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Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Nikon
F & F2 Shared Resources:
Specialized Flashes for various specific flash photography
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Repeating Flash
Flash Duration: about
1/20 000 sec at one-half peak about 1/30 000 sec at one-third peak
Recycling Time: 1/3 sec (at 3 Hz)
Guide Number: 28m (92ft) for ASA 400 black and white film 13m (42ft) for ASA
160 color film (tested)13.5m (44ft) for ASA 100
Angle of Coverage: 65 deg.
Open Flash: button supplied on flash head, center of calculator disc
Ready Light: neon lamp on flash head, above calculator disc
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Exposure Calculator Disc:
supplied on flash head
Power Source: AC line
voltage, switcheable between 100, 117, 220, or 240V
Rated Input: <=50VA (no load) <=500VA (successively loaded
Supplied Power: 12V, 300mA in socket for F36 motor drive
Color Temperature: appox. 6000K
Life of Xenon Tube: >=10 000 flashes (4-5 minute rest after 250 flashes)
Flash Foot: flash head has F/F2-type foot
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Dimensions and Weight:
124mm diam.; appox. 386g (flash head)
4.88 in. diam.; appox. 14 oz.
(flash head)
280 x 230 x 125mm; appox. 10.6
kg (AC Power Pack)
11 x 9 x 5 in.; appox. 24 lb.
(AC Power Pack)
Input voltage is adjusted by
removing the casing, and moving three wires between some connectors, which are internally
labeled. Needless to say, don't do this with the power plugged in, standing in saltwater,
wearing medieval battle armor ..
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Four cables are supplied
with the unit, a three-conductor 5m power (mains) cable [from the power supply to
an AC socket], a four-conductor 1.4m flash head power supply cable [from the power
supply to the head, permanently attached to the head], a 1m sync cable [from the
camera's PC socket to the head], and a 1m motor power supply cable [from the head
to the motor].
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The power supply has handles
on the side. Its control panel has the power switch (two separate buttons for on
and off); turning the unit on also lights a bright white warning light. The fuse
socket and AC input indicator are also located on this panel. The flash head has
an exposure calculator disc on its back, with the open flash button in the middle
and the neon ready light located above it. This flash is recommended to be used at
speeds up to 3fps.
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The British Journal of
Photography tested a Repeating Flash and found it to be a heavy, expensive solution
to motorised flash. In sequence pictures, they found that the first picture was overexposed
by approximately 1/5 of a stop. They were dismayed by the short length of the head-to-supply
cable and the dinky handles on the supply itself, which made it less mobile than
thought.
SB-6 Repeating Flash
As a versatile, high-speed electronic flash unit, the Nikon SB-6 has no equal. It
is its own peer. For pure professionalism this repeating flash offers more options
than any other high-speed unit around. Start with its fastest operating mode, strobe
operation emitting up to 40 flashes per second, and you have the ideal high-powered
unit for cine 18 or 24 fps or extra-rapidly moving subject, stop-action photography.
For motor drive photography the unit operated at 1/8 illumination power will deliver
synchronization capability for up to 3.8 fps. Additionally, there's a full series
of 6 light intensity settings possible.
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Complete automatic flash cut-off operation is also available by utilizing the Nikon
SU-1 Sensing Unit either on or off the flash (Note at the edge of the flash). A special
built-in protection circuit will automatically cut the power off before the unit
overheats. Power is supplied by a Nikon SA-3 AC Power Unit. Open flash and a ready-light
are both built-in.
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This unit mounts directly
onto F2 Nikons while providing a built-in hot-shoe connection, and adapters are available
for other cameras. When high-speed, power, and performance are required, the Nikon
SB-6 Repeating Flash can deliver.
Light Output Control:
- automatic with accessory
SU-1 sensor unit (3 stops)
manual; full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 power ratios selectable
- Guide Number:
- 45m (148 ft.) with ASA
100 film at full power
- 33m (104 ft.) with ASA
100 film at 1/2 power
- 23m (72 ft.) with ASA 100
film at 1/4 power
- 17m (52 ft.) with ASA 100
film at 1/8 power
- 12m (36 ft.) with ASA 100
film at 1/16 power
- 8.5m (26 ft.) with ASA
100 film at 1/32 power
- Power Sources:
- SA-3 AC Unit
- SD-5 DC Unit (with eight
SN-3 NC Batteries)
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It's pretty clear to me,
from the specs that I can dig up, that the SB-6 is not just a rehash of the previous
Repeating Flash, although in concept and design it is similar. It consists of a flash
head, which mounts to the F/F2-type foot, and a separate power supply. It provides
rapid flash capability (from 5 to 40 flashes per second).
