The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) works when a Nikon Speedlight is paired with a Nikon DSLR. The Creative Lighting System works with the camera to create better-lit photos when using a flash, either the built-in flash or one of the Nikon Speedlights. A lot of the CLS technology is actually built into the camera, which is why it can use the built-in flash, and some cameras can use these to control off-camera remote flashes, as well. Not all of the Nikon cameras are created equal when it comes to CLS, with the higher-end cameras having some functionality that the entry-level cameras don’t. The good news is that all the cameras have the intelligent Through The Lens (i-TTL) mode that tries to create a more natural and balanced light when you use the flash. This chapter takes a closer look at the Nikon line of cameras and which CLS functions each supports.
The Creative Lighting System was introduced back in 2004 with the SB-800 Speedlight. Although its off-camera flash control, called Advanced Wireless Lighting (AWL), had the most wow factor, the Creative Lighting System offered much more. Beyond the Advanced Wireless Lighting, the CLS incorporated a variety of functions, consisting of i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Wide-Area AF-Assist Illuminator, and Flash Color Information Communication. (For a detailed description of all these functions, see Chapter 9 .)
Not every camera in the Nikon lineup has all of the CLS functionality, and as new cameras are released, new functions are being added. For example, the new SB-500 Speedlight can be used as a Commander in the AWL when paired with the newer DLSR cameras, specifically the Nikon D750, D810, D5500, and D7200.
The following sections detail all of the currently available and older Nikon cameras that are compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System, as well as what each camera can and can’t do. To organize the discussion, I divided the camera models into three groups: top-end professional cameras, enthusiast cameras, and entry-level cameras. If you need more information than this survey offers, please check the manual that came with your camera.
The top Nikon professional-level cameras all have one thing in common: They do not have a built-in flash. The good people at Nikon seem to believe that if you are using one of these cameras, you will also be using a Speedlight as a flash and will never use a built-in flash to illuminate the scene. The top-of-line DSLR cameras are designated by a D followed by a single number and an optional X, S, H, or, in one case, an HS.
The D2H, D2X, D2HS, and D2XS were the first of the Nikon camera bodies to incorporate CLS when used with the SB-800 Speedlight. The CLS functions—i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Wide-Area AF-Assist Illuminator, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting—were all available right from the start with these cameras when used with the then new SB-800. The D2H was introduced in 2003 ( Figure 4.1 ), with the D2X in 2004, the D2HS in 2005, and the D2XS in 2006. The D2 line of cameras still used the smaller cropped DX sensor.
Figure 4.1 The Nikon D2H doesn’t have a built-in flash, so it needs a Speedlight, such as the SB-800 attached here, to do any flash photography. Keep in mind that you need at least two units to do any off-camera flash work.
The D2 line of professional DSLR camera bodies was followed up with the D3, D3X, and D3S cameras. The D3 was the first Nikon with a full-frame sensor and the first designated by the FX label. These camera bodies also had the full CLS functions, including i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Wide-Area AF-Assist Illuminator, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting.
The D4 and D4S followed the D3 line and continued to support all the CLS functions ( Figure 4.2 ). As with all the cameras in this professional line, the D4 models lacked a built-in flash. For the Advanced Wireless Lighting to work with them, you need a Speedlight, such as the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which can act as either Commander or remote; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-500, SB-600, or SB-R200, which can act only as remotes.
Figure 4.2 The D4 with the SB-910 as a Commander can trigger an unlimited number of off-camera remote flashes in three groups: A, B, and C.
Full Frame (FX) and Cropped Frame (DX)
Figure 4.3 A DX sensor can record the area inside the shaded border, while an FX sensor can record the whole image.
The biggest group, enthusiast cameras, could easily be broken down into smaller categories. For this book, I’ll focus on models that have one thing in common: They have a built-in flash that you can use to control remote flashes using the Advanced Wireless Lighting functions built into CLS. Many of these cameras, such as the D800 and D810, are really much more suited to professional photographers than to casual photographers, but even with their large megapixel full-frame sensors they still come with a built-in flash, lumping them into the enthusiast group here ( Figure 4.4 ).
Figure 4.4 The D750 has all the CLS functionality of the professional-level cameras, but its built-in flash allows you to control an unlimited number of flashes in two groups: A and B.
For instance, the following cameras are all full-frame sensor (FX) cameras:
D810
: The Nikon D810 is the follow-up to the D800 and D800E camera bodies, and like its predecessors, it has all the CLS functions: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Wide-Area AF-Assist Illuminator, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. For the Advanced Wireless Lighting to work, you can use the built-in flash as a Commander or can use the following Speedlights: the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, or SB-500, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600 or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only. There is also a specialized D810A model that is built specifically for deep-sky astrophotography with all the CLS abilities of the D810.
D800 and D800E
: The Nikon D800 and D800E are 36.3-megapixel cameras released in 2012 and targeted to professional photographers. These cameras have all the CLS functions: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Wide-Area AF-Assist Illuminator, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. The Advanced Wireless Lighting can use the built-in flash as a Commander or can use the following Speedlights: the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only.
D750
: The Nikon D750, released in 2014, has the following CLS functions: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, AF-Assist for multi-area auto-focus, Flash Color Information Communication, LED light Color Information Communication when used with the SB-500, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. The D750,
like the D810, D7200, and D5500, can use the SB-500 as a Commander in AWL. It can also use the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only.
D700
: The Nikon D700 was released in 2008 and combined the full-frame sensor from the Nikon D3 in a smaller, less-expensive camera body (
Figure 4.5
). This camera had all the CLS functionality of the D3 with the added bonus of a built-in flash that can be used to trigger off-camera remote flashes using AWL. The CLS functions on the D700 are i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. It can also use the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only.
