Problems with Pocket Wizard Flex system in manual mode on SB900

TG.

TG.

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I recently purchased a mini TT1 and flex TT5, along with the AC3 for my Nikon SB900. I've only just tried it out yesterday, and here is whats happening.

The AC3 is supposed to control the flash output from the camera, in TTL mode and manual mode, however it doesn't appear to be working in manual, if i put it in TTL and set the AC3 to auto it works fine moving power up or down, if i then change the SB900 to manual, and set the AC3 to manual, the AC3 will not change the power output in either direction, however if i leave the AC3 on manual, and switch the SB900 back to TTL it will change the output settings on the flash up or down again.

So is this normal ? as the way i see it is if the SB900 is put in TTL but the AC3 set in manual is still changing the settings on the SB900 this surely isn't full manual control, or am i missing something :thinking: i hope i'm making sense, if not please say and i will try to elaborate.

Oh and just to add, I've updated the firmware on both units, but the problem is still there.
 
If the gun is set to manual, it will ignore all instructions coming through the hot-shoe. When set to auto-TTL, it will then do what it's told.
 
JonathanRyan said:
RTFM........

http://www.pocketwizard.com/upload/photos/815Mini_Flex_Nikon_QG_ENG_v3.0.pdf

Speedlight goes in TTL always with TT5s. Then you choose the mode and power from the AC3.
Click to expand...

I did, but i obviously missed something.

HoppyUK said:
If the gun is set to manual, it will ignore all instructions coming through the hot-shoe. When set to auto-TTL, it will then do what it's told.
Click to expand...

I guess i'm not getting my head around, how your manually controlling the flash, while it is in TTL mode, it just seems then like your adding flash ev which you would just do from the cameras built in flash + - ev anyway :shrug:
 
TG. said:
I did, but i obviously missed something.



I guess i'm not getting my head around, how your manually controlling the flash, while it is in TTL mode, it just seems then like your adding flash ev which you would just do from the cameras built in flash + - ev anyway :shrug:
Click to expand...

The gun doesn't have a TTL mode as such (all exposure measurement is done by the camera). It simply has two operating modes a) manual - where the power output is set on back of the gun, or b) when power is set by instructions received through the hot-shoe.

The gun actually has no idea whether it's TTL firing instruction has been decided by the camera, or the operator - but it needs to be in TTL mode to receive and act on it.

In manual, the difference is really in the PW transmitter that responds to operator settings, and not any firing instructions issued by the camera.
 
Really, there are lots and lots of things you need to set right to get TT5s to work (for example, cameras should be set to FP 1/250 NOT FP 1/320, changing VR mode on a lens can muck things up, etc etc).

Go to the quick start guide I linked to and work through each point. Flashguns in TTL always - or they won't listen to the instructions from the "camera".
 
JonathanRyan said:
for example, cameras should be set to FP 1/250 NOT FP 1/320, changing VR mode on a lens can muck things up, etc etc).
Click to expand...

Yes i had that bit covered Jonathan, i watched several tutorials from the PW website, none of them mentioned anything about my original query, i just couldn't get my head around how a flash was having manual settings adjusted while it was in TTL mode, i can see it somewhat better now after Richards explanation, i do think it should be covered more on the PW site, and be clarified more, as from further reading other forums, it would appear i am not on my own :)
 
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