Nikon SB-5000 User manual

Fast Track To
Advanced Wireless Lighting
SB-5000 SPEEDLIGHT
©Dave Black

EXPANDING THE REACH OF
CREATIVE LIGHTING
Introducing Nikon’s new flagship Speedlight, a flash designed to empower the most
seasoned professionals and passionate enthusiasts. The SB-5000 AF Speedlight takes
Nikon’s acclaimed Creative Lighting System with Advanced Wireless Lighting to
the next level with both traditional optical wireless control and powerful new radio
control. Place up to six groups of remote flashes out of view, behind obstacles—
even in other rooms—up to 98 feet away. Designed for fast shooting at weddings,
commercial shoots or on the red carpet, the SB-5000 AF Speedlight also introduces
the world’s first hot-shoe mount flash cooling system* for more than 100 consecutive
shots at full output, all in a smaller design with streamlined operation. Whether
building a new lighting system or integrating with your existing system, the
SB-5000 AF Speedlight opens exciting new lighting possibilities.
Advanced Wireless Lighting
• With the SB-5000, wireless multiple flash-unit photography using optical control
(line-of-sight) or radio control is possible.
• With radio control, only D5 and D500 are compatible.
(See reference chart for complete compatibility).
• In optical (line of sight) wireless multiple flash-unit photography, the Speedlight
attached to a camera is the master flash unit. Other compatible Speedlights
function as remote flash units.
*As of July 31, 2016
CONTENTS
Advanced Wireless Lighting
Radio Control
5 Intro to Radio Control
6Linking & Pairing
8Setting Remote Flash
9Time Saving Tips
Advanced Wireless Lighting
Optical Control
10 Setting Master Flash Unit
Setting Remote Flash Unit
(Line-of-sight)
Advanced Wireless Lighting
Optical & Radio Control Concurrently
11 Using Optical Control and
Radio Control Concurrently
System Compatibility Chart
12-13
Glossary
14
SB-5000 is a high-performance Speedlight compatible with Nikon (FX/DX)
CLS (Creative Lighting System) cameras. For complete instructions to using the
SB-5000 Speedlight, please refer to the supplied User Manual.

5
SB-5000 Wireless Multiple Flash Unit Photography
Using Radio or Optical Control
D5 and D500: the Wireless Remote Controller WR-R10 and the WR-A10 adapter (both optional) are required for
wireless multiple flash-unit photography using radio control. For details, see the respective product user’s manuals.
For radio control, only the SB-5000 can be used as a remote flash unit.
• Up to 6 groups of remote flash units (A, B, C, D, E, F) can be set up, but only 2 groups of remote flash units (A, B)
can be set with quick wireless control.
• Single or multiple remote flash units can be allocated for each group.
• The master flash unit and each remote flash unit group can operate with a flash compensation value that is different to
the other flash units or groups. In group flash mode, they can also operate with different flash modes.
• SB-5000 can be used as a Master (Commander) or Remote unit for wireless optical control. For complete compatibility,
please refer to the SB–5000 user’s manual.
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Radio Control
Wireless Remote Adapter WR-A10
(optional, sold separately)
©Joe McNally
Wireless Remote Controller WR-R10
(optional, sold separately)

