SB-600 as Wireless Remote - Manual Mode

[gary payne]

<p>Need some help from a CLS expert. I have a D-700 and SB-600. I know how to shoot the D-700 in manual, and I know how to set up the SB-600 for manual on the hot shoe, and adjust the flash in 1/3 stop EV's, either from the flash or from the camera. Now I want to set up the SB-600 for wireless remote, in Manual Mode. <br>

Page 311 of the D-700 manual, describing the commander mode says " M - choose the flash level from values between FULL and 1/128 (1/128 of full power). Got it - I can reduce the flash power in fractions up to 1/128 increments of full power - maybe? <br>

Question: So how does 1/128 of full power, or 1/1, 1/1.3, 1.1.7 etc down to 1/128, relate to EV's, which in my experience are measured in either 1/3 or 1/2 of a stop - not a fraction of full flash power?<br>

I'm embarrassed to expose my ignorance, but I will appreciate any clarification or simplification.</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>They don't correlate to EVs, because there are too many other variables involved (the position of the speedlight's reflector/zoom, the surfaces off of which you're bouncing, the distance at which you're shooting, and so on). Shoot, chimp, adjust ... or, use a flash meter! <br /><br />But in theory: half power is half the light output, so that's one stop less. Quarter power would be another stop less, etc. It's just that in real life, it never quite works out that way.</p>

[gary payne]

<p>Matt - thanks - that clears it up a lot. But, I'm puzzled that the camera flash EV + (-) apparently have no effect in remote manual, or am I missing something?</p>

[lornesunley]

<p>That's probably because when you set the flash to Manual power setting the EV+(-) have no effect. The EV settings are to compensate for the result calculated by the camera for the amount of flash to use (when in iTTL mode).</p>

[nick_brooks2]

<p>I agree with Lorne EV is a correction only when in the auto or semi auto modes in manual it has no effect. If you want to keep using the flash that way keep the flash on TTL and the camera on manual, you'll find the flash will still do its best to expose correctly 99% of the time.</p>