The Nikon Creative Lighting System (Cls) - Nikon D5100 User 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 SB-900
34/111
ISO 100
Guide
3
No.
ISO 200 48/157
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-800 SB-700
38/125 28/92
53/174 39/128
SB-600 SB-400
30/98 21/69
42/138 30/98
2
SB-R200
10/33
14/46
n
203