Nikon SB-910 User manual

User’s Manual
Autofocus Speedlight
En
En

A
Preparation
A–2
About the SB-910 and This User’s Manual
Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Speedlight SB-910. To get the most out of your
Speedlight, please read this user’s manual thoroughly before use. Keep this manual
handy for quick reference.
How to find what you are looking for
iTable of contents (0A-11)
You can search by item, such as operation method, flash mode or function.
iQ&A index (0A-9)
You can search according to objective without knowing the specific name or term
of an item.
iIndex (0H-22)
You can search using the alphabetical index.
iTroubleshooting (0H-1)
This is handy when there is a problem with your Speedlight.
For your safety
Before using the Speedlight for the first time, read the safety instructions in “For
Your Safety” (0A-14 – A-18).

A–3
A
Preparation
Included items
Check that all items listed below are included with the SB-910. If any items
are missing, inform the store where the SB-910 was purchased or the seller
immediately.
❑Speedlight Stand AS-21 ❑Soft Case SS-910
❑Nikon Diffusion Dome SW-13H ❑User’s manual (this manual)
❑Fluorescent Filter SZ-2FL ❑A collection of example photos
❑Incandescent Filter SZ-2TN ❑Warranty card
Soft Case SS-910
SB-910
Speedlight Stand
AS-21
Fluorescent Filter SZ-2FL
Incandescent Filter SZ-2TN
Nikon Diffusion
Dome SW-13H

A
Preparation
A–4
About the SB-910 and This User’s Manual
About the SB-910
The SB-910 is a high-performance Speedlight compatible with Nikon Creative
Lighting System (CLS) with a guide number of 34/48 (ISO 100/200, m)
(111.5/157.5, ft) (at the 35 mm zoom head position in Nikon FX format with
standard illumination pattern, 20 °C/68 °F).
CLS-compatible cameras
Nikon digital SLR (Nikon FX/DX format) cameras (except D1 series,
D100), F6, COOLPIX cameras (P7100, P7000, P6000)
About this user’s manual
This manual has been compiled with the assumption that the SB-910 will be used in
combination with a camera compatible with CLS and a CPU lens (0A-5). To get the
most out of your Speedlight, please read this user’s manual thoroughly before use.
For use with non-CLS-compatible SLR cameras, see “For Use with Non-CLS-•
compatible SLR Cameras.” (0F-1)
For use with i-TTL-compatible COOLPIX cameras (P5100, P5000, E8800, E8400),•
see “For Use with COOLPIX Cameras.” (0G-1)
The separate “A collection of example photos” provides an overview of the•
SB-910’s flash photography capabilities with example photos.
For camera functions and settings, see the camera user’s manual.•
Icons used in this manual
vDescribes a point to which you should pay particular attention in order to
avoid Speedlight malfunctions or mistakes.
tIncludes information or tips to make Speedlight use easier.
0Reference to other pages in this manual

A–5
A
Preparation
tTips on identifying CPU NIKKOR lenses
CPU lenses have CPU contacts.
The SB-910 cannot be used with IX-Nikkor lenses.•
CPU contacts

A
Preparation
A–6
About the SB-910 and This User’s Manual
Terminology
■Default settings
Function and mode settings at the time of purchase
■Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
A lighting system that enables various flash photography functions with improved
communication between Nikon Speedlights and cameras
Illumination patterns■
Control types of light falloff at edges; the SB-910 provides three illumination
patterns, standard, even and center-weighted.
■FX format/DX format
Nikon digital SLR camera image area types (FX format: 36 × 24, DX format:
24 × 16)
Guide number (GN)■
The amount of light generated by a flash unit; GN = flash-to-subject distance
(m or ft) × aperture f-number (ISO 100)
Zoom head position■
Position of a Speedlight zoom head; the angle of coverage changes as the zoom
head position changes.
■Effective flash output distance
Flash-to-subject distance with correctly adjusted flash output
■Effective flash output distance range
Range of effective flash output distance
Flash compensation■
Intentional flash output change to obtain the desired subject brightness

