DSLRUsers.com

Recently (the last day or so) my SB800 has been firing very quick/fast single flashes when attached tot he camera. I thought it might be the contacts on the top of the camera/bottom of the flash so gave them a quick clean/wipe with some dry paper towel. No fix. Any ideas anyone?

Dry paper towel wouldn't really clean much, would it? Do you have some metho?

macka wrote:Dry paper towel wouldn't really clean much, would it? Do you have some metho?

Yep, good idea Kris, thanks.

Does it do it on the D70 as well as the D200? I seem to remember quite a few complaining about this happening on the D200 not long after they were released- can't remember if any reason was found though.

Cheers

I think Kris means you should drink the meths: this seems to be a common problem on the D200.

Check the hotshoe mount. Is the foot loose? (or fancy free)

It should also be mentioned that my SB800 would also fire intermittantly on Geoff's D200 hotshoe shuffle. This suggests that it is a camera specific problem.

Geoff, I had two SB800's with my D200. One of them had exactly the same problems you are describing and the other one never had a problem
In addition, neither of the two flashes had problems with my D2X

My feeling was that it was a connection problem between some SB800's and the D200.

I found several discussions on this forum and on DPR but there was no fix for it.

Just got to live with it I think.

Stuart

smac wrote:Just got to live with it I think.

Stuart

Hmmm...thanks Stuart. It's annoying though isn't it?

Geoff,

My only suggestion (other than buying another SB800 and that may have the same problem) is to perhaps "swap" your SB800 with someone who has a camera other than a D200 (does not seem to be a problem with other models).

This logic is based on two assumptions:
1) Not all SB800's have the same issue with D200's (as per my earlier post) and
2) You can find someone with a different body and is willing to swap their SB800

The least you could do is borrow someone's SB800 to prove point (1).

I found it very difficult to replicate the problem on cue, sort of like when you have a problem with your car but it never happens when you have it in for a service.

Stuart

Geoff
I have the same problem and it is common to the D200. It's fairly intermittent so I just put up with it. It would be nice if there was a simple fix but I haven't heard of one.

WOW does it too mine as well...........its bloody annoying when in a church and the flash keeps firing, not allowing for the fact that it chews up batteries, i thought this was only a 'me' problem.......i LOVE this site for info like this!!!

This is my second unit as well, got another because it thought it was my old one

I don't know if this answers some of Smac's suggestions, but, yesterday, Geoff placed my SB800 on his D200, and it suffered the same problem. However, I have never had this problem with the SB800 on my D200. I didn't try Geoff's SB800 on my D200.

Sounds like some circuitry thing inside some of the D200?? Geoff, which D200 firmware are you currently on? I don't think upgrading the firmware will help, but just wanting to see if it is the early production D200 that suffered this problem or it is for all of them... hmm...

Good question Yi-p.


A 1.01
B 1.00

I don't even know what the latest firmware is...

I will investigate

drop the cam to lidcombe nikon aus for a service will fix it

It would appear that the problem stems from a loose fit of the SB800. This does not affect all SB800 or D200.

Chris - interesting findings. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised that this has just started to happen, it must have become more loose over time.

LIke I said, Geoff, better get that Fuji S5 as a replacement body (and I can take the dud D200 off your hands for a small fee )

Just to add to the info, I have 2 SB800s, they both fire intermittenly when they shouldn't on my D200. Neither have this problem on my D70.
D200 has firmare version 2 A and B. You just learn to live with it after a while. People look at you a bit strange when the flash keeps going off for no apparent reason, but you just learn to live with that too.

Cheers
John

Just to add a little confusion to the mix, my SB800 fires at will also..... on my D50. I'm also glad I found this post as I thought it was just my flash.

Cheers,
Rob.