Nikon AS-17 Flash Adapter manual

[frankie0815]

Hello,
I am looking for a manual for the Nikon AS-17 flash unit coupler for F3. Picture or pdf.
I already asked Nikon Support but even they could not provide it.
Anybody here has one?
Thank you

 

[Chan Tran]

I couldn't find a free pdf copy on the internet but there are sites that offer them for sale. However, it's quite simple and I don't think I would need a manual for that.

 

[Ian C]

I don’t own the Nikon AS-17, but I do own several Nikon SLRs including F3 and FA as well as the SB-11 flash intended for the F3 and the SB-16B intended for the FA.

The following photo and information is essentially self-explanatory.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-p...lers/as-17-ttl-flash-unit-coupler-for-f3.html

You’d need a Nikon TTL flash with the standard ISO hot shoe with Nikon TTL contacts, such as the SB-16B if you require TTL automation.

The ISO setting on the AS-17 is obvious. The +/- 1/3-stop compensation selector is also obvious. Here’s how it could be used in a meaningful way.

Suppose that you had ASA 64 film in the camera. Recall that the sequence of ASA film speeds is in 1/3rd stop increments.

The closest setting is 50 on the AS-17. That would give you a 1/3-stop overexposure of flash. So, you’d set the film speed on the AS-17 to 50 and the compensation to - 1/3 stop. That would give you correct exposure for ASA 64 film (1/3 stop less flash than for an ASA 50 film), assuming that the flash unit was set to TTL exposure control.

If you had a non-TTL flash, such as the Vivitar 283, you could use either the manual settings on the flash, or you could use its sensor-automatic function. In sensor-automatic mode, the exposure will be controlled strictly by the flash. Any settings on the AS-17 would have no effect. Of course, you’d have to keep the shutter speed no faster than the camera’s flash-synchronization speed and the aperture set on the lens must be within the usable range as determined by the distance/aperture calculator on the flash.

I agree with the comments in post #2. This is a simple device. Its use is intuitive. A manual isn’t needed.

 

[Chan Tran]

Another note: If you use non TTL flash then it's cheaper to get the AS-4. The AS-17 was actually introduced very late around the year 2000 or so and is expensive.
The AS-17 contains quite a bit of electronic because the way TTL flash for the F3 works as compared to other Nikon TTL flash is quite different. The F3 sends the light intensity from the in camera sensor directly to the flash and the flash has to know the ISO in used to shut off when there is sufficient exposure. The other camera simply send the signal to tell the flash to shut down when it senses sufficient exposure.

 

[frankie0815]

I bought the AS-17 because i allready have several TTL Speedlights for my FA FG … and yes the AS-17 is expensive.
But now i can use all Flash with my F3 without buying a dedicated F3-Flash.
Thank you for your help. I have all Information i need even without the manual.

 

[Chan Tran]

I bought the AS-17 because i allready have several TTL Speedlights for my FA FG … and yes the AS-17 is expensive.
But now i can use all Flash with my F3 without buying a dedicated F3-Flash.
Thank you for your help. I have all Information i need even without the manual.

That's good but with the SB-16A (I have the foot to convert it to the SB-16B as well) and the SCA-Adapter for my Metz 60-CT4 I have enough TTL flashes for the F3. So I didn't buy the AS-17 when it came out.