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SB-80DX En
Autofocus Speedlight
SB-80DX
Instruction Manual En
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Foreword Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Speedlight SB-80DX. To get the most out of your Speedlight, please read this instruction manual thoroughly before use. n (p. xx) indicates the reference page. Main features and functions of the SB-80DX • The SB-80DX is a high-performance Speedlight having a guide number of 38/125 (at the 35mm zoom-head position, ISO 100, m/ft., 20°C/68°F). According to the camera/lens combination used with the SB-80DX, you can perform various types of TTL auto flash (p
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Tips on using the Speedlight Take trial shots Take trial shots before shooting at important occasions like weddings or graduations. Have Nikon spot-check your Speedlight regularly Nikon recommends that you have your Speedlight serviced by an authorized dealer or service center at least once every two years. Using your Speedlight correctly The Nikon Speedlight SB-80DX’s performance has been optimized for use with Nikon brand cameras/accessories including lenses. Camera/accessories made by other m
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Camera groups and available flash modes In this manual, Nikon SLR cameras are divided into eight groups (I to VII, and Digital SLRs) unless otherwise noted. First consult the camera group table to see which group your camera belongs to. Then as you read the manual, you will find specific information on how to use the SB-80DX with your particular camera. TTL auto flash (p. 35) 3D Multi- Center- Matrix Group Camera name Multi-Sensor Sensor Weighted Standard Balanced Balanced Balanced Fill-Flash/Sp
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∗3 D-TTL auto flash (p. 35) Manual mode Auto 3D Non-TTL Multi-Sensor Center- Standard Aperture FP Multi-Sensor Manual Repeating Auto Flash Group Balanced Weighted TTL flash Flash High-Speed Balanced Flash Flash (p. 40) Fill-Flash for Fill-Flash for for (p. 42) Flash sync Fill-Flash for (p. 46) (p. 48) Digital SLRs Digital SLRs Digital SLRs (p. 51) Digital SLRs ∗6 – ––– – I – ––– – – II – ––– – – III – ––– – – IV – ––– – – V ∗5 – ––– – – VI – ––– – – VII Digit
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Contents Preparation Foreword........................................................................2 Tips on using the Speedlight .........................................3 Camera groups and available flash modes ...................4 Speedlight parts.............................................................8 LCD panel....................................................................10 Control buttons ...........................................................11 Custom settings............
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Advanced operation Preparation Exposure compensation and flash output This section provides preliminary information on level compensation...................................................56 using the SB-80DX. The flash shooting distance range with zoom lenses having a variable aperture ..............................59 Slow-sync flash mode/Red-eye reduction control........60 Basic operation Rear-curtain sync and Modeling illumination ..............61 Basic procedures to take Autofocus flash o
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Speedlight parts 5 1 6 2 7 8 9 10 3 11 12 4 13 14 1 Control button quick reference (p. 12) 8 AF-assist illuminator (p. 62) Easy reference chart for two-button operations Automatically turns on for autofocus and custom settings operation when the light is dim. 2Flash head (p. 68) 9 External power source Can be tilted up to 90° or down to –7°, and terminal (p. 94) rotated horizontally 180° to the left and 90° to Allows connection of a power cord to the the right. SB-80DX’s external power source
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15 16 17 21 18 19 22 20 23 24 15 Flash head tilting angle scale (p. 68) 21 LCD panel (p. 10) 16 Modeling illuminator button (p. 61) 22 Control buttons (p. 11) Press to fire flash repeatedly to check the 23 Ready-light illumination and the shadows cast on the Lights up when the SB-80DX is fully subject before taking pictures. recycled and ready to fire. Blinks after the Wireless slave flash cancel SB-80DX fires at its maximum output in button (p. 85) various auto flash modes, indicating that
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LCD panel For reference, all indications are displayed in the illustration. 1 9 2 10 3 11 12 13 14 4 15 16 5 17 6 18 7 8 1 Flash mode (pp. 34-51) 3 Red-eye reduction (p. 60) 4 Sound monitor (p. 89) DE Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash with TTL Multi Sensor 5 Wireless flash (p. 84) CDE Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash with TTL 6 Zoom-head position (p. 24) Multi Sensor for Digital SLRs 7 Underbar (p. 21) DF Matrix Balanced Fill-Flash, Center-Weighted 8 Aperture (p. 40) Fill-Flash/Spot Fill-Flash 9 Flas
