D70s / SB-800 Question - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/09/2007 11:55:31 AM · #1

I haven't played a whole lot with the remote capabilities of the SB-800, but it is fun to set the flash on a tripod and fire it remotely for some nice effects.

My question is... how can you use the built-in speedlight as a fill flash at the same time you're firing the remote? The speedlight will fire when you set the camera on command mode to trigger the SB-800, but it doesn't do it simultaneously. In other words, the on-camera flash will fire, but the light it produces doesn't show up in the frame -- only the SB-800's output is being used.

Here's an example of when this could come in handy. Say you're doing a wedding, and the bride is about to toss the bouquet. You could have the SB-800 mounted on a tripod near where the women are about to attack the bouquet like a pack of hungry wolves. And then you could use the on-board flash to light the bride as she throws it.

I'm probably just doing something stupid since I haven't played with this too much... so I thought I'd ask :)

wavelength

Nikon D300

03/09/2007 12:00:21 PM · #2

If you set the SB-800 to SU4 mode, and manually run the power/exposure instead of Commander mode, you can get light from both.

Problem is, it's manual so the wedding shot doesn't really work out. I think if you had the 800 on camera in commander mode, and a 600 or other 800 in commander-slave you can get the light from both more easily. Unfortunately, I only have one flash so I can't test this theory :(

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/09/2007 12:00:39 PM · #3

I don't have the answer to that, but I've a related question, if you don't mind (I hope you don't).

Is it possible to fire the remote WITHOUT firing the on board flash? I haven't figured out how.

wavelength

Nikon D300

03/09/2007 12:07:52 PM · #4

Originally posted by ursula:

I don't have the answer to that, but I've a related question, if you don't mind (I hope you don't).

Is it possible to fire the remote WITHOUT firing the on board flash? I haven't figured out how.

You can with wireless triggers. If you go to //www.strobist.com there is a LOT of info there on off-camera flashing.

The easiest way is to get a bunch nikon SB's, get familiar with Nikons Creative lighting system. It allows the camera to figure out TTL exposures, but also allows you to dial down sets of lights, I think up to 3 channels.

03/09/2007 12:38:39 PM · #5

Ah, thank you. Sorry about the hijack, Alan :)

kenskid

Nikon D700

03/09/2007 12:42:32 PM · #6

Dude.... I just viewed this months podcast of Photoshop TV and one segment of it was talking about exactly what you are in need of!

It was a Nikon employee with a D200 and SB800.She used the 800 as remote and showed you how to fire the onboard flash for front flash in addition to the remote. Go to photoshop tv in Itunes and check it out. You don't need to download to ipod to view.

Also,,, the current podcasts is free but past casts are $1.50 each.

Let me know if it helps.

EDIT: Oh oooo....I'm now not sure if it would work with the D70...Sorry!

Kenny

Message edited by author 2007-03-09 12:49:30.

kenskid

Nikon D700

03/09/2007 12:53:39 PM · #7

Ursula...

See my previous post about photoshop tv. They used your D200 and showed both ways of firing the remote....one uses the remote flash only and the other uses your onboard and the remote.

Keep in mind...and you will see this on photoshop tv...that on the defaut setting of commander mode...even though it looks like your onboard flash is firing, it is actually NOT firing at the time of the photo. Those preflashes are only to tell your remote what is going on.

To get both remote and onboard to contribute light to the photo, you have to change some settings...which is shown on Photoshop tv.

Skid

Originally posted by ursula:

I don't have the answer to that, but I've a related question, if you don't mind (I hope you don't).

Is it possible to fire the remote WITHOUT firing the on board flash? I haven't figured out how.

Message edited by author 2007-03-09 12:54:22.

03/09/2007 12:59:28 PM · #8

Originally posted by ursula:

I don't have the answer to that, but I've a related question, if you don't mind (I hope you don't).

Is it possible to fire the remote WITHOUT firing the on board flash? I haven't figured out how.

yeah. you pretty much need an sb-800 or su-200 for that...

though as others have noted, when in commander mode, the camera flash pre-fires, but doesn't actually fire during the shot...

of course,

wavelength has already said as much...

ETA: i have a sb-800 and two sb-600's that i use this way for weddings and portrait shots with quite a bit of success... check the headwear outtakes in my portfolio (among others) for examples... i can send you more if you'd like...