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Apparently, it also mates
with the SU-1 sensor unit initially made for the SB-5, so it can be set to three
automatic and one slave mode, as well as be hooked up off-camera via the SC-9 sensor
extension cord. Other than being a rare flash, I have no data on the SB-6.
200f/5.6 Medical-Nikkor
The first Medical-Nikkor
was a marvel, combining lens, flash, and data imprinting system in a relatively compact
package. Note that the Medical-Nikkor came in two distinct versions. The original
model has knurling on the film speed, reproduction ratio/aperture, and data imprinting
rings; it also lacks the diamond studding at the front of the barrel, and has a round
four-pin power connector socket.
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The later model has
satin-finished aperture/repro, film speed, and data imprinting rings; the aperture/repro
and film speed rings have large silver locking screws, there is only one data ring
(with a knurled chrome finish), and the power connector is a three-pin, half-moon
socket.
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- The earlier model has "Medical
Nikkor" engraved towards the front of the lens, while the later model has it
towards the back. Recycling times range from 5-8 sec. on mains and 4-14 sec. on battery
power, depending on type of battery and power ratio in use. The early lens (later
lens is probably similar) weighs 665g (1.5 lb.), less than the later 200f/4 IF Micro,
and is 78mm diam by 170mm long. Flash output is appox. 60 W-s, duration appox. 1/500
sec.
In all incarnations, the
outfit includes:
- 1 Medical-Nikkor 200f/5.6
- 6 auxillary lenses (1/8x,
1/6x, 1/4x, 1/2x, 1x, 2x)
- 1 power supply (AC or DC,
later LA-1 or LD-1)
- 1 power-source cord (1.5m)
- 1 synchro cord
- 1 front lens cap
- 1 rear lens cap
- 1 power-socket cover
- 4 spare focussing-lamp
bulbs
- 1 safety cover for F/F2-type
hotshoe
- 1 leather compartment case
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The AC Unit is included
as standard equipment. The DC Unit was an extra-cost option, as was an extra-long
power-source cord. The safety cover is probably a particularly annoying accessory
to collect -- I saw one for sale (separately) at $75 US: not bad for a little bit
of plastic. I say if you're using a 200f/5.6, make do with some electrical tape ($0.80/roll
US).
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Because the Medical-Nikkor
is an autoexposure, fixed-focus lens, it is remarkably easy to use.
- select the reproduction
ratio desired (may be determined by working distance or the desired subject field,
tabulated below)
- add the appropriate lenses
- set the film speed
- set the aperture (via the
reproduction ratio in use)
- set the desired data imprint
- "foot-zoom" the
picture into focus (using the modelling lights, if needed)
- take the picture
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| Repro | Attached | Working | Subject |
| Ratio | Lenses | Distance | Field |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:15 | none | 131.89in | 14.17 x 21.26in |
| | | 3 350mm | 360 x 540mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:8 | 1/8x | 70.08in | 7.56 x 11.34in |
| | | 1 780mm | 192 x 288mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:6 | 1/6x | 52.64in | 5.67 x 8.50in |
| | | 1 336mm | 144 x 216mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:4 | 1/4x | 35.04in | 3.78 x 5.67in |
| | | 890mm | 96 x 144mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:3 | 1/6x | 25.00in | 2.72 x 4.06in |
| | + 1/4x | 635mm | 69 x 103mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:2 | 1/2x | 17.56in | 1.89 x 2.83in |
| | | 446mm | 48 x 72mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 2:3 | 1/2x | 12.83in | 1.38 x 2.09in |
| | + 1/4x | 326mm | 35 x 53mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 1:1 | 1x | 8.70in | 0.94 x 1.42in |
| | | 221mm | 24 x 36mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 3:2 | 1x | 6.06in | 0.67 x 0.98in |
| | + 1/2x | 154mm | 17 x 25mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 2:1 | 2x | 4.25in | 0.47 x 0.71in |
| | | 108mm | 12 x 18mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
| 3:1 | 2x | 2.83in | 0.33 x 0.50in |
| | + 1x | 72mm | 8.4 x 12.6mm |
+-------+----------+----------+-----------------+
The lens mounts like all
other Nikkors. The diamond-studded ring which has the power and sync sockets (and
a neon ready-light, as well as the microswitch for the modelling lights) probably
does not rotate and so is your best grip. The camera-flash sync is set via a standard
PC-to-PC cord, and the appropriate power cable is used from the mains or battery
source to the lens. Note that because the earlier and later versions have different
power sockets, power sources and cables are not interchangeable.
