SB-900 malfunction on D700

JuhaniV said:

Moved from 'Nikon Talk' to more appropriate forum:

I was shooting a wedding yesterday with D700 + SB-900. Flash had a freshly charged Sanyo Eneloops in it and a few test shots just before the ceremony were OK and flash was working just fine, like it has always done so far.

Then came the moment when the Bride & Dad started walking the aisle and I started taking photos - but SB-900 did not produce any light at all! I could not see anything being wrong in the flash LCD panel, except that the red led was blinking after each shot as a warning for underexposure.

I took five photos and all came out severly underexposed. Later when examining the file EXIF, I could see that camera had set the exposure as if there was a flash connected (I was on Aperture priority mode), but the data in Flash section did not indicate that flash had fired. My camera was set to auto ISO, but unfortunately camera was not pumping up the ISO, so I lost one important frame.

The strange thing is that Flash EXIF says 'Device: Speedlight', but nothing about 'Sync Mode' or 'Flash Mode' which you normally see in exif. Also the Device section data is strange - it should say 'Device: SB-900' when that flash is connected or 'Device: built-in Flash' when you have the built in flash open. Where does this 'Speedlight' come from?

Later I started suspecting that maybe I had accidentally popped up the built in flash, which would have caused the problem. But after trying that scenario at home, SB-900 was working OK regardless of the built in flash state - so that could not have been the cause.

I'm suspecting that there was some sort of a firmware hickup that left camera and flash communication to some unknown state which caused the problem. The problem did not go away when I shut down the flash and powered up again. However, after I had left the SB-900 powered off for a few hours (while working with my backup SB-600) SB-900 started suddenly working normally again, and kept of working for the rest of the evening.

I have read several posts on the loose hot shoe issue with D700. I suspect that this is not the same case. At least I have not seen any spontaneous flashes and I do not see any significant slack in the flash connection. There is some, but not that much. Does anyone know if the slack in hot shoe could cause this type of EXIF data in the photos?

Has anyone seen a similar problem? Any idea how to avoid that in the future? I would not want to get into the same situation in the next wedding.

Click to expand...

Hawaii-geek said:

You can have a Hot Shoe issue and not have it strobe unexpectedly. Mine rarely did.

thou yours probably was not overheat.

where I used to get overheats was when there was 8 bridesmaids , all walking one after another ... and they act like they are late for work.
Then comes the Bride ... boom , overheat.

I just flip to my other D700 with flash. because I already know.
Though off camera works best.

HG

JuhaniV said:

Moved from 'Nikon Talk' to more appropriate forum:

I was shooting a wedding yesterday with D700 + SB-900. Flash had a freshly charged Sanyo Eneloops in it and a few test shots just before the ceremony were OK and flash was working just fine, like it has always done so far.

Then came the moment when the Bride & Dad started walking the aisle and I started taking photos - but SB-900 did not produce any light at all! I could not see anything being wrong in the flash LCD panel, except that the red led was blinking after each shot as a warning for underexposure.

I took five photos and all came out severly underexposed. Later when examining the file EXIF, I could see that camera had set the exposure as if there was a flash connected (I was on Aperture priority mode), but the data in Flash section did not indicate that flash had fired. My camera was set to auto ISO, but unfortunately camera was not pumping up the ISO, so I lost one important frame.

The strange thing is that Flash EXIF says 'Device: Speedlight', but nothing about 'Sync Mode' or 'Flash Mode' which you normally see in exif. Also the Device section data is strange - it should say 'Device: SB-900' when that flash is connected or 'Device: built-in Flash' when you have the built in flash open. Where does this 'Speedlight' come from?

Later I started suspecting that maybe I had accidentally popped up the built in flash, which would have caused the problem. But after trying that scenario at home, SB-900 was working OK regardless of the built in flash state - so that could not have been the cause.

I'm suspecting that there was some sort of a firmware hickup that left camera and flash communication to some unknown state which caused the problem. The problem did not go away when I shut down the flash and powered up again. However, after I had left the SB-900 powered off for a few hours (while working with my backup SB-600) SB-900 started suddenly working normally again, and kept of working for the rest of the evening.

