Nikon SB-104 os User manual

Nikon
NIKONOS
Speedlight
·58-104

FOREWORD
Thank you for purchasing the
Nikonos Speedlight
S8-1 04 . This
Speedlight
is specially designed for
underwater photography and can
be
used with the Nikonos RS, as well
as the Nikonos V and Nikonos
IVA
When used with the Nikonos RS ,
it will allow you to take flash pictures
at depths of
up to 100 meters
(328 feet).

Speedlight Parts
Buc kle
Buc kle lock
Fun ction selector
Flash mode selecto r
3
Switch·
Moisture
alert light
'For more details on the above items , see pages 21 - 22 .
Po we r switch

Joint l eg
Joint hole
Battery chamber
Buck le hook
4
Distance scale chart
Aperture scale chart
Aperture scale chart
release lever
Screw securing distance scale chart
Sync socket
Sync socket cap
Standby switch
Battery positioning axis
Battery positioning notch
Battery chamber cap
Hinge
Terminal

Sync cord
Plug locking ring
Sync cord
Standard bracket
Front
Bracket
Camera
mounting knob
Flash head positioning index
Wrist joint
Stopper pin
Arm
Grip
Shoulder joint release button
Shoulder joint lock
Front positioning index
Shoulder joint
knob
Cord fastening hanger
Standard accessories
(S8-104 standard set)
-Standard arm and bracket set
SK -104
-Sync cord (with cap)
-O-ring grease and screws set
5

Main Features
• Matrix Balanced Fill·Flash Photography (Nikonos
RS only)
Brightness of flash exposure on the foreground
subject is automatically balanced with the
ambient light
of the background.
• Camera Slave (Nikonos RS only)
Cordless remote photography. The Nikonos R8's
shutter release is triggered when the 8B·104's
built·in slave sensor detects the flash from
another speedlight.
• Flash Slave
The 8B·104 fires simultaneously when another
speedlight is fired through its built·in slave
sensor.
• Signal Flash
The 8B·104 fires at 1/32 power approximately
every two seconds to signal your location on the
surface to others.
• Alert Signal Display
The 8peedlight is automatically monitored for
moisture, overheating, and proper electronic
functioning.
• High Power Manual Flash Operation
6
Full power guide number (underwater) for 180 100 in
meters is 16 (53 in feet). 1/4 power and 1/16 power
are also available. Fast recycling time of 3 seconds
at full
power.

This Instruction Manual has been organized as follows
for
easy reference. Use this guide to learn how to make
the most of your Speedlight's potential.
Preparations for
He re we explain how to get the
Taking Pictures
Speedlight ready for tak i ng pictures.
In these sections the fundamentals of flash
Basic Shooting/
photography with the Nikonos RS ,V and IV·A,
Taking Pictures
and the procedures for taking pictures using the
S8-104 are explained.
Details on the
This section describes the Speed -
Speedlight's Parts
light's various features, points to be
checked, and other pertinent items.
Basic Applications
This section explains how to use
the Speedlight's features to obtain
various results.
In this section, we describe optional
Other Items
accessaries, details on the NiCd
battery and tips on S8-104 care .
• Important
Denotes an important point.
e Caution
Denotes points where caut i on or
mandatory action is required .
+Note
Denotes a useful point that should be
remembered for future reference.
7
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8
Foreword ......... . ......... .. . . .. . ............. 2
Speedlight Parts . . . .... 3-5
Main Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ti
ps on Speedlight Care .. .. .... . ............ . ..... 10
Checking O-rings .... ... ......... . . .. . . . . . . ...... 11
Removing and Reseating O- rings . ... .. .. .. .. . , ...... 12
Preparations for Taking Pictures ... .. .. ... 14-22
Installing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 15
Connecting the SB-104 to the Camera and
Making Settings . ..... .. ..................... 17
Function Selector ................... 21
Flash Mode Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Basic Shooting . ... .. ... . ............ . .... 23-27
Basic Flash Photography with the Nikonos RS ......... . 24
Taking Pictures . ........ .. ... .. .. .. .. ...... 28-35
Fbssible Shooting Modes with the SB-104
and Nikonos RS. . . . . . . . . .... . ..... 29
Fbssible Shooting Modes with the SB-104
and Nikonos V . . . .. . .. . ..... 31
Fbssible Shooting Modes with the SB-104
and Nikonos IV-A . . .......... 33
Caring for the SB-104 After Use . . . . . . . .. . .... . ..... 34
Details on the Speed light's Parts ... .. . .... 36-44
Standby Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Alert Signal Lamps .. . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Reading the Exposure Calculation Chart .. ............. 41

