sb 800 flash head zoom

[Alex]

Hi,

I'm very new to sb 800 and I'm sure it is somewhere in the manual but I can't find it.

When I use diffuser enclosed with the sb 800 my flash head zoom is stuck on 14 mm, it is only without the diffuser that the flash zoom adjust in synch with the lens. Is it how it supposed to be. Guess makes sense since all light is diffused zoom is useless.

Thanks in advance

Alex

[frink]

Hi Alex,

Yeah that's how it's supposed to be. There's a little switch on the bottom of the flash head that gets covered when the diffuser is on and zoom won't be used.

I've read of people cutting a notch in the diffuser so the switch won't covered. No idea why because you're right that there's not much sense in having the head zoom with a diffuser on.

Stephen

[NetMagi]

yep, this is the normal behavior for the sb800

I just got mine recently too and thought it was odd at first

some other things worth mentioning that might make you question 'what's going on':

1) The flash only shows range when the head is pointing straight out, or down one click.

2) when you're down one click instead of being straight out, it shows a dotted line instead of a straight one where the range info is.


all 3 of the above had me looking in my manual

[Alex]

Thanks, Netmagi.

I was aware of only 1 out of 3.

Cheers
Alex

[genji]

Hi,

I'm very new to sb 800 and I'm sure it is somewhere in the manual but I can't find it.

When I use diffuser enclosed with the sb 800 my flash head zoom is stuck on 14 mm, it is only without the diffuser that the flash zoom adjust in synch with the lens. Is it how it supposed to be. Guess makes sense since all light is diffused zoom is useless.

Thanks in advance

Alex

Alex, the attached 'diffuser' is the wide angle adapter not diffuser. the diffuser is the opaque white cap that comes seperate to the flash.

for outdoor use, you can use the wide angle adapter as a diffuser aswell, but in my experience not as effective as the white opaque diffuser. best overall is the LS II.

[Alex]

Thanks Frink and Tai.

Tai, I did mean the separate white cap that comes in a package. I thought it was called a diffuser and the plastic 'plate' that comes out with the in-built bounce card is called a wide angle adaptor? Anyway, thanks for confirming.

Cheers
Alex

[genji]

Thanks Frink and Tai.

Tai, I did mean the separate white cap that comes in a package. I thought it was called a diffuser and the plastic 'plate' that comes out with the in-built bounce card is called a wide angle adaptor? Anyway, thanks for confirming.

Cheers
Alex

i misunderstood your initial descirption.

so when you attach the plastic white cap 'diffuser' the flash zoom is set to 14mm?

i had the initial problem when using the LS II.

now when i attached either the diffuser or LS II the flash is 'off', then i turn the flash on and i dont have that problem.

i found the flash is set to 14mm when the pressure is asserted to the top of the flash (where both the bounce card and wide angle adapter resides)

[Alex]

Thanks Frink and Tai.

Tai, I did mean the separate white cap that comes in a package. I thought it was called a diffuser and the plastic 'plate' that comes out with the in-built bounce card is called a wide angle adaptor? Anyway, thanks for confirming.

Cheers
Alex

i misunderstood your initial descirption.

so when you attach the plastic white cap 'diffuser' the flash zoom is set to 14mm?

i had the initial problem when using the LS II.

now when i attached either the diffuser or LS II the flash is 'off', then i turn the flash on and i dont have that problem.

i found the flash is set to 14mm when the pressure is asserted to the top of the flash (where both the bounce card and wide angle adapter resides)

Interesting, Tai. I tried switching it on and off and I still get 14 mm manual zoom only whenever the plastic diffuser cap is on, but I guess it is normal.

Alex

[genji]

Interesting, Tai. I tried switching it on and off and I still get 14 mm manual zoom only whenever the plastic diffuser cap is on, but I guess it is normal.

Alex

Alex

what you have describe shouldnt happen, I've been using the LS II recently and the flash zoom automatically set to the lens zoom.

i will double check tonight..

