Flashes & lighting
Nikon Speedlight SB-20 User manual
User manual for Nikon Speedlight SB-20. 56 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model / document
- Nikon Speedlight SB-20
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 56
- File size
- 3.2 MB
- Category
- Flashes & lighting
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
F 0 R E W 0 R 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SYNCHRO.SUNLIGHTFILL.IN
N o M E N C L A T U R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - 6 FLASHPHOTOGRAPHY...... ..... 36-38
BAS|C0PERAT!0N... ........7-13 lnTTLMode .. ......37
lnstallingBatteries ..... 7 l nA M o d e . . . . . . 3 7
AttachingFlashUnitto CameraAccessoryShoe...... 8 In M Mode ..... 38
AdjustingFlashHead ...........9 DIFFUSINGTHELIGHT ...,. 39-41
ProgrammedTTLAutoFlashShooting BounceFlashPhotographyProcedure............40-41
(withNikonF-501/N2020or F-301/N2000)... 10-11 UsingA Diffuser .......41
FlashShooting... .......1213 SYNCHRONIZATIONWITHMOTOR-DRIVEN
AUTOFOCUSFLASHPHOTOGRAPHY C A M E R A , . , , , . . 4 2
(withNikonF-501/N2020cameraonly)..........14-16 MULTIPLEFLASHEXPOSURES .,,,,,..42
SETTINGCAMERASHUTTERSPEED .,....,...17 MULTIPLEFLASHPHOTOGRAPHY...... .. 43.46
DETERMININGAPERTURE . 18-32 TTLMultipleFlashPhotography.. ........ 43-45
TTLModE ManualMultipleFlashPhotography... ....... 46
(forTTLAutomaticFlashExposureControl).... 18-22 AV0IDING"REDEYE" ..........46
A Mode(torNon-TTLAutomaticFlash CLOSE.UPFLASHPHOTOGRAPHYIN TTLMODE.... 47
ExposureControl) ........ 23-27 TIPSONSPEEDLIGHTCARE. ...... 48-49
M Mode(forManualFlashExposureControl)... 28-31 ABOUTBATTERIES ..... 50
G u i dNeu m b .e. t. . . . . .. . . . . . . . .3 2 A C C E S S 0 R | E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. 1 - 5 2
SETTINGPOWERSWITCH ..... 33 SyncCordsSC-1landSC-15. ........51
STBY(STANDBY)Position .... 33 TTLRemoteCordSC-17 ...... 51
0N Position .... 33 TTLMulti-FlashAdapterAS-10. ...... 51
OFFPosition ........... 33 TTLMulti-FlashSyncCordsSC-18andSC-19...... 52
READY.LIGHTINDICATIONS ....... 34-35 FlashUnitCouplersAS-4andAS-7.. ,.......52
Ready-LightWarningFunctions ...... 35 DCUnitSD-7. . ........52
SPEC|F|CATT0NS.... .......53-55
www.orphancameras.com2View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
FOREWORD Thankyou for your kindpatronageof Nikon.We hopethe NikonAuto- focusSpeedlightSB-20will makephotographya much biggerpart of yourlife.Get to knowyour SB-20,but beforeusingit, be sureto read bothyourcamerainstructionmanualandthismanual. Nikoncannotbe held responsiblefor malfunctionresultingfrom use of the SB-20otherthan as specifiedin this manual,or from use of the SB-20with a cameramadebv a manufacturerotherthan Nikon.View original page 4
Page 6 · Read text
Reflector slot
For bounceflash(see page 41).
Synclmultiple llash terminal
For(1) off-cameraoperationwith
a synccord and (2) mullipleflash
photographyin manualflash
operalion(page46)
External power source terminal
Acceptspowercord f rom NikonDC UnitSD-7.
Before using the SB-20,
peel off the protective
paper covering the panel.View original page 6Page 8 · Read text
BASIGOPERATIO]I
InstallingBatteries
1.Removebattery chamber )_Load-' four1.5VAA-type ?-' To reattachbattery cover. penlightalkaline- chamberooYer,align lront
manganesebatteriesor 1.2V edgeof the coverwith
NiCdbatteriesinto the batterycovsr indexon the
batterychamber. flash unit,then pushcoYer
For battery information,see page down and slideas far as it
50. goes.View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
AttachingFlashUnit to CameraAccessoryShoe
4_ Tumthe mountingfoot f,,-' Slidemountingloot $. Tightenlock nut firmly. " lock nut clockwiseas far forvard into tli'e camera's
as it goes. accessoryshoe as far as it
goes.
a t - - r - r r r r - r r r r l r r l ,
I With Nikon F3-seriescameraswith DE-2or I
I Og-glinder: AttachFlashUnitCouplerAS-4or I
I nS-z to camera's accessory shoe before I
I mounting the SB-20. The SB-20 cannot be I
1 mountedon F3-seriescamera with the other I
finders.t ,
i r r - r r r r r r - r r - r - - O
www.orphancameras.comView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
AdjustingFlashHead
/-- - Make sure bounce angle 8. setringuntildesiredzoomsettingappearsin set knob is set at 01 fi"dtili"tJf,f
Makesurezoomset ringis properlyset at its click-stopposition.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
ProgrammedTTL Auto FlashShooting(with NikonF.501rN2020or F'301tN2000)
Steps9 through11 provideinstructionsfor program-
med TTL auto flash shootingwith the Nikon F-501/
N2020. or F-301/N2000*camera.
