Help using my SB600 please...please...

[missemanuel]

Hello

So for my week one of Photo 52 I thought id challenge myself and do something ive never done, use my speedlight off camera. Now iv managed to work out how to get it working changing all the settings on and off camera just!


The thing I can work out though is how to trigger it without having to use the on camera flash... Is this the only way? Or do I need to buy a seperate trigger to put on the camera as if I was doing studio lighting etc so that I dont need to use the on camera flash?

I dont want to use it as I only want to light the object from the back so am struggling....:bang:

Any advice would be great

thanks

 

[f1charlie]

You can get a panel which blocks visible light from the on-board flash but lets through the infra-red the signal which triggers the SB-600 - look for Nikon SG3-IR.

You could try diffusing the on-board flash with some tissue paper which may lessen the on-board flash effect (which should be at low power anyway) and may still let the infra-red through.

Alternatively you are looking at a flash trigger, but you lose the CLS capability of the SB-600.

 

[specialman]

In the commander mode set the onboard flash to the '--' symbol and that should just fire a pre-flash that will tell the SB600 what to do. That pre-flash shouldn't really register on the overall exposure so I believe. It all happens so quickly your eyes think it's all going on at the same time but pre-flashes do actually happen before the main event hence the name).

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon_d300_users/discuss/72157624767326977/

 

[Yv]

In the commander mode set the onboard flash to the '--' symbol and that should just fire a pre-flash that will tell the SB600 what to do. That pre-flash shouldn't really register on the overall exposure so I believe. It all happens so quickly your eyes think it's all going on at the same time but pre-flashes do actually happen before the main event hence the name).

yup, exaclty what he said, and it does work as long as your shutter speeds aren't ridiculously slow, at which point, it shouldn't cause problems, but having experimented previously, it can cause some light from onboard so show on exposure.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D300/MRP/images/D300_0009.jpg

set onboard to look as above image link, the others can be manual, ttl, whatever you prefer

 

[missemanuel]

In the commander mode set the onboard flash to the '--' symbol and that should just fire a pre-flash that will tell the SB600 what to do. That pre-flash shouldn't really register on the overall exposure so I believe. It all happens so quickly your eyes think it's all going on at the same time but pre-flashes do actually happen before the main event hence the name).

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon_d300_users/discuss/72157624767326977/

Hey thanks

I did try this mode in commander but the pre-flash does seem to be adding some exposure to the subject? Mmmm....

 

[missemanuel]

You can get a panel which blocks visible light from the on-board flash but lets through the infra-red the signal which triggers the SB-600 - look for Nikon SG3-IR.

You could try diffusing the on-board flash with some tissue paper which may lessen the on-board flash effect (which should be at low power anyway) and may still let the infra-red through.

Alternatively you are looking at a flash trigger, but you lose the CLS capability of the SB-600.

Thanks Charlie, I think is maybe what I need to use as Im still getting light from the pre-flash in commander mode.... off to jacobs!

 

[missemanuel]

yup, exaclty what he said, and it does work as long as your shutter speeds aren't ridiculously slow, at which point, it shouldn't cause problems, but having experimented previously, it can cause some light from onboard so show on exposure.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D300/MRP/images/D300_0009.jpg

set onboard to look as above image link, the others can be manual, ttl, whatever you prefer

Thanks for the screen shot I am still getting the pre-flash interferring though, I guess as Im doing quite close up work..... going to see if I can buy a blocker or some black card!

 

[Mahoneyd187]

Hi

I use skyports to trigger all my flashes, including my sb600. You can get cheaper triggers on eBay that work well.

More reliable than cls but obviously you have to set the flash power manually, which I actually prefer.

If pop up flash is set to -- with 0 compensation then it really shouldn't add to the exposure it should just trigger the SB. Not trying to teach you to suck eggs in the slightest just trying to help when I ask, what exactly are you getting that shows conclusively the additional exposure is from the pop up flash?

Kind Regards

Danny

 

[missemanuel]

Hi

I use skyports to trigger all my flashes, including my sb600. You can get cheaper triggers on eBay that work well.

More reliable than cls but obviously you have to set the flash power manually, which I actually prefer.

If pop up flash is set to -- with 0 compensation then it really shouldn't add to the exposure it should just trigger the SB. Not trying to teach you to suck eggs in the slightest just trying to help when I ask, what exactly are you getting that shows conclusively the additional exposure is from the pop up flash?

Kind Regards

Danny

Thanks Danny, actually im photographing eggs! lol......

Well its highlighting what I am shooting and as the speedlight is in wrapped in a vase, in a black cloth the light is not coming from that! ... Ill check out the skyports trigger thanks...