6 7
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Radio Control
Step 2 - Setting the Channel
Check the channel set on the WR-R10
For details about WR-R10 settings, see the WR-R10 user’s manual.
Choose [CHANNEL] from the wireless item menu.
Press the multi-selector to choose the same channel
as the WR-R10, and then press the OK button.
1
2
3
Pairing:
• Once the SB-5000 and the WR-R10 are paired, it is not necessary to pair them again.
• To use multiple SB-5000 units, each unit must be paired with the WR-R10.
• When another WR-R10 is attached to the camera, re-execute pairing with it.
• Pin Code Pairing: You can set a unique PIN code on each Speedlight.
See page D-14 of the SB-5000 User’s Guide for setting and using a PIN code.
Step 3 - Setting the Link Mode
Check the link mode set on the camera with the
WR-R10 attached
For details about how to check the link mode, see the camera user’s manual
Choose [LINK MODE ] from the wireless item menu.
Press the multi-selector to choose the same
link mode as the camera with the WR-R10
attached, and then press the OK button
1
2
3
Linking and Pairing
Radio Control
with D5 and D500
©Joe McNally
Step 4 - Setting the Link
When link mode is set to pairing
Choose [PAIR] from the wireless item menu
Check that [EXECUTE] is highlighted, and then press
the OK button while pressing the pairing button on
the WR-R10 attached to the camera.
• An execution indicator appears on the LCD and the LINK indicator
flashes slowly in green and orange while pairing.
• The LINK indicator flashes slowly in green if the device to be paired
cannot be found while pairing.
Check that Pairing has succeeded
• When pairing succeeds, a completion indicator appears on the LCD
and the LINK indicator lights up green.
• When pairing fails, an error indicator appears on the LCD and the
LINK indicator flashes slowly in orange. Check the channel and link
mode setting and try again.
• For details about WR-R10 settings, see the WR-R10 user’s manual.
• To complete set-up see next page.
1
2
3
Rim light
for vehicle
SB-5000 tucked
inside engine hood
One SB-5000 to
light inside engine
compartment
D5
SB-5000
in soft box
Bounce light
off reflector
One SB-5000
inside hanging shop light
over tool chest
WALL WITH WINDOWS TO UTILIZE EXISTING NATURAL LIGHT
Rim light for
back of vehicle
Rim light for
side of vehicle,
also defines
hanging shop light
Two SB-5000 placed low
lighting wall
SOLID WALL
Red Gel
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000 SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
Pairing succeeded Pairing failed
1. Photo shooting menu, select flash
control CMD.
2. Using the multi selector press
to the right, Wireless Flash Options.
3. Using the multi-selector press
to the right, select RADIO AWL.
Step 1 - Set Flash Control
for CMD Wireless Flash
Options Radio AWL
NOTE:
WR-R10 Firmware Upgrade Required for units purchased before March 22, 2016
For details on Firmware Updates go to: support.nikonusa.com

8 9
D500 User’s Manual:
1Go to MY MENU options (page 313) and add Flash Control from the Photo
Shooting menu (page 283) and move it to the top item in MY MENU.
2From the Controls menu located in the Custom Settings Menu (page 305): Choose
the roles assigned to camera controls, either alone or in combination with the
command dials.
3Select one of the following options: Preview Button or Fn1 or Fn2 Buttons.
From the options: Select “Access top menu item in MY MENU option”.
When using SB-5000 in its Radio Control mode — every time that you press the button assigned, the Flash Control Menu will appear,
making it quicker to select the flash options for each Speedlight.
D5 User’s Manual:
1Go to MY MENU options (page 314) and add Group Flash Options from Flash Control located in the Photo Shooting
menu (page 289) and move it to the top item in MY Menu.
2From the Controls menu located in the Custom Settings Menu: Choose the roles assigned to camera controls, either
alone or in combination with the command dials.
3Select the option of Preview Button or Fn1 or Fn2 From the options: Select Access top menu item in MY MENU option.
When using SB-5000 in its Radio Control mode — every time that you press the button assigned, the Flash Control
Menu will appear, making it quicker to select the flash options for each Speedlight.
One Button Access to the Flash Control Menus when using D5 or D500
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Radio Control
Time Saving Tips
©Joe McNally
Setting a Radio
Control Remote
Flash Unit
Step 1 - Remote Flash Unit Setting
Set the power switch to REMOTE
Press the multi-selector on the remote flash unit to highlight
the group, rotate the rotary multi-selector to choose
a group, and then press the ok button
• Alternatively, press the rotary multi selector to choose a group.
Press the rotary multi-selector to highlight the channel
rotate the rotary multi-selector to choose a channel, and then
press the OK button.
• Alternatively, press the multi-selector to choose a channel.
3
2
1
1
2
3
2
3
• Be sure to choose the same channel number as set on the WR-R10.
With radio control
• Be sure to choose the same channel number as set on the master flash unit.
With optical control
(3) SB-910’s
shoot through
umbrella
Three SC-29
cords linking
commander flash
to camera
Speedlights
on stage and
close to stage fired
line-of-sight
D500 with
16-80mm
zoom lens
(1/15th sec., f7.1, ISO 400)
Two
SB-910’s
bounce into
silver
reflector
Blue Gel
Blue Gel
Blue Gel
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000 SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-5000
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
SB-910
• Group name and channel
number being set appears larger.
1. Press the center multi-selector and highlight Flash control CMD
2. Press the multi-selector to Remote flash control and highlight GRP Group flash
3. Press the multi-selector and highlight Group flash options
4. Press the multi-selector to choose the Group that you set on the SB-5000 and choose the
Mode by highlighting the Mode option for the selected group and using the choose the
Group flash options.
Step 2 - Flash Control Menu Settings on the Camera
1

