Beginner Problem using lencarta commander unit with Nikon D3100

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Gimli

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Rhona
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Please help. I bought Lencarta Ultra Pro 2x 300 soft box and umbrella after advice. just been on the phone to Gary as we seem to be having a problem getting both a Nikon D3100 and D3200 to recognise the commander unit for this. Gary was unsure how to rectify the problem and suggested we posted for advice from others with a similar set up.
Thanks in anticipation.
 
Posted on my advice as I'm sure that someone on here will know the menu setting needed to convince the camera that the pop up flash isn't wanted...
 
Hi mike
Thanks
The problem is more that we are trying to disable the internal flash so that the commander unit takes over and triggers the studio lighting. The commander unit sits on the camera As an external flash would and communicates with the lighting but not with the camera. Garry is suggesting its a Nikon setting so we will have a look.
Thanks
 
i may be missing something here, but I use a nikon (albeit D300s) with the commander with no issues. Surely the built in flash is only enabled when you pop it up? in which case, when using the commander, dont pop it up.......
 
You're not trying to use the 'commander' function of the camera are you?

The camera thinks the wireless commander is a flashgun, so it'll send it a 'fire now' signal. Everything smart and clever is done by the Lencarta trigger system. It'd help everyone if they don't refer to the wireless 'sender' on the camera as a commander, especially if they're Noink users.
 
Thanks for your replies. I'm never too clear with correct terminology.
The studio set works well with the slave sensor which is triggered by the built in flash.
The problem arises when the commander unit (remote control for the studio set) is placed in the flash shoe its not sending that "fire now" signal and nothing happens. As though the camera does not know its there.
We think maybe the cameras aren't smart enough - ?????
Thanks again
 
Gimli said:
Thanks for your replies. I'm never too clear with correct terminology.
The studio set works well with the slave sensor which is triggered by the built in flash.
The problem arises when the commander unit (remote control for the studio set) is placed in the flash shoe its not sending that "fire now" signal and nothing happens. As though the camera does not know its there.
We think maybe the cameras aren't smart enough - ?????
Thanks again
Click to expand...
It's a completely dumb interface, the camera doesn't need to know anything about a flash.
are the batteries in the sender ok? Are the channels the same? Does it work with the test button?

Try firing with the test button, if that doesn't work, check channels and batteries. If it does, try shorting the pins, if that works, put it on the camera. If it then doesn't work, it's a camera setting...

What's the sync speed on the camera? Is the external flash set to fire (might not be Noink terminology, I've not read the manual).
 
I had a few issues with mine.

Put the commander unit on the camera and press the test button on the commander unit, does the little light on the reciever flash? If yes turn the flash head off and back on and it should work ( however it will do it again several times ) if no try putting the commander unit on before turning the camera on. Are you shooting in Manual mode? My pop up did still pop up when in manual I just took the commander off popped it back down and carried on, failing that try them both on a different channel.

Where are you based Rhona?
 
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My understanding of this is that the camera keeps switching on the pop up flash regardless of the fact that it is set to manual, so this is the problem. I advised the OP to set shutter speed to 1/125 and aperture to f/8 as a starting point.
 
Gimli said:
Hi mike
Thanks
The problem is more that we are trying to disable the internal flash so that the commander unit takes over and triggers the studio lighting. The commander unit sits on the camera As an external flash would and communicates with the lighting but not with the camera. Garry is suggesting its a Nikon setting so we will have a look.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I understand perfectly but this is often a mode issue, on program it does automatically pop the flash up, on full manual it does not to the best of my knowledge

Mike
 
  • 1/200s: D5100, D5000, D3200, D3100, D3000, D90, D80, D60 or slower and then set the aperture based on the flash units output.
No Program modes ("A" "S" or "P") can be used when using external strobes, as the camera has no way to meter or control external units.
Warning: Negative voltages or voltages over 250 V applied to the camera's sync terminal could not only prevent normal operation, but may damage the sync circuit of the camera or flash. Check with the strobe manufacturer for voltage specifications.
Click to expand...

