SB800 firing when not wanted

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SB800 firing when not wanted

Postby Geoff on Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:31 am

Recently (the last day or so) my SB800 has been firing very quick/fast single flashes when attached tot he camera. I thought it might be the contacts on the top of the camera/bottom of the flash so gave them a quick clean/wipe with some dry paper towel. No fix. Any ideas anyone?
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Postby macka on Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:37 am

Dry paper towel wouldn't really clean much, would it? Do you have some metho?
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Postby Geoff on Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:41 am

macka wrote:Dry paper towel wouldn't really clean much, would it? Do you have some metho?


Yep, good idea Kris, thanks.
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Postby digitor on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:29 am

Does it do it on the D70 as well as the D200? I seem to remember quite a few complaining about this happening on the D200 not long after they were released- can't remember if any reason was found though.

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Postby gstark on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:48 am

I think Kris means you should drink the meths: this seems to be a common problem on the D200.

Check the hotshoe mount. Is the foot loose? (or fancy free)
g.
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Postby Reschsmooth on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:52 am

It should also be mentioned that my SB800 would also fire intermittantly on Geoff's D200 hotshoe shuffle. This suggests that it is a camera specific problem.
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Postby smac on Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:12 pm

Geoff, I had two SB800's with my D200. One of them had exactly the same problems you are describing and the other one never had a problem
In addition, neither of the two flashes had problems with my D2X

My feeling was that it was a connection problem between some SB800's and the D200.

I found several discussions on this forum and on DPR but there was no fix for it.

Just got to live with it I think.

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Postby Geoff on Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:17 pm

smac wrote:Just got to live with it I think.

Stuart


Hmmm...thanks Stuart. It's annoying though isn't it?
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Postby smac on Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:54 pm

Geoff,

My only suggestion (other than buying another SB800 and that may have the same problem) is to perhaps "swap" your SB800 with someone who has a camera other than a D200 (does not seem to be a problem with other models).

This logic is based on two assumptions:
1) Not all SB800's have the same issue with D200's (as per my earlier post) and
2) You can find someone with a different body and is willing to swap their SB800

The least you could do is borrow someone's SB800 to prove point (1).

I found it very difficult to replicate the problem on cue, sort of like when you have a problem with your car but it never happens when you have it in for a service.

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Postby Matt. K on Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:23 pm

Geoff
I have the same problem and it is common to the D200. It's fairly intermittent so I just put up with it. It would be nice if there was a simple fix but I haven't heard of one.
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Postby Cre8tivepixels on Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:11 pm

WOW does it too mine as well...........its bloody annoying when in a church and the flash keeps firing, not allowing for the fact that it chews up batteries, i thought this was only a 'me' problem.......i LOVE this site for info like this!!!

This is my second unit as well, got another because it thought it was my old one :(
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Postby Reschsmooth on Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:14 pm

I don't know if this answers some of Smac's suggestions, but, yesterday, Geoff placed my SB800 on his D200, and it suffered the same problem. However, I have never had this problem with the SB800 on my D200. I didn't try Geoff's SB800 on my D200.
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Postby Yi-P on Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:33 pm

Sounds like some circuitry thing inside some of the D200?? Geoff, which D200 firmware are you currently on? I don't think upgrading the firmware will help, but just wanting to see if it is the early production D200 that suffered this problem or it is for all of them... hmm...
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Postby Geoff on Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:32 pm

Good question Yi-p.


A 1.01
B 1.00

I don't even know what the latest firmware is...

I will investigate
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Postby shutterbug on Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:58 pm

drop the cam to lidcombe nikon aus for a service will fix it :wink:
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Postby sirhc55 on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:32 pm

It would appear that the problem stems from a loose fit of the SB800. This does not affect all SB800 or D200.
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Postby Geoff on Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:49 pm

Chris - interesting findings. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised that this has just started to happen, it must have become more loose over time.
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Postby Reschsmooth on Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:30 pm

LIke I said, Geoff, better get that Fuji S5 as a replacement body (and I can take the dud D200 off your hands for a small fee :lol: )
Regards, Patrick

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Postby johnd on Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:49 pm

Just to add to the info, I have 2 SB800s, they both fire intermittenly when they shouldn't on my D200. Neither have this problem on my D70.
D200 has firmare version 2 A and B. You just learn to live with it after a while. People look at you a bit strange when the flash keeps going off for no apparent reason, but you just learn to live with that too. :wink:

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Postby in1way on Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:03 pm

Just to add a little confusion to the mix, my SB800 fires at will also..... on my D50. I'm also glad I found this post as I thought it was just my flash. :?

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