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Possible wireless multi-flash with SB800 and SB80DX in non-TTL A mode?

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Todd Liu

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I know it is possible as it is indicated in the manual of SB800. However, no matter how I try, I could not make it. My tests were simple, use the master to light a subject (a kid's bike) and the slave to light the background (a white wall). Following the instruction of the manuals, I could successfully use the Manual flash mode with SB800 as master, 80DX as slave or vice versa. I always got blown background in non-TTL auto flash mode either way. I believe that I follow the instruction correctly or did I miss something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
--
Greetings from Todd
 
Following the
Todd Liu said:
instruction of the manuals, I could successfully use the Manual
flash mode with SB800 as master, 80DX as slave or vice versa. I
always got blown background in non-TTL auto flash mode either way.
I believe that I follow the instruction correctly or did I miss
something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
--
Click to expand...
............ I don’t have this system but the SB80DX is not compatible with the new wireless SB800DX D2h system.

Dumping them out of iTTL and using manual mode will or may work but the flash to subject distances must be adhered to and or the individual units manually set to deliver a proportion of their power until a desired exposure is achieved.

The SB80DX gun was always a manual only wireless slave (or master) or auto (which depending on the exact situation could interfere with each other and cause underexposure).

You need another SB800DX unit for iTTL control, if it is anything like the Canon ETTL wireless systems; it’s worth 10,000 times its weight in gold for the cost of another SB800DX unit.

If Nikon’s iTTL is only ½ as good as the Canon two-year-old system it’s still worth it, but get this confirmed from people who have tried the Nikon flash.

My recommendation is another SB800 unit, one may get the system to actually work in manual mode but it’s just so much of a hassle that I’d confine its use to still life and such were one can take time to experiment.
 
Ger Bee,

Thanks for the sharing. I don't have a 2nd SB800 but believe that will work beautifully with what Nikon calls "Advanced Wireless Lighting" (Only those featuring CLS suchas SB-800 for both the master and remote flash units).

What I tried to understand is what Nikon calls "SU-4 type wireless multiple flash", which is something similar to the type of wireless lighting with 50DX and 80DX.

The usable speedlights as Nikon describes:

"Master flash unit: Speedlights compatible with wireless flash operation, those compatible with the TTL mode, or the built-in Speedlights on cameras soequipped.

Remote flash unit:Except theSB-23, all Speedlights compatible with wireless flash operation or those connected to the optional Wireless SlaveFlash Controller SU-4."

I figured that the master and the slave don't have to be the same type of speedlight to perform SU-4 type of wireless operation. Therefore I did the test to see whether it could work.

I know it will be kind of hassle to use M mode but under studio set up, it is not that bad.

Thanks again.
Ger Bee said:
Ger Bee said:
instruction of the manuals, I could successfully use the Manual
flash mode with SB800 as master, 80DX as slave or vice versa. I
always got blown background in non-TTL auto flash mode either way.
I believe that I follow the instruction correctly or did I miss
something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
--
Click to expand...
............ I don’t have this system but the SB80DX is not
compatible with the new wireless SB800DX D2h system.

Dumping them out of iTTL and using manual mode will or may work but
the flash to subject distances must be adhered to and or the
individual units manually set to deliver a proportion of their
power until a desired exposure is achieved.

The SB80DX gun was always a manual only wireless slave (or master)
or auto (which depending on the exact situation could interfere
with each other and cause underexposure).

You need another SB800DX unit for iTTL control, if it is anything
like the Canon ETTL wireless systems; it’s worth 10,000 times its
weight in gold for the cost of another SB800DX unit.

If Nikon’s iTTL is only ½ as good as the Canon two-year-old system
it’s still worth it, but get this confirmed from people who have
tried the Nikon flash.

My recommendation is another SB800 unit, one may get the system to
actually work in manual mode but it’s just so much of a hassle that
I’d confine its use to still life and such were one can take time
to experiment.
Click to expand...
--
Greetings from Todd
 
I could be wrong, but I thought that both guns support D-TTL.

Are we now saying that D-TTL wireless is not supported with a mix of these 2?

I am kinda skeptical, as I would think Nikon would want to have some backward compatibility in wireless mode.

Look forward to others who actually have the two units, I only have 2 SB-80DX's, and my experience with D-TTL with wireless slave left something to be desired.
Todd Liu said:
Thanks for the sharing. I don't have a 2nd SB800 but believe that
will work beautifully with what Nikon calls "Advanced Wireless
Lighting" (Only those featuring CLS suchas SB-800 for both the
master and remote flash units).

What I tried to understand is what Nikon calls "SU-4 type wireless
multiple flash", which is something similar to the type of wireless
lighting with 50DX and 80DX.