Message edited by author 2007-03-09 13:01:04.

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

03/09/2007 01:03:55 PM · #9

I did tinker with it, and it does indeed work as I was hoping when you have it in SU4 mode, so at least it's *possible* (although, like mentioned before, it only seems to work in manual mode, so you have to manually set the output of the flash).

Now I have a bunch of those blue blobs in my eyes after watching the flashes going off...

As soon as those blobs go away, I'll have to go out and buy a D200, an Ipod, and a subscription to the podcasts so I can see if Ken's suggestions will work ;)

03/09/2007 01:05:20 PM · #10

So it just pre-fires, but doesn't do anything to the picture? DUH!!!!!

I feel SO S-T-O-O-O-P-I-D I could spit!

Message edited by author 2007-03-09 13:09:04.

kenskid

Nikon D700

03/09/2007 01:08:34 PM · #11

I hear ya about the blobs....

...but...Photoshop TV is free...you don't need the ipod or subscription. Easy way is to download free ITUNES program...go to Podcasts and search for photoshop TV. No fee if you're downloading the current episode! Very good 'hands-on' photoshop cast !

Originally posted by alanfreed:

03/09/2007 01:11:04 PM · #12

Originally posted by ursula:

So it just pre-fires, but doesn't do anything to the picture? DUH!!!!!

uh. short answer: exactly.

long answer: well... it kinda depends on the shutter speed and the room... if you use a quick shutter, the light from the pre-flash can actually bounce around long enough to have an effect on the actual photo...

or so i've been told and believed. though i've never had it effect any of my shots in any noticeable fashion.

now that i have an 800 w/ 600's, i don't use commander mode anymore...

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

03/09/2007 01:13:21 PM · #13

Check out the Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon AF Speedlight Flash System: Master the Creative Lighting System. I got it for Christmas. I normally can't stand these type guides, but this one is really good and very up to date as it was published just a few months ago.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/09/2007 01:14:29 PM · #14

Originally posted by alanfreed:

Now I have a bunch of those blue blobs in my eyes after watching the flashes going off...

As soon as those blobs go away, I'll have to go out and buy a D200, an Ipod, and a subscription to the podcasts so I can see if Ken's suggestions will work ;)

trust me, just go get an sb-600... you'll want it when you have the d200 anyway...

and as for blue blobs? just ask my wife how she felt after these two:

sb-600 sitting on her head, fired remotely, pointed at the object to be reflected which was just a few inches away from her eye... we're quite lucky she's not blind now...

wavelength

Nikon D300

03/09/2007 01:24:08 PM · #15

Originally posted by ursula:

So it just pre-fires, but doesn't do anything to the picture? DUH!!!!!

I feel SO S-T-O-O-O-P-I-D I could spit!

OH, I thought you wanted to get it to flash when the on-camera couldn't be in line of site. duh.

03/09/2007 01:27:50 PM · #16

Originally posted by wavelength:

Originally posted by ursula:
So it just pre-fires, but doesn't do anything to the picture? DUH!!!!!

I feel SO S-T-O-O-O-P-I-D I could spit!

OH, I thought you wanted to get it to flash when the on-camera couldn't be in line of site. duh.

Yeah, well, I guess the question was so dumb you didn't even understand it :) Oh well.

But just look at all the learning that might happen here now!

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

03/09/2007 02:45:18 PM · #17

Actually if shooting macro, especially extreme macro, the pre flashes often effects the image. When using macro I always use the FV lock to pre set the exposure using a grey card. It also drastically cuts down on battery usage without the preflashes. You can change the aperture and the flash/camera automatically keeps the same exposure. The only time you need to reset the FV lock is if the subject to flash distance changes.

Kudzu, I agree that the SB-600s are great flashes (I know I have two), but the auto function (lacking on the SB-600) comes in quite handy. The SB-600 will not correctly expose something without communication with the camera. Auto will let the flashâ��s thryister circuit expose correctly using the sensor in the flash. It is great for backgrounds, etc. Of course a different flash can handle this, but it often comes in handy. I use the Nikon SB-80DX and old Vivitar 283s for auto aperture shots, but if you wanted it all in one flash the SB-800 is the only way to go.