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Has anyone tried using the Nikon creative lighting system to control slave flashguns?
With the D2X this meant you neeeded 3 expensive flash guns as there was no onboard flash to control the slaves.
With the D200 the onboard flash can be turned off (ie not fire a flash) but still used to control 4 (or maybe more) sb 600 slaves.
Having bought an extra sb-600 today I have just set up a lighting up in the lounge and wow!
No cables, you can move anywhere and both the slaves fire automatically and all the metering is fully automatic and as far as I can see perfect.
The really amazing thing is if you take a wide angle shot of the whole room it gets that exposure spot on but then with no adjustments you can zoom in on something .. I tried a bowl of fruit and that exposure is spot on... you can tell however that the flash level is very different as in the first example the flash recycles in under a second but in the second example it took maybe three seconds.
If you have a D200 and a SB-600 or SB-800 give it a try.
I am looking forward to further experimentation ... should make setting up interesting lighting on location an absolute breeze.
When you get really clever you can control the level of each slave from the camera.
I can agree with your enthusiasm on this.
I have a D200 and an SB800. I have regularly used the 800 off camera but haven't yet used any more than the flash itself but, even then, the results have been spectacular given the size of the flash.
This system is excellent.
Incidentally, I took a look at your portfolio and may I say that I am impressed, not just at the standard of your work but at your proficiency in many genres.
regards
No debakey - You aren't stupid.....The easiest way is to get your manuals out but, I have to admit, Nikon make excellent camera gear but sadly, not the greatest supporting literature!
It's not too complicated yet not too easy! So, I refer you to a site that will sort this out for you;
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/ittlslave.htm
This guy writes how Nikon should..........
Thanks for this question, I have a sigma ef-500 DG super and D70, got the D70 on commander mode and got the flash on slave, BUT i'm buggered if they'll sync, press the shutter d70 strobes, flash fires, then shutter.
Result dark shots look like flash never fired. Work has just got some D-lite heads in that I want to play with but not sure where to start.
Cheers in advance
Paul
Try this... courtesy of Ken Rockwell
The flash of the D70 can't be used to light the final image. In remote wireless commander mode it only controls the remote flash, but doesn't add more than a slight bit of light to the photographed image. When the D70 and D70s built-in flash is used to control other flashes it can't contribute to the exposure. Even with both flashes (built-in and remote) only the remote contributes to the exposure.
On your D70:
Use P, S, A or M exposure mode.
Press MENU. Go to the yellow wrench menu, and be sure CSM MENU is set to DETAILED. Otherwise you won't see the next setting!
Go to the CSM menu which looks like a purple pencil. Set #19, Flash Mode, to "COMMANDER MODE." Further click to the right to set the commander mode to "TTL."
You also may set the commander mode to Manual or AA, which are other modes to fire the remote flash. The SB-600 only works with TTL and Manual. You set the manual power level at the camera.
Don't forget to POP UP THE BUILT-IN FLASH!
You must select Channel, and set it to 3. Default is 1, don't ask me why. Default for the SB-600 flash is channel 3, so if you forget this it won't work!
Discuss?
Throughout 2004 while camera industry pundits were busy debating Nikon’s decision to introduce the D2H with a mere 4 megapixels, CLS was hardly noticed at all; even though it was arguably the greatest revolution in flash since the strobe itself. Of course, part of this was because the D2H was aimed at the news and sports crowd who usually have little need for such things. Now that the D2X with its medium format studio capabilities is in wide circulation and the D 200 not far behind, perhaps CLS will finally be recognized for the quiet revolution it has started among those who can appreciate and use its very advanced features.
One persons view
One parting piece of advice about Nikon's Creative Lighting System: Don't play with it until you're ready to buy a complete setup: Once you've experienced its flexibility and the creative power it gives you, you may not be able to live without it!
That was an excellent explanation of the kit. Did you watch the movie?
There is an argument forming here about this lighting system being a true rival for more traditional systems. When you consider the cost of a good quality studio strobes against the cost of an SB800 and a couple of 600's? The flashes can be mounted on stands, heads angled to wherever and the whole setup is totally mobile.
My only concern is the viability on long shoots with finite battery power. I also don't know if you can get a small accessory to take an umbrella? I wonder what the power comparison is between one of these strobes and a traditional studio 250w jobbie.
Certainly got me thinking..........
I just took a look at the spec of a Bowens Gemini flash head. Power wise, the SB800 weighs in at 56GN which is about 2/3rds the power of the 500w/s and 79.8GN of the Gemini. The SB800 is hugely lighter and more portable and, if like me you will be taking portraits in other peoples homes, then quick setup/knockdown times and space saving is important.
On price, a three head Gemini kit is £1200 but includes three stands, two umbrellas and a softbox. Alternatively, you could buy an SB800 for £269 plus two SB600's for £200 each. The total would be £669 for the strobes, and lets say £150 for all the other bits?
I reckon that would be the perfect answer for a totally integrated system that acted as one unit, was light and portable as well. An added bonus would be the absence of trailing wires that people nearly always trip over. I also question the need for high power for most indoor portraiture.
Your conclusion was exactly the same as mine, it really could provide a very real alternative to the more traditional lighting systems.
I find with 2700mAh batteries and the extra (number 5) battery the sb-800 recycles very quickly and is good for 150-200 shots at least.
There are a number of vendors selling brackets that hold a hot shoe type flash and have a slot to hold an umbrella and also lumiquest sell a range of softboxes and bounce devices that fit the sb-800.
What impressed me, having experimented more, is that:
a) you can just move a light nearer or closer the subject without the need to re-meter (even chnage it from aiming directly to being bounced)
b) you can change the settings (ie output power) of each group of lights directly from the camera.
For taking portraits in other peoples homes the benefits of easy of transport, no wires and the flexibility to just add another light to brighten part of the background or create a special effect has to be worth quite a lot.
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