External Speedlight Experience?

[Mel64]

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my 5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700 really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing this.

 

[Phil Winegardner]

I was just preparing to post a similar question. However, I'm especially interested in any opinions (good or bad) regarding the SB-30 and the SB-50DX. Which one would you buy for the 5700?

Thanks!

 

[Tim P]

I use the SB-22s and it works fine. Nikon's digital cameras really don't control the flash like the film bodies do. It does squelch the flash to allow TTL metering control with the Coolpix line, but that's pretty much it.

No zoom control of the flash, no autofocus illumination from the flash, no distance information for 3D matrix metering. Just the basic TTL. Nonetheless, any external Speedlight is a BIG improvement over the built-in unit!

I have heard the SB-30 is a little under powered... The SB-50DX uses expensive batteries- the 28DX and 80DX both use AA's I believe- in the long run they would be much cheaper.

Tim

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

--
Insanity- performing the same action repeatedly awaiting a change in outcome.
Albert Einstein

 

[Mel64]

Question for T_Payne - does the 22s provide enough light for good bounce flash?

One local dealer has told me that the 22s and 28 are both discontinued. Don't know if this is true or not. Anyway, he says that the 80DX is the one to buy. The 28DX has a higher guide number (I think, although its advertised GN is stated for a different zoom position than the 80DX).

No zoom control of the flash, no autofocus illumination from the
flash, no distance information for 3D matrix metering. Just the
basic TTL. Nonetheless, any external Speedlight is a BIG
improvement over the built-in unit!

I have heard the SB-30 is a little under powered... The SB-50DX
uses expensive batteries- the 28DX and 80DX both use AA's I
believe- in the long run they would be much cheaper.

Tim

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

--
Insanity- performing the same action repeatedly awaiting a change
in outcome.
Albert Einstein

 

[Don Thompson]

You might check this thread for some additional information. Don

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=3339670

 

[KC63881]

This should give some ideas on the capability of the SB80....
http://www.bythom.com/sb80review.htm

Question for T_Payne - does the 22s provide enough light for good
bounce flash?

One local dealer has told me that the 22s and 28 are both
discontinued. Don't know if this is true or not. Anyway, he says
that the 80DX is the one to buy. The 28DX has a higher guide
number (I think, although its advertised GN is stated for a
different zoom position than the 80DX).
T_Payne wrote:

 

[FJBrad]

You might check this thread for some additional information. Don

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=3339670

The sort of things that the cameras can't use with the Nikon Speedlights are for the most part, non-essentials, IMO,: focus assist lamp, rear curtain sync, auto zoom, repeating flash. It would be very nice to have 3D matrix balanced flash, but this too, is unavailable.

What you do get with Nikon Speedlights is more range and coverage, godd bounce capability (limited with the SB30), and TTL control. My favorite feature is that the SB30, SB50DX, and SB80DX all have TTL exposure control in slave mode, where the flash will trigger and quench in sync with the camera's flash, so they can be taken off-camera.

Which one to get depends on how you plan on using it, how much you're willing to spend, and how much you're willing to give away in terms of size/weight to get more light output.

Thom Hogan is a tremendous resource when it comes to info on Nikon flash. His website was posted earlier in the thread.
--
Be the pixel.
950/990/995/4500 Mac/PhoSho5.5
FJBrad

 

[Tim P]

I haven't used the SB-22s in LARGE rooms, but in most environments it has plenty of power for bounce. The 22s is discontinued, but fairly common on the shelf at bigger dealers. They seem to run around $150 new from them.

I am looking at the 28DX and 80DX right now, but for my N80 film body, not my Coolpix cameras. It has features that the 22s can't provide, unlike the Coolpix which is the other way around.

Tim

One local dealer has told me that the 22s and 28 are both
discontinued. Don't know if this is true or not. Anyway, he says
that the 80DX is the one to buy. The 28DX has a higher guide
number (I think, although its advertised GN is stated for a
different zoom position than the 80DX).

