Nikon SB-10 User manual

Nikon
INST RUCTION MANUAL

NOMENCLATURE
Battery com partment
Exposure ca lcul ator
Shooting mode indicator
Shooting mode sel ector
Ligh t sen sor
Flash l amp
2

-
Power sw it ch
Ready-light /
Op en-fl ash button
Sync socket
Locking nut
Mounting foot
Ready-I ight contact
3

CONTENTS
Foreword ...... . . ... . . ........ . . .. 5
Settingup ... .. ... .. .... . . . ........ 6
Installing
th e batteries ..... .. .. . . .. .. 6
Attaching the 58·10 to the camera . ...... 7
Flash
synchronization ... .... ....... .. . 9
Automatic exposure operation .. .... .. .. . 12
Exposure calculator .... . ...... .. .... 12
Se tting the f/ number . ....• ... ....... 14
The reflector ... . . . .... .... . . .. . . .. . 15
'Red Eyes' phen o menon .. . ... ... . .... . . 15
Taking an auto flash photograph ... .... . .. 16
R ea dy-light / open-f lash button ... .. . .... 16
Ready-light in the FE camera finder ...... 17
Manual overr id e .. .. .... . ... . ... .. ... 17
Multiple flash operat ion ... .. . . . ........ 18
Accessories ..... . ...... . .. .. ..... . . 20
Features/specifications . . . . ... . ......... 22
Camera /speed li ght combi nation ch art ... . ... 23
4

FOREWORD
The Nikon Speedlight SB-10 brings you the advantage of light-
weight, compactness and advanced circuitry. The use
of a series-
circuit configuration employing silicon-controlled rectifiers en-
sures
that the unit retains all the unused charge in the capacitor
for ultra-rapid recycling.
When working at a distance of 1 meter
and
an aperture of f/4 (ASA 100 fil m speed), for instance, recycl-
ing time is less than 1 second on automatic operation. Also, since
the unused charge
in the capacitor is conserved, less battery
power
is required, and you get more flashes per battery load.
Despite the unit's small size, there
is no loss of illumination
power.
An advanced reflector design, coupled with a high-output
flash lamp, gives corner-to-corner brightness and even illumina-
tion. 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 ready-
light
contact for exclusive use with the Nikon FE camera. This
unique feature provides for greater convenience
in flash photo-
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 will help you avoid costly mistakes.
5

SETTING UP
6
Installing the Batteries
Power is supplied by four 1.5V AA-type bat-
teries.
To install the batteries, first depress
the knurled surfaces on the top and bottom of
the unit. The Battery Holder MS-2 will then
pop out at the side. Next, Iift out the holder
and insert four batteries, making sure that
the positive and negative (+ and - ) terminals
are installed according to the diagr am inside the
ho l der . To replace the battery holder, slip it
into the battery compartment until it clicks
into place. If you foresee not using your speed-
light
for some time, it is advisable to remove
the batteries for separate storage. This will eli-
minate the risk of damage caused by leaking
batteries .

Attaching the S8-1O to the Camera
Nikon FE:, EL2 and FM, and Nikkormat EL,
ELW,
FT2 and FT3
Turn the locking nut on the mounting foot
until it reaches the upper limit. Next, slide the
mounting foot forward onto the camer a 's
accessory shoe as far as it will go. Then re-
tighten the locking nut to prevent the unit
from accidentally slipping off.
7

Nikon F2-series and F cameras
First, mount the Flash Un it Coupier AS-' on
the camera's accessory shoe . Next, turn the
locking nut on the mounting foot of the 58-' 0
until it reaches
the upper limit. Then slide the
mounting foot forward onto the accessory shoe
of the AS-' as far as it will go. Retighten the
locking nut to prevent the unit from acciden-
tally slipping
off.
Nikon R10 and R8 Super Zoom
First, plug the Sync Cord SC-7 into the sync
socket on the 58-' O. Next, turn the locking
nut on the mounting foot until it reaches the
upper limit. Slide the mounting foot forward
onto the camera's accessory shoe as far as it
will go.
Then retighten the locking nut to pre-
vent the unit from accidentally slipping off.
I nsert the sync cord contact point into the
speedlight sync terminal (7) on the camera.
8

FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION
Nikon FE
When the camera is in automatic mode, mount-
ing the 58-10 unit onto the FE camera body
and turning on both the unit and the camera's
meter automatically set the shutter speed of the
camera at 1/ 90 second. And when the ready-
light
built into the eyepiece of the FE camera
glows, it indicates readiness for flash shooting.
When in manual mode, set the shutter speed
at 1/125 sec. or slower. Turn on the unit and
when the ready-light lights up, you are ready
for flash photography. When the shutter speed
is set beyond the camera's sync range, the
ready-light flickers as a sync warning signal.
However, it
is kept lit if the film-advance lever
is depressed (i .e., turning off the meter).
The built-in hot shoe contact eliminates the
need for a sync cord.
With the Nikkormat EL and ELW, first set the
shutter speed at 1/125 sec. or slower. Then lift
and turn the knurled sync selector ring around
the shu tter-speed di al untiI the I igh tning symbol
(7') appears in the selector window. A hot-
shoe contact built into the mounting foot of
the 58-10 eliminates the need for a sync cord.
With the Nikon EL2 . and FM, and Nikkormat
FT2 and FT3, set the camera shutter speed for
1/125 sec. or slower. Due to the built-in auto-
matic sync switchover mechanism, this is the
only step necessary to ensure proper flash
operation. The built-in hot shoe contact elimi-
nates the need for a sync cord.
9

With the N ikon F2-series camera, a buiIt- in
selector mechanism controls the speedlight sync
adjustment automatical ly as you change shutter
speeds: simply rotate the shutter-speed dial to
the desired setting slower than 1/ 80 sec. The
red line between 1/ 60 and 1/ 125 indicates 1/ 80
sec. A hot-shoe contact built into the mounting
foot of the 58-10 eliminates the need for a sync
cord, al though the unit requires the Flash Unit
Coupler AS-' for use with F2 -series cameras .
10
With the Nikon F, the sync selector is used to
adjust the camera for use with speed li ghts. First
set the shutter speed at 1/ 60 sec. or slower.
Then Iift and turn the knurled sync se l ector
ring around the shutter - speed dial of the camera
until the FX mark appears in the se l ector
window. (The Photomic FTN finder must be
removed to gain access to the sync selector
ring.) A hot-shoe contact built into the mount-
ing foot of the 58-10 eliminates the need for
a sync cord, al though the unit requires the
Flash Unit Coup ler AS-1 for use with the
Nikon F.