Nikon SB-14 User manual

Nikon Speedlight
INSTRUcrION MANUAL

NOMENCLATURE-------------------------
Wide-Flash Adapter SW-5
® Flash head
® Shooting mode selector
8) Sensor Unit SU-2
® Sensor socket
® Sync/multiple flash sockets
o Sync Cord SC - ll
® Bracket mounting adapter
® Bracket mounting pin
@) Trip.od/light stand socket
@ Attachment screw slots
@ Bracket SK-5
@ Tripod socket
2

f/stop indicators with wide-flash adapter
(thin color-coded lines) @
f/stop II' IUl.calors
f/stop scale @
Distance scale @
ASA/ISO film speed index @
Ready-light ®
Bracket attachment dot @
Attachment screw
Releasellocking wheel
Handle @
Exposure calculator
dial @
External power terminal @
3

CONTENTS ----------
NOMENCLATURE . ... . .. .. . .. ..... ... . ... . ..... 2-3
FOREWORD .. . .... . . . . ....... . .. ..... ... . ... . .... 4
BASIC OPERATION . ... ........ ... . ... .... . . . .. S-9
CONTROLS IN DETAIL . .. .. . . . .. . ... ..... .. ... 10 -20
Bracket SK-S
....... .. ...... . .. . .. . . .. .. . ... . . 10
Bracket Mounting Adapter .. ... . .... . . . .. ... ... 10
Shutter Speed Dial . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .... .. .... . 11
Exposure Calculator Dial . ... ... ..... . ..... 12-14
SensorUnit SU-2 ..... .. .. .. . . . ...... .. ... . . .. IS
Ready-Light.
...... . . . .. . .. . . . ..... . .. . .. . . .. . 16
Open-Flash Button . . . . ... .. ... . ..... . ......... 17
Flash Head . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . ... . .. . .. . . .. ..... .. 18
Sync/Multiple Flash Sockets .. ... .... . .. . .. . .. . 19
Wide-Flash Adapter SW -S .. . ... . . . . . .. . . ... . . .20
TIPS ON AUTOMATIC FLASH SHOOTING .. ... . .. . . 21
ACCESSORIES .. ...... ... .......... ... . . . ... 22-23
DC Unit SD-7 ... .. . .. .... .. ... .. ..... .. ... . . .22
TTL Sensor Cord SC-12 . . .. .... . .... . ..... . . .. 23
Sensor Remote
Cord SC - 13 ..... ..... .. .. . .. . . .23
Sync
Cord SC -lS . . . ... .. . . ... . . ........ . . .. . .23
"RED EYEH .. .. . .... ... .. . .. . ... .. .. .. . .. . ... . .. ..24
OPTIMUM BATTERY PERFORMANCE . .......... .. . 2S
SPECIFICATIONS .. . . . . .... . ..... .. ..... . .. .. .. . .26
4
FOREWORD ---------
The Nikon Speedlight SB-14 is a compact and light -
weight electronic flash unit having a host of useful fea-
tures.
With
coverage matching that of a 28mm wideangle len s,
this
unit uses a si licon - controlled rectifier and series
circuitry to provide automatic control of the flash e x-
posure to match the camera - to-subject distance . In
addition,
the SB -14 is able to conserve its excess energy
for the next shot when shooting subjects at close range ,
thus reducing recycling time and increasing the number
of flashes per battery set . When the optional TTL Sensor
Cord SC-12 is used in conjunct ion with the Nikon F3 or F3
High - Eyepoint camera , the SB-14 provides automatic
through-the - len s control of flash exposure.
Moreover, the SB -14 allows complete creative control oj
bounce flash with its movable flash head which can be
tilted back 120° and rotated 120° to the right and 120°
to
the left ; click - stops are provided at 30°, 60°, 90°, and
120° intervals for both the tilting and rotating move-
ments.
Even though the SB -14 is extremely easy to use, you
should familiarize yourself with the unit's basic operation
as
presented in the /irst section. For more detailed in-
formation, please refer to "Controls in Detail." A few
minutes Wisely invested now will payoff later in years of
rewarding photographic experiences .