No zoom control of the flash, no autofocus illumination from the
flash, no distance information for 3D matrix metering. Just the
basic TTL. Nonetheless, any external Speedlight is a BIG
improvement over the built-in unit!

I have heard the SB-30 is a little under powered... The SB-50DX
uses expensive batteries- the 28DX and 80DX both use AA's I
believe- in the long run they would be much cheaper.

Tim

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

--
Insanity- performing the same action repeatedly awaiting a change
in outcome.
Albert Einstein

--
Insanity- performing the same action repeatedly awaiting a change in outcome.
Albert Einstein

 

[Ching-Kuang Shene]

My
favorite feature is that the SB30, SB50DX, and SB80DX all have TTL
exposure control in slave mode, where the flash will trigger and
quench in sync with the camera's flash, so they can be taken
off-camera.

FJBrad,

The SB30 slave can only work with non-TTL A and M modes, according to Nikon's spec.

CK
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam

 

[Jeff Peterman]

I'm using an SB28-DX with my 5700 and it works very well. For portraits, just putting the flash on top of the camera, setting it to 45 degrees with the bounce reflector out is a great improvement over the internal flash. I've also used it a lot for macro shots - I bought the cable that allows me to use it off-camera, point it from one side and have a white card to reflect back some of the light on the other and it does a very good job. Even though the measurement isn't true TTL (its measured by a sensor next to the internal flash) the control is fairly good (although I sometimes have to set the camera to underexpose by about 1 stop).

--
Jeff Peterman

 

[John Di Martino]

I use both a SB22 and SB24(similar to SB28 in power, older version) on the coolpix 5700. I find that the SB24 is sometimes a bit too big sitting on top of the camera. Both flashes provide good results. The best results are when the head is pointed at least 45 degrees up and when some type of difusser is used.

Apart from additional power their is no real advantage in the flash with all the fancy features as the coolpix will not use them.

Would be nice if the coolpix could use the AF assist lamp.

Regards

John Di Martino

 

[Ken.]

Look over in the Sony forum for Shay's technique for bouncing with the 707. He made something out of paper that just slips over the flash and bounces the flash up. Though using an external flash is better it sure looks like a great idea!

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

 

[Ken.]

Here are 2 ideas that I saw... I remember seeing a third, but I can't find it.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=1606930
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=1800075

I don't own the 5700 so I can't say if an idea like this would be useful

Ken.

 

[William McIntosh]

Hi

I bought a Sunpack 550, while trying it in the shop I discovered it gave better control over flash intensity than using a Nikon flash. The guide number is 180 and it takes perfect pics from about 6 feet using auto settings, it is also half the price. Can't use power zoom (use manual) can't use AF light, but has built in slave. Mount flash on tripod and use internal flash to trigger it, works like a dream - on my 5700 anyway.

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

--
William
http://www.wheels24.co.za

 

[William McIntosh]

I tried both, and the 28 on my 5700, the Sunpak 550 gave better results, uses 4 AA batteries, has a slave function and is half the price. It is powerful, Guide number is 180 and takes perfect pics from about 6 feet away.

I was just preparing to post a similar question. However, I'm
especially interested in any opinions (good or bad) regarding the
SB-30 and the SB-50DX. Which one would you buy for the 5700?

Thanks!

--
William
http://www.wheels24.co.za

 

[FJBrad]

My
favorite feature is that the SB30, SB50DX, and SB80DX all have TTL
exposure control in slave mode, where the flash will trigger and
quench in sync with the camera's flash, so they can be taken
off-camera.

FJBrad,

The SB30 slave can only work with non-TTL A and M modes, according
to Nikon's spec.

CK
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam

CK, Please point me to the Nikon specs you're referring to. My experience and the manual (pg 21) tells me that the flash starts, and stops in synch with the master speedlight when the SB30 is set to slave A.

So what is determining the flash duration? The SB30's light sensor ?(non-TTL auto), or the camera's exposure system (TTL-auto)? I suppose you'd have to say pseudo-TTL to be correct in the strict sense because it's the camera's flash sensor (next-to-the-lens NTTL?) and not measurement of light reflected from the film (real TTL), but it's not non-TTL auto in the traditional sense either, because the SB30's light sensor is not determining the duration, but rather the slave sensor taking cues from the camera's flash.

