Advice about su800 vs pocket wizard

[simonhodge]

Using 'Commander mode' and a good Nikon flash (I have a 910). I've played with this, but no matter what I do the onboard flash ruins the exposure.

I have no idea what you are doing but this should work everytime. The thing I love about CLS is simplicity. If you go into your speedlight control menu on the camera and post a photo of your settings I'm sure it will be something really simple. Honestly, dont give up on CLS. I use it all the time.



This is an image I took with my D300 and SB-910 using CLS. Honestly took all of about 2 mins to nail it.

 

[Lurch]

Haven't got it in front of me; but if I remember correctly....
Pop-up flash mode = CMD
Pop-up flash = "--"
Group A = "-0.3"ev

thats pretty much it.

Does CLS use infrared? or the flash sequence from the pop-up? Does the pop-up even have to up?

EDIT; nevermind. Stupid question. 2 sec play answered it. Which confuses me even more about the SU-800..

 

[simonhodge]

Ok. pop-up must be up. It uses the infra-red to my knowledge. Make sure the camera is set to commander mode. Set the pop-up to "-" so as only to be a trigger (however if you are within a few meters you will still notice some light from the pop-up on the subject but you can buy a SG-31R to stop this). Set Group A to TTL and channel 1. On the SB-910 turn the dial to "remote" and set group A and channel 1. Now try this. Let me know how you get on.

Only other thing would be to check in the menu of the speedlight that it is set to "advanced" rather than "SU-4".

Simon

 

[Lurch]

Yup - exactly the settings im running.

however if you are within a few meters you will still notice some light from the pop-up on the subject but you can buy a SG-31R to stop this

Bingo. I was doing some close-quarters, home studio stuff. I'll look at that SG-31R.

So.... what is the SU-800 then?

 

[simonhodge]

I've not used an SU-800 as for the same money I can buy a used SB-900 and i think it uses a funny battery. From what I have read it is a very powerful commander and obviously you have no issue with having to battle with unwanted light from it. It is limited though in that it will only point forward unlile using an SB-910 as the commander mounted on the hotshoe as you can rotate the head of it. A way round it would be to us the like of an SC-28 from the camera hotshoe to a light stand beside you and then the SU-800 mounted on that. It will work as though it physically mounted on the camera but will allow you to direct it where its needed or even place it round a corner.

 

[Lurch]

Found a SG-31R locally and ordered it.
Grabbed a Yongnuo 568EX as a second flash too. (the Metz 44 I have is rubbish)

 

[jwstl]

Oops