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