SB800 problems

I have a D80 and I bought an SB800 last spring. When I first got it, I could use it fine. Now, I am having the following frustrating problems:

1. I can't access TTL BL, or any mode in FP (yes auto FP is enabled in-camera). If I choose a shutter speed on my camera above 1/200, the picture is partly in shadow due to the flash not syncing. I have used FP and TTL BL in the past.

2. I can't access AA mode. I have been able to access it in the past.

3. When I try to use the flash off-camera, most of the time it fires but the flash does not show up in the actual picture. I've tested this by taking a picture of myself in the mirror holding the flash, looking at it to make sure it fires (it does) and then looking at the picture to see if the flash shows (it doesn't). I have used the flash off-camera in the past with no problems.

4. I can't access the auto zoom function on the flash. Yes, I have removed the diffusion dome. I can cycle through the manual zooms but no matter how many times I press the tree buttons, that M never changes to AUTO.

5. I get alot of completely blown out pictures in TTL and A mode, even with 1/2000 shutter speed.

----

What I've done to try to fix it:

-I've reset the factory flash settings.

-I have not, however, reset the camera's factory settings.

-I've made sure all contact points between the flash and the hotshoe and also between the lens and the camera are clean and intact.

-I've tried different lenses (stock 18-135 and sigma 10-20).

-I've changed the batteries (I think).

-I've tried in M, A, S, and P modes on the camera.

----

My hypotheses:

-Perhaps for some reason, the flash or camera is not recognizing that I am using G and E type lens (ones with the cpu connections).

-Maybe I haven't recently changed the batteries, but I'm pretty sure I have. I'll go get some AAs tomorrow just to make sure.

If anyone can help me out with any of these problems, I will be extremely grateful. I don't care if I look like an idiot the solution is so simple, I just want this solved .

Mitchell M said:

I have a D80 and I bought an SB800 last spring. When I first got it,
I could use it fine. Now, I am having the following frustrating
problems:

1. I can't access TTL BL, or any mode in FP (yes auto FP is enabled
in-camera). If I choose a shutter speed on my camera above 1/200,
the picture is partly in shadow due to the flash not syncing. I have
used FP and TTL BL in the past.

Click to expand...

TTL BL only works when you have the metering set to either Matrix or Center Weighed. It doesn't work with Spot Metering

Mitchell M said:

2. I can't access AA mode. I have been able to access it in the past.

Click to expand...

reset the SB800 again. Hold down the On/Off and Mode Buttons at the same time for at least 2 secs if not longer

Mitchell M said:

3. When I try to use the flash off-camera, most of the time it fires
but the flash does not show up in the actual picture. I've tested
this by taking a picture of myself in the mirror holding the flash,
looking at it to make sure it fires (it does) and then looking at the
picture to see if the flash shows (it doesn't). I have used the
flash off-camera in the past with no problems.

4. I can't access the auto zoom function on the flash. Yes, I have
removed the diffusion dome. I can cycle through the manual zooms but
no matter how many times I press the tree buttons, that M never
changes to AUTO.

Click to expand...

The Zoom is in Auto mode when the letter M above the word ZOOM disappears. The text AUTO does not appear at all. see page 14 of the S8-800 manual

Mitchell M said:

5. I get alot of completely blown out pictures in TTL and A mode,
even with 1/2000 shutter speed.

----

What I've done to try to fix it:

-I've reset the factory flash settings.

-I have not, however, reset the camera's factory settings.

-I've made sure all contact points between the flash and the hotshoe
and also between the lens and the camera are clean and intact.

-I've tried different lenses (stock 18-135 and sigma 10-20).

-I've changed the batteries (I think).

-I've tried in M, A, S, and P modes on the camera.

----

My hypotheses:

-Perhaps for some reason, the flash or camera is not recognizing that
I am using G and E type lens (ones with the cpu connections).

Click to expand...

Series E lenses only work in manual exposure mode. see

http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=57&p_created=1029163096&p_sid=zwTL_5dj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjAsMjAmcF9wcm9kcz0xOSwzMDkmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0yLjMwOSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9ZSBsZW5z&p_li=&p_topview=1

Mitchell M said:

-Maybe I haven't recently changed the batteries, but I'm pretty sure
I have. I'll go get some AAs tomorrow just to make sure.

If anyone can help me out with any of these problems, I will be
extremely grateful. I don't care if I look like an idiot the
solution is so simple, I just want this solved .

Click to expand...

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

phila_guy said:

TTL BL only works when you have the metering set to either Matrix or
Center Weighed. It doesn't work with Spot Metering

Click to expand...

I just checked to make sure and it is in Matrix metering.

phila_guy said:

reset the SB800 again. Hold down the On/Off and Mode Buttons at the
same time for at least 2 secs if not longer

Click to expand...

