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Hello crew,
I've had my SB-800 for about 3 weeks now and I'm still on a massive learning curve, just wondering if anyone out there felt 100% comfortable with it and how it all works..I'm stilll experimenting with modes etc and learning exactly what they do....how I wish there were more hours in each day!


Geoff.

I basically believe that every photo with the SB-800 is a learning curve and that is the beauty of learning - it happens each and every day in many different ways.

I have had success and failures but with the D70 you can see (via the histogram) almost immediately if there is a major problem and just reshoot with modifications

Cheers

Chris

so is the sb-800 not exactly perfect? do you need to keep readjusting until you get the correct exposure?
I've never used a tt-l flash before.

redline wrote:so is the sb-800 not exactly perfect? do you need to keep readjusting until you get the correct exposure?
I've never used a tt-l flash before.

Okay - firstly the SB-800 is a tool so it is up to the operator to make any adjustments, so if the SB-800 were perfect it would still depend on the person using it.

The best advice is always - don’t give up - the D70 and the SB-800 are a great combination and as you are not using film keep reading the manual and practice, practice, practice.

Cheers

Chris

Hello crew,
I've had my SB-800 for about 3 weeks now and I'm still on a massive learning curve, just wondering if anyone out there felt 100% comfortable with it and how it all works..I'm still experimenting with modes etc and learning exactly what they do....how I wish there were more hours in each day!

You are not alone - I know how you feel

Cheers
Kristine

I have had mine for weeks now Kristine and only taken it out a few times to use. One to go in the water comp and test the flash timing another to check fill in flash and another to confirm off the camera commander mode. That's it. I am just concentrating on the D70 and getting that sorted out and then I will start on my learning curve with the SB800. I like to postpone the learning enjoyment as well I guess, but also like to properly understand the tools. Unless I feel confident in the D70 (which I don't yet) I will only use it on auto for inside fill, where it works very well I have to say.

I'm gunna stand up and beat my chest and say yes, I am 100% confident with the SB800. In all honestly, I believe many people who bought the SB800 could have gone for the cheaper SB600 and would not be missing any of the extra features. I bought the 800 specifically to work on an FM all manual camera, and needed the extra flash modes aside from iTTL and full manual. So I was reading up on these other modes and learnt how they worked well before I got took ownership of the flash unit.

However, having tried it out on Birddog's D2H - I can now see where the D70 becomes the limiting factor in flash photography!

iTTL is far from foolproof. It works wonderfully in conjunction with the matrix meter in the D70 for daytime fill, however for night time use it can be inconsistent shot to shot. This is due to several factors -

1) under EV5, the matrix meter deliberately underexposes backgrounds, assuming flash illumination of foreground subject. If there is no foreground subject, or it's not where the dumb meter expects, you end up with overall scene underexposure.

2) you cannot focus and recompose flash pics as you would in daylight, as the TTL and flash metering is linked to the current autofocus point in use. If the AF point after recomposing is pointed at the horizon, you will end up with severe overexposure of your intended subject. The fix to this is to use FV lock, ie. firing the metering preflash with the subject overlaying the current AF point, and then recomposing for the shot. This is why I believe the D70 is the weak point in flash photography - on the D70, you have to program the AE-L/AF-L button to FV lock. Thereby missing out on the other custom functions of this allmighty button. On the D2H, there are two customisable buttons near the lens mount (aka where the D70 has its electronic depth of field preview button), and one can serve as the flash value lock which keeps the rear AE-L button free for other duties.

Anyway, to achieve consistent flash exposures in a sequence of continuous shoots, use A (non-TTL auto) or AA (auto aperture) flash modes. Both these modes may not be present when mounted on your camera - which one depends on what you selected in the flash menu, to appear when you switch modes (ie. the: TTL-BL -> TTL -> A (or AA) -> GN -> M -> RPT sequence).

Onyx

I have read posts elsewhere on the pre flash messaging that occurs with the D70 and TTL. The outcome of this is closed eyes in portrait shots when subjects sensitive to pre flash close their eyes prior to the main flash. I have experienced this myself. As an experienced user can you comment?

Yes Dargan, it's one of the most annoying traits of iTTL IMHO. I have a friend who swears he does not have the habit of blinking in flash photos, yet 1 in every 2 shots I take of him, he's got his eyes closed.
But it may not entirely be the preflashes that's causing it - some people are just naturally highly sensitive to bright lights and will blink even if there was just 1 flash.

Try using A or AA mode. This is a single flash, its duration determined by reflected light as detected by the sensor on the front of the SB-800 unit (hence less reliable for daylight use). If that doesn't help - I guess the only way is to preflash manually (ie. set the D70's AE-L/AF-L button to FV lock), then press that button to force the preflash before taking the shot.
Now if those two techniques don't help - I guess nothing will!

If you check page 36 of the SB800 manual it does state that there is a preflash in AA mode!

C

sirhc55 wrote:If you check page 36 of the SB800 manual it does state that there is a preflash in AA mode!

...yes, if qualify that statement with: when used in conjunction with a CLS camera, with CPU lens mounted and flash straight horizontal or -7 degrees [macro] position. Just tilt the flash head up and it's no longer true.

From my use on the FM, there wasn't ever a preflash. In fact, I don't think the camera even knows how to interpret preflashes!

Just a thought Onyx but the preflash is only a real problem when photographing people - I have used the FV lock in these cases with no problems and then switch to whatever after using the flash.

I think that changing this parameter to suit the situation is just the same as changing ISO, or speed or aperture etc - not a real problem at all if you are catering to the situation.

Cheers

Chris

I apologise for not being able to recall where I read this, in fact it is probally in my archives somewhere but the post I read went into some detail about this preflash issue with ttl and the photographer returned his D70 with great regret because even Nikon technical department had to agree that was an unavoidable issue with portrait shots. Thsi is a pretty serious issue, isn't it? If I find that source again I will put it here for others to pick up.
I thought that flash bounce, or pre warning subjects might help. As I pointed out originally I haven't even got into the SB800 yet, the D70 is still taking most of my time to comprehend. I will try the points you made Onyx