D200 preflash

[bill_keane2]

Using my D200, as a Commander, with an SB-R200, doing a few macro shots, I

notice the pre-flash is quite a bit more elaborate and pronounced than with

the D80, like a mini-light-show.

 

The exposure is dead-on, perhaps even more so than with the D80, but the

preflash behaviour is definitely different. So, is this normal?

[panos_voudouris]

The D200 has two group control, unlike the D80 which can only control one group. This might be the difference.

[Matt Laur]

What Panos said... and, do you have the anti-red-eye behavior turned on? I'd have to do a little test on my own to see of that's included in the fireworks as another burst, but I suspect it may be.

 

Incidentally, if you're using the pop-up strobe as a commander for remotes, and don't want it to contribute to the exposure (which it will do, a bit, even if you tell the camera to dial it down to '--'), you can block it with something that will still allow the IR-portion of the flash to tickle the optically slaved strobes. Nikon makes an IR filter for that purpose, or you can use a piece of blacked-out film negative, etc.

[bill_keane2]

Aha! I'll bet I've got the red-eye turned on! Gotta run out to work, but I'll check it later! That's exactly what it looks like!

[eric friedemann]

Using the D200 as a Commander for macro work, you may want to use the Nikon SG-31R panel to block the preflash from getting into your exposure. The preflash will be dim, but will be visable, as in this shot I took using the D200 as a Commander with two SB-800s.<div></div>

[frank_skomial]

For macro mode, use SU-800 commander that has a dedicated switch that turns the commander into macro mode commander, as opposed to regular (long distance) commanding mode in the CLS/iTTL system.

 

Naturally the build-in flashes in latest Nikon DSLR have only one commander mode, that does not correspond to the Macro mode of the SU-800.

 

When I use SU-800 for macro photography I switch it to Macro mode via the mechanical switch inside the SU-800 unit. Yet, once I forgot to switch the SU-800 to macro mode, and yet the macro pictures came out OK. (?).

[walterh]

Frank I am too lazy to go through the very excellent and easy to read user manual just as ever in Nikon style (sorry about my sense of humor^^). I took the SU800 out of the box and with very few buttons pressed on the unit and two SB800 everything seemed to work. Really a new feeling for Nikon flash technology^^.

 

A few hundred images later I noticed this hidden switch and am wandering what it does. I only used the commander for macro and close range shots - so I felt no need to get it out of macro position. Does it just extend the range or is it more complex. Do I need to buy a book to use the SU800 in case something gets switched off? .-P

 

One problem that keeps me from reading the manual is that I might stop liking the commander^^.