Need help with my SB-910 Speedlight and my Nikon D5100.. .

Timothy West

New member
I am new to the D5100 as of a few months ago and have finally been able to purchase an SB-910 Speedlight. I have used it a few times and really enjoy trying out different settings with it. I wanted to try to use the flash off of my camera from behind myself in order to just get and outline of myself. Of course this would be in a pitch black room, etc.

The point though, or the question is, how do I use the SB-910 off of my camera in a wireless way? Is it possible? I read some people saying with a D5100 you need more equipment to do this. I don't have a cord to go from the camera to the speedlight. .. I may be getting one though in order to get this done if there is no other way. Any suggestions out there? Thanks everyone!:confused:
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Check your camera manual. If it has Commander Mode, you're all set. If not, then I guess a cable or a remote trigger is the way to go.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Look in your manual... using the menus, you want to set the camera in Commander mode... and you want to set the 910 to remote... The camera's IR light will send a flash that triggers the IR light sensor on the 910...the 910s IR sensor (the round red thingy on the right side of the 910) will need to be lined up so it's line-of-sight from the camera... You can set both a Channel and a GRoup on the camera, and it needs to be set for the same on the 910... When you fire the camera, the 910 should fire also... I believe you're limited to something like 30' between the camera and the flash... You don't need any additional equipment unless you can't do line-of-sight between the devices... If the distance or position prevents the above from working... you'll need to buy a radio control system to trigger the flash remotely...

Setup a test with the devices 5' apart and aimed at each other until you get all the parts working...then position your light where you want it...
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
You don't have too many choices. The least expensive would be a cheap transmitter and receiver on the flash, or, more expensive, a SB700 to act as a commander for your SB910.

Transmitters and receivers are not that expensive and they work well but not all of them will be iTTL.

Good luck.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Tim... I'm sorry the D5100 doesn't have a Commander mode (I use a D7000)... The SB910 does have a Commander mode... meaning it can control other (lesser) Nikon speedlites that support Remote firing. The SB-600 is an example that can be fired remotely... You can never have too many speed lights... :D and maybe you can find a used SB600 for about the same money as a good radio trigger???

Although, it would seem, for practical purposes, a radio transmitter/receiver system is more flexible in the long run than Nikon's IR system...
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Wow!!! Great link... I learned something new today... Didn't realize the SB-remotes would operate as an optical unit. I thought they were only triggered from IR... (disclaimer: I haven't tried it yet) but it sounds/looks like it works...
 
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