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Speedlight SB-28 offers exceptional power and superior performance in a compact body

Jan. 1998

sb-28

Nikon Corporation will release the SB-28, a compact, high-flash output, and superior-performance speedlight.

This small, lightweight clip-on speedlight incorporates most of the features of the current top-of-the-line SB-26, plus shorter recycling time and more numbers of flash output.

Small and lightweight

The SB-28 is 20 % smaller and 70 grams (2.5 oz.) lighter than the SB-26.

Shorter recycling time and more flashes

To improve the chances of catching that all-important shot, recycling time has been reduced (max. 6.5 sec. shorter) and the number of flashes (about 150 flashes) increased (Realized when using manual flash exposure control, 1 / 1 (full-flash) light output and LR6 1.5V AA-type (L40) alkaline batteries at 20 °C degrees Celsius (68 °F degrees Fahrenheit)).

Incredible Light output

Automatic power-zoom flash coverage is 24 to 85mm and the highest guide number is 50 (ISO 100, m, at 85mm, at 20 °C degrees Celsius).
Pulling out the built-in wide flash adapter, allows the SB-28 to be used with 18mm or 20mm lenses.

High-performance features
  1. 3-D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash
    Even in situations with a highly reflective background, such as a mirror, or pictures with the night sky as a background, this speedlight will optimize the flash output by keeping the exposure of the background and the subject in balance (Applicable with Nikon's AF Single Lens Reflex cameras F5, F90X series / N90s, F90 series / N90, F70 series / N70, and with D-type AF Nikkor lenses).

  2. FP High-Speed Sync.
    By extending the flash duration, it allows flash synchronization with faster shutter speed --- 1 / 250 to 1 / 4,000 sec. (Applicable with Nikon's AF SLR camera F5, F90X series / N90s, and F90 series / N90).

    There is more flexible aperture selection with fill-in flash.

  3. Rear-Curtain Sync.
    The flash is fired at the end of the exposure --- just before the rear curtain starts to close (When used with cameras that can set to "rear-curtain sync." mode: Nikon's AF SLR cameras F5, F90X series / N90s, F90 series / N90, F70 series / N70, PRONEA 600i / 6i, and others).
    Unlike the standard front-curtain sync, it creates a picture in which the frozen subject is at the back of the blurred action, affording a more natural look.

  4. Improved rain-shielding
    Compared with the SB-26, rain-shielding has been improved by restyling the controlling levers, selectors, and switches into buttons.

  5. Quicker and easier bounce flash operation
    The SB-26 had two separate switches for tilting and rotating the flash head, but with the SB-28 you can tilt and rotate the flash head by simply depressing the flash head tilting / rotating lock release button.

  6. Shooting in the dark
    For easy operation in the dark, the main operating buttons and levers glow light green for hours in the dark after exposure to sun or fluorescent light, thanks to their light-absorbing, non-radiation-emitting, fluorescent-printed surfaces.
    A press of a button illuminates the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, using very little energy.

