D700 and PC connection

[rdf1951]

I am trying to use my speed lights as remotes for fill light using the on camera flash as the master and fire studio flashes from the pc connection as main lights. Can't seem to make this work. Anybody got a suggestion/solution? (I don't have any PWs)

[Rson]

Do you have the camera set in command mode yet?

YouTube - Nikon D700 | Off-Camera Flash Settings

[WarrenG]

Richard,

As Rich stated, you must not have something set right either in the speedlights or camera, as you can do both. I am curious as to why your setting up your lighting like that though? I mean, it will certainly work, but depending on your speedlights, why not just set them to SU4 mode and fire them slaved? It sounds as if your in a controlled setting, so it should not be an issue and this will give you consistent lighting results. If your speedlights do not support SU4 (eg -SB600) you can get a cheap coldshoe with a slave in it like the Morris.

Another option if your monolights have a built in slave, is to fire your speedlight via the sync cord, which would fire the monolights.

If you can provide some more info on your gear, we can set you up with a fix.

[picman]

I haven't been able to confirm, but I think when the pop-up flash is used, it will disable the pc connection

[rdf1951]

Thanks Warren I finally figured out the SU4 mode and set the speed lights manually. I do believe the pop up flash or an SB set in the hot shoe will disable the PC connection though like Brian I have not been able to find it written anywhere.

Thanks again guys for your responses.

[rdf1951]

Warren you got me curious. I am using a D700 with SB-800, SB-900, and a rental strobe unit Sun Star Strobo Mini 1200II. These do not have optical sensors and I don't have pocket wizards. I could not get the strobes to fire in any configuration with the hot shoe or pop up flash. I wouldn't be at all surprised that this is a classic case of the equipment smarter than the user!

Thanks for your interest.

[WarrenG]

Brian, it does bypass the sync port. Great catch!

So the speedlights or monolights will have to be slaved as I mentioned above, or he can get one speedlight off camera with the TTL cord, which would keep the sync port live.

As I thought more about it, I also realized that if the CLS were used with the monolights slaved, the preflash would set off the mono's prematurely. I suppose you could keep the CLS / Monolights working if you set the function button for FV lock to kill the preflash, but it would be painful work-around that would not make sense to me. Far easier to slave them as I mentioned earlier.

[WarrenG]

Sorry, I was typing as you posted. If you got the SU4 function figured out, your set in a controlled environment. The optical slaves on the speedlights work very well.

Not sure why you could not get the sync to fire with a speedlight on camera, as I do this all the time. SB800 on camera set to manual, and a Skyport hooked up to the sync port to fire a monolight.

Glad you got everything working.

W