SB800 Questions

[ABG]

I just did a search top find the answers to these questions and was overwhelmed by the number of search results. To save me wading through for hours, could someone please tell me how can you adjust the EV on the SB800 when it's in commander mode? Also, is it possible to independantly adjust the EV on the onboard flash and the SB800 (ie wind in -2EV on onboard flash and +1EV on SB800)?

[PiroStitch]

First question - you adjust it from the onboard flash (compensation).

Second question - yes you can.

[Yi-P]

how can you adjust the EV on the SB800 when it's in commander mode?

Same way you do with your built in flash, press hold flash button and turn the dial. Simple enough?

Also, is it possible to independantly adjust the EV on the onboard flash and the SB800 (ie wind in -2EV on onboard flash and +1EV on SB800)?

Yes, the values are accumulative. That is, +2EV on flash and -1EV on camera makes only +1EV output (+2 - 1 = 1). You dont need engineering math to do this calculation, but the ones you need, its done by the flash.

[Antsl]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if you can use the SB-800 as a conventional slaved flash unit like the SB-26... Cheers, Ants!

[rooboy]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if you can use the SB-800 as a conventional slaved flash unit like the SB-26... Cheers, Ants!

I was looking into this a while ago, and AFAIK the SB-26 is unique among recent Nikon flashes in having an optical slave. I'm very happy to be corrected though

[Yi-P]

Wouldnt the SU-4 mode on the Sb800 be on a conventional slave flash which detects a strong flash light and reacts with its own flash?

[ABG]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm finding I can change the EV on the SB800 while it is on camera, but as soon as I switch it into remote, I can't control EV. This makes it a pain in the arse when I have the flash off camera and am changing from direct flash to bounce flash (ie. where I want to quickly up the EV). Am I missing something here?

I was also wondering whether you can get the SB800 to fire remotely without having the onboard flash fire?

[Yi-P]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm finding I can change the EV on the SB800 while it is on camera, but as soon as I switch it into remote, I can't control EV. Am I missing something here?

No, that is correct.

When the SB800 is on its own remote mote, it will not justify output by itself.

Your camera will fire off a preflash and then calcualte the light, send the info back to the flash it it fires away, its very clever.


You control remote flash exposure from your camera's flash EV control.

[ABG]

That was quick Yip

What I'm really trying to find out is whether I can adjust the amount of fill from, or preferably turn off, the onboard light for more creative side lighting like the example below.
To achieve this, I had to borrow Wendell's SC-29 cord. It'd also be nice to be able to quickly adjust EV when you've got the flash off the camera and are changing from say, direct flash to bounce flash and you want a bit more oomph (that's the technical term I believe).

[PiroStitch]

Err if you're in wireless mode, you can still adjust the flash comp on the onboard camera. Of course this only applies to the D70/s and D200

[whiz]

I was also wondering whether you can get the SB800 to fire remotely without having the onboard flash fire?

Yes, but you require the cable to join the two together.
The onboard flash actually controls the remote flash.

[Antsl]

Yeehah!

Just tested the SB800 on that SU-4 mode and it works like a conventional slaved flash unit... this means it will sync with any ordinary flash unit anywhere. Great news for anyone wanting to add an extra light to their studio light setup. Two of the lights that I use regularly on location are home-builts that do not work with iTTL.... one flash began life as a Sunpak 120J (it now has LED modelling lights built in along with a dedicated diffuser) while the other flash is a heavily modified Nikon F-501 (it now has a built-in flash tube and a laser for targeting!!). It is for this reason I prefer flash units that can be slaved conventionally and it is why the SB-800 has just become even more valuable to me!

Cheers for now,
Ants