thanks for a lot of info. Since you seem to know a lot about his
issue, what exact set up would you recommend assuming I got SU800
commander. I'd like to have TTL options for sure, and manual also
when desired.
No problem, any commander will do that... You can set any group to be TTL or manual power levels, even one of each if you wish. But camera commanders only control 2 remote groups, and SU/SB controllers only control three remote groups.
For TTL, what the system does that you put one light in group A and one light in group B, for individual control. The Group is the addressible entity. The system will meter each group individually (a group is best being one light, but it can be more), and sets each group to meter at equal intensity at the subject, regardless of distance, umbrella, whatever (if it has flash power to do it). You can specify your lighting ratio in the commander menu, and it will do that too. All instantly, at the press of a button. Automatic instant setup. Where you place the lights is up to you, so you need to know a little.
You will need to learn FV Lock in your camera manual, which gets this flash exposure first, and then the shutter simply triggers it, as two operations. You dont have to do that, but it prevents pictures of the subject blinking. SU-800 helps it, in some degree.
This part is a difficult concept for newbies, but note this manual power level is set in the commander menu (at the camera hot shoe), and the light does fire at the manual level specified, and it is same as manual flash in THAT respect. But it is not compatible with other manual lights or systems or slaves or flash meters. Commander and Manual systems are incompatible systems. We must pick one or the other system. Our choice, but no mixing. If you want a manual system, I would suggest using a manual system.
If I got su800 and say 2-3 sb 600 would it work with D40 ? From what
I understood It basically replaces internal commander of D90/D300 and
then some?Thanks again
Yes the SU-800 could/would be the commander on the D40. The D40 can do all the rest of it. Or you could use the SU-800 on the others like D300, same way. The SU-800 will control three remote groups where the cameras control two remote groups. SU-800 is the same commander as in the SB-800, same thing, same menu, but with two differences... no built in flash with the SU-800 commander, and it sends infrared commands instead of visible light commands. Which is a plus, it causes less blinking in the pictures of the subject. Again, SU-800 controls three remote groups, D300 only controls two remote groups.
I just read on amazon that it's not reliable past some 12-15 ft which is
really not enough distance. Can you comment on that ?- if you own
SU800 commander..
That is wrong, but I'm sure there are some difficult conditions when it might be true. Something else going on however, it is NOT simply 15 feet. All commanders are more like 60 feet if not obstructed. You orient the flash body so its sensor is pointing at camera. I have D300 and SB-800s, but no SU-800.
But it is optical, and it is line of sight, so blocking its path can be a problem. Yet reflections in small rooms seems to work pretty well too, at least at near distances, like 5 or 6 feet. At close range, it does much more than the Nikon specs. But, it is not perfectly reliable in that line of sight way, sometimes you may have to move some things or change plans. I have had zero problem in umbrellas in the house. But like a background light hidden behind the big chair the subject is in may or may not be an issue, probably more problem than not. But you only have 2 or 3 groups, so background light is sort of any issue anyway, for that reason. And being optical, it is less reliable in the sunlight. Some say that works, some say it doesnt, I have not tried sunshine.
Conversely, radio triggers go through walls and goes great distances, and sunlight does not bother them. Their entire point is to be much more reliable in difficult conditions, but they require very manual flash mode. You make your choice.
Here is a Nikon setup sheet you want to print and save:
http://www.nikonusa.com/Assets/Common-Assets/PDF/FastTrack_To_WirelessSpeedlights.pdf
The Nikon manuals are here:
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=13948&p_created=1143233777&p_sid=xmm5n9Wi&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=61&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTAsMTAmcF9wcm9kcz04OCwyOTUmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0yLjI5NSZwX2N2PSZwX3NlYXJjaF90eXBlPWFuc3dlcnMuc2VhcmNoX25sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9bWFudWFs&p_li=&p_topview=1
hope that link works. The SU-800 is covered under Speedlights, then the R1C1 macro kit manual includes it.
