The Nikon Creative Lighting System (Cls) - Nikon D5100 Reference Manual

The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

Nikon's advanced Creative Lighting System (CLS) offers improved communication
between the camera and compatible flash units for improved flash photography.
CLS-Compatible Flash Units
The camera can be used with the following CLS-compatible flash units:
• The SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, and SB-R200:
Flash unit
Feature
ISO 100
Guide
3
No.
ISO 200
1 If a color filter is attached to the SB-900 when AUTO or N (flash) is selected for white balance, the
camera will automatically detect the filter and adjust white balance appropriately.
2 Controlled remotely using optional SB-900, SB-800, SB-700 flash unit or SU-800 wireless Speedlight
commander.
3 m/ft., 20 °C (68 °F), SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, and SB-600 at 35 mm zoom head position; SB-900 and
SB-700 with standard illumination.
• The SU-800 wireless speedlight commander: When mounted on a CLS-compatible
camera, the SU-800 can be used as a commander for remote SB-900, SB-800,
SB-700, SB-600, or SB-R200 flash units in up to three groups. The SU-800 itself is
not equipped with a flash.
A
Guide Number
To calculate the range of the flash at full power, divide the Guide Number by the aperture.
For example, at ISO 100 the SB-800 has a Guide Number of 38 m or 125 ft. (35 mm zoom head
position); its range at an aperture of f/5.6 is 38÷5.6 or about 6.8 meters (or in feet,
125÷5.6=approximately 23 ft. 7 in.). For each twofold increase in ISO sensitivity, multiply
the Guide Number by the square root of two (approximately 1.4).
1
SB-900 SB-800
34/111 38/125
48/157 53/174
SB-700 SB-600
28/92 30/98
39/128 42/138
2
SB-400 SB-R200
21/69 10/33
30/98 14/46
n
203