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As noted above, the sequence
of steps is logical, but the early and later lenses are sufficiently different to
distinguish a few steps. The early lens has two index marks for the film speed; the
one on the right, i.e. the one reading slower-speed film, is the full-power index,
while the other one is the 1/4-power index. The later lens has a white diamond for
full power and a "1/4" for 1/4 power. Both lenses may be adjusted from
ASA 10 to 800. You may compensate for different tones by adjusting the ASA appropriately.
The full-1/4 power switch is found on the power supply.
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The data-imprinting system
is also slightly different. Both models allow white numbers from 1 to 39 or yellow
reproduction ratios to be imprinted. The earlier model has a series of letters (A,
B, C, D) on the ring immediately in front of the data-selection ring; these correspond
to the amount of light "leaked" to expose the data on the film and are:
- A -- color film <= ASA
64, B&W <= ASA 32
- B -- ASA 80 <= color
film <= ASA 400, ASA 20 <= B&W <= ASA 200
- C -- ASA 500 <= color
film, ASA 200 <= B&W
- D -- no data imprinted
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The British Journal of
Photography wrote up a fairly detailed users'-view of this lens, in which they
note that the accessory lenses are of 2-element construction and are designed specifically
around the 200f/5.6 prime lens. The great advantage of not using extension to create
different reproduction ratios (note that the later 120f/4 Medical also did not use
extension, relying on internal focussing, IF, instead) was in simplifying the design,
i.e. there was no need to build in an automatically compensating diaphragm. Instead,
you could use a simple slide-rule calculation (which you do with the film speed and
reproduction ratio rings). However, since the supplimentaries work by (essentially)
reducing the focal length (something that IF later did!), the working distance is
somewhat compromised.
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For both lenses, the front
ring (upon which the lens combinations are imprinted) may be removed to gain access
to the modelling lights. They are simple 2.5V bulbs, and can probably be replaced
with similar threaded electric torch bulbs. The front lens ring (to which the supplementary
lenses are attached) serves as a retaining ring for the flashtube, and may also be
removed. The lens itself remains the same four-element glass of no particular optical
distinction. As it was a somewhat rare item, especially as a complete outfit, it
has attracted some collectors' attention. Practically speaking, even the current
120f/4 IF Medical-Nikkor is not the most useable ringlight/lens available; my vote
goes to a 105f/2.8 Micro with an SB-21 (TTL metering, available autofocus) or the
older 200f/4 IF Micro if you need more working distance. On the other hand, both
Medical-Nikkors offer relatively painless ways of getting beyond 1:1 magnification,
and their systemic integration is a delight to behold.
Nikon Flash Units: BC-Series| Original Nikon Speedlight
SB-2
| SB-3
| SB-4
| SB-5
| SB-6
| SB-7E
| SB-8E
| SB-9
| SB-E
| SB-10
SB-11
| SB-12 | SB-14 | SB-140 UV-IR| SB-15 | SB16A | SB-17 |
SB-18, SB-19 | SR2/SM-2 Ringlights | SB-21A (SB-29) Macro flash |
Flash Accesories | SF-1
Pilot Lamp
Nikon AF-TTL Speedlights
| SB-20 | SB-22 | SB-23 | SB-24 | SB-25 | SB-26 | SB-27 | SB-28 | Nikon SB-29(s) | Nikon
SB-30
| Nikon
SB-600
| Nikon
SB-800
(updated)
Nikon AF-TTL Speedlight DX-Series: Nikon SB-28DX | SB-50DX | SB-80DX (updated)
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Next | Working
with Ring Flash SR1/SM1 | SR2/SM2
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* Message Board for Nikon F2 Series Bodies
Main Reference map in HTML
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Body with FTN Finder | FTN finder | camera body |
External
links
for F & F2
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Specifically tor Dispose or Looking for Nikon Photographic equipment
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Back | to Nikon-F - Main Index Page
Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:-
Main Index Page
Nikon Manual
Focus
Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame |
Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto
Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm
Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E
Recommended links to understand more technical details
related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen,
Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html
Copyright
© 1998. Michael C. Liu ®
Site
rearranged by: leofoo ®.
Credit: Hiura Shinsaku® from
Nikomat Club of Japan for feeding some useful inputs on the introductory page.
The great 3D logo by Kiasu; Ted Wengelaar®,
Holland for his continuous flow of input of early Nikon bodies. Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest; Marc Vorgers from Holland for
his additinal images on Nikon F Apollo; Hayao Tanabe
corrected my Red Dot and Early F assertions. Gray Levett, Grays of Westminster
publishes an excellent monthly historical look at Nikon products, from where I learned
about the high-speed F's. Made
with a PowerMac, broadcast with
a Redhat Linux
powered server.
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