Reading mode: Light Dark

990 Firmware Bug: External Flash

Go to last post
G

Gary Blyn

Well-known member
Messages
113
Reaction score
0
Location
Livingston, NJ, US
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now. The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using the upgraded firmware.--Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
 
I've benn running the SB22 (no letter) just a straight SB22 with my 990
with the firmware update with out a problem.
I also used this flash on my 950 with out a problem

Randy
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
 
No problem here either. Have you checked to make sure flash is securely mounted to the AS-E900, or possibly dirty contacts on the flash or AS-E900? I know a long shot, but I thought I would ask.

Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
 
Trent,

I am pretty certain that it's not the cable or the AS-E900. If so, a RESET would not have resolved the problem.

Gary
Trent Mulkern said:
Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I was not refering to what you had already checked. One gent recently posted that his SunPack 433D didn't fit exactly on his AS-E900 and was causing intermittant contact, specifically over exposures. If the flash screw down thumb wheel isn't tight the flash may move when you move the camera and may be making intermittant contact.

Your perfectly correct though, it could be a software glitch or something intermittant. Just thought I would mention other possibilities vice sending the camera back to Nikon. Intermittant problems are the worst to troubleshoot and correct successfully.

Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am pretty certain that it's not the cable or the AS-E900. If so,
a RESET would not have resolved the problem.

Gary
Trent Mulkern said:
Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I had a problem with my SB 24 last week caused by locking down the flash without completely pushing the unit into the AS-E900 hot shoe. Poor connection - intermittent failures. Once I finally figured out what the problem was, I was back in business again. It sure did look like the flash was seated correctly, but it definitely was not.

Fay
Trent Mulkern said:
Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Hi Gary,

I use a SB22s also and it seemed to work great on the first couple of photo shoots, then it got very intermittent on the last. I kept fiddling with it to no avail, it would fire once in 10 shots regardless of my mode settings but I did not do the RESET thing. When I got home, I cleaned the hotshoe on both the SB22s and SK with 91% isopropyl alcohol and popped in a new set of batteries in the flash. Afterwards it worked flawlessly again, firing everytime even in quick succession. I can only suggest that the TTL control voltage is very low and critical. It obviously does not tolerate any contact resistance in the connections and maybe it is also battery voltage sensitive, I used the flash batteries for a very long time.
 
Don,

Your point about the TTL voltage being very low is well taken. Perhaps the problem arises from low battery in the camera. Next time this happens, before I do a RESET I am going to try fresh camera batteries. I'm also going to try using the SB-22 in one of the auto modes rather than TTL to see if this further isolates the issue to the TTL circuit. Thanks.

Gary
Don Krauss said:
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Hi Gary,
I use a SB22s also and it seemed to work great on the first couple
of photo shoots, then it got very intermittent on the last. I kept
fiddling with it to no avail, it would fire once in 10 shots
regardless of my mode settings but I did not do the RESET thing.
When I got home, I cleaned the hotshoe on both the SB22s and SK
with 91% isopropyl alcohol and popped in a new set of batteries in
the flash. Afterwards it worked flawlessly again, firing everytime
even in quick succession. I can only suggest that the TTL control
voltage is very low and critical. It obviously does not tolerate
any contact resistance in the connections and maybe it is also
battery voltage sensitive, I used the flash batteries for a very
long time.
Click to expand...
 
Gary Blyn said:
camera batteries. I'm also going to try using the SB-22 in one of
the auto modes rather than TTL to see if this further isolates the
issue to the TTL circuit. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I don't think that auto mode will isolate the problem

The Flash will still need a signal as to when to fire , if it doesnt fire in TTL mode , then it wont fire in Auto mode as it's most likely not getting that signal.

Just as an aside , does it fire intermittently when you use the force the flash to fire setting?
 
I use the SB 28 with my 990. It occasionally does not fire, but never misses 9 out of 10 times or more as described.

Sometimes it doesn't fire because it hasn't "woken up" after going on stand-by. But often in a photo session it just doesn't fire for absolutely no reason. I figure that it might be the firmware, but since this is a computer sometimes they just do funny things.... Like the focus being off even though you have it set to be completely manual and not select the funky things closest to you.

That may be why if you want one good image take 20 and you'll have one great and perhaps 10 good.

anyway, the missed flash is intermittent but happens here, maybe about one in 20 flash shots, with everything turned on.

One more odd thing is that the auto seems not to be auto, since I can manually change the F setting on the flash and have it affect the exposure settings and outcome.
Member said:
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I will second this description!

I have taken 500 shots in the last 3 weeks...all indoors using the external flash(433D) ...onboard disabled. Approximately 2-3 in each 100 will under exposure due to an insufficient flash (it appears to squelch instantly) but the next shot will fire perfectly??? Anybody else seen this? I am using TTL controls (blue dot selected) in manual program mode. I also noted that a small number of shots will be out of focus...that is...I get a green light but the subject where the brackets lock, is completely out of focus. It is important to recognize that all of my shots were taken in very low light conditions.
Steve P said:
Sometimes it doesn't fire because it hasn't "woken up" after going
on stand-by. But often in a photo session it just doesn't fire for
absolutely no reason. I figure that it might be the firmware, but
since this is a computer sometimes they just do funny things....
Like the focus being off even though you have it set to be
completely manual and not select the funky things closest to you.