(i lost the diffuser when i was in vietnam and have not bought a replacement)

[Alex]

Interesting, Tai. I tried switching it on and off and I still get 14 mm manual zoom only whenever the plastic diffuser cap is on, but I guess it is normal.

Alex

Alex

what you have describe shouldnt happen, I've been using the LS II recently and the flash zoom automatically set to the lens zoom.

i will double check tonight..

(i lost the diffuser when i was in vietnam and have not bought a replacement)

Tai,

I think LSII is different. It doesn't fit tightly over the head of sb800 and thus doesn't swtich sb 800 to manual zoom. With the cap, which fits very tightly over the head, it switches auto zoom off by (as a poster above said) triggering a switch. I'm a bit confused now as your observations are contradictory to those of netmagi and the other poster (sorry can't check his nickname in the current window). I hope I am correct in my flash behaviour being normal. Anyone else wants to share their thoughts on this?

Thanks
Alex

[genji]

Tai,

I think LSII is different. It doesn't fit tightly over the head of sb800 and thus doesn't swtich sb 800 to manual zoom. With the cap, which fits very tightly over the head, it switches auto zoom off by (as a poster above said) triggering a switch. I'm a bit confused now as your observations are contradictory to those of netmagi and the other poster (sorry can't check his nickname in the current window). I hope I am correct in my flash behaviour being normal. Anyone else wants to share their thoughts on this?

Thanks
Alex

Alex


hmmm...very intesting it is.

The LS II fits too tight on the SB800, and it takes a minute to fit it.

But when i did have the diffuser i never remembered it ever caused the zoom to switch to 14mm zoom.

but i'm getting old, my memory may be playing tricks....

[Alex]

Tai,

I think LSII is different. It doesn't fit tightly over the head of sb800 and thus doesn't swtich sb 800 to manual zoom. With the cap, which fits very tightly over the head, it switches auto zoom off by (as a poster above said) triggering a switch. I'm a bit confused now as your observations are contradictory to those of netmagi and the other poster (sorry can't check his nickname in the current window). I hope I am correct in my flash behaviour being normal. Anyone else wants to share their thoughts on this?

Thanks
Alex

hmmm...very intesting it is.

The LS II fits too tight on the SB800, and it takes a minute to fit it.

But when i did have the diffuser i never remembered it ever caused the zoom to switch to 14mm zoom.

but i'm getting old, my memory may be playing tricks....

Tai,

I'm getting old also. I used sb800 twice and cannot remember if it was only at 14 mm when I put the cap on the first time...

Thanks for your help
Alex

[genji]

i'm wrong. just read the manual, under troubleshooting, page 116,

problem:
"the zoom-head position cannot be adjusted to other than 14mm of 17mm"
cause
"The built-in wide-flash adapter is in use or the Nikon Diffusion Dome is attached"

case solved!!

[Alex]

i'm wrong. just read the manual, under troubleshooting, page 116,

problem:
"the zoom-head position cannot be adjusted to other than 14mm of 17mm"
cause
"The built-in wide-flash adapter is in use or the Nikon Diffusion Dome is attached"

case solved!!

Tai,

Thank you so much for this. It’s a relief J I am sorry to have taken up your time and effort, I should have indeed consulted the manual first, but didn’t have it handy.

Cheers
Alex

[Aussie Dave]

It also says at the bottom of page 101 of the SB800 User Manual.....

Attach the Nikon Diffusion Dome as shown in the illustration
- The zoom-head position is automatically set to 14mm.

[O1]

I too have been down this road. Is tough when after 3 hrs you read the manual and find out that it never going to work. For those who have cut the slot in the difuser can anyon provide instructions , How best to do without trashing the thing

[Alex]

It also says at the bottom of page 101 of the SB800 User Manual.....

Attach the Nikon Diffusion Dome as shown in the illustration
- The zoom-head position is automatically set to 14mm.

Doh!

Thanks, Dave.

Alex