Compatible Flash Units
The camera can be used with the flash units listed in this section, including flash units compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS).
CLS-Compatible Flash Units
Nikon’s advanced Creative Lighting System offers improved communication between the camera and compatible flash units for better flash photography. The features available with CLS-compatible units are listed below; see the manual provided with the flash unit for details.
| SB-5000 | SB-910, SB-900, SB-800 | SB-700 | SB-600 | SB-500 | SU-800 | SB-R200 | SB-400 | SB-300 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single flash | i-TTL | i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR 1 | — | — | ||||||||
| Standard i-TTL fill-flash for digital SLR | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | |||||||
| %A | Auto aperture | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| A | Non-TTL auto | — 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| GN | Distance-priority manual | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| M | Manual | 5 | — | — | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| RPT | Repeating flash | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Optical Advanced Wireless Lighting | Master | Remote flash control | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| i-TTL | i-TTL | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| [A:B] | Quick wireless flash control | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | ||||
| %A | Auto aperture | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| A | Non-TTL auto | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| M | Manual | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| RPT | Repeating flash | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Remote | i-TTL | i-TTL | — | — | — | |||||||
| [A:B] | Quick wireless flash control | — | — | — | ||||||||
| %A/A | Auto aperture/ Non-TTL auto |
8 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| M | Manual | — | — | — | ||||||||
| RPT | Repeating flash | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Color Information Communication (flash) | — | — | ||||||||||
| Color Information Communication (LED light) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| AF-assist for multi-area AF | — | 9 | — | — | — | |||||||
| Red-eye reduction | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Camera flash mode selection | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Camera flash unit firmware update | 10 | — | — | — | — | |||||||
Not available with spot metering.
Can also be selected with flash unit.
%A/A mode selection performed on flash unit using custom settings. “A” will be selected if lens is not type E or G.
“A” will be selected if lens is not type E or G.
Can only be selected with camera (0 Flash Cntrl for Built-in Flash/Optional Flash).
Available only during close-up photography.
“A” will be selected if lens is not type E or G, regardless of mode selected with flash unit.
Choice of %A and A depends on the option selected with master flash.
Available only in commander mode.
Firmware updates for the SB-910 and SB-900 can be performed from the camera.
The SU-800 wireless speedlight commander: When mounted on a CLS-compatible camera, the SU-800 can be used as a commander for SB-5000, SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200 flash units in up to three groups. The SU-800 itself is not equipped with a flash.
Other Flash Units
The following flash units can be used in non-TTL auto and manual modes. Use with the camera in mode S or M and a shutter speed of 1/200 s or slower selected.
|
Flash unit Flash mode |
SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-26, SB-25, SB-24 | SB-50DX 1 | SB-30, SB-27 2, SB-22S, SB-22, SB-20, SB-16B, SB-15 | SB-23, SB-29 3, SB-21B 3, SB-29S 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Non-TTL auto | — | — | ||
| M | Manual | ||||
| G | Repeating flash | — | — | — | |
| REAR | Rear-curtain sync 4 | ||||
Select mode P, S, A, or M, lower built-in flash, and use optional flash unit only.
Flash mode is automatically set to TTL and shutter-release is disabled. Set flash unit to A (non-TTL auto flash).
Autofocus is available with AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED and AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60 mm f/2.8G ED lenses only.
Available when camera is used to select flash mode.
The AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter
When the AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately) is mounted on the camera accessory shoe, flash accessories can be connected via a sync cable.
Use Only Nikon Flash Accessories
Use only Nikon flash units. Negative voltages or voltages over 250 V applied to the accessory shoe could not only prevent normal operation, but damage the sync circuitry of the camera or flash. Before using a Nikon flash unit not listed in this section, contact a Nikon-authorized service representative for more information.
Notes on Optional Flash Units
Refer to the Speedlight manual for detailed instructions. If the flash unit supports CLS, refer to the section on CLS-compatible digital SLR cameras. The D3500 is not included in the “digital SLR” category in the SB-80DX, SB-28DX, and SB-50DX manuals.
If an optional flash unit is attached in shooting modes other than j, % and 3 the flash will fire with every shot, even in modes in which the built-in flash cannot be used.
i-TTL flash control can be used at ISO sensitivities between 100 and 12800. At high ISO sensitivities, noise (lines) may appear in photos taken with some optional flash units; if this occurs, choose a lower value. If the flash-ready indicator flashes for about three seconds after a photograph is taken, the flash has fired at full power and the photograph may be underexposed (CLS-compatible flash units only; for information on the exposure and flash charge indicators on other units, see the manual provided with the flash).
When an SC-series 17, 28, or 29 sync cable is used for off-camera flash photography, correct exposure may not be achieved in i-TTL mode. We recommend that you choose spot metering to select standard i-TTL flash control. Take a test shot and view the results in the monitor.
In i-TTL, use the flash panel or bounce adapter provided with the flash unit. Do not use other panels such as diffusion panels, as this may produce incorrect exposure.
If the controls on the optional SB-5000, SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700 or SB-600 flash unit or SU-800 wireless Speedlight commander are used to set flash compensation, Y will appear in the information display.
The SB-5000, SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-500, and SB-400 provide red-eye reduction, while the SB-5000, SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, and SU-800 provide AF-assist illumination with the following restrictions:
SB-5000: AF-assist illumination is available when 24–135 mm AF lenses are used with the focus points shown.
24–37 mm
38–135 mm
SB-910 and SB-900: AF-assist illumination is available when 17–135 mm AF lenses are used with the focus points shown.
17–135 mm
SB-800, SB-600, and SU-800: AF-assist illumination is available when 24–105 mm AF lenses are used with the focus points shown.
24 mm
25–105 mm
SB-700: AF-assist illumination is available when 24–135 mm AF lenses are used with the focus points shown.
24–135 mm
Depending on the lens used and scene recorded, the in-focus indicator (I) may be displayed when the subject is not in focus, or the camera may be unable to focus and the shutter release will be disabled.