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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-600, SB-400, and SB-R200:
• 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-600, or SB-R200 flash units.
The
SU-800 itself is not equipped with a flash.
Flash unit
SB-900
1
SB-800 SB-600 SB-400 SB-R200
2
Feature
Guide
No.
3
ISO 100 34/111 38/125 30/98 21/69 10/33
ISO 200 48/157 53/174 42/138 30/98 14/46
1 If a color filter is attached to the SB-900 when v or N (flash) is selected for
white balance, the camera will automatically detect the filter and adjust white
balance appropriately.
2 Controlled remotely with built-in flash in commander mode or using optional
SB-900 or SB-800 flash unit or SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander.
3 m/ft., 20 °C (68 °F), SB-900, SB-800, and SB-600 at 35 mm zoom head position;
SB-900 with standard illumination.
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. (35mm 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).