How do I use the SB800 with Nikon D90 Wirelessly?

[chessdrg]

For some reason, I can not figure out how to get my SB800 to function with my D90 wireless. I have been through the manual several times and end up more confused than anything. Can anyone walk me through this? :)

Thanks!

[KenJulio]

Go into your custom settings menu, e2, set to Commander mode, set channel and group.
On your sb800 set to slave, match channel and group to your d90

[chessdrg]

Originally Posted by KenJulio

Go into your custom settings menu, e2, set to Commander mode, set channel and group.
On your sb800 set to slave, match channel and group to your d90

When I go into the custom settings on the SB800, I selected "Master" is this the correct setting?

[KenJulio]

go into the custom settings menu on your d90, see page 185, it should be menu item e2.

This is assuming you want to trigger the sb800(slave) by the d90(master)

[tukaniray]

To add, Nikon's CLS is created with Line of sight. The flash will not work from behind the camera, behind some object or directly 90 degrees to the left or right. The flash needs to see the Master (flash from your D90).

-Ray-

[chessdrg]

Originally Posted by tukaniray

To add, Nikon's CLS is created with Line of sight. The flash will not work from behind the camera, behind some object or directly 90 degrees to the left or right. The flash needs to see the Master (flash from your D90).

-Ray-

Ray,

So does this mean that you must have the flash on the camera to always be the master flash in order for the sb800 to fire off the camera? There's not a way to sync the camera and sb800 without also using the flash on the camera?

Wendy

[KenJulio]

Originally Posted by tukaniray

To add, Nikon's CLS is created with Line of sight. The flash will not work from behind the camera, behind some object or directly 90 degrees to the left or right. The flash needs to see the Master (flash from your D90).

-Ray-

It will work as long as the pre-flash gets to the sensor. You can have the flash behind you and you fire against a reflective wall, the pre-flash COULD reach the slave.

[chessdrg]

Oh I see, but just to be safe, it would probably be better if you did use the flash on the camera?

[KenJulio]

It depends on what you're trying to achieve.

Do you have multiple flashes to use or do you have your d90 and a single sb800?

The d90 can be a master and the sb800 can be the slave off camera. If you're wanting to use the sb800 on camera then you do not need to worry about one being a master or slave, just turn it on and slide it on the hotshoe.

[Bob_S]

Here's a video that walks you through the process. YouTube - Wireless Flash with Nikon D90 How To

[HFMarshburnJR]

I see that no one has answered the OP's question. Like Ken said, set the camera to commander mode. Set the SB800 to "Remote" mode. For the sake of testing, Set the flash and the camera to the same channel and group. If you are using the camera and flash indoors, and the rooms have reasonably reflective walls and surfaces, It will be hard to find a location (where you aren't purposely trying to hide the flash from the camera) where the flash won't see the preflash signal from the commander.

The on camera pop-up flash is going to be your commander - It can be set to contribute to your lighting, or to not contribute. a lot of people prefer to use it in the latter fashion. To accomplish this, access the flash menu that Ken pointed you to earlier. You will see a screen that shows three groups labeled M(Master), A and B. Select M, and scroll through the Mode settings until "---" shows up. This is the setting that tells the Master that it is just going to flash bright enough to send the signal to your off camera flash to actuate.

If you are using your camera + flash outdoors, then you need to be more careful with the line of sight rules. Make sure that the sensor on the off camera flash can see the commander. Remember that the flash sensor is not the big red window on the front of the flash, but the small round window on the right side (as you look at the flash control panel) toward the front bottom part of that panel. An option that may allow you to extend your range outdoors beyond the 33 ft that the CLS is said to work is to switch the off camera flash into SU4 mode (slave) as described by Ken above. You then have to take the camera out of commander mode and put it into normal Manual mode. Dial the power down to your desired setting on the camera and fire away. As long as the remote can "see" your flash, it will go off. Hi Speed sync will not work in this mode, so keep your shutter speed below 1/250th. You will also need to manually adjust the power settings on the OCF in this mode, as opposed to changing them from your camera menu.

Lots of options and the CLS and SU4 modes work great with this combo. I use nothing but speedlights when I use artificial lighting. It is a lot of fun! Enjoy.

HFM

[TxTowman]

Will a small convex mirror in front of both the cam and flash achieve this? Being convex it should not reflect much light toward the lens if placed high or low.

I have a d5000 without commander setting it works well for slaving manual from pop up flash.