Firing an SB25 flashgun

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Dal

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Nice and simple one today,

I've got a Nikon D300, and an SB800 already, and I've got an SB25 on its way too me.

I want to fire both the flashguns remotely without using any cables.

Is this what I need to fire off the SB25? (I'm aware the SB25 will only work in Manual.

Optical Trigger
 
That should work but you'll need to be able to disable any pre-flashes from your onboard flash or the sb25 will go off before the shutter.
 
Dal, yes, that'll work. However if you want to retain TTL metering then either use a fancy wireless system that'll cost you the earth, or use a Nikon SU-4 unit that will let you use the SB25 in auto mode. It's basically a hardware version of the SU-4 Creative Lighting System that you get on the SB600/800/900. Bought one the other week and can't say enough good words about it.

EDIT: Examples here of use with a SB28 attached and an SB800 on the camera
 
specialman said:
Dal, yes, that'll work. However if you want to retain TTL metering then either use a fancy wireless system that'll cost you the earth, or use a Nikon SU-4 unit that will let you use the SB25 in auto mode. It's basically a hardware version of the SU-4 Creative Lighting System that you get on the SB600/800/900. Bought one the other week and can't say enough good words about it.
Click to expand...
Writing as a top notch hi-flyer electronic genius, one does not have to lose the preflash and TTL, the off camera flash just ignores it and fires on the second flash.
:thumbs:
 
specialman said:
Dal, yes, that'll work. However if you want to retain TTL metering then either use a fancy wireless system that'll cost you the earth, or use a Nikon SU-4 unit that will let you use the SB25 in auto mode. It's basically a hardware version of the SU-4 Creative Lighting System that you get on the SB600/800/900. Bought one the other week and can't say enough good words about it.

EDIT: Examples here of use with a SB28 attached and an SB800 on the camera
Click to expand...

That looks very interesting, although I’m slightly confused as to how that works.

Can you explain the setup? Does it just hook upto the SB25 to receive the TTL data from the camera?
 
It works like the CLS using pre-flashes to determine exposure. It's basically an optical slave built onto a circuitry box that then connects to the flash via the hotshoe. The pre-flash from the camera tells it what the exposure is and it fires off accordingly, stopping the flash when enough light has been sent out to light the subject (or something like that :))

I've used it a bit, not loads, but every time it works a treat. I'm still trying to get used to it fully but as an optical slave it's brilliant and has a god working range.
 
Sounds like the thing I need then.

I notice from your thread that you have the SB800 on the camera, will the SU-4 work with the SB800 off camera and in remote mode with the camera in commander mode? Thats what I’m looking at doing.
 
It's designed for the old pre-DX flashes (SB24/25/26/28) where a commander mode didn't exist so you basically just either set the flash to auto or manual so you dictate the power output. It's basically an optical trigger with the ability to read pre-flashes so you get balanced exposure.

I do tend to use my off-camera flashes in manual mode a lot of the time, with the camera set to manual, which in turn cancels the pre-flash according to Nikon. I just find it much more reliable than the cheapo ebay triggers.
 
Why don't you use the SB800 off camera via the commander unit in the camera instead?

Could I use the SB800 and SB25 (both off camera) using that SU-4 or would I be better off with that ebay optical trigger?

I'm not too bothered about using the SB25 in manual anyway really, just so long as it works with the SB800.
 
I don't like the built-in flash power-wise. I prefer to have the SB800 on the camera (or connected via a sync cord) because I think it's the easiest of the three flashes I own to adjust. I then have the SB28 on the SU-4 and sometimes an SB26 firing remotely via its optical slave.

You can daisy-chain using the SU-4 and something like the SC17 sync cord; attached the sync cord to the base of the SB800 and connect the other end of the cord to the SU-4. Then attach the SB25 to the hotshoe and there you go.

There's a bit about it here

Here's an example shot:

DSC3338.jpg


Flash on the far side of the car is an SB800 on the SU-4 set to TTL with a 105mm zoom just to create the strong shadows. The flash hitting the side of the car that you can see is an SB26 firing via its built-in optical slave. That's set to Auto, although I had to do a bit of faffing with the aperture value/power because it's so close to the car. All triggered by a camera mounted SB28 on Manual 1/8th power.

It's a great piece of kit that's definitely worth investing in.
 
Thanks for that.

I know you prefer to use a flashgun on the camera to trigger the other flash's but can you trigger them with just the pop-up flash as thats what I intend to do.

Thanks
 
Dal said:
I know you prefer to use a flashgun on the camera to trigger the other flash's but can you trigger them with just the pop-up flash as thats what I intend to do.
Click to expand...

If you want to use the pop up flash as a trigger but you don't want it affecting exposure, you can cover it with an infra red (or deep red) filter.

Most optical triggers will fire from an infra red source.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
If you want to use the pop up flash as a trigger but you don't want it affecting exposure, you can cover it with an infra red (or deep red) filter.

Most optical triggers will fire from an infra red source.
Click to expand...

Good advice, or get the SG-1 diffuser that comes as standard with the Nikon SU-4 - it fits on the camera hotshoe to diffuse and dull down the owner of the in-built flash so it doesn't affect the exposure

Dal, the only reason i tend to prefer a proper flashgun to act as the master is for bigger distaces in daylight - sometimes on a bright day the reach of a built-in flash isn't strong enough to fire the SU-4 or another flash. For indoor work or short-range macro then the pop-up flash is fine :)
 
Ah, now I understand the reason for using the flashgun.

I'm bidding on an SU-4 so fingers crossed I'll win it.

Thanks guys.
 
I was bidding on one on ebay and forgot about the auction as I was out, lost it by £1, gonna keep my eye out for another one now.

b****r lol
 
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