Basic Applications ... .......... ... 45-54
Basic Tips
on Underwater Flash Photography ...... . . . 46
Camera Slave (Cordless Remote Photography) . . _
... . .. 48
Flash Slave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50
Rear-Curtain Sync Photography .. . . ... . . .. .. ... .. .. 52
Using the Flash Signal Function ....... . ... . . . .. .. .. 54
Other Items .... . ... . .......... 55-68
Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
56
Details on NiCd Battery Unit SN-104 ................ 62
Tips
on SB-104 Care . . . . . ...... ..... ... . 64
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
... . 68
9

Tips on Speedlight Care
Be sure to take trial shots first .. .
-When taking important photographs with the SB-104 or
using it again after a long period of disuse, be sure to take
one or more trial shots first to be sure it
is working properly.
Have Nikon spot check your Speedlight
regularly .. .
-Because the Speedlight is a precision instrument, we
recommend taking your Speedlight to a Nikon service
center once every year or two to have
it spot checked, and
to have it overhauled every three to five years.
- We recommend this service especially if the Speedlight is being used
for commercial applications.
-Once water gets inside the plastic case or the battery has decayed,
be sure to have your Speedlight spot checked, or it may emit a
flammable gas.
Using the Speed/ight safely . ..
-Use only Nikon products with this Speedlight, since the
SB-104 has been designed for use with specialized Nikon
camera and lens accessories. The Speedlight may become
damaged if
you attempt to use it with products of other
manufacturers.
Do not fire toward eyes
-Since the SB -104 is a high-power output flash unit, be sure
not to fire the unit directly
at or in the vicinity of human
eyes.
10

Checking O-rings
• Be sure to check the O-rings before use.
This Speedlight uses O-rings to ensure that it is well
sealed and water-proofed. If dust or damage
is found on
the O-rings, water will leak into the Speedlight and cause
damage. It is important to check
all the O-rings and
lubricate them before use.
• O-ring areas to check
- Two O-rings on
sync cord
· ~H.- -- O-r i ng on the main
body, O-ring channel,
and contact area
between battery
chamber cap and
main body
-Sync socket cap
O-ring, and con-
tact area between
sync socket and
main body.
11

Removing and Reseating O-rings
1
Remove the O-r ings from their
channels.
-Use a thin plastic card, such as the
S8- 104 's exposure calculation chart, to
remove O-rings.
-
Do not use metal items with sharp edges
that may damage the O-rings.
2
Check the O -ri ngs to be su re they are
not damaged.
-Wipe the O-rings and O-ring channels
with a clean cloth or tissue, and check
them for any damage.
-Do not use a cloth or tissue which
contains lint.
-If O·ring channels are damaged, please
contact a Nikon service center.
3
Apply lubricant to the O-rings.
-With your fingertip, smear a small
amount of O-ring lubricant over the entire
surface of the O-rings.
-This makes the O-rings slip more easily
into the O-ring channels.
Do not apply
too much lubricant to the surface of
the O-ring
as this will not help make
a better seal, and can cause
an
unwanted build-up of excess
lubrication which will attract sand
and dirt.
-Caution
e Feel fo r any damage on the O-rings while
applying the lubricant. If damage
is found,
replace the O·ring with a new one.
e
Take care that lint, hair, or other foreign
matter does not remain
on the O-rings or
their channels.
eUse O-ring lubricant available from Nikon.
12
If a lubricant made by another
manufacturer is used, it may adversely
affect the O-ring and result
in water leaks.