I have read several posts on the loose hot shoe issue with D700. I suspect that this is not the same case. At least I have not seen any spontaneous flashes and I do not see any significant slack in the flash connection. There is some, but not that much. Does anyone know if the slack in hot shoe could cause this type of EXIF data in the photos?

Has anyone seen a similar problem? Any idea how to avoid that in the future? I would not want to get into the same situation in the next wedding.

Click to expand...

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

Click to expand...

JuhaniV said:

Thanks for the info. Maybe this hot shoe issue could be one option - in need to do some experiments with it. I'm using the Blackrapid strap that hangs the camera from the bottom, so camera is upside down on my waist when I'm not shooting. I suppose that would put some strain on the connector.

And for the overheat - it wasn't that - that I know for sure. I do get that time to time, so I know when to expect that.

Hawaii-geek said:

You can have a Hot Shoe issue and not have it strobe unexpectedly. Mine rarely did.

thou yours probably was not overheat.

where I used to get overheats was when there was 8 bridesmaids , all walking one after another ... and they act like they are late for work.
Then comes the Bride ... boom , overheat.

I just flip to my other D700 with flash. because I already know.
Though off camera works best.

HG

JuhaniV said:

Moved from 'Nikon Talk' to more appropriate forum:

I was shooting a wedding yesterday with D700 + SB-900. Flash had a freshly charged Sanyo Eneloops in it and a few test shots just before the ceremony were OK and flash was working just fine, like it has always done so far.

Then came the moment when the Bride & Dad started walking the aisle and I started taking photos - but SB-900 did not produce any light at all! I could not see anything being wrong in the flash LCD panel, except that the red led was blinking after each shot as a warning for underexposure.

I took five photos and all came out severly underexposed. Later when examining the file EXIF, I could see that camera had set the exposure as if there was a flash connected (I was on Aperture priority mode), but the data in Flash section did not indicate that flash had fired. My camera was set to auto ISO, but unfortunately camera was not pumping up the ISO, so I lost one important frame.

The strange thing is that Flash EXIF says 'Device: Speedlight', but nothing about 'Sync Mode' or 'Flash Mode' which you normally see in exif. Also the Device section data is strange - it should say 'Device: SB-900' when that flash is connected or 'Device: built-in Flash' when you have the built in flash open. Where does this 'Speedlight' come from?

Later I started suspecting that maybe I had accidentally popped up the built in flash, which would have caused the problem. But after trying that scenario at home, SB-900 was working OK regardless of the built in flash state - so that could not have been the cause.

I'm suspecting that there was some sort of a firmware hickup that left camera and flash communication to some unknown state which caused the problem. The problem did not go away when I shut down the flash and powered up again. However, after I had left the SB-900 powered off for a few hours (while working with my backup SB-600) SB-900 started suddenly working normally again, and kept of working for the rest of the evening.

I have read several posts on the loose hot shoe issue with D700. I suspect that this is not the same case. At least I have not seen any spontaneous flashes and I do not see any significant slack in the flash connection. There is some, but not that much. Does anyone know if the slack in hot shoe could cause this type of EXIF data in the photos?

Has anyone seen a similar problem? Any idea how to avoid that in the future? I would not want to get into the same situation in the next wedding.

Click to expand...

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hawaii-geek said:

I have to tell you. Having owned two(2) D700 and using them with Black Rapid double straps.

It's not IF but When you will have a Hot Shoe issue.

I think the BlackRapid straps might make it happen faster ... but it will happen regardless.

Unless you shoot casually.

imho , if you shoot enough weddings ... the last thing you thing about is being careful of how the heavy sb900 stresses your Hot Shoe.
BR or not.

HG

JuhaniV said:

Thanks for the info. Maybe this hot shoe issue could be one option - in need to do some experiments with it. I'm using the Blackrapid strap that hangs the camera from the bottom, so camera is upside down on my waist when I'm not shooting. I suppose that would put some strain on the connector.

And for the overheat - it wasn't that - that I know for sure. I do get that time to time, so I know when to expect that.

Hawaii-geek said:

You can have a Hot Shoe issue and not have it strobe unexpectedly. Mine rarely did.

thou yours probably was not overheat.

where I used to get overheats was when there was 8 bridesmaids , all walking one after another ... and they act like they are late for work.
Then comes the Bride ... boom , overheat.

