Nikon D40 and SB-700 flash - remote

carguy

Senior Member
I'm studying up on off-camera flash use at Strobist.com and a few other resources.

Before I buy any gear, I'm playing with my settings tonight. I have a D40 and SB-700. While I understand the only way to fire it remotely is to use the D40 pop up flash to fire off the remote SB-700. While not the ideal setup, I'm trying to start at the bottom and work up :)

So far, I'm able to get the flash to fire after the following settings, am I on the right track?

On the D40:

Manual mode
Custom Settings > 14 Built In Flash > Manual > 1/32 power
Press side button to pop up the flash.

On the SB-700:
Slide on left side set to Manual
Dial on lower right set to REMOTE
Menu > Remote > SU-4

This appears to fire the flash remotely. I do notice a long time between cycles on the SB-700, maybe due to low batteries?

I'd appreciate any pointers with this setup as I learn.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
I'm studying up on off-camera flash use at Strobist.com and a few other resources.

Before I buy any gear, I'm playing with my settings tonight. I have a D40 and SB-700. While I understand the only way to fire it remotely is to use the D40 pop up flash to fire off the remote SB-700. While not the ideal setup, I'm trying to start at the bottom and work up :)

So far, I'm able to get the flash to fire after the following settings, am I on the right track?

On the D40:

Manual mode
Custom Settings > 14 Built In Flash > Manual > 1/32 power
Press side button to pop up the flash.

On the SB-700:
Slide on left side set to Manual
Dial on lower right set to REMOTE
Menu > Remote > SU-4

This appears to fire the flash remotely. I do notice a long time between cycles on the SB-700, maybe due to low batteries?


Yes, exactly right. SU-4 mode is triggered by the flash of any other Manual mode flash. It is rather sensitive, so very low (minimum) triggering power works fine in normal situations. If any issue, you can rotate the flash body so the sensor on the side (by battery door) aims towards that triggering flash. I have achieved 132 feet that way, SU-4 triggered by 1/128 power on the camera (not in direct sun). But this wont be much issue in most normal size rooms, esp not if triggered from working power level flashes.

You also have to set remote flash power level in SU-4 Manual mode. You would set say 1/2 or 1/8 power level there, to be correct and useful to your picture. Long recycle time could be batteries, but probably it just means it is using near maximum power. You did not mention setting power level in the remote, for your purpose. If whatever power used overexposes, set its power level lower, until you see that it does what you want, gives the result you want. Lower power level will recycle faster.

Elaboration: SU-4 mode has both an Auto mode and a Manual mode. Auto mode means it starts and stops to follow the triggering flash, which 1) was a film TTL technique, quite different than iTTL, and 2) you are not trying to get a proper exposure with your trigger anyway... So, without doubt, you always want use SU-4 Manual mode, and set manual power level in the flash unit (as you see is needed for your scene and picture result).

SU-4 is a great way to trigger it, and the triggering camera internal flash might even be useful for fill flash in some cases (fill level would be at lesser intensity, a stop or so less).

But other ways to trigger it (adding stuff) would be a radio trigger, a transmitter on camera hot shoe, and a receiver on the flash foot. This can be advantage at extreme distances, through opaque obstacles, in brightest sun, etc, but no advantage if what you are doing works.

Or, you could add PC adapters to both flash foot and camera hot shoe to use PC sync cord.
 
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carguy

Senior Member
Thank you for the input Wayne.

Yes, I assume the flash was at full power as I did not alter a setting there. I'll take a few pictures with the setup this weekend and see how things go.

Plan is to buy a shoot through umbrella, stand and a PC cord setup from my camera to the flash and keep going from there. I need to work on shutter speeds etc, I'm sure that will come once I setup and take some pictures.

Good info in the flash link in your sig.

I appreciate the advice here. Thanks again :)
 
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