FM3a and SB-800

[nee_sung]

Hello everybody

 

Yesterday I bought an FM3a body + the 45/2.8P lens.

 

I have only the SB-800 which I bought with the F6.

 

Last night I took some test flash pictures and many of them seemed a

bit too dark, although the first flash shot was perfectly exposed.

Neither the SB-800 manual nor the FM3a manual was very clear on using

the FM3a with the SB-800. I used the TTL setting on the SB-800 and set

the focal length to 35mm. The flash showed ISO-100 and I was not able

to change it.

 

I have searched the archives but couldn't find anything useful. I

would be very grateful for any instructions on how to operate this

combination.

 

Thank you all in advance.

[bruce_rubenstein]

Regardless of how advanced the flash is, it only supports the flash features/capabilities built into the body. When used with a FM3a the flash will go into TTL mode and show ISO 100 as the film speed. In TTL modes the ISO speed shown on the flash is meaningless, because the body is controlling the amount of flash and not the flash. If you use Auto mode then you can, and have to set the film speed on the flash.

 

Try shooting a roll of slide film, or get a hold of a flash meter, to find out what is really going on in terms of light output and exposure. A "bit too dark" on prints may not mean anything.

[jim_occi2]

Greetings Nee-

 

I use the SB-28 on the FM3a. On the SB-28 you can change the iso setting when you turn the flash on - the iso setting blinks for a few seconds. If you miss this short window of time, you have to turn the flash off and on again to reset the iso. Perhaps the SB-800 works in a similar fashion.

 

Jim