Nikon SB 900 Problem

[haring]

I have noticed the following problem at a wedding with my Nikon SB 900 flash:

- If I take 3-4 pictures immediately after each other the individual pictures are inconsistently exposed. For example, the first one is dark, the second one is lighter, the third dark again and the forth one is lighter again. The difference is not that bad so I cannot compensate in PP but still weird!

If I take the pictures without the flash all the pictures are evenly exposed so the camera works perfectly...

Has anybody experienced this?

[RKDauph]

Check your bracketing settings in both the camera and flash. Auto ISO can also create the problem.

[SupaDave03]

I had a question as well I dont mean to steal your thread but its about the Sb-900. sometimes when shooting in manual mode the flash fires and the bottom half picture doesnt get exposed. The top half of the picture you can see the flash...it looks as if I covered the bottom part of my flash completely up and fired it. Its a striaght line across the bottom wierd I dont know if has to with it being zoomed or what. I tried taking the bounce card off didnt help. When I took the diffuser plate off it seem to help cant explain it. It is probably something simple im not getting but I dont get it so any feedback with will help and thanks.-Dave

[RKDauph]

David, that sounds like a shutter speed issue. Check the EXIF data on a bad image v one that exposed correctly.

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by haring

I have noticed the following problem at a wedding with my Nikon SB 900 flash:

- If I take 3-4 pictures immediately after each other the individual pictures are inconsistently exposed. For example, the first one is dark, the second one is lighter, the third dark again and the forth one is lighter again. The difference is not that bad so I cannot compensate in PP but still weird!

If I take the pictures without the flash all the pictures are evenly exposed so the camera works perfectly...

Has anybody experienced this?

I've had similar happen with my Sigma flash, and actually had it this weekend. What I've noticed after testing the problem on mine is that the flash isn't quite completely recycled yet but will still flash, just not getting the full power. If I force myself to wait until it's fully recycled the problem doesn't happen, or change batteries to ones that are fully charged and the recycle time is less the problem doesn't happen.

[groovyone]

battery cycle time? Are they all of the same subject and framed the same? If not something may have changed and the overall scene's balance may have changed.

[ualymerej]

I'm gonna go with the battery recycle time. Especially if you're shooting in i-ttl, there's no telling how high output the flash is using. Try setting it to manual power level... maybe 1/4 and shoot with fresh batteries, usually that will give you a faster recycle time and more consistent power output. You'll have to adjust your ISO and aperture too in order to get the right exposure, so test it out before you actually need to capture the money shot :)

[ualymerej]

as for David's issue, it sounds like your lens may be casting a shadow. What lens are you using and are you using the hood? Are you shooting the flash straight on?

[SupaDave03]

24-70 nikon no lens hood with the flash on a mono for OCF ill find a pic when i get home and see if i can post it in a new thread, sorry Otto

Originally Posted by ualymerej

as for David's issue, it sounds like your lens may be casting a shadow. What lens are you using and are you using the hood? Are you shooting the flash straight on?

[Debbi]

If you have your shutter speed higher than your flash sync speed, you will see that happening, David.

[haring]

Originally Posted by SupaDave03

I had a question as well I dont mean to steal your thread but its about the Sb-900. sometimes when shooting in manual mode the flash fires and the bottom half picture doesnt get exposed. The top half of the picture you can see the flash...it looks as if I covered the bottom part of my flash completely up and fired it. Its a striaght line across the bottom wierd I dont know if has to with it being zoomed or what. I tried taking the bounce card off didnt help. When I took the diffuser plate off it seem to help cant explain it. It is probably something simple im not getting but I dont get it so any feedback with will help and thanks.-Dave

SB 900 can handle only 1/200 or 1/250. Your shutter speed is higher that's why you have the weird pictures...check the EXIF data.

[kayumangi]

Just a slight correction otto, flash sync speed is dictated by the camera body not flash itself. With that said, you can still shoot at higher sync speeds either if your flash supports hypersync or you have a trigger that can put a pulse delay to the remote ocf the pw flex tt5.

[Ahh!]

Lets see some photo posts and some Exif data, and we help. Lots of Nikon shooters ready to help you with it.

[haring]

Originally Posted by kayumangi

Just a slight correction otto, flash sync speed is dictated by the camera body not flash itself. With that said, you can still shoot at higher sync speeds either if your flash supports hypersync or you have a trigger that can put a pulse delay to the remote ocf the pw flex tt5.

Yes, you are right. Thanks for making it clear.