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Neon888
Guest
What does the AF assist lamp on the Speedlights do?
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Phil Youngblood
Veteran Member
On the Coolpix series? Nothing.
On certain SLRs and DSLRs, it assists the AF. Go figure.
Phil
N
Neon888
Guest
I don't get it. Is it the timing of the light? Any idea why it doesn't assist? I guess it doesn't really matter. If it doesn't assist it doesn't assist. Go figure...
neon88
neon88
On the Coolpix series? Nothing.
On certain SLRs and DSLRs, it assists the AF. Go figure.
Phil
tyoung
Veteran Member
My best guess is that if it did, Nikon would lose a lot of D series camera sales to the 5000 series.
To get AF assist and Auto Zoom to work, the camera would need to support full duplex communication (two-way) between the camera and the flash, which the Coolpixes don't have. The physical connectors exist on the hotshoe so there's a possibility Nikon could come around to it one day. The question is whether this could be turned on in firmware, or if it's just not being supported in hardware. Only Nikon knows that and they aren't telling.
As it is, the camera can recognize whether a Nikon compatible flash is attached and pass a TTL signal to the flash, telling it when to turn off. When the flash asks the camera to focus on the AF grid, or for the focal length with which to base it's zoom setting the camera turns a deaf ear.
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Tom Young FCAS member
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/
David Mayer122175
Member
I spoke to a Nikon rep about this and they said it was about "price point", i.e. they are deliberately withholding features from the coolpix line that they think pros and dslr users want. As if the coolpix line will canabalize the DSLR line of cameras. I think the marketing department has their heads up their asses if they think people aren't going to buy D100's and Canon 10D's and the like because 5700's support D-TTL and the focus assist lights on the DX speedlights. If anything, I would think more pros would buy 5700's as second cameras as backups for their DSLR's! Besides, the investment in a DSLR and lenses still is way beyond a 5700 and accessories, so the "price point" argument that the rep presented to me is IMHO bogus.
I propose that all politically active/motivated 5700 users lobby Nikon for functional firmware updates such as full DX speedlight support, with the argument that this camera, as good as it is, could be even better, and should represent the best non-DSLR available. Nikon needs to reclaim it's place at the top, and it should only take some software tweeking to accomplish this.
Dave M
I propose that all politically active/motivated 5700 users lobby Nikon for functional firmware updates such as full DX speedlight support, with the argument that this camera, as good as it is, could be even better, and should represent the best non-DSLR available. Nikon needs to reclaim it's place at the top, and it should only take some software tweeking to accomplish this.
Dave M
My best guess is that if it did, Nikon would lose a lot of D series
camera sales to the 5000 series.
To get AF assist and Auto Zoom to work, the camera would need to
support full duplex communication (two-way) between the camera and
the flash, which the Coolpixes don't have. The physical connectors
exist on the hotshoe so there's a possibility Nikon could come
around to it one day. The question is whether this could be turned
on in firmware, or if it's just not being supported in hardware.
Only Nikon knows that and they aren't telling.
As it is, the camera can recognize whether a Nikon compatible flash
is attached and pass a TTL signal to the flash, telling it when to
turn off. When the flash asks the camera to focus on the AF grid,
or for the focal length with which to base it's zoom setting the
camera turns a deaf ear.
--
Tom Young FCAS member
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/
carsten böttcher
Well-known member
Sorry, but there's no need to communicate in duplex with the speedlight.
The cam only have to say to the flash "make focuslight on/off" or
"step to 50mm".
In order to that: if somebody knows what processor the cam uses and how to disassemble the software, it is a simple thing to add some code that sends these little words to the flash.
The cam only have to say to the flash "make focuslight on/off" or
"step to 50mm".
In order to that: if somebody knows what processor the cam uses and how to disassemble the software, it is a simple thing to add some code that sends these little words to the flash.
Mark Richard
Well-known member
I totally agree with what you say. Currently I have a CP995 and I'm considering buying a SB80DX flash. My intention is that when I upgrade to a newer cam I will be able to use some of the features.
In all likelyhood I will buy whatever cam replaces the CP5700 next - hopefully it will make use of the AF Assist and zoom abilities. The camera should stand on it's own and the flash on it's own. Crippling functionality isn't going to make me upgrade (I won't so DSLR just to get AF Assist). Having said that, I may not buy the SB80DX if it's just going to be wasted in terms of functionality.
I hope Nikon get their act together with the next line of Coolpix camera's - it will only increase sales. People go to DSLR for specific reasons and this isn't one of them.
In all likelyhood I will buy whatever cam replaces the CP5700 next - hopefully it will make use of the AF Assist and zoom abilities. The camera should stand on it's own and the flash on it's own. Crippling functionality isn't going to make me upgrade (I won't so DSLR just to get AF Assist). Having said that, I may not buy the SB80DX if it's just going to be wasted in terms of functionality.
I hope Nikon get their act together with the next line of Coolpix camera's - it will only increase sales. People go to DSLR for specific reasons and this isn't one of them.
I propose that all politically active/motivated 5700 users lobby
Nikon for functional firmware updates such as full DX speedlight
support, with the argument that this camera, as good as it is,
could be even better, and should represent the best non-DSLR
available. Nikon needs to reclaim it's place at the top, and it
should only take some software tweeking to accomplish this.
Dave M
My best guess is that if it did, Nikon would lose a lot of D series
camera sales to the 5000 series.
To get AF assist and Auto Zoom to work, the camera would need to
support full duplex communication (two-way) between the camera and
the flash, which the Coolpixes don't have. The physical connectors
exist on the hotshoe so there's a possibility Nikon could come
around to it one day. The question is whether this could be turned
on in firmware, or if it's just not being supported in hardware.
Only Nikon knows that and they aren't telling.
As it is, the camera can recognize whether a Nikon compatible flash
is attached and pass a TTL signal to the flash, telling it when to
turn off. When the flash asks the camera to focus on the AF grid,
or for the focal length with which to base it's zoom setting the
camera turns a deaf ear.
--
Tom Young FCAS member
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/
Good luck to you. You may partition/lobby all you want. If you don't like anything they have, the attitude I have seen has been: THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM! My advice to you is: don't waste your time! The more you tell them, it seems the less you will get; as we have seen in the so called firmware upgrade for 5700 and 4500! I was very impressed by the amount of effort and great suggestions that was going on in this forum but none of them were implemented. You might as well consider the subject closed. I feel less bothered now by the limitations etc. since I gave up hope that there would be any fix. You should just try enjoy what they "give" you. Look elsewhere if you don't like them!
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