SU-800 Cords Question?

SummerSound · 18 Mar 2011

Hi all,

I'm trying to develop my skills in off-camera flash for portraiture.

My current set-up is an SU-800, an SB-900 and an SB-600 (borrowed from a friend!).

I love how the SU-800 works. I think the way in which you can adjust the flash output and shift the A/B balance so quickly, is great.

My early experiments were all indoors and my set-up worked perfectly. However, I've taken the set-up outdoors recently and I'm starting to have some problems. I took some shots a couple of days ago on a pier over Lake Windermere and I was having real problems getting the flashes to fire using the SU-800.

I'm aware that this is known issue.

Here's my question though!
Can I connect cords between the SU-800 and the flashes? I want to maintain all of the compensation/A-B balance functionality of the SU-800 but use cords (if the situation requires them) to guarantee that the flashes fire every time. Is this possible? And if so, which cables would work?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

itsdavedotnet · 19 Mar 2011

no.

You can however use normal TTL cords to take the SU-800 off your camera, and put it on a light stand or similar, to aim it better at the receiving flashes.

Nikon needs to build a radio CLS system

SummerSound · 19 Mar 2011

itsdavedotnet said:
no.

So the A and B ports on the side of the SU-800 are only for the macro setup?

This seems insane! Why can't you use longer cords for portraits, groups etc??

cobra_lite · 19 Mar 2011

itsdavedotnet said:
no.

You can however use normal TTL cords to take the SU-800 off your camera, and put it on a light stand or similar, to aim it better at the receiving flashes.

Nikon needs to build a radio CLS system

Agreed - the 'line-of-sight' only capability of the SU-800 and the fact that it doesn't have a directional 'bounce-able' head is truly irksome - especially considering its price-tag: I just use a SB900 on commander-only mode to trigger things, though it can still allow some light to creep into your images if used up-close.

winkiwin · 19 Mar 2011

in the past i've triggered my sb-800 in another room via the built in commander - no line of sight but as long as you can bounce the flash around it can work

PSILVERMAN · 20 Mar 2011

winkiwin said:
in the past i've triggered my sb-800 in another room via the built in commander - no line of sight but as long as you can bounce the flash around it can work

Interesting.

Ozei · 20 Mar 2011

winkiwin said:
in the past i've triggered my sb-800 in another room via the built in commander - no line of sight but as long as you can bounce the flash around it can work

Ditto for me.

Haven't tried it oudoors.

itsdavedotnet · 20 Mar 2011

winkiwin said:
in the past i've triggered my sb-800 in another room via the built in commander - no line of sight but as long as you can bounce the flash around it can work

yep, CLS is a lot better than many people give it credit for. Works great

SummerSound · 20 Mar 2011

winkiwin said:
in the past i've triggered my sb-800 in another room via the built in commander - no line of sight but as long as you can bounce the flash around it can work

Yeah, the SU-800 is pretty amazing indoors too. I've very rarely had any problems when the signal has walls to bounce off.

I just honestly can't believe this though:

SummerSound said:
So the A and B ports on the side of the SU-800 are only for the macro setup?

This seems insane! Why can't you use longer cords for portraits, groups etc??

Is this definitely true?? The ports are right there! It seems ludicrous that you can't get a cord to connect the SU-800 with standard Nikon flashes.

Ozei · 20 Mar 2011

SummerSound said:
Is this definitely true?? The ports are right there! It seems ludicrous that you can't get a cord to connect the SU-800 with standard Nikon flashes.

You'd need to get an SC-30 cable to try it with the SB-600/700/800/900.

SummerSound · 20 Mar 2011

Ozei said:
You'd need to get an SC-30 cable to try it with the SB-600/700/800/900.

Thanks for the reply Ozei.

I am aware of the SC-30 cables but I've only ever seen really short ones! I think they're just intended for the macro setup.

Ozei · 20 Mar 2011

SummerSound said:
Thanks for the reply Ozei.

I am aware of the SC-30 cables but I've only ever seen really short ones! I think they're just intended for the macro setup.

Yes, I've just been looking and they're very short cables.

http://www.adorama.com/NKSC30.html

Plus, they're 8-pin connectors and standard Nikon guns don't have 8-pin ports (at least the SB-800 doesn't).

Ozei · 20 Mar 2011

The SB-800 only has a 3-pin sync port - so firing it by cable from the SU-800 is impossible unless a 'special' 8-pin to 3-pin cable would do the trick (highly unlikely methinks).

SummerSound · 21 Mar 2011

Thanks again for your thoughts Ozei.

Anyone else have any ideas/suggestions?

Wail · 29 Mar 2011

This isn't a cable solution; but like you, I wanted to use CLS outdoors over a fair distance.

Radio Poppers, google them, are a USA based company that make converters that fit onto the SU-800 and SB-xxx flash. Basically, their converters convert the infra red signal from the SU-800 into a radio frequency and then back to IR at the receiving end (connected to the flash).

This is not a cheep solution by any means; but it's the best I've found so far.

chphotos · 29 Mar 2011

The new, but expensive option, is with the Pocket Wizard Flex and AC3 controller. This will give you all the functionality of the SU800, but wirelessly.