Just did this, still no AA. I held down the buttons until the screen changed color then let go.

phila_guy said:

The Zoom is in Auto mode when the letter M above the word ZOOM
disappears. The text AUTO does not appear at all. see page 14 of the
S8-800 manual

Click to expand...

My mistake. Regardless, the M still doesn't go away.

phila_guy said:

Series E lenses only work in manual exposure mode. see

http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=57&p_created=1029163096&p_sid=zwTL_5dj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjAsMjAmcF9wcm9kcz0xOSwzMDkmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0yLjMwOSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9ZSBsZW5z&p_li=&p_topview=1

Click to expand...

I think I meant to say DE. The lens is the D80 18-135 kit lens.

phila_guy said:

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Click to expand...

Thanks for the help!

are the available modes the same when you have the flash off camera?

I just tried it on an SB-800 by itself and all I got were TTL, A, GN, M and RPT. The Zoom never gets out of manual mode either (that should be expected).

If this is what you're getting, it looks like the flash is no longer being recognized by the camera or vice versa

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

phila_guy said:

are the available modes the same when you have the flash off camera?

I just tried it on an SB-800 by itself and all I got were TTL, A, GN,
M and RPT. The Zoom never gets out of manual mode either (that should
be expected).

If this is what you're getting, it looks like the flash is no longer
being recognized by the camera or vice versa

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Click to expand...

I think this might be the problem. I get the same modes on or off camera. I guess I will have to send both to Nikon and have them look at them? Thanks again phila_guy .

Mitchell M said:

phila_guy said:

are the available modes the same when you have the flash off camera?

I just tried it on an SB-800 by itself and all I got were TTL, A, GN,
M and RPT. The Zoom never gets out of manual mode either (that should
be expected).

If this is what you're getting, it looks like the flash is no longer
being recognized by the camera or vice versa

--

We have art that we do not die of the truth.
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Click to expand...

I think this might be the problem. I get the same modes on or off
camera. I guess I will have to send both to Nikon and have them look
at them? Thanks again phila_guy .

Click to expand...

Before you do that, try taking a pencil eraser and rubbing it on the contacts on the bottom of the flash, and then on the contacts on the camera shoe. Rub hard enough to clean any gunk off the contacts, but not hard enough to break pieces off the eraser.

Also make sure the flash is seating in the hotshoe properly. If all the electrical contacts aren't lining up properly that could cause the problems you describe.

Regards,

Duncan C
--
dpreview and PBase supporter.



http://www.pbase.com/duncanc
My macro gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/duncanc/macro_pictures&page=all

Duncan C said:

Before you do that, try taking a pencil eraser and rubbing it on the
contacts on the bottom of the flash, and then on the contacts on the
camera shoe. Rub hard enough to clean any gunk off the contacts, but
not hard enough to break pieces off the eraser.

Also make sure the flash is seating in the hotshoe properly. If all
the electrical contacts aren't lining up properly that could cause
the problems you describe.

Regards,

Duncan C
--
dpreview and PBase supporter.



http://www.pbase.com/duncanc
My macro gallery:
http://www.pbase.com/duncanc/macro_pictures&page=all

Click to expand...

Good idea. I tried it and as far as I can see, the connections look perfectly clean, and the strobe fits in nice and snug. Still nothing. Thanks for the suggestion though!

I've had the same problem for months now. Haven't been able to send it in because I've been strictly using it in manual mode. Come winter, I'll be sending mine in too. I researched this for awhile myself, tried everything and still nothing. I ran across others that had to send in theirs.

Try turning on the SB800 (just hold it - don't mount it on the camera). Leave the SB800 power on and remove the batteries. Now put in a freshly charged set of batteries with the flash on. That will reset the computer in the SB800.

Nikon mentions this in the manual, but it is rather obscure. It worked for me, so maybe it will solve your problem.

--
all the best
saronann

Mitchell M said:

I think this might be the problem. I get the same modes on or off
camera. I guess I will have to send both to Nikon and have them look
at them? Thanks again phila_guy .

Click to expand...

Before you send anything, you might want try a (known to be) working SB800 on your D80 and try your SB800 on a good D80. At least you would know which one to send, and which to keep (hard to imagine both went bad at the same time in this weird way). You might also discover that they are both working ok (if it's the contacts or some other funky thing).

-Ash

--

You can't change reality by closing your eyes. It's still there, even if not photographed.

http://picasaweb.google.com/TheRealAsh

sakaasa said:

Try turning on the SB800 (just hold it - don't mount it on the
camera). Leave the SB800 power on and remove the batteries. Now put
in a freshly charged set of batteries with the flash on. That will
reset the computer in the SB800.

Nikon mentions this in the manual, but it is rather obscure. It
worked for me, so maybe it will solve your problem.

--
all the best
saronann

Click to expand...

No go Useful information, though. Thanks.

Did you try the internal menu option by pushing the SEL button for two seconds? In the menu you can set all kinds of settings like ISO, A/AA, remote SU4 a.s.o.

--
--
Ronald