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Z50 Interval Timer with Flash


Greg Fight

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Question for you Z camera users: I'm doing a time lapse project using the Interval Timer in my Z50 and I wanted to use the built-in flash to trigger remote flashes for a portion of the project. Problem is, you can't turn on the flash when in Interval Timer mode. Am I overlooking something here?
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I guess that's deliberate to save the tube from busting.

 

However, any small fully manual flash could be popped on the hot shoe at 1/32 power, or the minimum to trigger the slaves.

 

If you have anything like a pair of Yongnou 502n s, it would have the same effect. Then the RF triggered flash could trigger others slaves.

 

I deliberately got 4 x Yongnou 506iii flashes for similar purposes.

 

Late Thought.. I'm guessing the hot shoe is still triggered by the shutter, i suppose it's possible the camera disables that too??

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Late Thought.. I'm guessing the hot shoe is still triggered by the shutter, i suppose it's possible the camera disables that too??

 

Yes, the hot shoe is also disabled in Interval Timer mode. I wonder if the same is true on the Z6 and Z7. The flash (built-in or hot shoe mounted) is not disabled on my D300 in Interval Timer mode.

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Wow, what a bummer! I'd never come across a disabled hot-shoe...:(

 

I wonder if there's a well hidden menu option somewhere? Maybe near where you might adjust Manual flash power?

 

Don't suppose cameras have a PC socket these days....;)

 

Searched the menu high and low. Also tried changing many different settings, all to no avail. And no, there's no PC socket.

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Should read 560iii flashes. Fully RF controllable for angular coverage and power.

They are?

Brilliant!

I'm regretting buying a set of (comparatively) expensive Godox V860N speedlights now.

 

I can't believe that Nikon have crippled the flash on the Z50 in intervalometer mode though. Oh wait, it's Nikon.... now I believe it.

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The built-in flash can heat up quickly, has a long recycle time and is not intended for continuous / heavy usage. If you have a short interval between shots (< 30 s) probably the built-in flash's condition would prevent the camera from firing after a bit of time. I guess the designers it would be a big hassle to explain all the limitations that the use of the built-in flash would introduce when using the interval timer.
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Okay, now I feel foolish. In the Interval Timer submenu there is a Silent Shutter setting that was turned on. The flash, built-in or hot shoe-mounted, won't fire in Silent Shutter mode. Turning Silent Shutter off enables both the built-in flash and hot shoe-mounted flash. I don't know but I would guess the same applies to the Z6 and Z7.
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Mike, I believe the MC-DC2 uses a USB-C connector which is compatible with the Z6 and Z7 but not the Z50, which has micro USB connector. For remote release I use the ML-L7 Bluetooth Remote Control.

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Okay, now I feel foolish. In the Interval Timer submenu there is a Silent Shutter setting that was turned on. The flash, built-in or hot shoe-mounted, won't fire in Silent Shutter mode.

Don't feel too foolish. The 'No flash-synch in quiet mode' caught me out on a Sony camera too. It appears it's a common thing across all brands. Although equating 'quiet' with totally sneaky and visually non-intrusive is a bit OTT in most cases.

 

It would be nice if there was an option to mute the shutter without blindfolding the flash too.

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