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Control buttons 4 1 5 6 2 3 1 h button 4 e button/f button Press to test fire the flash (p. 18). Press to increase or decrease values. 2 a button 5 c button (wide)/ Press to set the flash mode (p. 28). d button (tele) Press to change the zoom-head 3 g button position (p. 24). • Press to select these functions: Flash output level compensation, 6 b button aperture, number of repeating Press for approx. 0.5 sec. to turn flashes per frame, frequency, and the power on and off. flash output level. T
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Custom settings The SB-80DX can easily set, activate, or cancel various operations using the Custom settings function as shown below. Item Setting (Bold: default) 1 Wireless flash mode* (p. 84) OFF (canceled) ON (activated) 2 Sound monitor* in the wireless L (sound on) M (sound off) flash mode (p. 89) AF-assist illuminator (p. 62) AF ILL (activated) NO AF ILL (canceled) 40 (sec.) 80 (sec.) 160 (sec.) 300 (sec.) Standby function (p. 19) AUTO (the SB-80DX turns off - - - - (The standby when the
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lSetting the LCD panel illuminator using Custom settings Press the g button for approx. 2 sec. to display the Custom settings mode. 1 Press the e or f button to choose the Q LCD panel illuminator setting. 2 Press the c or d button to turn the LCD panel illuminator on or off. 3 ON (turn on) OFF (turn off) To get out of the custom settings mode, press the g button for approx. 2 sec. 4 or press the b button. nEven if the LCD panel illuminator is set to OFF, the SB-80DX’s LCD panel illuminator turn
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Lenses In this manual, Nikkor lenses are divided into two types: CPU Nikkor lenses and non-CPU Nikkor lenses. G-type Nikkor‚ D-type Nikkor‚ Non-G/D-type AF Nikkor CPU Nikkor lenses (except for AF Nikkor for the F3AF)‚ AI-P Nikkor Non-CPU Nikkor lenses AI-S Nikkor, AI Nikkor‚ Series E CPU lenses CPU lenses have CPU contacts. G-type Nikkor lenses G-type Nikkor lenses send distance information to the camera body, but do not have an aperture ring. Therefore, set the aperture on the camera body. Wi
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Basic operation Basic operation In this section, basic procedures are clearly illustrated so that you can easily perform flash photography in the TTL/ D-TTL auto flash mode. For more details on other flash modes, refer to “Detailed operation” (p. 33).
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1 Installing batteries Open the battery chamber lid as indicated 1 by the arrows. Install the batteries following the i and 2 j marks as shown. Then close the battery chamber lid by sliding it into place while pressing down. lUsable batteries m Install four AA-type penlight batteries (1.5V or lower) of any of these types: (1) Alkaline-manganese (1.5V) (2) Lithium (1.5V) (3) NiCd (rechargeable, 1.2V) (4) Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) (rechargeable, 1.2V) n When replacing batteries, use fresh batte
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Minimum number of flashes and recycling times m When using four fresh batteries of the same type, after the Speedlight fires at M1/1 output. Batteries Min. recycling time Min. number of flashes/ (approx.) recycling time Alkaline-manganese 6.0 sec. 150 / 6 – 30 sec. Lithium 7.5 sec. 190 / 7.5 – 30 sec. NiCd (1000 mAh) 4.0 sec. 90 / 4 – 30 sec. Ni-MH (1600 mA) 4.0 sec. 110 / 4 –30 sec. nMinimum recycling time is for operation using fresh batteries. nThe data was measured without using AF-assist
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2 Test firing (confirming exposure) Press the b button for approx. 0.5 1 sec. to turn on the SB-80DX. Make sure the ready-light comes on. Press the h button to test fire the 2 flash. lTest firing CAUTION! When test firing the Speedlight, never position your eyes close to the flash head. m The SB-80DX fires at specified output in the Manual flash mode or at approx. 1/16 output in the TTL/D-TTL auto flash mode. m In the Non-TTL auto flash/Auto Aperture flash modes, the SB-80DX fires at a flash ou
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lStandby function to conserve battery power m If the SB-80DX and the camera are not used for approx. 40 seconds, the standby function activates and automatically turns the SB-80DX off to conserve battery power (standby-off state). nOnly the R indicator appears on the LCD panel in the standby-off state. nThe SB-80DX in the standby-off state returns to on again when the SB-80DX’s b or h button is pressed, or the shutter release button is lightly pressed (when using a camera body that is compatibl
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3 Attach the SB-80DX to the camera and Make sure the SB-80DX and the camera 1 body are turned off. Rotate the mounting foot lock lever to the 2 left, slide the SB-80DX’s mounting foot into the camera’s accessory shoe and turn the lock lever to the right. Hold down the flash head tilting/rotating 3 lock release button to adjust the flash head to the horizontal/front position. lTurn the mounting foot lock lever securely until it stops. m To lock the Speedlight in place, turn the lock lever appro