BASIC OPERATION -------------
. -- )
_ ~ <C':J~
-•
•
1. Attach the bracket@ to
the camera.
Screw the bracket 's attachment
screw @ into the camera's tripod
socket to secure the two units together
tightly. (For details, refer to
page
10.)
2 Attach the bracket to the
• flash unit.
Insert the bracket mounting pin ®
into the hole in the bracket mounting
adapter ®with the two white dots @
aligned; rotate the camera forward
until it click-locks into place .
3. Plug in the sensor CD .
With the "Nikon" name facing toward
the flash head ®, align the protrud-
ing portion of the Sensor Unit SU-2
with
the notched portion inside the
SB-14's sensor socket ®;
then push
the sensor into the socket until it
click-locks into
place.
5

- BASIC OPERATION -continued ----------
4.Attach the sync cord0 .
Screw one end of the Sync Cord SC-
11 into either of the flash unit's sync!
multiple flash sockets ® and screw
the other end into the camera's sync
terminal.
No te: Some cameras do not have the threaded
sync terminal.
6
5.Check the positionof the
flash head.
Make sure that the flash head is in
the normal shooting position.
6. Connect the power
supply.
Plug the cord from the power supply
into the flash unit's external power
terminal@.
Note : The SB·14 is powered by only an external
power supply.

7. Set the camera's shutter
speed for proper syn-
chronization.
Set the shutter speed dial to the prop-
er synchronization speed for elec-
tronic flash (e.g., set the F3 to the
"X" setting). For details, refer to the
chart on page 11.
8 Set the exposurecalcu-
-lator dial @ .
Turn the dial until the ASAIISO film
speed index @is opposite the number
for the speed of the film in use. The
three thick color-coded lines @
above the £lstop scale @indicate the
three usable f/stops for automatic
operation and the distance scales@
below
the usable £lstop scales give
you the range of flash-to-subject dis-
tance. For example , if you're using
ASAIISO 100 film, the usable £lstops
are f/4, below the orange line, £15.6,
below the yellow, and £18, below the
blue. The range of flash-to-subject
distance for each £lstop is 0.6m to
8m (2 to 26 ft.), 0.6m to 5.6m (2 to
18 ft.), and 0.6m to 4m (2 to 13 ft.),
respectively. (For more information
on selecting the flstop, refer to "Ex-
posure Calculator Dial" on page 12.)
7

- BASIC OPERATION-continued ---------......;
9. Set the lens' aperture ring
to an approprIate
f/
number.
In the example, £/4 is selected.
8
10. Set the shooting mode
selector Q) .
Turn the ring on the front of the sen-
sor unit until the white index is op-
posite the color corresponding to
that
of the £/stop selected . (Orange is
selected in this example). This sets
the flash unit for automatic operation.
11. Turn on the power
supply.

12. Watch the ready-light
@.
As soon- as the LED ready -light
comes on, the flash unit is ready to
fire.
13. Take the picture.
When the shutter is tripped, the flash
unit fires and the picture is taken.
Soon, the ready-light will light up to
tell you the flash unit is recycled and
ready to fire again.
14. Turn off the power
supply.
To conserve battery power between
shooting sessions, slide the power
switch
of the power supply to the
OFF position.
9

CONTROLS IN DETAIL - -------- --
Nik on FE / FM 2IFM
Motor Drive
MD - llIM D-12IMD- 14
Bracket SK-5@
Nik on F3/F3 Hi gh- Ey epoint/ FG I
EM /F2,
Mot or Drive MD-2IMD-3IM D-E ,
Co rdless Battery P ack MB -l IM B- 2
The Speedlight SB-l4's bracket can be attached to various
camera and / or motor drive combinations. To change the
attachment screw from one slot @ to another, slide it to
the threaded end of the slot and unscrew it ; then screw it
back into the threaded end of the other slot. Once
screwed in, the attachment screw can be moved freely
to any position
along the slot. The diagram indicates the
recommended position of the attachment screw for Nikon
SLR
cameras and motor drives.
10
Bracket Mounting Adapter ®
To detach the flash unit for off-camera flash operation,
push the releasellocking wheel @ to the left and while
holding it, tip the flash forward until the two white dots
are aligned; then pull the flash unit away from the bracket.
Note: To detach the bra c ket mounting adapter from the flash unit's
handl e @' use a standard screwdriver to loos en the two sc rews on the
fa ce of the adapter.