SB-400 SPEEDLIGHT - External Flash NIKON - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	External Flash
Brand	Nikon
Model	SB-400 Speedlight
Guide Number (ISO 100, m)	21
Guide Number (ISO 200, m)	30
Focal Coverage	18 mm (with built-in diffuser) to 85 mm
Head Tilt	0° to 90° (bounce), no rotation
Flash Modes	i-TTL, Manual
Power Source	2 AA (LR6) alkaline or Ni-MH batteries
Dimensions (W x H x D)	66.5 x 89.5 x 93.0 mm
Weight (without batteries)	Approx. 255 g
Recycling Time	Approx. 3.5 s with alkaline batteries
Number of Flashes	Approx. 210 with alkaline batteries
Compatibility	Nikon digital SLR cameras with hot shoe (i-TTL)
Wide-angle Diffuser	Built-in, retractable
Key Functions	i-TTL flash, tilt for bounce, built-in diffuser
Maintenance	Clean with a soft, dry cloth
Safety	Do not expose to water, use recommended batteries, remove batteries if not in use for extended periods
Replacement Parts	Built-in wide-angle diffuser, protection cap, flash foot
Repairability	Nikon after-sales service, no user-serviceable parts
Included Accessories	Built-in wide-angle diffuser, contact cap, case (optional)

Frequently Asked Questions - SB-400 SPEEDLIGHT NIKON

How can I use the SB-400 for bounce flash?

Tilt the flash head upward (up to 90°) to direct light toward the ceiling or a wall. Use the built-in wide-angle diffuser if needed for wider coverage.

What types of batteries should I use with the SB-400?

Use two AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries. Ni-MH batteries are recommended for faster recycling and longer battery life.

Is the SB-400 compatible with all Nikon cameras?

It is compatible with Nikon digital SLR cameras with a hot shoe and supporting the i-TTL system (starting from models D40, D50, D70s, etc.). Check compatibility in your camera's manual.

How do I activate manual mode on the SB-400?

The SB-400 does not have a mode selector. It operates automatically in i-TTL. For manual control, use camera settings or an external adapter.

What is the maximum range of the SB-400?

With a guide number of 21 (ISO 100, m), effective range depends on aperture and sensitivity. For example, at f/2.8 and ISO 100, the range is about 7.5 m.

Can I use the SB-400 in wireless mode (commander/remote)?

No, the SB-400 does not support wireless mode. It works only as a flash on the camera hot shoe.

How do I clean the SB-400?

Gently wipe the body with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use solvents or chemicals. Protect the electrical contacts from dust.

What if the flash does not fire?

Check that batteries are inserted correctly and sufficiently charged. Ensure the camera hot shoe is clean and the flash is securely attached. Consult the manual for status indicators.

Is the SB-400 suitable for macro photography?

For macro, the SB-400 can be used with a diffuser or reflector, but it is not ideal due to its limited power. Dedicated lighting (such as the R1C1 kit) is preferable.

What accessories are available for the SB-400?

Nikon offers an optional case (model no. 4802) and a built-in wide-angle diffuser. No specific filters or adapters are available.

USER MANUAL SB-400 SPEEDLIGHT NIKON

Getting More From Your Nikon Digital SLR.

Capture NX

Fast forward to a new generation of image editing

Go to the next generation of high-quality image editing and processing to supercharge your workflow. Advanced Nikon Capture 4 plus exclusive patented U Point™ technology, by Nik Software, delivers easier access to the results of your imagination.

The new Capture NX software releases not only the newest powers of Nikon's Electronic Format (NEF) files; for the first time, it makes JPEG and TIFF processing and editing elegant and easy enough for any photographer to implement, with no need for complicated procedures. Its new interface provides access to powerful and visually intuitive enhancement tools you need, so it's easier to explore, with more visual potential. With Capture NX to realize your imagination, the possibilities are endless!

U Point™ Technology

Simply select a control point and adjust its slider until you see the image as you like it. It's a highly visual, intuitive technique.

Color Control Points

Color Control Points let you directly select and isolate an entire image or an area within it for enhancement quickly. Within moments, you can choose and use any Color Control Point to modify any aspect of a selected area including: Size, Hue, Brightness, Saturation, Contrast, Red, Green, Blue and Warmth.