Figure 4.5 The D700 menu shows that you can use the built-in flash to control two groups of remote flashes.
D610 and D600
: The Nikon D600 and the updated D610 have the following CLS functions: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, AF-Assist for multi-area auto-focus, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. For the Advanced Wireless Lighting to work, you need a Speedlight, such as the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only. You can also use the built-in flash as a Commander to trigger the off-camera flashes in AWL.
The following cameras use the smaller DX sensor size. Many of these cameras have the same or even more features than the professional line. For example, the newer D7200 allows you to use the SB-500 as a Commander unit where none of the professional cameras can. Plus, you can use the built-in flashes of these models to trigger remote flashes in the AWL. Take a closer look at all the features they offer:
D300S and D300
: The Nikon D300 and updated D300S both have the following CLS functionality: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync,
Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. When using the D300 or the D300S in AWL, you can use the built-in flash as a Commander. You can also use a Speedlight such as the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only.
D200
: The Nikon D200 has the following CLS functionality: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. When using the D200 in the AWL, you can use the built-in flash as a Commander or the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only.
D7200, D7100, and D7000
: The Nikon D7000, D7100, and D7200 have the following CLS functionality: i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. When using the Nikon D7000 and D7100 in the AWL, you can use the built-in flash as a Commander or the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only. The D7100 also has the ability to automatically detect if a filter is attached to an SB-910, SB-900, or SB-700 that is mounted on the camera and set the White Balance (Flash Color Information Communication). The D7200 can also use the SB-500 as a Commander in the AWL.
D90
: The Nikon D90 was the first Nikon DSLR to offer video recording along with still images. It had the full CLS functions list, including i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, Auto FP High-Speed Sync, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. For the Advanced Wireless Lighting to work, you need a Speedlight such as the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only. The built-in flash on the D90 can act as a controller for the Advanced Wireless Control allowing you to control two groups (A and B).
D80
: The Nikon D80 supports the Creative Lighting System, including i-TTL Flash Control, FV Lock, and Auto FP High-Speed Sync. With the built-in flash in Commander mode (AWL), you can use the D80 to control remote SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200 flash units. You can also use the SU-800, SB-910, SB-900, or the SB-700 as a Commander on the camera to control remote flashes.
D70 and D70S
: When used with a compatible Speedlight, the Nikon D70 supports a range of CLS options including i-TTL Flash Control, Flash Color Information Communication, FV Lock, and Advanced Wireless Lighting. You can use the built-in flash to control SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200 flash units using the Custom Menu 19 setting (
Figure 4.6
). You can also use the SU-800, SB-910, or SB-900, or you can use the SB-700 as a Commander on the camera to control remote flashes. The built-in flash can trigger only remote flashes that are set to group A and channel 3. The D70 and D70S do not support Auto FP High-Speed Sync.
Figure 4.6 Custom Menu 19 allows you to set the flash mode for the Nikon D70s to TTL, Manual, or Commander for off-camera flash control.
All these cameras offer photographers a way to trigger an unlimited number of off-camera flashes in at least two groups (A and B) with the built-in flash. This means that if you had just one Speedlight, you can experiment with off-camera flash without having to spend a whole lot of money.
The cameras in the entry-level category all come with built-in flashes, but that flash cannot be used as a Commander to trigger off-camera remote flashes using AWL. Nor do these models offer a complete menu of Creative Lighting System options because they are missing the FV Lock and the FP High-Speed Sync.
D5500, D5300, D5200, D5100, and D5000
: This line of Nikon DSLR camera bodies has reduced CLS functionality. They support the i-TTL Flash Control, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Control when using the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options: the SU-800, which offers Commander options, or the SB-600, SB500, or SB-R200, which can act as remotes only. These cameras do not have the FV Lock or the Auto FP High-Speed Sync. The D5500 can use the SB-500 as a Commander flash in the Advanced Wireless Lighting. The built-in flash on these cameras cannot be used to as a Commander in the Advanced Wireless Lighting.
D3300, D3200, D3100, and D3000
: This line of entry-level Nikon DSLR camera bodies offers reduced CLS functionality. They support the i-TTL Flash Control, Flash Color Information Communication, and Advanced Wireless Control when using the SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700, which offer both Commander and Remote options; the SU-800, which offers Commander options; or the SB-600, SB-500, or SB-R200, which can act only as remotes. These cameras do not have the FV Lock or the Auto FP High-Speed Sync, nor can their built-in flash be used as a Commander (
Figure 4.7
).
Figure 4.7 Although the D3200 has a built-in flash, you need to use an SB-700 (shown), SB-800, SB-900, or SB-910 to be able to trigger off-camera remote flashes.
D60, D50, D40, and D40X
: These older, discontinued entry-level Nikon DSLRs are the most limited in CLS functionality. They support the i-TTL Flash Control and Flash Color Information Communication and allow you to control remote off-camera flashes when using the SB-910, SB-900, SU-800, or SB-700 as a Commander.
I started with Nikon cameras when I still photographed using film. I have used many of the Nikon DSLRs discussed in this chapter—from the entry-level D3200, which I still own, to the Nikon D4 and D750, which are my current go-to cameras for work. Knowing which Creative Lighting System functions your camera supports is important, but knowing which are important to your style of photography is vital. To me, for example, the i-TTL Flash Control and Advanced Wireless Lighting are key, and both are supported by all the cameras when using a Speedlight.