from https://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7349/~/using-studio-strobes-with-d-slr-cameras

Mike
 
Thanks for your responses,
Not sure I'm being completely clear. The commander unit fires the lights perfectly, so it all works to the point of attaching the commander unit to the camera, the camera then just does not recognise there is something attached.
I suppose the real Question is can this studio set work with a Nikon D3100 or D3200. Hope this is clearer.
Mike thanks we've purchased the hot shoe adapter to see if that resolves the problem.
Alan we're in central Scotland.
 
just an addit.
When trying to take a picture on manual setting and with the commander unit in place,

if the internal flash is on ... The camera's flash tries to pop up but cannot due to the commander unit getting in the way

If the flash is turned off then no flashes happen and the picture is too dark

Hope this make sense !!
 
I have the d3100 and sometime noticed that if I have the camera powered on and attach a hot shoe flash unit, it sometimes doesn't detect it properly.

Powering the camera off and on seems to resolve the issue.
Have you powered the camera off, attached the commander unit and then powered the camera on?

Also don't mean to sound patronizing but have you defo put the commander unit in the hot shoe the correct way round, ie the pins match up to the hot shoe mount.

Karl
 
Is there a menu setting on the camera to switch off external flashgun? Because the camera should just be treating the commander as an external flash.

There may be other menu settings too (I'm not an expert on Nikon cameras).
 
Karl12347 said:
Also don't mean to sound patronizing but have you defo put the commander unit in the hot shoe the correct way round, ie the pins match up to the hot shoe mount.

Karl
Click to expand...

It does fit both ways and at a demo somebody did mount one of mine the wrong way round so not unheard of.

Mike
 
mike weeks said:
It does fit both ways and at a demo somebody did mount one of mine the wrong way round so not unheard of.

Mike
Click to expand...
Yes, this is a definite possibility - although with it mounted the wrong way round, it would stick out too far and the OP wouldn't be able to use the viewfinder...
 
Thanks all, this commander unit only has one central pin and if we were to put it on the wrong way (which we can't) we wouldn't be able to see through the viewfinder. The unit is the size of a deck of playing cards and the unit protrudes out the front of the camera, it attaches horizontally not vertically.

Karl do you have lencarta lighting too?

We do have an external flash that works perfectly when connected to the camera we just expected the commander unit to do the same.

Thanks again
 
Which commander unit is it then? Mine is vertical.

My guess is that it's a camera setting though.
 
Phil V said:
Which commander unit is it then? Mine is vertical.

My guess is that it's a camera setting though.
Click to expand...
You have the Commander for the SmartFlash/ElitePro/SuperFast/Atom/Safari 2.
Rhona has the one for the UltraPro, here
 
So how do the other units work? Does the camera just recognise the unit? Or are there specific settings .
 
Gimli said:
So how do the other units work? Does the camera just recognise the unit? Or are there specific settings .
Click to expand...
There's no specific settings, as I said before, the camera thinks the trigger is a dumb flashgun, that's key to the relationship.

So like all (99%) of studio lighting, you're setting up the camera in Manual mode, the camera left at default settings will fire a flash as the first shutter curtain gets to the 'open' position. I can't stress this enough, the relationship between the camera and flash trigger has no intelligence at all, it's completely dumb...

However, I've had a look at the D3100 manual and it seems that Nikon never really considered anyone using an external flash system, all of the instructions deal with dedicated flashguns. It looks completely mental to me. But the instructions do say that unless you're in Flash Off mode, the flash should fire when the shutter opens.
 
i know on canon cameras there is a tiny micro switch underneath one of the flash hotshoe guide rails which is depressed when an external flash / flash trigger is mounted which lets the camera know there is something attached
i'm wondering if nikon use the same method and if it does is the flash trigger pushing the switch down far enough ?

it's all i can think of which would stop an external flash or flash trigger from firing
 
If you put an external flash gun on the camera hot shoe,does it work as it should?
 
I use a D3100 both in a studio and with external flashes with dumb triggers. Not with commanders I'm afraid.

I'm struggling to think what the problem could be here.