4Reseat the O-
ring into their
channels.
-Do not stretch the O-rings too much. Be
sure that the O-rings are not warped and
they go into the channel correctly.
+Note
The 8B-104 package includes an O-ring set
(three large
an d small O-rin gs , O-ring
lubricant, and two screws). The O-ring set
is also available optionally. Be
su re to h ave
this set with you wherever you go with your
8peedlight.
13

14

• Important
.Only the NiCd battery unit SN-104 can be
used with this Speedlight. Do not use any
other type of battery.
•
Be sure to turn OFF the power of the
SB - 104 when replacing the battery.
• Be sure to recharge the SN-104 battery
when using it for the first time or after
having stored it for three months or more.
-For procedures on recharging the
SN-104, refer to the Instruction Manual
that came with the Quick Charger
SH
-104 .
• Refer to page 62 for details on the battery.
Be sure al
so to read the Inst ru ction
Manual that came with the
SN-104 battery
unit.
1
Open the battery chamber while
sliding the buckle lock as shown in
the figure.
2Remove the buckle hook.
15

3
Open the battery chamber cap by
lifting it up.
-The cover may be hard to open if the
O·ring isn't properly lubricated.
In this
case, the O-ring should be relubricated.
(See page
12 .)
4
Load the battery.
Insert the NiCd battery unit SN-104
into the battery chamber securely,
aligning the battery positioning
notch with the battery lock release
lever (orange).
-Slide the battery lock release lever
(orange) in the direction of the arrow
(
~ ) to remove the battery.
5
Raise the buckle.
-Hold down the battery chamber cap and
engage the buckle hook to raise the
buckle.
6
Lock the releasellock buckle.
-Slide the buckle lock and press the
release/lock buckle to the Speedlight.
-Check to be sure there is no gap between
the battery chamber cap and the
Speedlight.
The buckle should be securely
locked.
+Note
Standby switch
The SB-104 is provided with a standby switch
to conserve battery
power. Refer to page 37
for details on the standby switch.
16

Connecting the S8-104 to the Camera and Making Settings
• Important
.Be sure to turn OFF the power to the
camera and the 8B-104 before attaching
the 8peedlight.
• Check the a -rings and apply a small
amount of lubricant when attaching t
he
connector plugs.
1
Attach the bracket to the camera at
the camera mounting knob.
2
Remove the wrist joint adjustment
knob and insert the Speedlight
joint
leg.
-Make sure th at t he shoulder joint relea se
button and the flash head turn to the
same direction.
3Insert the adjustment knob into the
joint hole and fasten the knob.
17

4Remove the sync socket cap on the
camera.
-The cap can be removed by using a coin
to turn it counter·clockwise.
5
Insert the camera plug and fasten
the white locking ring.
-Align the red mark on the plug to the red
mark on the camera.
6
Turn the plug locking ring clockwise
until it stops and is secured.
7
Remove the sync socket cap on the
S8 -104.
18
- Turn the cap counter -c lockwise until it
separates.

8
Insert the Speed light plug and
fasten the black locking ring.
-Align the guide marks on the plug and
the 88·104.
9
Turn the shoulder jOint adjustment
knob on the bracket in the direction
of the arrow to fasten the shoulder
joint.
-Align it with the white positioning index on
the front.
10
Insert the arm .
-Release the shoulder joint lock and
align the arm with the white positioning
index
on the front of the joint.
+Note
Cord fasten ing hanger
This hanger secures the sync cord to the
bracket to keep it out of the way while
shooting.
To use the cord fastening hanger,
attach
it to the speedlight bracket as shown
in the illustration, then attach the sync cord to
the hook.
19

eCaution
_ Be sure the shoulder joint is locked when
gripping the arm to carry the camera and
8peedlight after making settings. If it is not
locked, the camera may fall off when the
release button is pressed.
-W hen releasing the arm from the bracket,
undo the lock of the shoulder joint first
before pressing the release button.
12
Check to be sure the Speedlight
is facing forward and the correct
shooting distance has been set.
(1) The positioning marks on the 8B-104
and wrist joint should match the
shooting distance.
A:
00
B: 1m
C: O.Sm
(2) The white positioning marks of the
arm, shoulder joint, and bracket shou
ld
all be aligned.
The above setting
is made when the
Speedlight is attached to the bracket
and the shooting distance set at more
than SOcm (1 .6 ft).
13
Test firin.g after completing the
connections
20
Slide the function selector knob
to the test fire position before
diving.
-If the ready-light LED lights up again,
the 8peedlight is ready.
-If the alert signal lamp blinks, see
page 39.
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