Help with Nikon Speedlight!!! SB-600 / SB-900

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/15/2009 09:20:46 AM · #1

ok, on a recent night photoshoot, I had trouble focusing because it was pitch black... so I found a solution... but i still need a little help...

I put my sb-600 on the hotshot in place of the remote flash trigger and pointed the flash at the strobe and set the SB-600 to Manual lowest power...

this way I can use the red focus light from the speed light to focus on the subjects, and since it's dark, the weakest power on the flash is enough to trip the built in optical slave on my strobe, but not affect the picture...

here's my problem... if there are some lights in a building behind the subject, the flash doesn't turn on the red focus grid because it thinks it's bright enough,... the lights in the background ARE bright enough, but the subjects infront of them are pitch black,,,

How do I make that RED focus grid turn on EVERY time... can I lock it ON somewhere in the menu? I have both a SB-600 and a SB-900,,, can either do this?

thanks!

Eric

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Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

11/15/2009 09:38:12 AM · #2

I don't think it's possible but a different solution would to bring a flash light with you on a night shoot so you can light your subject then lock the focus.
I can't wait to see the photos you took of the car. You better show us, haha.

You could switch it to auto, I think that triggers the speedlight meter.

Message edited by author 2009-11-15 09:39:56.

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

11/15/2009 09:54:23 AM · #3

Thanks, i'll have to do some more research...

The car shoot is postponed... hopefully over the next week I'll be able to do it...

But, i did do a differenet shoot last night and i'd Love some input... the images are in this thread:

Images

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OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

11/15/2009 10:23:32 AM · #4

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Really? That may be so, but I know on my Canon's, there's a Custom Function that will turn on the AF assist beam only on the flash each time it's used. It might be worth looking at the Custom Functions on both the flash and the camera to see if Nikon has this same option. I'd be kinda' surprised if they didn't.

totaldis

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/15/2009 10:32:41 AM · #5

what if you spot meter on the subject?

11/15/2009 10:41:53 AM · #6

well for some reason, in my house the red focus grid turns on all the time now... why didn't it turn on all the time on the roof top???

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spot meter? (i'm shooting in manual mode)

totaldis

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/15/2009 10:43:02 AM · #7

Originally posted by Shutter-For-Hire:

well for some reason, in my house the red focus grid turns on all the time now... why didn't it turn on all the time on the roof top???

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spot meter? (i'm shooting in manual mode)

didn't catch that