Forotherflashexposureoperations(TTLauto,non-TTL
autoand manualflashqxposureoperations)see "SET-
TING CAMERASHUTTERSPEED"on page 17 and
"DETERMININGAPERTURE,"pages1Bto 32.
'The NikonN2020andN2M are soldexclusivelyin the
U.SA. andCanadianmarkets.
O Setthe SB-20'sflash modeselectorto -'TTL.
a t - - I I - I I I I I For the flashshootingrangein programmedTTL auto-
For programmedTTL automaticflash opera- maticoperation,see tableon page21.
tion,notethe following: The shootingdistancerangepanelat the back of the
. UseAl-Stype lensesonly. SB-20also helpsyou to see the flash shootingrange'
rFor autofocusoperationwith Nikon F-501/ To read a proper distancerange,set the film.speed
N2020,set camera'sfocusmodeselectorto knoband distancescaleselector(seepage 19.)A pat-
S for SingleServo Autofocus.For details, terned bar among the flash shootingdistancerange
see pages14to 16. indicatorsshows the shootingdistancerange in pro-
grammedTTL autooPeration.
t' l r r - - r r r r r r r r r - s r . O
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10View original page 11Page 14 · Read text
'lf- Fullydepressshutter 'l$. Turnoff the SB-20. - -- releasebuttonto take
picture.
Unlessviewfinderready-lightblinks
afterthe shot,your flashexposure
willbe perfect;if it doesblink,pic-
ture may be underexposed-
movecloserto subject.
1 3View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
AUTOFOGUSFTASHPHOT0GRAPHY(wilhNikonF-5fitN2020camelaonly)-
a D - f - I - - I I I I I I - I l f r \
In programmedTTL autofocusflash photog-
raphy,use film with a film speed specifiedin
the table belowfor greaterdepthof field:
Lensmaxlmum Fllm speed apertur€
Lens f/2.8 or faster ISO50 or faster
only Slowerthanf/2.8 ISO 100or higher
111.4or t11.2 ISO50 or higher
wlth
0r TC.16A il1.8,1t2,il2.5 ISO 100or higher 1-- - Set locus modeselectorto S lor Single il2.8 ServoAutolocus mode.
ContinuousServoAutofocuscannot be used for auto-
focus flash photography.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
t i
www.orphancameras.com14View original page 15Page 17 · Read text
t--- Llghtlypresscamerashutterrclease [_ Gonllrmwhetherthe grcen In-focus button. " indicatorLEDlights up,then lully deprcss When ready-lightcomes on but ambientlight is insuffi- the shutterrcleasebutton. cient for autofocusoperation,AF illuminatorfires to lf focus-not-possibleindicatorLED (x) remainslit up, start SingleServoAutofocusoperation. autofocus flash photography is impossible. Focus lf ambientlightis sufficienl,the AF illuminatordoesnot manuallyon the clearmattefield. fire. 16 www.orphancameras.comView original page 17
Page 19 · Read text
DETERMININGAPERTURE
TTL Mode
(for TTL Automatic Flash ExposureControl)
TTL mode is for exclusiveuse with Nikon F-501/N2020,F-301/N2000,FA,
FE2,and FG cameras only
For TTL auto f lash operation with the N ikon F-501/ N 2020 or F-301/
N2000, be sure to set the camera lo aperture prrority auto or manual expo-
sure mode
For correct exposure in TTL mode, use f rlm wrth a film speed specifiedin
the table below:
Camera Film speed
F-501/N2020andF-301/N2000 ISO25 to 1000 mode selector
FA. FE2 and FG ISO25 to 400
To determine aperture with the SB-20's aperture selection/shootingdis-
tance range panel for TTL auto flash operation,read the following.
(For programmedTTL auto flash operation,see pages 10 to 11 )
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1BView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
!. Align lilm. speed in use with the film 3-' To rcadpropershootingdistancerange, speeo Inoex. set distancescaleselectorto lettershown
For intermediatefilm speeds,use figure nearestthe in zoomindicatorwindow.
film speedin use.With ISO32 film, for example,set to
ISO 25. With film speedsnot listed on the scale, be
sure subjectsare sufficientlywithin the shootingdis-
tancerangeindicatedon the back of the SB-20.
