I just got a SB 600 flash and have never had an external flash before and I am having problems getting the flash to work with the D5100. I have tested the flash and it works but when I mount it onto the D5100 it does not work the D5100 internal flash still pops up. So I know there is a setting either on the D5100 or SB 600 or both that I have not set. So any help would be grateful.
Nikon D5100 & SB 600 Flash
- Thread starter scca1960
- Start date
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
What mode do you have the camera set to? Auto program shutter aperture. Or manual?
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Sorry, but that is the only correct actions for this case.
SB-600 does have the Nikon AWL wireless remote feature, for use with cameras that have the Commander. D5100 does not have a Commander. D7100 does, for example.
You could add a commander on the D5100 hot shoe, either a hot shoe flash that also has a commander in it (SB-700 is one), or the Nikon SU-800, which is a Commander-Only model ($250).
These choices still do not give you the FV Lock feature, that cameras with Commander have, and it is pretty important to have (to prevent taking pictures of the subjects blinking). SU-800 is a big improvement though.
Or, you could use Manual flash mode (where it is you yourself that sets the flash power level setting every time).
There are various ways to trigger such a remote manual flash.
1. PC sync cord
2. Optical slave
3. Radio trigger
The SB-600 does not have 1 or 2 (some flashes do), but both are very inexpensive options to add on its foot, so that it does these.
For 1, D5100 also needs an inexpensive hot shoe adapter to add a PC socket. Nikon AS-15 is an excellent one.
For 2, the D5100 internal flash in its MANUAL mode, set to very low manual power, would trigger the remote slave. Or any light in a multiple group could trigger the others, and you trigger this first one any way you choose. All studio flash units include this optical slave.
Radio triggers are available both inexpensive and expensive. This is a little transmitter on the hot shoe, and a receiver on the flash(s).
How to trigger speedlights Off camera has more trigger info, if interested.
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I have two SB-800, and dearly love them. I have a commander in the camera, and often use them in manual mode.
But you did not say to do what?
Probably meant that the SB-800 has a commander, and yes, on hot shoe, it could control the SB-600 in wireless remote mode.
Flash on camera is not always the best place for a light, but it is a good place for fill (reduced level), with remote main light in an umbrella. My bigger concern is this still does not give you FV Lock in the camera, and it could be extremely frustrating, if not impossible (pictures of people, inanimate stuff doesn't blink).
See Using the Nikon CLS Remote Wireless Flash System
Or for manual use,the SB-800 has both 1 and 2 (PC and slave) in it. You could add these to the SB-600 inexpensively (see Optical slave triggers for speedlights )
But you did not say to do what?
Probably meant that the SB-800 has a commander, and yes, on hot shoe, it could control the SB-600 in wireless remote mode.
Flash on camera is not always the best place for a light, but it is a good place for fill (reduced level), with remote main light in an umbrella. My bigger concern is this still does not give you FV Lock in the camera, and it could be extremely frustrating, if not impossible (pictures of people, inanimate stuff doesn't blink).
See Using the Nikon CLS Remote Wireless Flash System
Or for manual use,the SB-800 has both 1 and 2 (PC and slave) in it. You could add these to the SB-600 inexpensively (see Optical slave triggers for speedlights )
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Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
He is talking about on camera flash. It has nothing to do with the commander mode. So I am not sure what you are talking about
The popup should not activate when the external flash is mounted on the camera.
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Oops, I think you are right when I reread it that way. Thanks, and sorry.
Internal flash popping up anyway is due to camera being in Auto Mode, thinking flash is necessary, but somehow, it is not recognizing the hot shoe flash is present. It is a communication problem at the hot shoe.
Make sure flash is fully and deeply seated in the shoe. I've never seen it, but people say the shoe contacts get dirty, preventing contact, so clean them.
The flash should seat, and when turned on, the flash should see the camera (following and showing correct zoom, and showing aperture info on LCD, etc), and the camera should see the flash, one way is Auto does not pop up the flash, and also indoors in dim light, the shutter speed will advance to at least 1/60 second.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I had to reread both his comments and your twice to make sure I was right.
I think we need to know what mode he is shooting in. I think auto is the only mode that the false will activate on its own though.
Step up on SoapBox now.
NEVER SHOOT IN AUTO. Use the program mode if you need automation but at least you can control the ISO and the Flash in Program mode. AUTO takes everything away from you. The Program mode with External flash is really great. I shot my D5100 with the SB-700 recently for the first serious time. I shot on Program with the flash turned on. I was extremely happy with the results. I have also shot that way indoors using bounce with the white card up and those shots were in a difficult room with odd ceilings. Again, they looked great.
I suggest that you start that way and as time progresses you move into the more involved setups with the flash it you see that there is more you want it to do.
Here is a shot outdoors with flash.
Wayne I agree never use the automatic mode. But when I have the SB 600 attached (I made sure it was completely attached) and SB 600 flash still does not flash. So I am assuming it is me and I have some setting set wrong. It is probably something simple I am missing, at least I hope so.
The test flash the Sb 600 flashes, When I look in the view finder I see the lightning bolt with a question mark symbol next to get.
The reason I got the SB 600 was to shoot indoor photos of family and friends using the bounce flash method and once I get experienced then I will like to learn to use of camera flash.
The photo of your family is fantastic that is what my goal is to have photos like that.
The test flash the Sb 600 flashes, When I look in the view finder I see the lightning bolt with a question mark symbol next to get.
The reason I got the SB 600 was to shoot indoor photos of family and friends using the bounce flash method and once I get experienced then I will like to learn to use of camera flash.
The photo of your family is fantastic that is what my goal is to have photos like that.
Does the shutter actually fire? If for example, focus is not achieved, AF-S will not activate the shutter. No shutter, no flash.
Does flash respond to the camera? Zooms with lens, shows aperture, etc?
You are in mode A, S, M, or P? "I never use Auto" is NOT the same thing as telling what you are doing.
The SB-600 should fire anytime it is on the hot shoe, and turned on. There are no settings, at least not on D5100.
Except, Auto has its sister symbol that prohibits the flash... I guess that applies to the hot shoe too?
See D5100 manual page 10. It says the ? is a Warning Indicator, see page 225.
Page 226 (bottom) says a few things, none of which I get for this.
But midpage (blinking ?) is more reasonable.
It would indicate you have selected ISO and aperture or shutter that simply isn't enough for the light it sees. Select some other settings more beneficial to it.
Or try P mode, so it can select better.
My models don't do it that question mark way, so I'm not sure, but I would not expect it to blink if the flash was enabled.
Does flash respond to the camera? Zooms with lens, shows aperture, etc?
You are in mode A, S, M, or P? "I never use Auto" is NOT the same thing as telling what you are doing.
The SB-600 should fire anytime it is on the hot shoe, and turned on. There are no settings, at least not on D5100.
Except, Auto has its sister symbol that prohibits the flash... I guess that applies to the hot shoe too?
See D5100 manual page 10. It says the ? is a Warning Indicator, see page 225.
Page 226 (bottom) says a few things, none of which I get for this.
But midpage (blinking ?) is more reasonable.
It would indicate you have selected ISO and aperture or shutter that simply isn't enough for the light it sees. Select some other settings more beneficial to it.
Or try P mode, so it can select better.
My models don't do it that question mark way, so I'm not sure, but I would not expect it to blink if the flash was enabled.
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Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
That is a good point.