Check the connection with the camera - tighten any wheel to attach the commander to the camera - most of my misfires are caused when I have not done that.

Have you tried the D3100 with a dumb trigger? That I suspect is the interface that the commander unit that you are using - and that would confirm that the D3100 is set up OK (not that there's many settings on it). If that works, then it is not the camera. If it doesn't then you have a camera problem.

For me:

Set in Manual mode, with the settings that Gary is recommending, it triggers the flashes each time - you do not need to "tell" the camera there is something there.

Hope that helps

Brian
Edit to add: Oh - of course and try the commander on another camera - to rule out the commander - if you can find one!
 
Thanks for responses and brian good to hear from a d3100 user. Thanks again Phil, you're working hard for us!!!

Ade yes the external flash works on the cameras

Just tried the commander on a canon and that didn't Fire the studio set either. So that's 3 cameras d3100 d3200 and a canon.

Do you think we need to sync the commander to the camera or could the commander unit be faulty?

Thanks again
Rhona
 
Gimli said:
Thanks for responses and brian good to hear from a d3100 user. Thanks again Phil, you're working hard for us!!!

Ade yes the external flash works on the cameras

Just tried the commander on a canon and that didn't Fire the studio set either. So that's 3 cameras d3100 d3200 and a canon.

Do you think we need to sync the commander to the camera or could the commander unit be faulty?

Thanks again
Rhona
Click to expand...
Again the interface is as dumb as it gets, there's nothing on the camera to 'sync'. If it doesn't work on 3 different cameras, it's knackered, or you're the worst tester in history. My guess is the first, but out of interest, can you 'fire' it with a paper clip to test it?
 
I don't understand what you mean by firing it with a paperclip
Rhona
 
With my last comment I'm sure you're opening up the possibility of worst tester again :facepalm:
 
You can short the contacts with a paperclip bent for the purpose. Just hold one part against one of the side contacts, then touch the centre pin with the other end.
All the camera does is close that circuit when the shutter opens, so it's an easy test.
 
Have you set the Commander up as per the instructions? It won't fire if you haven't, so that could be the problem. It's all as per the instructions, but give me a ring if you're struggling.
 
Thanks phil, there is only one central point on the commander so sounds like a paperclip test wouldn't work.

Garry yes, it was set up according to instructions, I'll try cal you tomorrow, thanks.
 
Gimli said:
Thanks phil, there is only one central point on the commander so sounds like a paperclip test wouldn't work.

Garry yes, it was set up according to instructions, I'll try cal you tomorrow, thanks.
Click to expand...
The centre pin and one of the side contacts. That's the std hot shoe connections, and all the shutter does is close that circuit.
 
@bdslr and @Gimli could you set up a Skype session to go through this? It's so frustrating not being able to do more (wrong gear, geography :mad:)
 
Thanks Phil - really appreciate your help. I'll chat with Garry tomorrow, it may be the commander unit is faulty as its all functioning until it sits in the shoe.
 
I very much doubt whether it's faulty, but it may not be set up correctly, or may have been overtightened or undertightened on the hotshoe, which can cause a poor connection. Anyway, the phone call should sort it out.
 
If the cameras trigger other flashes and the commander does not fire on multiple cameras then it's the commander. (That's basic fault finding in action).

I suspect the paperclip wouldnt work either.

I dont know enough about the commander to advise on that - I use dumb triggers

Phil V said:
@bdslr and @Gimli could you set up a Skype session to go through this? It's so frustrating not being able to do more (wrong gear, geography :mad:)
Click to expand...

I would struggle to get to a Skype session anytime soon - but @Gimli - if you think I could help then ping me a message and we'll find time to call (but be warned I'm really busy over the next few days)
Brian
 
yayyyyy we have the lights working. There was a minor error in the manual. It said press the down button where in fact it's the up button. Feeling relieved and very thankful for all the input from those that responded. Thank you very much, hopefully we won't have other issues. The equipment is fantastic and looking forward to having some fun with it now. Thank you all soooooo much!!!!
 
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