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SB-800 Problem

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 11:52 am
by Paul
I know this has been discussed a thousand times on different sites but I need some help with the wireless mode on my SB-800.
My D70 is set to Commander on CSM#19 with TTL activated.
The pop up flash is also up to send the pre-flash to the unit.
The SB-800 has had a reset done to it and was switched to Remote with channels 3 & A selected as per the normal instructions.
I've placed the SB-800 right in front of me and other line of sight locations and still it won't fire.
Maybe once out 15-20 shots it will fire but at maximum power which blows the picture out big time (3 longs beebs which signal full power has fired)
As an experimant I tried it in SU-4 mode and it fires every time, although this is not the mode I want or need as it also fires at full strength, something to do with it not being TTL or CLS?
I'm really thinking there's something wrong with wireless side of it as it works perfectly on the camera hot shoe.
Any ideas form the SB-800 guru's

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:13 pm
by beetleboy
Does sound like something is wrong with your unit..My SB800 is hypo, it fires in the most extreme situations!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:15 pm
by birddog114
beetleboy wrote:Does sound like something is wrong with your unit..My SB800 is hypo, it fires in the most extreme situations!


The camera setting or the camera wireless flash system is the blame.

If he use the SU-4 then it's OK, without SU-4 then it's stuffed!

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:50 pm
by Paul
What do you recommend Birdy, send the D70 or SB-800 in for repair?
Does the SB-800 have to go back to Poon or will Maxwell's cover the repair?
Maybe I could do a test with a working D70 & SB-800 to figure out which unit is deffective.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:56 pm
by birddog114
Paul wrote:What do you recommend Birdy, send the D70 or SB-800 in for repair?
Does the SB-800 have to go back to Poon or will Maxwell's cover the repair?
Maybe I could do a test with a working D70 & SB-800 to figure out which unit is deffective.


The D70 can go back to Maxwell if it's under warranty for free service, perhaps with the SB800 for them to test, before doing that, test the SB800 on another D70.
Warranty of the SB800 is returning to me as usual.
I''m sure it's the problems of popup flash modules on the D70, it is a known issue and it doesn't communicate with the SB800, if you used the SU-4 and it worked with the SB800 then definitely it's the D70 flash modules.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 2:39 pm
by Paul
Thanks for the info Birdy! :D
I'll bring both units down to your place on my next visit so I can check them out against working equipment.
I agree with your conclusions, it very much looks like my D70 is off for a holiday to Maxwell's to have it's flash pop up unit repaired. :cry:

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:13 pm
by Glen
Paul, read something in here the other day about not working on af-c mode only single. Worth a try and makes sense not working on continuous.

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:30 pm
by Paul
Thanks for the tip Glen, still no joy.. :( :cry:

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:33 pm
by Glen
Sorry to hear that Paul :cry:

PostPosted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:58 pm
by Onyx
Paul, I tried to troubleshoot replicating your every step and my combo seems to function fine as it should.

I'm still inclined to believe it's some sort of settings issue rather than defective camera or flash.... Sorry for your troubles. :(