Show Selection for Accurate Control

Use the "show selection" feature for each Color Control Point to see which area of the image is affected by the Color Control Point. This process reverses the image into a black and white view and clearly shows the image areas under adjustment.

Black, White, Neutral Control Points

Black, White and Neutral Control Points can be used to set the dynamic range and correct color casts in your images. Neutral Control Points can also be used to set color balance in an image. This is useful for removing color casts and toning, even without a neutral object in the scene.

Red-Eye Reduction

Thanks to U Point™ technology, red-eye can be easily removed. Just place a Red-Eye Reduction Control Point on each of the offending eyes, and away it goes! With just a few slider adjustments, you can use a color Control Point to make blue (or any other eye color) eyes brighter, darker or more radiant.

Speedlights

If your Nikon digital SLR adopts Nikon's exclusive i-TTL flash control of the Nikon Creative Lighting System, you can attach SB-800/SU-800 and control up to 3 wireless remote groups, with each group consisting of any number of SB-800, SB-600, or SB-R200 Speedlight units.

Wireless multiple flash photography with Nikon's Creative Lighting System helps create more natural-looking pictures by using several flash units to emphasize the subject or eliminate shadows.

M:Master
A:Remote
B:Remote
C:Remote

Speedlight SB-800

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 70.5 x 129.5 x 93.0mm Weight (without batteries): Approx. 350g

• Guide Number of 53 [ISO200, m] (at 35mm position)
• Master commander function
• Tilting/rotating flash head for bounce effect
• Repeating Flash

Speedlight SB-600

Dimensions (W x H x D): Approx. 68.0 x 123.5 x 90.0mm
Weight (without batteries): Approx. 300g

• Guide Number of 42 [ISO200, m] (at 35mm position)
• Tilting/rotating flash head for bounce effect
• Simple operation

Wireless Remote Speedlight SB-R200 Wireless Speedlight Commander SU-800

SB-R200

The easiest wireless remote unit

Dimensions (W× H× D) :Approx. 80× 75× 55mm
Weight (without batteries): Approx. 120g

SU-800

Commander unit for Nikon Advanced Wireless Lighting

Controls up to 3 groups of Speedlight units
- Compatible with SB-R200, SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights
Simple operation

Dimensions (W× H× D) :Approx. 68× 96× 58mm
Weight (without batteries): Approx. 160g
Shot with multiple flash units

Nikon Close-up Speedlight Commander Kit R1C1

Shot with Nikon Close-up Speedlight Commander Kit R1C1

The basics for choosing a lens

Picture angle and focal length

1. Picture angle

12mm

18mm

24mm

55mm

70mm

120mm

200mm

300mm

400mm

Picture angle — the image area seen through the lens — is determined by the focal length. A lens with a shorter focal length provides a wide-angle picture and broader images, while a longer focal length (i.e. telephoto lens) results in a narrower picture angle and larger image.

Note: When the lens is attached to a digital camera, the picture angle is equivalent to that of a 35mm film-based camera lens with approximately 1.5x focal length.

2. Perspective

18mm

55mm

200mm

Perspective refers to the relationship between size and depth of subjects in a picture. A wide-angle lens emphasizes foreground objects by making them appear further away from the background. A telephoto lens compresses the foreground and background, deemphasizing their difference in size and relative distance.

Depth of field

The area of a photograph in which subjects in front of and behind the main subject appear sharply focused is known as the depth of field. The depth of field corresponds to the lens aperture in use. A smaller aperture (larger f-number) creates a greater depth of field, increasing the area in focus. The focal length of a lens also has an effect; as the focal length increases, depth of field decreases.

Great depth of field (f/16)

Shallow depth of field (f/2.8)

Brightness of a lens (f-number)

An f-number — marked, for example, as f/2.8, F2.8 or 1:2.8 — indicates how much light a lens allows through its aperture. A small f-number corresponds to a large aperture, meaning it allows more light through and can be used with faster shutter speeds.

