SB-400 as a Slave?
- Thread starter Zeke_M
- Start date
Take a look at the #0115 Deluxe PC to Flash Hotshoe Adapter
FlashZebra.com: Deluxe PC to Flash Hotshoe Adapter (Item #0115)
This is what I used for my SB-700 to sync my Pocketwizard. Works like a charm
FlashZebra.com: Deluxe PC to Flash Hotshoe Adapter (Item #0115)
This is what I used for my SB-700 to sync my Pocketwizard. Works like a charm
You need a different flash than the SB-400. The SB-400 cannot work at all if not on the camera hot shoe, or on a hot shoe cable connected to the camera hot shoe (because the SB-400 menu it uses is in the camera, but if remote, it has none).
Specifically, you need one that is spec'd to work with the commander.
You could turn off the commander, and put the SB-400 on the hot shoe, or on a hot shoe cord (old SC-17 or new SC-28, which are short, it will be beside the camera, but which is where fill light should be), and then use the remote Yongnuo flash in its S1 slave mode. This will be manual flash in both flashes, not TTL.
One exception (which I am not familiar with) is that the Yongnuo YN-622 is a radio trigger that mimics and replaces the commander, and its hot shoe claims to support the SB-400.
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Are you sure the SB-400 can't work as an OCF Wayne?
I took a trip around the internet.
According to a couple sites and Adorama, the YN622 will support the SB-400.
YongNuo YN-622N-TX Wireless E-TTL Flash Trigger Kit with LED for Nikon Cameras YN-622N KIT
Now I need to know do I need the Transceiver and Trigger or will the D7100 Commander mode activate the Trigger without Yongnuo's Transceiver?
According to a couple sites and Adorama, the YN622 will support the SB-400.
YongNuo YN-622N-TX Wireless E-TTL Flash Trigger Kit with LED for Nikon Cameras YN-622N KIT
Now I need to know do I need the Transceiver and Trigger or will the D7100 Commander mode activate the Trigger without Yongnuo's Transceiver?
I don't have one to know much, but I know that it has no menu or modes or buttons without the camera. If present on camera, it uses the cameras internal flash menu, in the camera menu. The camera knows how to program it from that menu. Same is true of the SB-300 also. These are NOT fully featured flashes. This saves cost of menu LCD and some control buttons.
So if not on the camera hot shoe, possibly it might flash if triggered, but there is no way to set mode, no way to set manual power level, no way to receive a TTL level. At best if it flashes remotely, there will be no control, just some wishful hoping. It is designed to work on the camera hot shoe, but other flashes should offer much better plans for remote operation, those with a menu.
The SB-400 instructions say only "mount it into camera shoe, and turn camera and flash power on". No mention of remote operation. On line searches seem to verify this.
The YN622 is apparently smart enough to claim to know how to set power levels into it, it operates all flashes that way. But dumber radio or optical slaves never heard of its special needs, all they can do is maybe trigger it.
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No, if I understand the question, the 622 and the commander are incompatible, and very mutually exclusive. You use one system or the other. You can of course use one or the other system.
There is also the YN622N-TX controller which replaces the commander, and which operates the transceivers. See Google, reviews and instruction.
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That seems a good plan, the YN568 is twice as strong as the SB-400, a full stop stronger. This is pretty important for bounce, or for umbrellas, etc.
But the Commander and the YN622 systems are different.... Similar goals, but different. Commander uses line of sight optical, and some difficult situations give trouble triggering reliably, distance, obstacles, sunlight... Plus subject blinking and catchlights in the subject. It is not a perfect system.
The 622 is a radio system, should not have any of those same problems. However, they are different designs, and I don't have 622 experience to know how "equal" they perform. But they do seem popular. I would read awhile first about them.
But the Commander and the YN622 systems are different.... Similar goals, but different. Commander uses line of sight optical, and some difficult situations give trouble triggering reliably, distance, obstacles, sunlight... Plus subject blinking and catchlights in the subject. It is not a perfect system.
The 622 is a radio system, should not have any of those same problems. However, they are different designs, and I don't have 622 experience to know how "equal" they perform. But they do seem popular. I would read awhile first about them.