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F-Stop

F-Stop

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Ian
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Went and picked up an SB-600 tonight. Already confused. lol.

So far I've found that in order to use the flash with my D80, I have to use the on-board flash as well. Don't really like that but oh well. Looking at getting a pocket wizard or SU-800 next maybe.

Any links you guys can suggest that would help me tackle this would be appreciated.

:D
 
Im assuming you mean to use the SB600 as an off camera flash you need to use the onboard flash to send a signal to it?
 
Can you not set the on-board flash to '0' in the menus somewhere? I know you can on the D300, so it sends out its magical signal, but doesn't flash itself.

I use Canon, so not the best to comment, but I believe Nikon's CLS is very good. Someone posted a short video up here on the subject last week, worth a search.

Jamie.
 
It still flashes.

Only way around it wirelessly is to use the SU-800 controller. It is actually quite a bit easier too. No menus or anything to flick through. Everything you need to change is on the back of the controller. Quick and easy.
 
King_Boru said:
It still flashes.

Only way around it wirelessly is to use the SU-800 controller. It is actually quite a bit easier too. No menus or anything to flick through. Everything you need to change is on the back of the controller. Quick and easy.
Click to expand...

Would pocket wizards or skyports work? Which route would you suggest? I'm thinking going down the SU-800 route, but not sure. Been researching for an hour or so. hehe
 
I'm not familiar with Nikon flash but if you go down the route of Skyports or Pocket Wizards you will lose ETTL (or whatever the Nikon equivalent is) and everything will be in manual. Personally I prefer that for off camera flash as it gives me more control but I guess I'm used to it.

I would imagine the range is vastly improved with radio triggers, particularly outside in sunny conditions. Again making assumptions here but I take it the su-800 works on infra-red.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
You could get one of these.
Click to expand...

They don't sell them any more from Speed Graphic.

I would go down the line of radio triggers with Skyports being my pick :lol:
More range, better working when out in sun, don't missfire because the infra-red is not picking up the flash.

It might cost some more going down the radio line but it's so worth doing it!! I did it and never looked back!
 
I have the sb600 and d80 and use mine off camera using the onboard to fill in and in commander mode to trigger the sb600. The instructions certainly imply that in commander mode you can turn the onboard off so its does flash but need to have it raised to send a signal to the sb600, although i have never tried /needed to do that.

Kevin
 
As far as I am aware the on camera flash is so insignificant (when turned right down) that it doesnt affect the the lighting of the scene.

The real problem i find with CLS is the limited angle where the on came flash is able to trigger the speedlights. You get much more flxibility with the pocket wizzards or Bowens pulsars.
 
Doesn't the D80 have a built-in IR transmitter for firing the SB-600?
 
With a radio controlled remote triggering set up – like PWs – you got the charging of yet other sets of batteries to contend with, F-Stop. As if you didn't have enough already. I can tell you from experience that's an open invitation to Murphy's Law to act up.
Also, the PW's range, about 1500 feet, is of course 70 times overkill. The IR's range of 20 to 30 feet is more than enough in real life. And no extra batteries to charge!

Have fun!
 
Jacco said:
With a radio controlled remote triggering set up – like PWs – you got the charging of yet other sets of batteries to contend with, F-Stop. As if you didn't have enough already. I can tell you from experience that's an open invitation to Murphy's Law to act up.
Also, the PW's range, about 1500 feet, is of course 70 times overkill. The IR's range of 20 to 30 feet is more than enough in real life. And no extra batteries to charge!

Have fun!
Click to expand...

However the IR triggers are about 20% fire 80% misfire when you take them outside. Therefore pretty pointless. I would rather (have) spend the money so you know your flashes will fire all the time by getting some radio triggers. Once you go radio you never look back!!
 
cherryrig said:
However the IR triggers are about 20% fire 80% misfire when you take them outside.
Click to expand...

Yours apparently do/did, cherry. Proper ones don't.
As with everything.
I maybe had 3 misfirings (non-triggering events) in the last 25 years. If that. Which were easily remedied in 2 seconds flat.
 
on the D70 in commader mode, you hold down thebutton that normaly pops up the onboard flash, and with it help rotate the dial to turn the flash down, if you go all the way down, it is enough to fire the external flash but not enough to effect the subject

not got my camera with me so i may be wrong, that might be just for altering the flash out put on the pop up for flash compensation, but its certainly close lol

That said I have never used D80 so it may be completely different
 
Had my first shoot today while using the new flash. Off camera worked like a champ so I don't really see the reason of getting the SU-800 now... I just want more SB-600's.
Click to expand...

Isnt it that you can only have 1 off cam sb600 without a sb800 to control them?

I just have a couple of those IR remote slave things (less that a tenner each) that look for light changes to fire the attached flash, ( i have 2 of them so potentially I coudl set up my sb600 + extras - might try it some time)
 
Bolerus said:
Isnt it that you can only have 1 off cam sb600 without a sb800 to control them?

I just have a couple of those IR remote slave things (less that a tenner each) that look for light changes to fire the attached flash, ( i have 2 of them so potentially I coudl set up my sb600 + extras - might try it some time)
Click to expand...

In Commander mode on the SB800 you have 3 groups A,B & C, in theory you can have as many flashes linked to Group A as you wanted. So for instance you could have 2 flash's on each channel which would allow you to run 6 flashguns at once.
 
Bolerus said:
Isnt it that you can only have 1 off cam sb600 without a sb800 to control them?

I just have a couple of those IR remote slave things (less that a tenner each) that look for light changes to fire the attached flash, ( i have 2 of them so potentially I coudl set up my sb600 + extras - might try it some time)
Click to expand...

Let me know what you find out. The D80 has the option of multiple groups, but not sure it can control multiple 600's.
 
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