photosbyasher Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 I find that sometimes my SB800 does not flash when set up in commander mode. To be more specific, my D300 and SB800 are both properly set in commander mode. I can go a few frames with my SB800 flashing as it should and then suddenly it begins not to flash. Has anyone encountered this problem? If so, what is causing it and what do I need to do to prevent or fix it? Lastly, All of this occurs when my GP 2700 rechargeable batteries are fully charged. Thanks in advance Asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_kartes Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Could be you didn't allow enough time for the flash to recycle or you are not in line for the camera flash to activate the Sb800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_skomial Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 "my D300 and SB800 are both properly set in commander mode" You say you use both in comander mode ? Where is your remote flash that is not acommander ? Where is your SB-800 located ? Is the camera buit-in flash popped up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Laur Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Do you have the SB-800 set to go into auto standby mode? You're mentioning that you have it in "commander mode," but I assume you meant that you have the camera's strobe in commander mode, and the SB-800 is actually set up as a slave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photosbyasher Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Matt, you expressed it better than I did. My D300 was set in commander mode and my flash was set as a slave. But you bring up auto-save mode and this is something I will look at right now If the SB800 is set to go into auto standby mode, will it prevent the flash from working as a slave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Laur Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Asher: Yes, if the SB-800 goes to sleep (to save battery power), if won't fire. Here's the thing: even if you've just charged a set of batteries, it only takes one marginal battery in the set to cause the SB-800 to think it's feeling a lower overall voltage. What charger are you using? With most of the less expensive ones, as soon as even one battery in the set that's being charged reaches a certain voltage level, the charger switches into trickle charge mode. So, the charger may show that it's done, but you may actually have a very uneven charge across the whole set. Consider a charger that treats each battery individually (LaCrosse and Maha make good ones). If you have a good, solidly charged set of batteries, there's not much harm in turning off the automatic standby mode on the SB-800. Using up the batteries a little faster is no problem compared to missing the shot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemen_oza Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 On al teast my SB600, the stand by mode doesn't get activated if you are in remote slave mode. If that's true for SB800 too, that should not be your problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_sirota1 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Right, the SB-800 won't go to sleep in Remote mode. If you've got it in SU-4 slave mode, maybe it will -- I never use that mode. It should be in Remote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Laur Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 But I believe it WILL go into standby once it feels low voltage from the batteries, either way. Now that you mention it, though, I use my SB-800 in both SU-4 mode (when mixing with other sources) and in normal CLS/iTTL mode as a slave... so, can't swear when I've observed that behavior when dealing with bum batteries. It definitely will slip into standby faster on low voltage than it will when well-supplied... but I don't recall if that behavior differs from one slave mode to the next. Guess I have to RTFM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Ditto, Matt, the SB-800 is very sensitive to low batteries. Acts very quirky. Goes into standby mode and is hard to revive. Sometimes I can't even turn off the flash until I remove it from the camera. Happens suddenly too, at least with NiMH batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photosbyasher Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Matt, thanks for your comprehensive answers and I think you have really nailed it. I am using GP 2700 rechargeable batteries and though the charging specs recommend charging for 14 hours, I usually give my GP 2700's 24 hours. There is no danger of overcharging with them. On ocassion, I have had a weak battery in a group and this could be when I have these flash failures. Today, I spent about 4 hours on several websites reading EVERYTHING I could about my SB800's and I decided to disable the automatic power saver. I then ran many many test shots with them and they are working perfectly. ALSO, I have learned that if there is any backflash into the sensor of the master (in my case, my D300) the SB800 gives a loud and long shrill warning tone as the flashes become all confused in TTL mode while working as slaves. I believe that this also contributed to my problem. Thanks for your input, and to everyone else who took the time to reply to me. NOW THEN- On another track...tonight....! tonight....! I bought my first SB900 and I am so amazed by this flash. I took it to my window, in the pitch black of night, together with my 70-200 VR mounted to my lovely D300 and from several floors above the street began shooting across the street, into a dark tree and on and on and the results were so good!!! I am sure the neighbors were not too pleased but I believe they are getting used to me alreadywith my NIKONS firmly strapped to me day and night. Have a good day to all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_skomial Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 "backflash into the sensor of the master (in my case, my D300) the SB800 gives a loud and long shrill warning tone as the flashes become all confused in TTL mode while working as slaves. I believe that this also contributed to my problem." - yes, in some cases the SB-800 provides visible and audible sounds of problems, and I hope SB-900 continues with these warnings, for those who understand their equipment and are willing to take corrective action. Others will continue saying :"contributed to my problem" - and the problem is what ? - not knowing or paying attention what flash is telling you, and not taking corrective action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photosbyasher Posted October 3, 2008 Author Share Posted October 3, 2008 Constructive criticism accepted. Frank you are absolutely right. I saw a great lighting piece on You Tube last night and one of the key messages the photographer was imparting is that it is extremely necessary to take the time and think before and during the set up of lighting and to make any changes if necessary once the shoot goes ito real time. He emphasized the need to slow down and not fire and splash, meaning fire away, splash light and hope that a good or even great image comes out of it. You comments Frank underscored last night's You Tube, because I should have read the SB800 manual more carefully to begin with. I have already read the SB900 manual once and will do so again until I really get the subtle nuances of the device. Then it is off to real time testing and then use of this lovely device. Have a nice weekend. Asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Laur Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Keep us posted, Asher. Mastering the use of strobes is a challenge, but the flexibility and results are very rewarding. Taking control of the light you use in your images is one sign of someone who is really thinking about the eventual image he wants to produce. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photosbyasher Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hello All, This is an update as you Matt, requested. I have deactivated the standby node on my SB800's and it seems that it has rectified my flash failure problems. Also, your comments regarding weak batteries was spot on. I have been THOROUGHLY enjoying using my flashes creating pretty, colourful and well lighted images. Last week, I photographed a sound studio in action and it was very crowded. I left my monolights outside the studio door and took my SB800's and 900 out of my LLowepro bag and got to work. My flashes gave me blazing rich images as I moved them around and put the light exactly where I needed it. Oh, Nikon is so pleasant to use!!! Have a nice day Asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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