Using the SB-700 Speedlight with a D7100, off-camera

mar1ine

New member
In order to use one SB-700 Speedlight, off-camera with a D7100 and with no additional equipment, do you have to be in COMMANDER MODE? I'm trying to identify the easiest way to control the SB-700 manually (non-TTL) off-camera. With that objective in mind, is there another option besides the COMPENSATION setting within the COMMANDER MODE menu on the D7100? The SB-700 has an EV setting adjustment available when placed in the ON mode, but not in REMOTE mode, and it apparently has to be in REMOTE mode to be used off-camera. Also using this same configuration, I'm assuming the flash compensation on the D7100 only affects the pop-up flash. Correct? Last, does the MANUAL setting on the upper left side of the SB-700 have any applicable function within this scenario (i.e. off-camera, with a D7100 and only one speed light).
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
First welcome to the forum. I am not familiar with the SB-700, but according to the D7100 manual page 305 the SB-700 can use iTTL in remote mode. I don't think this is what you want, but maybe it will help. As to the flash compensation in camera, I think it will effect the remote flash also. I could be wrong, however, but I do know it will effect wireless connection.

There are some on here that are much more versed on the nikon flashes the CMD mode than I am, so hopefully they will chime in to help.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
https://photographylife.com/beginners-guide-to-nikon-creative-lighting-system

I've provided a link to an article that goes through Nikon's Creative Lighting System. It should answer your above questions.

Basically you use the camera's popup flash to control the SB-700 Off camera. The camera uses a series of light flashes (the flashes are out of sync with your shutter and do NOT add to the image) to control the SB-700. You don't need for the light to be in Remote mode. By changing the power setting in the camera, it changes the power of the light. Use the light's power to control the light in M(anual) Mode. This is just a short quick answer to get you started... there are complete books written on Nikon's Creative Lighting and the use of flash...
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
https://photographylife.com/beginners-guide-to-nikon-creative-lighting-system

I've provided a link to an article that goes through Nikon's Creative Lighting System. It should answer your above questions.

Basically you use the camera's popup flash to control the SB-700 Off camera. The camera uses a series of light flashes (the flashes are out of sync with your shutter and do NOT add to the image) to control the SB-700. You don't need for the light to be in Remote mode. By changing the power setting in the camera, it changes the power of the light. Use the light's power to control the light in M(anual) Mode. This is just a short quick answer to get you started... there are complete books written on Nikon's Creative Lighting and the use of flash...

Thanks Fred. That was what I thought, but did not want to throw too much possibly bad info out there. Ha!
 

mar1ine

New member
Thanks Fred! The link you provided represents what I've been doing using TTL. I was curious if I was missing something, but I'm apparently not. The article recommends using the camera (or Creative lighting) as the master using the COMMANDER MODE menu, the pop-up flash in a disabled state, and controlling the Speedlight via the settings within the camera menus in COMMANDER MODE. When you are in this mode, and the speed light is off-camera, it will only fire when the setting on the Speedlight is set to REMOTE mode. Thus, you can only control it (FC) from the camera menus and not on the Speedlight itself.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
No...that's not correct. The Remote Mode on that light emulates and acts as an Optical Slave (referred to as SU-4). It will fire as a result of the camera's flash optically triggering it. You however must set all the iso and power settings on the light.

CLS should also trigger and fire the SB-700 from the camera. The difference being that CLS can send all the camera's settings to the light at the point of flash(actually micro-seconds before the shutter)...

If yours is not working... things to check... Distance (CLS is limited) ambient light (CLS is almost non-functional in bright light) Line-of-sight (SB-700's red sight glass on the right-side must be turned, pointing at the camera's flash
 

mar1ine

New member
Thanks Fred, agree on SU-4 and remote slave, but make sure you are referring to the specific capabilities of the SB-700. In TTL mode (as in your article) ISO and power settings are passed via the camera while the LIGHT is set to REMOTE mode and TTL. However, the SB-700 menus don't have any capability to set ISO or Power on the LIGHT itself while in REMOTE mode. You can set Power with the LIGHT in ON mode (not remote) but that mode only fires on-camera.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Yeah... There are probably some differences... I'm holding a SB-600 and a SB-910a... In Nikon's wisdom, I'm sure there are some feature differences... sorry...:shame:
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Just for point of reference. Radio triggers work functionally the same as CLS. except instead of sending data to the lights via light flashes (which can be problematic) they use radio frequencies... You can probably buy a set of Yongnuo Tx/Rx for less than $100...
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard. Enjoy the ride.
We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

You are being well taken care-of by the previous posters.
 

mar1ine

New member
FYI - I finally found the link that best explains the SB 700's specific functionality. It has three basic modes: ON, REMOTE and MASTER. It has to be on-camera to function in MASTER mode, and it's completely controlled by the master when in REMOTE mode. The third mode, ON mode, also has to be on-camera, where the user can adjust the power setting only. It does not provide capability in either of the three modes to adjust ISO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAOuWm3zcc
 
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