A–7
A
Preparation
i-TTL mode■
Flash mode in which the Speedlight fires monitor pre-flashes and the camera
measures the reflected light and controls the Speedlight flash output
Monitor pre-flashes
Scarcely visible flashes emitted before actual firing that enable the camera to
measure the light reflected on a subject
i-TTL balanced fill-flash
i-TTL mode type in which flash output level is adjusted to well-balanced
exposure of the main subject and background
Standard i-TTL
i-TTL mode type in which flash output level is adjusted to the correct exposure
of the main subject regardless of background brightness
Auto aperture flash mode■
Non-TTL auto flash mode with aperture priority; the Speedlight measures the
reflected flash and controls the flash output according to the reflected flash data
and the lens and camera information
Non-TTL auto flash mode■
Auto flash mode without TTL; the Speedlight measures the reflected flash and
controls the flash output according to the reflected flash data
Distance-priority manual flash mode■
Manual flash mode with distance priority; the flash-to-subject distance is set and
the Speedlight flash output level is adjusted in accordance with the camera settings.
Manual flash mode■
Flash mode in which the flash output level and aperture are manually set to obtain
the desired exposure
Repeating flash mode■
Flash mode in which the Speedlight fires repeatedly during a single exposure to
create stroboscopic multiple effects

A
Preparation
A–8
About the SB-910 and This User’s Manual
Step■
A unit of the shutter speed or aperture change; a change of one step halves/
doubles the amount of light entering the camera
■EV (Exposure Value)
Each increment of 1 in exposure value corresponds to a one-step change in
exposure, which is made by halving/doubling shutter speed or aperture
Wireless multiple flash-unit photography■
Flash photography with multiple wireless flash units simultaneously firing
Master flash unit
The flash unit that commands remote flash units in multiple flash-unit
photography
Remote flash unit
A flash unit that fires following commands from the master flash unit
Advanced Wireless Lighting
Wireless multiple flash-unit photography with CLS; multiple remote flash unit
groups can be controlled with the master flash unit.
SU-4 type wireless multiple flash-unit photography
Wireless multiple flash-unit photography suited to taking picture of a fast-
moving subject; the master and remote flash units fire almost simultaneously
because the master flash unit does not emit monitor pre-flashes.

A–9
A
Q&A Index
You can search for specific explanations according to objective.
Flash photography 1 (with SB-910 mounted on camera)
Question Key phrase 0
Which flash mode can I take pictures with? Flash modes C-1
How can I take pictures in the simplest way? Basic operation B-6
How can I take formal group shots? Illumination pattern: Even E-2
How can I take portrait photos emphasizing the
main subject?
Illumination pattern: Center-
weighted E-2
How can I take pictures with soft shadows cast on
a wall? Bounce flash operation E-4
How can I confirm lighting conditions? Modeling illumination E-21
How can I take brighter (or darker) pictures of the
subject? Flash compensation E-17
How can I take pictures under fluorescent light and
incandescent light and balance the lights’ color
effects?
Color compensation filters E-12
How can I take pictures adding specific color to the
light of Speedlight? Color filters E-12
How can I use autofocus in dim lighting? AF-assist illumination E-19
How can I take pictures of both the subject and
background at night? Slow sync E-25
How can I take pictures without the subject’s eyes
appearing red? Red-eye reduction E-25
How can I take pictures of a moving subject with
stroboscopic multiple-exposure effects? Repeating flash mode C-18
How can I use the SB-910 with a non-CLS-
compatible SLR camera?
Non-CLS-compatible SLR
camera F-1
How can I use the SB-910 with a COOLPIX camera? COOLPIX camera G-1
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

A
Preparation
A–10
Q&A Index
Flash photography 2 (with wireless SB-910)
Question Key phrase 0
How do I take pictures using multiple flash units? Advanced Wireless Lighting D-1
How do I take pictures of a fast-moving subject
using wireless multiple flash-unit photography?
SU-4 type wireless multiple
flash-unit photography D-12
How do I take pictures with the SB-910 and a
COOLPIX camera compatible with wireless multiple
flash-unit photography?
CLS-compatible COOLPIX
camera G-1
Settings and operations
Question Key phrase 0
What kind of batteries do I use in the Speedlight? Compatible battery B-7
How long is the recycling time and how many flashes
are possible with each fresh set of batteries?
Min. number of flashes/
recycling time for each battery
type
H-21
How can I change the settings of functions? Custom settings B-13
How can I reset various settings? Two-button reset B-12
How can I lock the dial and buttons of the
Speedlight to prevent accidental use? Key lock B-4
How can I update the Speedlight firmware? Firmware update H-9