10 11
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Optical Control
Setting the Master Flash Unit: Optical Control
(Line-of-sight) with D5, D500, D4 series, D800 series, D750, D610, Df, D7200
Setting a Remote Flash Unit in an
Optical Control (Line-of-sight) Configuration
Remote Flash Unit Setting
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Optical & Radio Control Concurrently
Using Optical Control and Radio Control
Concurrently
The following combinations enable group flash using
optical control and radio control concurrently.
Master flash unit (Optical Control)
Speedlight models with the master flash function, such as SB-900 series, SB-800, SB-700 or the SU-800 Commander,
attached to a camera can be used as the master flash unit to control remote flash unit groups A, B and C.
Important NOTE:
The SB-5000 cannot be used as the master flash unit when using optical control and radio control concurrently
Remote flash unit groups A, B and C (Optical Control)
Up to 3 groups of remote flash units (A, B, C) can be set up for optical control.
Choose optical control remote mode when using the SB-5000 as remote flash unit in groups A, B and C.
SB-900 series, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-500 can be used as a optical remotes
Remote flash unit groups D, E and F (Radio Control)
Up to 3 groups of remote flash units (D, E, F) can be set up for radio control.
Camera with the WR-R10/WR-A10 attached controls the flash function.
Set the power switch to REMOTE
Press the wireless setting button to choose optical
(line-of-sight) control mode
Set the groups (A/B/C) by pressing the selector dial on the
bottom to highlight the Groups. Match the Groups with what
you have selected on the Master Speedlight
Set the channel (1-4) by pressing the selector dial on the
bottom to highlight the channels. Match the channel with what
you have selected on the Master Speedlight
1
Choose [CHANNEL] in menu
• Press the button to display menu
Use the rotary multi selector to choose
[CHANNEL], and then press the OK button.
Use the rotary multi selector to
choose a channel, and then
press the OK button
• Flash mode and flash compensation value
can also be configured in menu.
2
1
1
2
With optical control
Optical control remote mode
Direct remote mode
Radio control remote mode
Optical control
with Speedlight
other than the
SB-5000
Radio control
with camera
Master flash unit
(other than the SB-5000)
WR-R10 / WR-A10
attached to camera
Remote flash units
Remote flash units
Group A
Group D
Group B
Group E
Group C
Group F
Control type information
2
3
4
34

12 13
DSLR SB-5000 SB-910 SB-700 SB-500 SU-800 SB-R200 Camera’s
built-in flash
D5 Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Requires Optional WR-R10
+ WR-A10 for Radio Control
Remote Flash only
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only N/A
D4s
D4
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only N/A
D810
D810A, D800
D800E
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only Can be used as a
Commander or Master
during Optical
Wireless Control
D750 Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only Can be used as a
Commander or Master
during Optical
Wireless Control
D610
D600
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only Can be used as a
Commander or Master
during Optical
Wireless Control
D500 Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Requires Optional WR-R10
+ WR-A10 for Radio Control
Remote Flash only
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only N/A
D7200
D7000, D7100
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only Can be used as a
Commander or Master
during Optical
Wireless Control
D5500
D5000, D5100
D5200, D5300
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only N/A
D3400
D3000, D3100
D3200, D3300
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a
Commander, Master or
Remote during Optical
Wireless Control
Can be used as a Remote
during Optical
Wireless Control
Optical Commander Only Optical Remote Only N/A
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
System Compatibility

