The menu system on the SB800 is possibly the worst designed thing
ever designed apart from those silly kettles with the handle on the
top which make your hands get burnt by the steam.
It takes practise and perserverance to actually change an option on
the SB800. Training course for changing menu options are
probably available somewhere on the net. I managed it myself by
trial and error and offer FREE courses to those in need.
If you are a neophyte SB800 option changer I suggest you try the
following instructions as a basic platform from which you can
launch into all sorts of menu changing options in the future if
you're willing to put in the effort and time.
1) Take the SB800 off the camera as there's no need to complicate
matters or confuse the poor little SB800.
2) Turn it on. This step is relatively trouble free. The "on/off"
button often does what it is supposed to do and usually at the time
you want it to.
3) Carefully, and this is the zen part, ONLY PRESS THE "SEL" BIT
OF THE BUTTON. Some have offered advice such as put your whole
thumb over the entire control and gently press down. Other say use
the tip of your thumb or even a pencil. You will have to find your
own "way". All SB800 users struggle at this point but after a
while, though it never becomes second nature, you find you are
generally able to get the button selected correctly on the same day
as you wanted to take your shot. Hold it for a couple of seconds.
Try not to breath in or out!
4) Should four totally incomprehensible squares appear on the
screen together with some text on the right you know you have
successfully completed stage 1
5) I know this is depressing but you're going to have to press the
"SEL" button again. Take a few deep breaths and possibly a large
scotch before attempting this. If you find one of the squares that
wasn't black suddenly becomes black then you have have blown it.
You will need to navigate back to the top right black square by NOT
using the "SEL" part of the button and try again. It is often
quicker and cheaper to just throw the SB800 away at this point and
buy another one instead.
6) If not much else happens apart from one of the unhighlighted
bits of text on the right suddenly becomes highlighted you are well
on the way to completing your first SB800 option change!!!!!!
7) If you press the up and down part of the "SEL" button you can
highlight the right bit of text. The one you want is "REMOTE".
Highlight it!
8) A lot of people fail at this point and become Trapist Monks
instead. According to the manual, you have to go through the whole
"press the SEL button" lottery again. However, I HAVE A BETTER
SOLUTION! It works every time. Just press the "on/off" button
briefly!!! Your option will be selected and you will be returned
to the start and trumpets will blow and angels will sing.
9) Send a letter to Nikon telling them how cr@p the interface on
the SB800 is.
Regards
--
http://www.photo.net/photos/wheely
