Nikon D3100 - The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

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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:
• 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-600, or SB-R200 flash units in up to three groups.
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 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 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. (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).