Please help with my SB-800!

[Marvin]

Hi All,
I have to admit, I've never owned an external flash before and there is probably an easy solution to my problem. BUT.....
I followed Bago's instructions and plugged it in and turned it on (thanks champ!), put it in TTL mode (not balanced fill flash) and all of my pictures are underexposed. In fact, they are underexposed in all modes except full power in manual mode, which are way overexposed. It works perfectly if I bump it up to +2, but I thought that with the TTL it should work much better without having to bump it up. Am I missing something? I usually have the camera in aperture priority, but I have tried it in all modes with the same result. I followed the instructions in Thom's book too and have tried two different lenses (Nikon and Tamron).
Please enlighten me if you can!
Thanks,
Marvin

[Glen]

Sorry don't have a sb800 but there is a guide on the start of the forums, though you may already have that.

Good luck

[Raydar]

Mate I shoot in A most of the time as well.

On the 800 LCD have you got TTL BL mode????

If not the cam or flash mite not be talking to each other properly

Cheers
Ray

[Marvin]

No, it happens in all modes. I hope it is not a camera --> flash problem as I just got it from HK.

[birddog114]

No, it happens in all modes. I hope it is not a camera --> flash problem as I just got it from HK.

Marvin,
the best thing is walk into any photoshop and try on one of their new SB-800, if there's anything difference, if you are in Sydney, perhaps you can try all my SB-800s. That issue could be both cam and flash, need some fine tuning.

[Marvin]

the best thing is walk into any photoshop and try on one of their new SB-800, if there's anything difference, if you are in Sydney, perhaps you can try all my SB-800s.

Hey Birddog,
I wish... the nearest photo shop is 250km away and I won't be going for a few weeks. I'm a bit depressed about it actually!

[Raydar]

This is not good

What metering mode you shooting in, just try all of them see if the prob stays with you?????

Cheers
Ray

[Marvin]

Thanks everybody!! I actually worked it out myself after playing for 2 days! I had the flash dialled down to -1.7 on the camera (have no idea why, I dont' remember doing it). Thus, it was working well at +2 on the flash. Dialled the flash into 0 on camera and it worked perfectly. I am now a happy camper!!!
Marvin

[Onyx]

That's great to hear the problem is solved Marvin, but now comes the other question - if you didn't dial in -1.7EV, and it came like that when you purchased it... are you sure the unit you bought was new?

[Raydar]

Great to hear your probs solved
I was thinking something like that mite be going on, done the same thing my self

Cheers
Ray

[Marvin]

if you didn't dial in -1.7EV, and it came like that when you purchased it... are you sure the unit you bought was new?

Hi Onyx,
Yes, it is new. I had -1.7 dialled in on the camera, which I have had for a few months. Must have been playing around a while ago! Works beautifully now. I took a few photos at a party tonight.