D70 shutter speed in aperture priority mode using SB 800

[Willy wombat]

Quick question

Why is it that when i am using aperture priority (my favorite setting) with the SB 800 in TTL, the D70 sets the shutter speed at 1/60, regardless of aperture - even when i have a longer lens attached (say 105mm?).

Can i do anything about it? I sometimes get camera shake.

[Oneputt]

From memory (I don't own a D7o anymore) there is a menu item to select the sync speed.

[elffinarts]

I dont recall seeing that option in the menu, I'll have to go take a look againn when I get home.... thanks mate.

[MattC]

The Why part is to prevent excessively low shutter speeds. It is only a minimum shutter speed. Take it out into bright sunlight and things are different.
As mentioned, you can change this minimum in the menus, but the easiest way to get control of this is to slip the camera into manual mode when shooting with flash.

Cheers

[Willy wombat]

Thanks guys

If anyone knows which menu to use to adjust it would be great if you would please let me know.

Cheers
Steve

[MattC]

CSM 21 - it is called "Shutter Spd"

Cheers

[MattC]

 BTW, if you cannot find CSM 21 it would probably be because detailed menus have not been enabled.
Enable detailed menus by going into the menu with the spanner icon and selecting "CSM Menu" then select "detailed". CSM 10 - 25 become visible.

Cheers

[Alpha_7]

WW - I noticed the same thing when taking shots at the wedding last friday, thanks for asking as I appreciate the feedback as well

[jben_net]

sorry to dig this one up again guys.....

I've been CSM 21 (shutter speed) and the only speeds for shutter sync that are listed there are 1/60th and slower! I want to sync my sb800 flash with my shutter at 120th (since i'm using an 85mm lens)

I'm using aperture priority too.

Any ideas?

[losfp]

Use manual mode?

I don't quite trust the A or S modes when I'm using the SB-800. Mind you, I am still learning myself!!

[phillipb]

sorry to dig this one up again guys.....

I've been CSM 21 (shutter speed) and the only speeds for shutter sync that are listed there are 1/60th and slower! I want to sync my sb800 flash with my shutter at 120th (since i'm using an 85mm lens)

I'm using aperture priority too.

Any ideas?

You're confusing me, why does it make any difference which lens you're using to what shutter speed you synch at?

[Geoff]

Use manual mode?

I don't quite trust the A or S modes when I'm using the SB-800. Mind you, I am still learning myself!!

I much prefer to use manual mode too when using the SB-800 - it somehow seems more simple, in an odd kind of way. The outcomes for me anyway, are significantly better when utilising manual mode with the SB-800.

[jben_net]

I don't think it does matter...I just wanted to let you know what I was using just incase there was some variable i didn't know about.

Guess I'll try and master manual then

[Zeeke]

I use manual aswell.. especially when doing macro work

Tim

[losfp]

I much prefer to use manual mode too when using the SB-800 - it somehow seems more simple, in an odd kind of way. The outcomes for me anyway, are significantly better when utilising manual mode with the SB-800.

Yeah, I think it's because I'm convinced that the A and S modes still kind of meter for a non-flash situation, or go for a "one size fits all" philosophy. I'd much rather have control over the settings.

Might also be partially because your shutter speed doesn't really effect the exposure of the subject when using TTL. That means the normal rules for metering go out the door

[phillipb]

FWIW, according to the manual, in A mode the shutter speed is set automatically by the camera when the inbuilt flash is used (page 99). I would assume the same would be true when using the SB-800.

[blacknstormy]

Sorry - I've got a silly question - I thought that the reason to use A/P/S modes with flash was to enable the use of true fill flash? I was told that true ttl doesn't work in manual mode????

Am I going crazy??????

[Alex]

Sorry - I've got a silly question - I thought that the reason to use A/P/S modes with flash was to enable the use of true fill flash? I was told that true ttl doesn't work in manual mode????

Am I going crazy??????

TTL still works, but not the balanced TTL. You can use TTL as fill flash by adjusting the flash compensation - the option I prefer.

Alex

[blacknstormy]

Thank you

[Matt. K]

You need to be aware that there are two seperate modes when using the SB800. Number one...when using the flash as the main or only source of light. The flash sets the same aperture as is on the camera. IE...you choose f4 on the camera and the flash will automatically set f4. The shutter speed is fairly irrelevent bacause it is dark and the flashgun is doing all the work. The shutter is best set to around 1/125 or higher when in this mode although 1/60 is OK if you are shooting with a wide angle lens.
Mode two....Balanced fill flash. In this mode the camera sets itself to take an ordinary photograph using the ambient or available light. In this case the shutter speed is relevent. The flash will automatically provide around 1 stop less light as a fill light. You can alter the amount of fill by adding compensation on the flash or via the camera. Be aware that if the light is poor, as in night photography, then very slow shutter speeds will be used by the camera and camera shake may occurr unless working from a tripod. You can limit the shutter speed to 1/60 in the menu but this then may not allow the camera to correctly expose at night.
In summary..Mode one I recommend working in manual mode. Set the f stop you wish to work at and set a shutter speed that will prevent camera shake.
Mode two work in P or A mode setting the f stop you want to work at and let the gun do its job. Work from a tripod if you are shooting balanced night scenes with flash fill. IE a motorbike against a sunset etc.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for the explaination MattK, definitely made it clearer for me. Cheers!

[Alex]

Matt,

The question I have is: If you set on D70 Aperture mode and centre weighted metering that would normally set the flash to balanced TTL. However, if I set the mode on SB800 to normal TTL, would my SB800 setting take priority over the camera setting?

Thanks
Alex

[Matt. K]

Alex
I have just had a play around with these 2 settings and there seems to be little difference in the images. I guess the camera will always drive the flashgun and not the other way around but I could be wrong. I guess the best way to answer the question would be to fix the camera/flash to a tripod and measure the output with a flashmeter. However. I would expect with TTL/BL set the gun would reduce output a little as it tries to balance the lighting. With the gun set to TTL then the gun should, in theory, attempt to be the main source of light and would probably match the abient light.

That's my way of saying "I don't know".

[Alex]

Alex
I have just had a play around with these 2 settings and there seems to be little difference in the images. I guess the camera will always drive the flashgun and not the other way around but I could be wrong. I guess the best way to answer the question would be to fix the camera/flash to a tripod and measure the output with a flashmeter. However. I would expect with TTL/BL set the gun would reduce output a little as it tries to balance the lighting. With the gun set to TTL then the gun should, in theory, attempt to be the main source of light and would probably match the abient light.

That's my way of saying "I don't know".

Thanks, Matt. I might do some experiments when I get a flash meter

Alex