How to trigger off-Camera flash with D3100?

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AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
Hi there,

I'm looking to take the pictures to the next level and I'm trying to see where the limits of this camera are. I've come to find out the past few days that if I want to shoot a picture with an off-camera flash I need some extra tools and maybe some tricks also.

I'll just ask, what is the best way to accomplish this? Obviously I'd love to have a remote trigger, I've looked into Pocket Wizards. If this is the only way then I'm fine spending the money because I'm sure I can use that device on later bodies that I get from Nikon. I'm going to get a SB700 when the time comes later this year, and I know I'll be okay shooting with it attached to the camera itself, but as a remote I want to do certain shots that require lighting from various angles.

I've found Pocket Wizards is roughly a ~500 dollar setup, correct me if I'm wrong. You need the hot shoe guy that connects @ the top, and then the receiver that you can attach to the SB700?

I'm open to corded triggers, if that cord can be long.
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I got "Aputure" flash trigger from Linkdelight.com and for 42$, it works just fine. Keep your money for something more substancial.
 
A

AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
Marcel said:
I got "Aputure" flash trigger from Linkdelight.com and for 42$, it works just fine. Keep your money for something more substancial.
Click to expand...

How does this thing look?

http://www.linkdelight.com/MX3N-Apu...4G-Flash-Trigger-F-Nikon-D5100-D7000-D90.html

It says 5100, and I have a 3100, but do you think that's because it wasn't out yet? In another part of their site they had a receiver but not a transmitter for the 3100 specifically but it was out of stock anyway.

Thanks!!! Really want to buy it to start taking interesting pics :D
 
J

Just-Clayton

Senior Member
You can trigger the 3100 to fire the flash off camera. there is a setting on the flash that alloys the camera flash to trigger it. I have used it several times with the 3100. No reciever needed. When you get the 700 press menu, select remote, press ok, select su-4.
 
A

AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
newbshooter said:
You can trigger the 3100 to fire the flash off camera. there is a setting on the flash that alloys the camera flash to trigger it. I have used it several times with the 3100. No reciever needed. When you get the 700 press menu, select remote, press ok, select su-4.
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Awesome, thanks man. I've read that too, now does the flash on the camera actually have to fire for this to work? If I want a light source from one angle, I wouldn't want a secondary light from the camera also.

Thanks again, deff getting the 700 by year end for the holidays.
 
Fred Kingston

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
One of the things you need to understand with Nikon's Creative Lighting System is, it uses infrared signals to communicate with devices... IOW, the off-camera lights must be angled and positioned so that the 'line of sight" infrared signal can see each of the devices... That's not always possible. There are "radio signal" based systems that don't have that limitation, allowing the off-camera lights to be positioned anywhere... even hidden from the sight of the camera... An example would be positioning the flash behind the subject... There are also photo sensitive trigger systems that sense the camera's flash and trigger/fire the light...

Some of these systems are pricey, but some are considerably less expensive than one might imagine. They also work with non-Nikon products... I'm not denigrating Nikon's pricing structure, but buying a $400 speedlight to try a technique that can be accomplished with $40-$100 worth of equipment might be a better first step than going whole hog for a feature that you might try/use in-frequently...
 
A

AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
Gotcha.. I appreciate the input. I'm getting the SB700 mainly for on camera flash use for portraits, family gathers, etc. I want to get a diffuser for it and I think it comes with a few little pieces to put on the flash to adjust for certain conditions. The off-camera usage won't be nearly as frequent as I may make it seem by having a thread for it, but I'm just wondering what else I need when I do want to do that.

It seems like I may still want the radio controlled thing, maybe Aputure since it was less than 50 for both pieces because as you say, I won't want it to be in line with the camera.
 
J

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
AudiSportB5S4 said:
How does this thing look?

Aputure Trigmaster 3N 2.4G Flash Trigger F Nikon D5100 D7000 D90 | Linkdelight.com

It says 5100, and I have a 3100, but do you think that's because it wasn't out yet? In another part of their site they had a receiver but not a transmitter for the 3100 specifically but it was out of stock anyway.

Thanks!!! Really want to buy it to start taking interesting pics :D
Click to expand...

FYI, it's a little cheaper on Amazon: Amazon.com: Aputure 2.4Ghz Trigmaster Radio Remote Flash Trigger and Shutter Cable Release, fits Nikon D90, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D7000, and SB-600, SB-800, SB-700, SB-900, SB-910 Speedlite: Camera & Photo
 
A

AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
You're awesome! Picking that up regardless! I think I read what the other was saying about I can do it from the camera, but the in-line thing to me is a bit awkward. I'm looking to have the camera pointing at a subject (say a car) and then the flash be off to the side where you can't see it with a diffuser to just hit the side.
 
Berkerk

Berkerk

Senior Member
It appears that the suggested trigger isn't TTL, so will not allow you to remotely use all the features of the SB700.

Either buy a cheaper manual flash or look for a cheap wireless TTL trigger, any should do if speed and distance are not too critical.
 
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A

AudiSportB5S4

Senior Member
jdeg said:
That sounds like a plan! I take it you have an S4?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the pocket wizard would be the more expensive solution:
Amazon.com: Pocket Wizard FlexTT5 Transceiver For Nikon TTL Flashes and Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

or the Nikon solution for CLS:
Amazon.com: Nikon 4794 SU-800 Wireless Speedlight: Camera & Photo

But since you're only using one off camera flash, the Trigmaster will work fine.
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Thanks!! I do have an S4 yes, it's my baby. Haha.. I recently picked up a 2011 VW Jetta as a daily driver, because the S4 enjoys life in a garage or on sunny days. Have had it for 5.5 years, bought stock and is now around 500hp/550tq. :)


Berkerk said:
It appears that the suggested trigger isn't TTL, so will not allow you to remotely use all the features of the SB700.

Either buy a cheaper manual flash or look for a cheap wireless TTL trigger, any should do if speed and distance are not too critical.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. I'll be getting that Trigmaster really soon. Like I said, really only would use off camera flash for say, car photography where the speed doesn't matter much and the car isn't moving while I'm not in it. Hopefully!
 
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