VR II

High-power zoom with VR system

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED (11.1x)

DX ED ASPD SMIFSCVR

• Improved VR II minimizes image blur caused by camera shake
  -11.1x zoom covers most shooting situations

Dimensions: Approx. 77 × 96.5 ~mm , Weight: 560g

VR II

Micro Nikkor for dramatic close-ups

AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

ED D SW IF N SK VR

• Improved VR II minimizes image blur caused by camera shake
• Lets you shoot as close as 31.4cm

Dimensions: Approx. 83 × 116mm , Weight: 790g

Supertelephoto zoom with VR system

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED (4.3x)

ED D SW IF SC VR

• Improved VR II minimizes image blur caused by camera shake
• SWM for fast and accurate autofocusing

Dimensions: Approx. 80 × 143.5mm , Weight: 745g

High-speed telephoto zoom lens with VR system

AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED (2.8x)

CD D SWI IF SC VR

• VR minimizes image blur caused by camera shake
• SWM for fast and accurate autofocusing

Dimensions: Approx. 87 × 215mm , Weight: 1,470g

Supertelephoto zoom with VR system

AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED (5.0x)

ED DSKV

• VR enables handheld supertelephoto shooting
  Useful for candid shots

Dimensions: Approx. 91 × 171mm , Weight: 1,360g

Fisheye lens to give you unique perspective

AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

Dx ED D SC

• Reproduces distorted images with exaggerated perspective
• 180^ picture angle captures everything in front of you.

Dimensions: Approx. 63 × 62.5mm , Weight: 305g

Ultra-wideangle zoom to capture great landscapes

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED (2.0x)

DX ED AST DF SWM SC

• Frame great panoramas
  -Useful for shooting group shots in confined spaces

Dimensions: Approx. 82.5 × 90mm , Weight: 465g

Portable telephoto zoom to bring your subjects closer

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED (3.6x)

DX ED D SWI SC

• Great companion for your AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
• Compact and lightweight

Dimensions: Approx. 68 × 79mm , Weight: 255g

Supertelephoto for creative opportunities

AF-S Nikkor 300mm
f/4D IF-ED + TC-14E II

ED SM IF SK

• SWM for fast and accurate autofocusing
• You can easily capture supertelephoto (420mm) images with the TC-14E II

Dimensions: Approx. 90 × 222.5mm , Weight: 1,440g

Single-focal, portrait lenses

Standard zoom lens

Portable standard lens — great for portraits

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

D S

• Bright standard lens for professional-looking portraits
• Ultracompact and lightweight Dimensions: Approx. 63.5 × 39mm , Weight: 155g

Portable medium telephoto — for intimate portraits

AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

D S

High-speed telephoto for professional-looking portraits
- Compact and lightweight Dimensions: Approx. 71.5 x 58.5mm, Weight: 380g

Compact, high-power standard zoom

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED (7.5x)

DX ED AST SM IF SK

-7.5x zoom for use in a variety of situations
- Compact and lightweight design Dimensions: Approx. 73.5 x 86.5mm Weight: Approx. 385g

Features

Dx Specifically developed for use with sophisticated Nikon digital SLR cameras.
Employs an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element, which minimizes chromatic aberration and offers superior color and image sharpness.
ASP Employs an aspherical lens, which corrects image distortion in wide-angle lenses.
D Distance information. Relays subject-to-camera distance information to the camera and enables Nikon's advanced metering and flash control.

SWI Silent Wave Motor for ultra-quiet and ultra-fast focusing.

Internal Focusing (IF) design* prevents lens front rotation, thus enables use of circular polarizing filters
Nano Crystal Coat employs multiple layers of Nikon's outstanding extra-low refractive index coating, which features ultra-fine crystallized particles of nano.
SK Features Nikon Super Integrated Coating to minimize ghost and flare.
Equipped with Nikon's innovative Vibration Reduction system to minimize image blur caused by camera shake.

To learn more about Nikkors, please visit http://nikonimaging.com/global/technology/nikkor/

To learn more about Speedlights, please visit http://nikonimaging.com/global/technology/speedlight/

Products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Images on LCDs and monitors shown in this brochure are simulated.

Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. August 2006

© 2006 NIKON CORPORATION

WARNING

TO ENSURE CORRECT USAGE, READ MANUALS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING YOUR EQUIPMENT.