SB700 incompatible w/D600??

I had the SB700 before I got the D600. Didn't think twice about it. Obviously a fairly modern SB700 should be compatible with the D600 right?? Why wouldn't it be?? I usually use the flash off camera and have been using it that way since getting the d600.

The other day I decided to throw it on the camera and it refuses ttl mode, will only work with manual. I'm a bit disappointed as I thought the contacts must be damaged. I write to Nikon just to make sure, and they respond:

Member said:

Thank you for contacting Nikon Customer Support. After further researching this issue, the SB-700 is not compatible with the D600. If they are not compatible we can not guarantee the settings will work.

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Whaaat??? Why???

Sorry, I was a bit taken aback by it being incompatible. On the nikon site though, I'm now seeing the sb700 page doesn't list the d800 or 600 as compatible. http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Pr...ht.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-Cameras

But, on the D600 page here http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d600/compatibility01.htm it does list the sb700.

I guess I don't understand why - Also, I don't see a list anywhere of compatible flashes. Has someone come across one? Was the customer service rep mistaken? Does anyone else use a sb700 on the 600? Is the only option really a 910?

I spent two hours yesterday with my 600 using a single sb700 in TTL mode on camera, and at times a pair of 700s off camera in "remote" (600 in commander mode via pop up flash) - everything worked as it always has ... no different than with my D700, or any other recent Nikon DSLR ...

My SB-700 works just fine on and off my D600.

If you set the camera to Matrix or Center-weighted metering the SB-700 will set to TTL-BL. If the camera is in Spot metering, the SB-700 will set to TTL. Are you sure you have item e3 in the Camera Custom Settings menu set to TTL. What's the problem.

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Richard R. Price

Ya e3 is ttl when using on camera - Any metering modes result in the same thing. The SB700 will only work in manual mode when attached to the camera. I've heard before this is often because of damaged contacts as it can't communicate properly through the shoe. That was what I thought was going on, however the response from Nikon is what threw me...

I shoot a lot and now own 2 d600's sb-700 sb-800x2 and sb-900 and all work fine in ttl mode on the D600. My two sb-28's dont work ttl on the d600 but that is because they are not designed too. Your sb-700 should work fine. Please dont take this the wrong way but is the mode slider on the flash in TTL mode? It is not an insult just a question. Or maybe slide it down into manual and back up to ttl to see wht happens.

Nikonfan99 said:

I shoot a lot and now own 2 d600's sb-700 sb-800x2 and sb-900 and all work fine in ttl mode on the D600. My two sb-28's dont work ttl on the d600 but that is because they are not designed too. Your sb-700 should work fine. Please dont take this the wrong way but is the mode slider on the flash in TTL mode? It is not an insult just a question. Or maybe slide it down into manual and back up to ttl to see wht happens.

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Yes of course the slider has been in all positions. Thats the only way to know it only works in manual mode...

I think the point i was trying to make is wondering why the sb700 is not officially supported by nikon and curious if there is a list of "officially" supported lenses?

Im pretty sure theres something wrong with my flash, i was surprised nikon said it wasnt supported.

Its obvious that the Nikon rep that gave you that response clearing does not know what he/she is talking about or perhaps there is a misunderstanding. If you search your D600 manual (.pdf) version for "SB-700" you will find it throughout the manual. Perhaps that's a hint that it is supported.

chaking said:

chaking wrote:

chaking said:

Thank you for contacting Nikon Customer Support. After further researching this issue, the SB-700 is not compatible with the D600. If they are not compatible we can not guarantee the settings will work.

Click to expand...

Whaaat??? Why???

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It would appear this particular Nikon Support rep is not compatible with Nikon equipment.

Have you tried the reset suggested in most Nikon flash manuals, of removing and replacing the batteries while the flash is turned on? (Page H-2 in the D700 manual)

chaking said:

Sorry, I was a bit taken aback by it being incompatible. On the nikon site though, I'm now seeing the sb700 page doesn't list the d800 or 600 as compatible. http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Pr...ht.html#tab-ProductDetail-ProductTabs-Cameras

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I believe that's only because the SB-700 was introduced before the D600 existed.

Sorry was just checking. I hope you get your issue resolved.

No no problem. Thanks for being helpful. I know it should work on a d600 because it works remotely. I was just really surprised by the answer from Nikon and in my job I often see companies say that the particular configuration/integration isn't "officially supported" and then they simply stop assistance right there. It's a frustrating thing and I hadn't seen it out of Nikon before so it threw me for a loop and I probably too hastily posted here (read, I was irritated when I posted) after I read it :-|

I was going to buy another sb700 anyway as I need more flashes for some stuff, but when I got the response it made me hesitate because I certainly don't want to buy something which won't be supported if something goes awry. So then I started looking for what was officially supported, and I'm not really seeing anything. Made me curious...

I do appreciate the responses - And Patco's response was something you would expect tech support to offer up, but nope, have to go to dpreview forums (I suppose I could've read the manual) And no, I did not replace the batteries while the flash was turned on, only while it was off. I will certainly try that - thanks for the advice.

Thanks

Do you have another Nikon body to give it a shot on?

No problem at all. Please post back your end solution.

I like the sb-700 but found the sb-800 with its front input for battery packs to be a bit more useful in my line of work (weddings). I still use the sb-700 for on camera fill but prefer the extra power of the sb-800. I purchased a sb-910 and like it but it has the same power as a sb-800 and some extra features. In the end I should have picked up two more used sb-800's instead of the 910. Oh well you live and you learn. I buy all my used gear at Keh. They have a 6 month warranty as well. Phottix is soon going to release the mitros for nikon which will have more power compared to the sb-700 and take the nikon battery packs.

They both work on both of my D600 bodies, as do my 2 SB-800s and 2 SB-900s. Take your D600 and the SB-700 in for service, and whoever replied to your inquiry from Nikon doesn't know speedlight from a stapler.

One other thing to try, clean your contacts with lens cleaning fluid and/or a rubber eraser.

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http://imagesbyeduardo.com/
Los Angeles wedding photography that seeks the heart and spirit in each image

I bought a sb-700 to go with my d600 and was stumped as to why it underexposed in ttl and did not fire at all in manual mode. It can't be the flash because I exchanged it for another sb-700 and have the same result. If it fires in ttl shouldn't it also fire in M? As in either everything works or nothing works. It must be the camera settings. Can anyone list sample D600 camera settings that will work with sb-700? Also the d600 camera settings that do not cause underexposure when firing in ttl.

They work together in iTTL mode. In fact, right after I read your post I slapped mine on the D600 just to make sure. There, the SB700 works in the iTTL mode w/o any fanfair.

Are you sure you talked to the right person?

Joseph said:

They work together in iTTL mode. In fact, right after I read your post I slapped mine on the D600 just to make sure. There, the SB700 works in the iTTL mode w/o any fanfair.

Are you sure you talked to the right person?

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Talk with someone? No, haven't really talked with anyone. To be a little more clear, I have Flash set to TTL BL, D600 camera in Program mode, Matrix metering and exposure values set at 0. Pics are underexposed. If I put flash in M mode it will not fire at all. I am almost certain that I must be checking or not checking some box in camera menu but can't find it.

[Ancient thread, but for the benefit of those who find this via a search ...] I hit this exact same problem today. The solution was to clean the contacts on the flash - it had a bit of gunk/oxide on the two rear contacts and a gentle scratch with the side of a coin made a shiny point on the contacts to get it working in TTL mode again.