D60 flash problems

[D.S.]

I'm struggling using the flash on my D60. No problems using the popup for snap shots and the likes, but when doing close up stuff i'm getting lots of lens shadow. Anyway talking to my dad about it, (hes got a Nikon SLR film camera, manual lenses) he suggested borrowing his hot shoe flash gun. Its a Nikon SB-17, quite old, but works well. Anyway when using this every bloody shot is completely blown out, pretty much for whatever type of shot I try and use it on. Its like it hugely too powerful, it just completely washes out the scene. I have to angle the flash bit to completely point off subject, and the results are frankly crap, none of my shots last night even made it to PP, they were all junk.

I know its not suitable as is for macro work, I have ordered a off the camera TTL cable to try, and if I very heavily dampen the flash it might be better.

Also the camera itself doesn't seem to have many flash options. In a thread in macro shots I was advised to 'set the camera to sync the flash at the shutter speed'. How the hell do I do that? I couldn't find anything in the settings that would translate to that.

The in camera flash options don't seem overly configurable?

Any pointers for someone starting to get a bit frustrated?

 

[puddleduck]

Well this flash you are using isn't technically compatible with the D60, but you could try AA mode?

Otherwise just set your manual output to 1/64 or 1/32 strength,and brighten from there. You can't control this flash via the D60.

I don't know anything about this particular flash so can't offer insights as to how you might do this,but the principle is sound.

 

[D.S.]

Well this flash you are using isn't technically compatible with the D60.... You can't control this flash via the D60.

Ah so its not metering TTL, and subsequently flashing at full power?

Is there a flash compatibility table somewhere?

 

[puddleduck]

The only flashes that will work are the SB-400, SB-600,SB-800 and SB-900.

The D60 only supports i-TTL, anything before it using D-TTL or older.

(wrote this off the top of my head, but it should be correct)

The body can't meter the flash, but you should get good results with AA mode.

Actually most Nikon bodies post D100 can't use older flashes, its not a D60 problem per se.

 

[D.S.]

Glup, bloody pricey arnt they lol

Whats AA mode? Is that on the camera or the flash unit?

 

[puddleduck]

Most flashes have AA mode, essentially the flash is able to meter the scene and exposure correctly as long as you set the aperture and shutter speed (the camera won't report this to the flash)

The little SB-400 is very nice,I used one off camera on a cable for flash no problem on my D60.

I got rid of all my stupid oversized flashes and just use an SB-400, its great, and only about £75

 

[D.S.]

Stunning picture!

Guess i'll have to fork out some more money then lol

Cheers for the advice!