The usable speedlights as Nikon describes:
"Master flash unit: Speedlights compatible with wireless flash
operation, those compatible with the TTL mode, or the built-in
Speedlights on cameras soequipped.
Remote flash unit:Except theSB-23, all Speedlights compatible with
wireless flash operation or those connected to the optional
Wireless SlaveFlash Controller SU-4."

I figured that the master and the slave don't have to be the same
type of speedlight to perform SU-4 type of wireless operation.
Therefore I did the test to see whether it could work.

I know it will be kind of hassle to use M mode but under studio set
up, it is not that bad.

Thanks again.
Ger Bee said:
Todd Liu said:
instruction of the manuals, I could successfully use the Manual
flash mode with SB800 as master, 80DX as slave or vice versa. I
always got blown background in non-TTL auto flash mode either way.
I believe that I follow the instruction correctly or did I miss
something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
--
Click to expand...
............ I don’t have this system but the SB80DX is not
compatible with the new wireless SB800DX D2h system.

Dumping them out of iTTL and using manual mode will or may work but
the flash to subject distances must be adhered to and or the
individual units manually set to deliver a proportion of their
power until a desired exposure is achieved.

The SB80DX gun was always a manual only wireless slave (or master)
or auto (which depending on the exact situation could interfere
with each other and cause underexposure).

You need another SB800DX unit for iTTL control, if it is anything
like the Canon ETTL wireless systems; it’s worth 10,000 times its
weight in gold for the cost of another SB800DX unit.

If Nikon’s iTTL is only ½ as good as the Canon two-year-old system
it’s still worth it, but get this confirmed from people who have
tried the Nikon flash.

My recommendation is another SB800 unit, one may get the system to
actually work in manual mode but it’s just so much of a hassle that
I’d confine its use to still life and such were one can take time
to experiment.
Click to expand...
--
Greetings from Todd
Click to expand...
--

 
Wireless DTTL doesn't exist, if you read the manual it clearly states that the slave flash will fire with the master's pre-flashes

You have to set them both to AA (Auto-Aperture) and then it will work, but of course it's nowhere near TTL.

The iTTL is the fix for this major flaw. So far, it seems to work 100% from what I saw :) But you do need 2 SB-800s or more of the same kind... look out for future new flashes with iTTL capability, right now only one's available (take a guess at a future SB-500 though)
Señor Photo said:
Are we now saying that D-TTL wireless is not supported with a mix
of these 2?

I am kinda skeptical, as I would think Nikon would want to have
some backward compatibility in wireless mode.

Look forward to others who actually have the two units, I only have
2 SB-80DX's, and my experience with D-TTL with wireless slave left
something to be desired.
Todd Liu said:
Thanks for the sharing. I don't have a 2nd SB800 but believe that
will work beautifully with what Nikon calls "Advanced Wireless
Lighting" (Only those featuring CLS suchas SB-800 for both the
master and remote flash units).

What I tried to understand is what Nikon calls "SU-4 type wireless
multiple flash", which is something similar to the type of wireless
lighting with 50DX and 80DX.

The usable speedlights as Nikon describes:
"Master flash unit: Speedlights compatible with wireless flash
operation, those compatible with the TTL mode, or the built-in
Speedlights on cameras soequipped.
Remote flash unit:Except theSB-23, all Speedlights compatible with
wireless flash operation or those connected to the optional
Wireless SlaveFlash Controller SU-4."

I figured that the master and the slave don't have to be the same
type of speedlight to perform SU-4 type of wireless operation.
Therefore I did the test to see whether it could work.

I know it will be kind of hassle to use M mode but under studio set
up, it is not that bad.

Thanks again.
Ger Bee said:
Señor Photo said:
instruction of the manuals, I could successfully use the Manual
flash mode with SB800 as master, 80DX as slave or vice versa. I
always got blown background in non-TTL auto flash mode either way.
I believe that I follow the instruction correctly or did I miss
something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
--
Click to expand...
............ I don’t have this system but the SB80DX is not
compatible with the new wireless SB800DX D2h system.

Dumping them out of iTTL and using manual mode will or may work but
the flash to subject distances must be adhered to and or the
individual units manually set to deliver a proportion of their
power until a desired exposure is achieved.

The SB80DX gun was always a manual only wireless slave (or master)
or auto (which depending on the exact situation could interfere
with each other and cause underexposure).

You need another SB800DX unit for iTTL control, if it is anything
like the Canon ETTL wireless systems; it’s worth 10,000 times its
weight in gold for the cost of another SB800DX unit.

If Nikon’s iTTL is only ½ as good as the Canon two-year-old system
it’s still worth it, but get this confirmed from people who have
tried the Nikon flash.

My recommendation is another SB800 unit, one may get the system to
actually work in manual mode but it’s just so much of a hassle that
I’d confine its use to still life and such were one can take time
to experiment.
Click to expand...
--
Greetings from Todd
Click to expand...
--

Click to expand...
 
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