Specifications

Type of speedlight TTL auto flash speedlight with built-in AF assist illuminator
Flash output level
Guide Number
(ISO100, m / ft.)
(* For 18 and 20mm,
when Built-in wide
flash adapter is used)		 Zoom-head position
(35 mm(135) format film)		 18*
mm		 20*
mm		 24 mm 28 mm 35 mm 50 mm 70 mm 85 mm
Guide No.
at 1 / 1 ( full ) flash
level output		 18
/ 59		 20
/ 66		 30
/ 98		 32
/ 105		 36
/ 118		 42
/ 138		 48
/ 157		 50
/ 164
Bounce capability Vertical : down 7 ° degrees or up 90 ° degrees (7 possible click-stops),
Horizontal : right 90 ° degrees or up to left 180 ° degrees (9 possible click-stops)
ON / OFFbutton 1) Press the ON / OFF button for approx. 0.5 sec. to turn off,
2) Press the MODE and ON / OFF buttons simultaneously to operate standby function and conserve battery power (it automatically turns off after approx. 80 sec. when unused)
Flash exposure control Select using MODE button :
- Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash with TTL Multi Sensor (applicable to certain cameras only)
- Matrix Balanced Fill-Flash or CenterWeighted Fill-Flash / Spot Fill-Flash (applicable to certain cameras only)
- Standard TTL (applicable to certain cameras only)
- Non-TTL Auto
- Manual
- Flash output setting (7 steps)
- FP High-Speed Sync (applicable to certain cameras only)
- Repeating flash
- Rear-curtain sync (applicable to certain cameras only)
- Red-eye reduction (applicable to certain cameras only)
Power source Four (4) of the same type of the following "R6" type batteries that is less than 1.5V DC :
1) 1.5V LR6 (L40 AA-type alkaline-manganese)
2) 1.5V AA-type lithium
3) 1.2V AA-type NiCd (rechargeable)
4) 1.2V AA-type Ni-MH (rechargeable)
External power source* (Optional) 1) DC-Unit SD-7 (uses six (6) LR14 (C-type alkaline-manganese ) or NiCd batteries),
2) DC Unit SD-8 / 8A (uses six (6) LR6 (L40 AA-type alkaline-manganese) or NiCd batteries),
3) Power Bracket Unit SK-6 / 6A (uses four (4) LR6 (L40 AA-type alkaline-manganese) or NiCd batteries)

* The SD-7, SD-8, and SK-6 are not compatible with the European version of the SB-28, because it uses a different type of connector.
Number of flashes
/ Recycling time
at full output
(with batteries installed)
at 1/1 (full) flash level output

(* Applied when the
AF-Assist Illuminator,
Zoomhead position adjustment,
or LCD illuminator is not used)		 Type of Batteries Min. recycling time (approx.)
(with fresh batteries)		 Min. number of flashes
/ Recycling time (approx.)
1.5V LR6 (L40 AA-type alkaline-manganese) 6.5 sec. 150 times
/ 6.5 to 30 sec.
1.5V AA-type lithium 7.5 sec. 200 times
/ 8 to 30 sec.
1.2V AA-type NiCd (700mA) 4 sec. 60 times
/ 4 to 30 sec.
1.2V AA-type NiCd (1000mA) 90 times
/ 4 to 30 sec.
1.5V AA-type Ni-MH 100 times
/ 4 to 30 sec.
Red-eye Reduction The red-eye reduction lamp lights up before the flash fires
(This function is set on the camera, and applicable to certain cameras only)
Wireless Slave Flash Not available
AF-Assist Illuminator 1) The illuminator automatically lights up toward subject when performing autofocus in dim light or in the dark (depending on the camera),
2) Cancellation also possible
Ready-light 1) Lights up when flash is recycled and ready to fire,
2) Blinks when flash fires at its maximum output, indicating exposure caution
FLASH button 1) "A" mode: Performs test firing for correct exposure detection,
2) "multi-flash" mode: Performs "multi-flash" test firing
Built-in wide flash adapter Allows use of the 18mm or 20mm lens
Safety lock system With cameras equipped with a safety lock system, the mount pin is automatically inserted into the locking hole in the camera's accessory shoe to secure the SB-28.
LCD panel illuminator Turns on and off every time the "Illuminator" button is pressed (illumination lasts approx. 16 sec.)
Flash shooting
distance scale		 Distance scale on the LCD panel can be set to meters (m) by pressing the "Illuminator" button and "ON / OFF" switch simultaneously (distance in feet (ft.) also available)
Interface 1) External power source terminal,
2) TTL multiple flash terminal, and
3) Sync. / multiple flash terminal
Dimensions (W x H x D)
and Weight (Approx.)		 69 x 128 x 90mm (2.7 x 5 x 3.6 in.) : 320g (11.8 oz.)
(without batteries)
Accessories Soft Case SS-28, External power source terminal cap
*

Major changes from the SB-26 :
1) Does not have Wireless Slave Flash function,
2) FP High-Speed Sync has changed from two steps to one step,
3) AF-Assist Illuminator can be canceled,
4) The Guide Number at 18mm and 20mm has been changed to "18" and "20" respectively

*

All data measured at 20 °C (68 °F), with fresh batteries

The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.

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