14 15
Ambient Light
The natural, available light in a scene.Also known as
existing light.
AF-Assist Illuminator
LED light on the camera that illuminates the subject,
making it possible to focus on the subject even in total
darkness.
Automatic Power Zoom
The zoom head is automatically adjusted according to the
focal length of the lens in use.
Backlighting
The light coming from behind the subject.
Bounce Lighting
Using the bounce feature on a Speedlight, light is
bounced off a ceiling or wall to soften or diffuse the
light’s intensity.
CLS
Creative Lighting System — Nikon’s Speedlight system.
Commander
Commander function: Controls remote flash units without
firing flash during exposure.
Feathering
Panning or tilting the light so that its dim edge is used to
light the subject.
Flash Output Level Compensation
Flash compensation used to increase or decrease the
output power of a Nikon Speedlight unit.
Fill-Flash
A technique to brighten dark shadow areas, often used
when the subject is located in the dark shadow.
Fill Light
A light that supplements the key light without changing
its character, used to lighten or open shadows within
a scene.
Front Lighting
Light coming from the direction of the camera toward
the subject.
FP Auto High-Speed Sync
Auto high-speed flash synchronization enables CLS-
compatible cameras and Speedlights to sync at the
camera’s highest possible shutter speed. This technique
minimizes depth of field and freezes high-speed subjects.
Flash Synchronization
A means by which a Speedlight is fired at precisely the
moment when the camera’s shutter is at its peak opening.
Also referred to as flash sync.
Front Curtain Sync
Also referred to as Normal sync, the flash fires
immediately after the front curtain opens completely.
FV Flash Value Lock
Locks in the appropriate flash exposure for the main
subject, which remains locked whether the aperture,
composition or lens zoom position is changed.
Guide Number (Flash)
Guide numbers proclaim the light output of electronic
flash units. The guide number divided by subject distance
represents the power of the Speedlight: usually in feet
or meters.
i-TTL Metering
Nikon’s Intelligent Through-The-Lens (TTL) flash metering
using monitor pre-flashes for unprecedented levels of
precision and performance.
Key Light
Also called “main” light, is the principal source of light on
a subject or a scene.
Master Speedlight Unit
Controls remote flash units while firing flash during
exposure.
Monitor Pre-Flash
A series of pre-flash firings detected by the camera’s TTL
multi-sensor, analyzed for brightness and contrast. Also
used to communicate output values to remote Speedlight
units in multiple wireless lighting.
Optical Control
Using pulsating beams of light (pre-flash) that travel in a
direct line-of-sight between a camera based transmitter
and flash based receiver.
Quick Wireless Mode
The flash output level ratios of two remote flash unit
groups (A and B) can be easily balanced in quick wireless
control mode.
Radio Control
Speedlight transmits data via radio frequency.
Rear Curtain Sync
The flash fires just before the rear (second) curtain starts
to close, for special effects photography where the blur
appears behind the subject.
Reflectors
Flat devices, typically white, silver or gold, that redirect
light to soften or fill in areas of a subject or scene.
Remote Speedlight Unit
A remote Speedlight’s flash fires only when triggered by a
master flash unit or a commander.
Repeating Flash
The Speedlight delivers a stroboscopic effect, firing the
flash continuously at selected rates.
Side Lighting
Light shining on the subject from the side relative to the
camera, often casting long shadows.
Slow Sync Flash
The flash is controlled at a slower shutter speed to obtain
the correct exposure for both the main subject and the
background in low light situations or at night.
TTL
Through the lens. Any metering system — ambient
exposure metering or flash metering — which works
through the lens.
ADVANCED WIRELESS LIGHTING
Glossary
©Joe McNally
©Dave Black
©Dave Black
To learn more about wireless flash and other great photo topics,
visit us at: online.nikonschool.com
©Dave Black

DSLR-FASTRK-34-10/16
Nikon Inc.
1300 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747-3064
www.nikonusa.com
SB-5000