right-hand edge of the aperture line (the
"MFULL" mark),
2) the distance line will intersect a
semicircle (the "M1/4" mark),
3) the distance line will
intersect a triangle (the "M1/16" mark), or 4) the dis-
tance line will intersect
an unmarked portion of the f/stop
line.
The first three conditions indicate the manual flash
mode that can
be used at those particular f/stops.
Example 2:
If the shooting distance changed to 3m (9 .Bft) but you
.still wanted to use "MFULL," you would have to use an
intermediate aperture setting between f/S.6 and fiB.
To determine the correct f/stop without using the expo-
sure calculation chart, divide the
GN from the chart
by the flash-to-subject distance (in meters).
Example 3: .
When shooting on land at Sm (16.4ft) without using the
wide-flash adapter while using ASA/ISO
100 film and
"MFULL":
The GN for "MFULL" at ASA/ISO 100 on
land is 20 from the chart. Divide the GN of 20 by the
flash-to-subject distance of
Sm to get the correct aper-
ture, f/4. Because water absorbs a great deal of light,
however,
you cannot use the same GN underwater as
on-land or your shot will be underexposed.
Instead, multiply the on-land
GN by 1/2 to 1/3 for under-
When shooting underwater at 1.2m
(4 .3ft)without using
the wide-flash adapter while using ASA/ISO 400 film,
you can select one of three aperture/mode settings:
f/16 at "MFULL ," fiB at "M1/4," or f/4 at "M1/16 ."
water photography. (The underwater GNs shown are
1/2 of the corresponding on-land GNs.)
Guide Numbers in the Manual Mode
• The values in parentheses are when the Wide·Flash Adapter
SW-I03
is being used.
•
The full amount of light is emitted when the shooting mode selector
is at "M FU LL."
19

CONTROLS IN DETAIL-continued ___ _
Exposure Compensati on
When using TTL automatic flash control with the
Nikonos-V camera, you can use its ASAIISO film speed
dial to make
an exposure compensation for the shooting
situation orto create intentionallyover- or underexposed
photos.
The relationship between the exposure compensation
value and ASA/ISO film speed dial setting
is shown in
the following chart:
The useable aperture range and flash-to -s ubject cou-
pling distance range for TTL automatic flash photogra-
phy changes according to the exposure compensation
value being used. When making
an exposure com-
pensation,use the aperture/shooting distance combina-
tions
in the reset ASAIISO film speed column in the
exposure calculation chart. For example, when making
Ready-Light @
After its power switch is turned on, the ready-light on
the S8-103 will light to indicate that the speedlight has
recycled and
is ready to fire. If you are using either
a Nikonos-V or Nikonos
IV-A camera, its viewfinder
ready-light will also light at the same time to let
you
know the speedlight is ready for the next shot.
In addition, the viewfinder ready-lights of the Nikonos-V
and Nikonos
IV-A blink to warn of improper settings. If
this happens, check that: the camera
and flash unit are
securely connected,
and the shutter speed/shooting
mode and ASAIISO
fi lm speed on the camera are cor-
rectly set.
20
a
+2 exposure compensati on while using ASAIISO 100
film, use the aperture/shooting distance combinations
in the ASAIISO 25 column in the exposure calculation
chart.
o Po sitive (+) exposure compensation cannot be made when using ASAI
I
SO 25 film, andnegative (-) exposure compensation cannot be made
when using ASA/ISO 400 film. In these cases, make the necessary
compensation
by using one of the manual flash modes. Note that the
Nikonos-V's viewfinder ready·light blinks
if you attempt to make a -2
or greater exposure compensation while using ASA / ISO 200 film, or
a -lor greater exposure compensation while using ASAIISO 400 film
in the TTL mode.
o When you finish making the exposure compensation, be sure to reset
the
ASA /ISO film speed dial on the Nikonos·V to its original setting.
. o lf you photograph a subject with very high reflectivity-such as a
mirror or metallic
surface-in the TTL mode, underexposure is almost
certain to
occur . To prevent this, use manualcontrol.
o The ready·light goes out when the flash unit is turned off.
o When the exposure meter of the Nikonos -V or Nikonos JV.A is not
activated, the camera's viewfinder ready-light will not light even if the
speedlight is turned
on (except when the shutterspeed/mode selector
dial
or shutter speed dial is set at MOO or M). Always confirm that the
viewfinder ready-light is lighted before shooting.
o When the shutterspeed/mode selectordial or shutterspeed dial of the
Nikonos· Vor Nikonos JV.A is set at MOO or M, the viewfinder ready-
light lights when the flash unit ready-light lights.
o As the voltage of the batteries decreases with use, the GN of the flash
unit decreases slightly.
o 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.
o When using alkaline-manganese batteries, if recycling takes 30
seconds
or longer, replace the batteries with a fresh set.
oAspecial red LED is built into one end of the firing tube to ensure stable
light output. If
you release the camera's shutterbefore the S8- 103 is fully
recycled,
the LED might light up-this is not a malfunction.