If one were to accept that the camera's built-in flash operates in TTL auto (not strictly true, I'll grant you), and the slave fires and quenches in sync with the master flash, I'd call this a reasonable facsimile of TTL auto. No manual ISO or aperture settings needed, either on the flash, or the camera. It's psychic.
Maybe we need some new designations to accurately describe these functions.
--
Be the pixel.
950/990/995/4500 Mac/PhoSho5.5
FJBrad

 

[Ching-Kuang Shene]

CK, Please point me to the Nikon specs you're referring to. My
experience and the manual (pg 21) tells me that the flash starts,
and stops in synch with the master speedlight when the SB30 is set
to slave A.

FJBrad,

It is on Nikon's SB30 site. It says "TTL Auto flash, Non-TTL Auto flash (4 steps), Manual Mode (3 steps) and Wireless flash (A or M only)" Therefore, wireless can only be used in the A or M. These two modes are not TTL. Unlike the SB80DX and SB28 plus SU-4, the SB30 does not respond to the TTL information.

Traditional TTL has a meter measuring the light bounced off from the film plane. In the digital world, because the CCD is not reflective enough and some other reasons, the traditional off-the-film plan trick does not work well. As a result, a preflash is used. In the wireless A and M modes, a flash only needs to synchronize the second, real flash. The on-flash sensor cuts off its power. The slave mode of the Sunpak PZ5000 AF works this way. I believe the SB30 would be the same. Because the flash does not recognize the TTL signal (TTL or D-TTL), it is non-TTL. I believe this is what Nikon means.

Some flashes do not synchronize with cameras with preflash properly (e.g., Sunpak Digital Flash and Sunpak DS 20) because they fire when the preflash fires. See my "Slave Firing Tests" page.

CK
http://www.cs.mtu.edu/~shene/DigiCam

 

[Jim Campbell]

I'm using an SB28-DX with my 5700 and it works very well. For
portraits, just putting the flash on top of the camera, setting it
to 45 degrees with the bounce reflector out is a great improvement
over the internal flash. I've also used it a lot for macro shots -
I bought the cable that allows me to use it off-camera, point it
from one side and have a white card to reflect back some of the
light on the other and it does a very good job.

Which cable are you using...? I am using a SC17 with an SB80DX and while it works great it is only 36". I am trying to find out if there is an extension cord available to increase this distance.

Even though the

measurement isn't true TTL (its measured by a sensor next to the
internal flash) the control is fairly good (although I sometimes
have to set the camera to underexpose by about 1 stop).

--
Jeff Peterman

 

[Jim Campbell]

Hi
I bought a Sunpack 550, while trying it in the shop I discovered it
gave better control over flash intensity than using a Nikon flash.
The guide number is 180 and it takes perfect pics from about 6 feet
using auto settings, it is also half the price. Can't use power
zoom (use manual) can't use AF light, but has built in slave.

Mount

flash on tripod and use internal flash to trigger it, works like a
dream - on my 5700 anyway.

When you are using it as a slave are you in manual aperature and shutter speed control ?

I want to purchase one of the Nikon external speedlights for my
5700 in order to have bounce flash capability. Not clear from any
of the documents or material I have seen, exactly how the 5700
really interfaces with and controls the speedlight. What settings
will work automatically and which have to be set manually? Would
appreciate comments from any users out there who are already doing
this.

--
William
http://www.wheels24.co.za

 

[Larry Berman]

Del's Camera used to sell a 10 foot extension for the SC-17. I have one here and it works fine. The problem is that they no longer have a web site so you might want to call information. They're located (or used to be) in Santa Barbara California.

Larry Berman

Which cable are you using...? I am using a SC17 with an SB80DX and
while it works great it is only 36". I am trying to find out if
there is an extension cord available to increase this distance.

--
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com