Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Todd · 11:06 PM

Hi all, I was very impressed at how the D200 reacts to flash and how well it nails the exposures. For these photos I made the pop up flash on the D200 as the "commander" flash to fire the other SB800 units. I have a stand that will hold an umbrella (the umbrella used had a silver reflectance) and the diffusuion dome was on the flash as well to help spread the light evenly in the umbrella. I was in "A" mode using the cameras iTTL metering and it never over or under exposed. Basically what you get is studio quality lighting on location. The photos were taken outdoors and no additional lighting was used. I set the D200 to add fill from the pop up flash. As you can see the light is very soft and the flash was at camera right on the last photo, camera left for the first two. Have fun...

-Todd

ndsimm · 11-03-2006, 07:38 AM

nice images, I've been toying around with my two SB800's and will try that with my D70. It's gona take some trial and error to get used to the settings, but I like your setup...

boxofrocks · 11-03-2006, 08:52 AM

I think that while most reasonable Nikon owners admit that Canons have better hi ISO noise performance, many Canon owners envy the lighting system of the Nikon.

It does indeed rock.

sdsmith0322 · **More detail please.. -** 11-03-2006, 08:55 AM

Since you've already got it figured out, can you give us a little more detail as to how you go into the D200 to make all of that happen. I've got the D200 and I've played with it some but haven't really had too much luck with the settings. I do have manuals that came with the camera and my flashes, but you know us guys are when it comes to reading directions :-)

venchka · 11-03-2006, 10:00 AM

Awesome telescope!

engstrom · 11-03-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venchka

Awesome telescope!

I was thinking the same thing. 24" dobsonian?

Silvernic · 11-03-2006, 02:28 PM

On D200: Menu > Custom Setting Menu > e Bracketing/Flash > e3 Built in Flash > Commander Mode.
Adjustments made here in the commander mode menu will affect how brightly your off camera and on camera flash fire. Personally I set mine to built in mode M, comp 1/128 and Group A mode M at 1/2 or 1/4.
On SB600: Turn flash on > hold "zoom" and "-" button at the same time for about 2 seconds > screen should show a squiggly line arrow and the word no > press mode once, or until it says yes > hold "zoom" and "-" button at the same time for about 2 seconds again. Then you're ready to go. Just make sure your on camera flash is popped up or it won't work.

On SB800, no idea.

Daniel Bates · 11-03-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venchka

Awesome telescope!

So THAT's what it is!

And yes, I envy Nikon shooters for their CLS. I'll be going with manual strobes and PocketWizards, but that just isn't as fast or easy to set up as a couple of SB 800s.

NathanJK · 11-03-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

So THAT's what it is!

And yes, I envy Nikon shooters for their CLS. I'll be going with manual strobes and PocketWizards, but that just isn't as fast or easy to set up as a couple of SB 800s.

I dont envy them CLS toooo much, after all the nice canon's can do groups, ratios etc. wirelessly...what I REALLY envy them is the freaking pc sync connection! There's even a spot for it on the 580ex where you can tell they just chickened out and didn't put it in.

simon · 11-03-2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NathanJK

I dont envy them CLS toooo much, after all the nice canon's can do groups, ratios etc. wirelessly...what I REALLY envy them is the freaking pc sync connection! There's even a spot for it on the 580ex where you can tell they just chickened out and didn't put it in.

PC sync is an odd issue with canon, yes. On film at least a few years ago, the flash system was (is?) significantly better on nikon than canon could do ... not just features but accuracy. Of course that isn't so relevent if you just shoot manual strobes.

I don't know that this is true with digital though. When I was shooting canon film I was astonished by what a friend could pull off with his nikon strobes. Digital is a different system (for both of them) though....

What's wireless like on the newer canons, by the way? Used to be a bit flaky compared to what i've seen of the d200/sb-800 combo, but that isn't a fair comparison.

Redmouse · 11-03-2006, 04:47 PM

I still use my SB800 with my Canon gear. I trigger it with pocket wizards. I prefer off camera flash anyways. I also have a 580ex. Going through the menu, I believe it has similar capabilities as the CLS system, minus the on camera commander module. I believe the Sigma flashes have similar capabilities as well. But all 3 are line of sight...

Daniel Bates · 11-03-2006, 04:49 PM

...which is why I'm going the manual-strobes-and-PW route. Yes, the Sigma 500 DG Super can act as an E-TTL II master. It's basically a 550EX with not as good build quality.