That may be why if you want one good image take 20 and you'll have
one great and perhaps 10 good.

anyway, the missed flash is intermittent but happens here, maybe
about one in 20 flash shots, with everything turned on.

One more odd thing is that the auto seems not to be auto, since I
can manually change the F setting on the flash and have it affect
the exposure settings and outcome.
Member said:
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I have a 990 with a SB-28 and regularly get a very weak flash with the SB-28 set to TTL. The auto and manual mode flash fine. I received a number of helpful hints here but nothing works. I'm inclined to believe it's a firmware problem since the other two modes work fine. Thus a signal gets to the SB-28; it's just that the flash squelch in theTTL mode goes off too quickly.

RG
Steve P said:
Sometimes it doesn't fire because it hasn't "woken up" after going
on stand-by. But often in a photo session it just doesn't fire for
absolutely no reason. I figure that it might be the firmware, but
since this is a computer sometimes they just do funny things....
Like the focus being off even though you have it set to be
completely manual and not select the funky things closest to you.

That may be why if you want one good image take 20 and you'll have
one great and perhaps 10 good.

anyway, the missed flash is intermittent but happens here, maybe
about one in 20 flash shots, with everything turned on.

One more odd thing is that the auto seems not to be auto, since I
can manually change the F setting on the flash and have it affect
the exposure settings and outcome.
Member said:
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I was having very similiar problems with my SB26 and my Coolpix 990. It turned out the batteries in my SB26 were low. After I replaced the batteries the combination has worked very well. Hope that helps....

Regards,
Mark
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
 
I've taken about 150 shots with the 22s and haven't experienced your problem. However, the hot shoe connection to the Nikon flash bracket is very tight and I can imagine that a contact problem might develop.
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
 
Richard A. Gibson said:
I have a 990 with a SB-28 and regularly get a very weak flash with
the SB-28 set to TTL. The auto and manual mode flash fine. I
received a number of helpful hints here but nothing works. I'm
inclined to believe it's a firmware problem since the other two
modes work fine. Thus a signal gets to the SB-28; it's just that
the flash squelch in theTTL mode goes off too quickly.
Click to expand...
I have the same combination, but haven't had the problem you
describe. I did have a problem where the flash simply wasn't
as powerful as needed -- when, according to the guide number,
it should have been fine.

In that case, my problem was that the flash zoom setting was
24mm, while the camera was at it's longest setting. Now, I
try an remember to zoom the flash as needed.
 
I see this is an old thread, but it has no resolution that I can find. I have had my 990 for about a year now, and for the last few months I have just put up with this problem. I use a Sunpack for my external flash, and it seems that the RESET trick works (I have not tested it enough to be certain). This is ok for posed shots, but when you are trying to capture action you only get one shot, so I need to fix the problem. Has anyone solved this problem?

As far as the problem being with the AS-E900, both the internal and the external flash are firing with dimished brightness. That rules out contact problems and cables.
Gary Blyn said:
I am pretty certain that it's not the cable or the AS-E900. If so,
a RESET would not have resolved the problem.

Gary
Trent Mulkern said:
Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I used to have similar intermittant flash failure problems on my CP995 (SB28)until I started the following:

1. Start each session with fresh set of flash batteries and fresh camera battery.
(Change all batteries every 100 shots whether they show low charge or not.)
2. Be sure the AS-E900 is locked securely in the lens section socket.

3. Be sure strobe is push all the way in the shoe and the lock is screwed down tightly.

4. If using studio strobes rather than SB28, be sure AS-15 is pushed all the way in the AS-E900 and the PC cord is seated in the socket.

Since doing all this, I have taken over 3,600 (mostly using flash or studio strobe or both) shots on the 995 without a hitch. HTH. PatiO.
 
By way of follow-up, I ultimately sent my 990 back to Nikon under warranty. Turns out a contact was loose on the flash jack. They repaired the jack and the problem went away. I still have the 990 and have taken thousands of shots with it without further incident.

BTW, the resolution and color on my new 5000 are FAR superior to the 990, however, I never had white blow-out on the 990. I think this is the single biggest issue with the 5000 and I hope it can me resolved with a firmware upgrade.
Ben Cann said:
As far as the problem being with the AS-E900, both the internal and
the external flash are firing with dimished brightness. That rules
out contact problems and cables.
Gary Blyn said:
I am pretty certain that it's not the cable or the AS-E900. If so,
a RESET would not have resolved the problem.

Gary
Trent Mulkern said:
Trent
Gary Blyn said:
I am absolutely convinced that there is a firmware bug associated
with the external flash function in the 990. I've had the camera
since March but acquired an external flash (Nikon 22s) only last
month. The flash will work flawlessly with the camera for a period
of time and then, without warning, cease firing. Yes, I checked
the cables, checked the camera settings and checked the flash
settings, all to no avail. This has happened to me four times now.
The only way I have found to get the flash firing again is to do a
manual RESET of the 990. Of course, this wipes out all custom
settings and returns the camera to default but at least the flash
is firing again. This issue applies to external flash only (I turn
off the internal when using the speedlight). Has anyone else
experienced this bug? Any ideas what triggers it? BTW, I am using
the upgraded firmware.
--
Gary Blyn
Livingston, NJ
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top