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Not sure how many of you out there actually use the cheaper end of the Nikon dSLR food chain, or if this also happens with other models.

What happens is I would get a shot that's either completely black, or you could vaguely see the subjects, but the whole image is otherwise just black. I usually just delete it and move on, but I should keep them for closer inspection next time.

This usually happens when I'm shooting at night with my SB-400 bounce flash and 18-200mm VR lens. Haven't had a chance to test it out with a different lens or just with the built-in flash.

This is despite the flash going off - it's as if the mirror is not flipping up. Does this make sense?

It's possible also it tends to happen when the flash isn't recycling fast enough as the batteries struggle.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any experience with this and if it's "normal".

First port of call, as you've mentioned is probably the recycle time on the flash. If you try to take a few shots in quick succession, and you're using most of power then you'll get some dark underexposed frames.

Does it only happy with the flash mounted and turned on ? If so they will be the culprit.

broadbean wrote:This is despite the flash going off - it's as if the mirror is not flipping up. Does this make sense?

Not physically.

if the mirror isn't going up, then you'd see nothing. If you're getting a shadow of the image, then the mirror is getting itself out of the way and thus permitting that shadow on an image to be recorded by the sensor.

It's possible also it tends to happen when the flash isn't recycling fast enough as the batteries struggle.

Well, if your flash hasn't fully recycled, then you will have some serious exposure issues. And even when your flash fires, if it's not yet fully recycled, then it's (obviously) not going to be a full power flash.

So, the camera is expecting to see the image area fully illuminated by your flash, but the flash is failing to do its job.

Sounds like an expected outcome to me.

How long are you leaving between images? 1 second? 3 seconds? With a ow powered flash, you may need 8 or more seconds, and longer as the batteries draw down.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any experience with this and if it's "normal".

What is "normal"?

Agree with Craig that it sounds like your flash is not recycling in time. This is normal in the sense that nothing is wrong with the equipment, if you shoot before the flash is ready you would expect dark frames.

The easiest way to be sure is if the flash has a ready indicator. Shoot in similar conditions to the ones in which you have experienced the issue and see how long it takes to become ready. If you typically take shots with a smaller gap than that then recycle time is your issue. Once we have determined that, we can discuss the best ways for you to avoid the issue in the future. That will likely boil down to improving recycle time or slowing down your shooting, based on what the shooting conditions are exactly.

HTH.

I dont know if the D40x has this option, but it might be worth a look in the manual. On some cameras you can turn off an option so you cant take the shot until the flash has recharged.
My guess is the D40x probably doesnt have it.

Biggzie wrote:I dont know if the D40x has this option, but it might be worth a look in the manual. On some cameras you can turn off an option so you cant take the shot until the flash has recharged.
My guess is the D40x probably doesnt have it.

G'day

According to my wife's D40X manual, when the inbuilt flash is activated, an image won't be taken until the flash has recharged. This is the only behaviour (i.e. non selectable), it doesn't say specifically if this is the behaviour when the SB-400 is attached but it implies it.

What mode have you set for the flash? i-ttl? manual?

Cheers
Bob in Bull Creek

BullcreekBob wrote:According to my wife's D40X manual, when the inbuilt flash is activated, an image won't be taken until the flash has recharged. This is the only behaviour (i.e. non selectable), it doesn't say specifically if this is the behaviour when the SB-400 is attached but it implies it.

That's probably what I thought would happen - it wouldn't fire till the flash was ready. What confuses me is I get nothing, but when asked if the flash went off, the answer was usually yes.

Thanks, everyone. Will try and test it some more.

i have a d40x, 18-200 and SB-600. I can tell you if you're the continuous shooter type then it will happen with the flash. It will take 3fps regardless of if the flash has recycled or not.

What you get with external flash is it will fire underpowered or not at all for the next few shots. I don't think there's a way to make the d40x wait for the flash to reach full power before taking the next shot.

If that's the case, you should decrease the power of the flash and compensate the exposure for that. It may be enough so that the flash recycles faster (as it's shooting at lower power) to allow 2 or 3 shot bursts with enough flash and the right exposure.

The flash may still "go off" but not at the correct power, it it takes 4 seconds to recycle to full power, and you take 2 shots in 2 seconds the first draws the power it needs, but the second can only use what's left plus what it can recycle between the first and second shot. (if that makes sense)

broadbean wrote:

BullcreekBob wrote:According to my wife's D40X manual, when the inbuilt flash is activated, an image won't be taken until the flash has recharged. This is the only behaviour (i.e. non selectable), it doesn't say specifically if this is the behaviour when the SB-400 is attached but it implies it.

That's probably what I thought would happen - it wouldn't fire till the flash was ready. What confuses me is I get nothing, but when asked if the flash went off, the answer was usually yes.

Thanks, everyone. Will try and test it some more.

A good test would be to set the flash at 1/16 and take a series of continous shots, ie at 3fps, at whatever exposure works for that flash power. Do the same for 1/4, 1/2 and full power.

If the issues is in fact the flash not firing at full power due to lack of recycle time you should be able to get a large number of good shots at 1/16, and increasingly less as you up the power, with probably only one at full power. This will mean the camera s taking the shot regardless of the flash being fully ready.

Let us know how you go.

dawesy wrote:A good test would be to set the flash at 1/16 and take a series of continous shots, ie at 3fps, at whatever exposure works for that flash power. Do the same for 1/4, 1/2 and full power.

Don't think I have this option with the el cheapo SB-400 - if I am correct in guessing these are options for the SB-600 and SB-800 etc.

In any case, it does look like it's "normal"...

With the built-in flash, if it's not ready, the camera refuses to fire (both in Auto and P modes). With the SB-400 however, the shot will still go ahead with or without the flash.

I'll just need to learn to be more patient taking shots with the flash in future.

Thank you all.