1 9View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
Next, turn on flash unit and take
shot in the same mannershown in
"BASIC OPERATION,"steps 12 to
15.
Select and set aperture.{.
The aperturescale window shows usable apertures.(Dependingon
film speed in use, all usableaperturesmay not be shown in the aperture
scalewindow;for usableapertures,see tableon nextpage.)
For example,with the film speed index at ISO 100, you cAn select any
aperturelromt12lotl22.Withthe zoomset ringat N, selectingf/4lets you
takepicturesof subjects1m to 7.5m (approx.3.3ft.to 25ft.)away.
20 www.orphancameras.comView original page 21Page 23 · Read text
Exposurcoompensationin TTL mode flashshootingdistancerange-which is 1m to 7.5m at
With a dark subject(with low reflectivity)or one that is ISO 1OO-shifisto 0.6m to 3.7m at ISO25.
light in tone (havinghigh reflectivity),over- or under-
exposure may occur. To prevent this, compensate Nrposuro\*qpilon compen-value + 2 + 1 0 - 1 - 2exposureby rotatingcamera'sexposurecompensation \
dial. With the FG, push the exposure compensation Fllm speed In use \\
button.(Fordetails,see camerainstructionmanual.) 25 25 50 100
The shootingdistance range for TTL automatic flash 50 25 50 100 200
operationvarieswith the amountof exposurecompen- 100 25 50 100 200 400
sation.For compensateddistance range,see table at 200 50 100 200 400 800'right, then reset film speed setting on the back of
sB-20. 400 100 200 400 800'
For example,with ISO 100tilm and camera'sexposure 800'/1000* 200 400 800'
compensationdial set at +2, read25 on the table and ' For Nikon F-501/N2020and F-301/N2000only.
resetthe SB-20'sfilm speedindexto 25. =V' Not crc.ssib/e;make the necessary co m pensationin
With the zoom set ring at N and an apertureof f/4, the the non-TTLautomatic mde (see the foilowing)or
s/,oot on manual.
22 www.orphancameras.comView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
A Mode(for Non-TTLAutomaticFlash
ExposureControl)
Usethe SB-20on A modefor automaticoperationwith
Nikoncamerasother than Nikon F-501/N2020,F-301/
N2000,FA,FE2, and FG.
Thefollowingprocedurelets you select aperturewith
theSB-20'sapertureselection/shootingdistancerange
panelfor non-TTLauto flashoperation.
S"t SB-20'smodeselectorto A. 1.View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
!. Align film speed in use with film speed 3_-' To rcadpropershootingdistancerange, index. set distancescaleselectorto lettershown
For intermediatefilm speeds,use the figure nearest in zoomindicatorwindow.
the filmspeedin use.With ISO32 film,for example,set
to ISO25. With film speedsnot listedon the scale,be
sure subjectsare sufficientlywithin the shootingdis-
tancerangeindicatedon the back of the SB-20.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 25Page 26 · Read text
Select appropriate aperture and set aperture index knob.{.
The apertureindexwindowshows usableaperturesWith the film
speedindexat ISO100,for example,you can selectany aperturelrom ll2
to l/8.
Withthe zoomset ringat N, if you selecttl4,youcan takepicturesof sub-
jects1m to 7 5m (approx3.3ft.to 25ft.)away
25View original page 26Page 27 · Read text
Next, turn on flash unit and take shot in the same
mannbrshownin "BASICOPERATION,"steps12to 15.
S"t yourchosenaperturcon the lens.5.
www.orphancameras.com26View original page 27Page 29 · Read text
M Mode(for ManualFlash
ExposureControl)
In M mode, you can choose the
amountof lightoutput:Iull,112,114,
1/Bor 1/16. 1ITo determineapertureand/or light
output with the SB-20'saperture I l l lselection/shootingdistance range
panel for manual flash operation,
readthe following ilfl1
I Set the SB-20'sflash -'with/ Align film speed in use " mode selector to M. the film speed index.
For intermediatefilm speeds,use
the figureon the scalenearestthe
film speedin use.With ISO32 film,
for examole,set to ISO25
www.orphancameras.comView original page 29Page 30 · Read text
3-' To readpropershooting {.- - Choose and set aperture. distance,set distance The apertureindexwindowshowsusableapertures.For example,with
scaleselectorto lettershown film speedindexset at ISO 100and the zoomset ringat N, and if you want
in zoomindicatorwindow. to shoota subject3m away,you can selectany aperturef rom tl2lo tl8. You can also determineapertureusingthe SB-20'sguidenumber(GN).
For details,see page32.
29View original page 30From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.