SU-4 remote setting with SB-800

[Mr Noble]

Have been trying to get this working.

Can get the SB-800 to fire when the built-in flash on my D70 goes off but if fires a bit too early or too late and makes no difference to the shot.

I even took a picture of the sb800 going off and its barely lit up.

Has anyone else used this function and got it to work correctally?

Could be hand for my new macro lens pics etc.

Greg

[mmertens]

Did you try to set the D70 to full manual? I think the SB800 in SU4 mode would be confused by the metering preflash from the D70... I get the same problem when playing around with my old Metz flash + fotocell - it fires too early. I think (not 100% sure tho) that by setting the D70 to full manual you disable any preflashes and your problem may be resolved... It does mean however that you have to set the lighting/exposure/aperture/flash output by hand...

Might be complete BS but I think that could be th cause of your problem.

Maarten

[simpo two]

You need to set it to Command Mode.

I worked this out once, took the pic below then forgot how to do it!

[Mr Noble]

Can you make the sb-800 go off away from the camera without the built-in one going off?

Looks like you managed that in that cool kitty pic!

Never heard of command mode.........time to get the manuals out again.

Thanks

[simpo two]

Mr Noble said:

Can you make the sb-800 go off away from the camera without the built-in one going off?

No, it needs it as master (hence 'command mode'), but it doesn't contribute to the exposure by some clever timing I think. This is defo an RTM job, both for camera and flash, and they tuck it away. Persevere and you'll find the combination eventually

>> Edited by simpo two on Monday 25th July 23:46

[Mr Noble]

Found it all after a long read of the D70 manual and SB-800 book!

This is a great feature for anyone who does not know about it.

Your SB-800 can be fired remotly with no conections to the camera.

It can be used in addition to or instead of the built-in flash, allowing some very cool shots to be taken!

Thanks Simpo.

Greg

[mmertens]

I misunderstood your first post - I thought you wanted to use it in SU4 mode (which is not command mode, more like a slave mode) instead of command mode... Didn't realize you didn't know command mode. Simpo already made you find the details.

As an aside, to use them both at the same time, if I'm not mistaken, you will need SU4 mode and handle the metering manually... In command mode, the onboard flash is used only to transmit the metering info to the SB800 in wireless fashion, it doesn't contribute to lighting.

Am I right, Simpo?

Best regards,
Maarten

[Mr Noble]

It was in SU-4 mode that I had the problems. The built in flash was firing and the sb800 was also but the sb800 was not contribution to the exposure. It was going off too early or too late.

I will try commander mode later to see what happens then.

I thought the manual said that both the built in and sb800 would work in tandem to light the subject.

Complicated or what??

Greg

[simpo two]

Well done Greg! The hard bit now is remembering tomorrow how you did it today...

Can we have a switch that says 'Master/Slave' please Mr Nikon? Oh no, far too easy!