Commander Flash Mode/Nikon D200

[sdsmith0322]

Ok guys, anyone out there know how to setup the D200 using the on camera flash in commander mode to trigger an SB 800 off camera on a light stand? I've tried and tried, but I just can't get it to work. :-(

[Davidtxs]

here ya go probably more that ya wanna know tho lol
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/ittlslave.htm

[dlbdata]

Rockwells directions for this are good

Good ole Rockwell made the chore easy to understand....

[gbux61]

On your D200 in Custom Setting Menu
-- e Bracketing/Flash
-- e3 Built in Flash
-- then select C - Commander ; Set to TTL and set channel to match SB800

on SB800
-- Hold SEL for 3 secs
-- Scroll to highlight REMOTE window and press SEL to enable choices
-- Highlight REMOTE and press SEL
-- then press SEL for 3 secs to return to normal mode

You may have to modify the channel on your flash to match what you set on your camera.

I messed around with this last weekend and it worked great.

[amadjuster]

I used Rockwell's instructions to set up my D200 and then save the profile as he suggested. This makes the camera part easy. I have an SB-600 but I think the set up is the same. I found Ken's instructions for the flash harder to follow and found instructions somewhere else on the Net that explained it a little better. The secret is holding down the two buttons on the flash until the little lightning bolt shows up and then cyling thorugh the menu until to can set it for the commander. Make sure the channels are the same for the camera and flash or it won't work. When it is set, the camera uses TTL for the shot, no matter where the external flash is. It is really slick. As long as the senser on the flash can "see" the flash on the camera, it works.

[Silvernic]

Originally Posted by gbux61

On your D200 in Custom Setting Menu
-- e Bracketing/Flash
-- e3 Built in Flash
-- then select C - Commander ; Set to TTL and set channel to match SB800

on SB800
-- Hold SEL for 3 secs
-- Scroll to highlight REMOTE window and press SEL to enable choices
-- Highlight REMOTE and press SEL
-- then press SEL for 3 secs to return to normal mode

You may have to modify the channel on your flash to match what you set on your camera.

I messed around with this last weekend and it worked great.

Great, but don't set to TTL!!! You're smarter than your $1,700 camera, I promise!

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Silvernic

Great, but don't set to TTL!!! You're smarter than your $1,700 camera, I promise!

Actually the iTTl mode works great and with no blown highlights at all. Let the camera do the work for you then adjust if necessary. You will waste allot of time trying set everything manually. Here is how some of mine turned out using iTTL, and one SB-800 fired into an umbrella to give me a soft light:

-T

[Silvernic]

Shhhh, I'm trying to convince myself that I'm smarter than the camera!!!

[simon]

Originally Posted by Silvernic

Shhhh, I'm trying to convince myself that I'm smarter than the camera!!!

Nikons ttl flash system was long he envy of other brands; it's not clear how well that survived the change to digital. Those pics look pretty good though!

[sdsmith0322]

Thank you ladies and gentleman I appreciate it, I think I've got it now :-)

[digidawg87]

It's not just the $1,700.00 camera we are talking about. It's the nikon guys behind the camera that made it smarter then most photographers.

[Hanky]

Originally Posted by gbux61

On your D200 in Custom Setting Menu
-- e Bracketing/Flash
-- e3 Built in Flash
-- then select C - Commander ; Set to TTL and set channel to match SB800

on SB800
-- Hold SEL for 3 secs
-- Scroll to highlight REMOTE window and press SEL to enable choices
-- Highlight REMOTE and press SEL
-- then press SEL for 3 secs to return to normal mode

You may have to modify the channel on your flash to match what you set on your camera.

I messed around with this last weekend and it worked great.

Most excellant! saves me the price of a cord
Thank's

[Zeemaster4u]

Thanks a lot...

Originally Posted by gbux61

On your D200 in Custom Setting Menu
-- e Bracketing/Flash
-- e3 Built in Flash
-- then select C - Commander ; Set to TTL and set channel to match SB800

on SB800
-- Hold SEL for 3 secs
-- Scroll to highlight REMOTE window and press SEL to enable choices
-- Highlight REMOTE and press SEL
-- then press SEL for 3 secs to return to normal mode

You may have to modify the channel on your flash to match what you set on your camera.

I messed around with this last weekend and it worked great.

[rodovideo]

I was using my D80 and SB600 in commander mode and it worked great...
The next day shooting, the flash did not FLASH.... all of the setting were the same from the previous day of shooting, so I just "reset" the SB600 and it worked again... don't know what happened but it did make me a little nervious.

Mike R.