I just flip to my other D700 with flash. because I already know.
Though off camera works best.

HG

JuhaniV said:

Moved from 'Nikon Talk' to more appropriate forum:

I was shooting a wedding yesterday with D700 + SB-900. Flash had a freshly charged Sanyo Eneloops in it and a few test shots just before the ceremony were OK and flash was working just fine, like it has always done so far.

Then came the moment when the Bride & Dad started walking the aisle and I started taking photos - but SB-900 did not produce any light at all! I could not see anything being wrong in the flash LCD panel, except that the red led was blinking after each shot as a warning for underexposure.

I took five photos and all came out severly underexposed. Later when examining the file EXIF, I could see that camera had set the exposure as if there was a flash connected (I was on Aperture priority mode), but the data in Flash section did not indicate that flash had fired. My camera was set to auto ISO, but unfortunately camera was not pumping up the ISO, so I lost one important frame.

The strange thing is that Flash EXIF says 'Device: Speedlight', but nothing about 'Sync Mode' or 'Flash Mode' which you normally see in exif. Also the Device section data is strange - it should say 'Device: SB-900' when that flash is connected or 'Device: built-in Flash' when you have the built in flash open. Where does this 'Speedlight' come from?

Later I started suspecting that maybe I had accidentally popped up the built in flash, which would have caused the problem. But after trying that scenario at home, SB-900 was working OK regardless of the built in flash state - so that could not have been the cause.

I'm suspecting that there was some sort of a firmware hickup that left camera and flash communication to some unknown state which caused the problem. The problem did not go away when I shut down the flash and powered up again. However, after I had left the SB-900 powered off for a few hours (while working with my backup SB-600) SB-900 started suddenly working normally again, and kept of working for the rest of the evening.

I have read several posts on the loose hot shoe issue with D700. I suspect that this is not the same case. At least I have not seen any spontaneous flashes and I do not see any significant slack in the flash connection. There is some, but not that much. Does anyone know if the slack in hot shoe could cause this type of EXIF data in the photos?

Has anyone seen a similar problem? Any idea how to avoid that in the future? I would not want to get into the same situation in the next wedding.

Click to expand...

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

Click to expand...

JuhaniV said:

I'm suspecting that there was some sort of a firmware hickup that left camera and flash communication to some unknown state which caused the problem. The problem did not go away when I shut down the flash and powered up again. However, after I had left the SB-900 powered off for a few hours (while working with my backup SB-600) SB-900 started suddenly working normally again, and kept of working for the rest of the evening.

Click to expand...

• Juhani

georgeRC said:

Sorry, but this really does sound like a problem involving the hot shoe contacts. There are several contact points, so a variety of problems should be anticipated as possibilities depending on which contacts are misaligned, dirty, or shorted.

Did you say that the -900 worked again after being removed from the camera, and later being attached again, but not after being turned off and back on? Sounds exactly like what is to be expected for a hot shoe problem, especially since you report that there is some play.

Some users use pliers to tighten up the hot shoe. And, some send their camera in for repair.

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Hawaii-geek said:

imho, you know you have the issue when the "only" solution is to take the sb900 off the Hot Shoe and back on again.

do not think a simple ON/OFF of the sb900 helped.

think De-ToxIT PEN helped ... Do this BEFORE "every" paid shoot.
On the sb900 pins and Hot Shoe.

got a little desparate once and used a hand vicegrip to "Just" a "LITTLE" squeeze on the Hot Shoes sides. imho, "this" helped a lot.
But, that's when I knew, broke down and sent it in to Nikon.
Think the Replace and clean and check was about us$225 ... I think

The Hot Shoe was thicker ... yes, I looked at it side by side with my other D700.
and it killed the issue , so I had both my D700 done.

(note: strangely, I do not think this thicker Hot Shoe is on the D800 ... because I still have a D700 with the replaced Hot Shoe to compair)

Note: this issue does NOT get better ... it will ONLY get Worst over time.

but also note ... this was the ONLY D700 issue I had "ever" had. just the Hot Shoe.

Hope this helps,
HG

Click to expand...