SB800 basics please...

topcat374

Hi everyone. I'm new to Digital Grin but have been impressed by the responses I've seen shared in the forums so thought I'd ask for your help too!

I own a Nikon D50 with an 18-55mm kit lens and an additonal 55-200mm lens. It's my first SLR of any sort and I love using it! About a year ago, I decided to buy a hot shoe flash as I was taking lots of indoor, long distance shots. After much research, I decided to buy the best i could afford (an SB800). After a year of using it quite crudely to provide loads of extra light bounced to avoid shadows I finally want to learn how to use it 'properly'!

Can anyone give me some basic tips on how to start getting to grips with what seems like a really complicated piece of kit?! I don't want to do anything fancy just yet but simply improve my indoor photos in low light levels. Anything you can offfer would be really useful:)

Thank you in anticipation!

jonh68

I think you would be better off giving specific situations and samples you are having trouble with. Your question is loaded because answer depends on situations.

Googling "using sb-800" brought up a list of resources. Maybe not what you want to hear, but asking how to use a sb-800 is like asking how to use a camera. It's better if you can give some specific situations.

sweet caroline

If you are using it on camera, you need a diffuser on it. I never use mine that way anymore, but when I did, I put the Fong Lightsphere on it and bounced. With my D300 in commander mode, I either put the flash on a stand, usually in an umbrella, or I hand hold it (with the lightsphere) as high as I can and slightly off to the side. Getting the flash off camera made a huge difference in my photos. I put the flash in manual mode rather than ttl.

Caroline

time2smile

Welcome,

I loved my D50 and used it with a SB600. You can not do clt due to the camera. We really would like to know what is it you need to do. I would put it in ttl and fire away then try with bl on and off, bounce and direct flash the speedlight, you will soon get the hang of it. Then experiment in manual and by all means have fun. trust me its so easy a caveman could do it...

here a link for some metering info
http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/

good luck

cbbr

It may be more info than you want, but I like the strobist site - http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/.

Ekaj

There is so much to say about using a flash. For brevity, read strobist 101 at the above link and figure out a way to get it off the camera that works for you.

Ps forget the Gary fong someone else mentioned. It's nothing but expensive Tupperware.

topcat374

Wow - you are all quick off the mark! I didn't expect to see any replies by this morning! Thanks for the tips so far - they've already got me thinking in new directions...

I appreciate that I've asked quite an open ended question which I suppose is because I'm not really sure how to narrow it down (but will try...!). I'm comfortable taking photos of my own children (indoors with a low white ceiling!!!). I bounce the light of the ceiling and my flash and camera really do seem to take care of the rest. This made a huge improvement to the quality of my pictures compared to using the built in flash. I do keep the diffuser on at all times (although after reading the link below, I now understand why - thanks time2smile!!).

I'm now finding myself in situations like today, when I am attending a Christening in a church with no low white ceiling(!). I'm by no means an 'official photogrpaher' for the day but would like to capture a few nice shots to give to the parents and feel I should be able to do this with the kit I have. I appreciate there are issues around whether flash is even allowed (I'm sure it is after the service) but don't even really understand what mode the flash should be in. Do I need to change any settings manually on the flash as I play with the DOF of my camera or is there a mode where the camera will just detect everything I do and compensate? If I zoom in with my lens, will the flash know that I want the light to go further or do I need to tell it this? By way of comparison, I began learning to use my camera on auto, then 'p' and apeture and shutter priority modes. Is there a similar progression to using the flash?

Does this make things any clearer?!?!

PS - I'll have a look at Strobist thank you:)

carmel6942

topcat374 wrote:

don't even really understand what mode the flash should be in. Do I need to change any settings manually on the flash as I play with the DOF of my camera or is there a mode where the camera will just detect everything I do and compensate? If I zoom in with my lens, will the flash know that I want the light to go further or do I need to tell it this? By way of comparison, I began learning to use my camera on auto, then 'p' and apeture and shutter priority modes. Is there a similar progression to using the flash?)

For full auto mode using the sb800 assuming that you have it set on the factory settings push the mode button on the left side of the flash until it says TTL or TTL BL(the BL is supposed to be for balanced lighting) on the top left of the screen above. In this mode the camera and flash communicate and they figure out what settings your flash needs to be on using the metering information from the lens and the focal length also identified from the lens.

Here is a little better description of the differences between TTL and TTL BL modes
http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/ttl-and-ttl-bl-study.html

Hope this helps some.

topcat374

I think I'm making progress!

carmel6942 wrote:

For full auto mode using the sb800 assuming that you have it set on the factory settings push the mode button on the left side of the flash until it says TTL or TTL BL(the BL is supposed to be for balanced lighting) on the top left of the screen above. In this mode the camera and flash communicate and they figure out what settings your flash needs to be on using the metering information from the lens and the focal length also identified from the lens.

Here is a little better description of the differences between TTL and TTL BL modes
http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/ttl-and-ttl-bl-study.html

Hope this helps some.

Thanks Carl - I think that's the kind of starting point I need! I've actually taken some pics at the Christening this afternoon (parents asked if I would take some family shots at the last minute) and am quite pleased with the results (I'll see if I can get some posted). The job was nice and easy as it was quite close up and the TTL mode seemed to take care of the lighting for me. The only thing I did find was that the light was much warmer at an ISO of 800. As soon as I started fiddling with this I got quite a cold feel in the pictures so I reluctantly left it at 800. I wish I'd known how to alter the flash so I could lower the ISO whilst keeping the warm feel to the pics! Any thoughts on this from anyone would be welcome! Is this simply because the flash was having to produce more light to compensate for a lower ISO?

Ed911

I have a suggestion...about the use of TTL versus TTL BL. I attended a Nikonian workshop on the SB800 about a year ago...or more. TTL BL is best for outdoor use...so I was told by Winston Hall, the workshop instructor.

Second, if you run into a situation where you can't bounce your light, and a can't get your flash off of the camera, the other solution is to take off the diffuser, pull up the little white panel and diffuser flap, and angle the flash at 60 degrees or so depending on the amound of light you want bounced forward off of the little pull up white card. Works well on both the SB800 and SB900. I've shot that set up in a lot of sitations. Gives you a sort of global lighting with some extra bounced forward for illumination purposes. You'll be surprised what you don't need in order to take great pictures.

Watch your histogram...try to keep it between the lines, shoot RAW, and adjust your camera exposure and flash intensity to move the histogram around, left or right.

Sure, they make bigger, better, extra this and that...but, essentially...you're using the little version of it when you use the little bounce card and diffuser that's included with your flash.

That's about it.

catspaw

topcat374 wrote:

Wow - you are all quick off the mark! I didn't expect to see any replies by this morning! Thanks for the tips so far - they've already got me thinking in new directions...

Yeah, we rock that way :ivar :ivar

Welcome to DGrin!


BTW, for a great source of diffusers and bouncers and such, check out the 'Seconds Sale' through Lumiquest. Call them direct to see EXACTLY what they have in stock. GREAT customer service and I've gotten a few to fill out my arsenal and ended up saving close to 40% retail. Sweet!

http://www.lumiquest.com/sale.htm

EDIT: oh danged, you are in the UK you could see if any US friends could order for you. They are lightweight and should be easy to ship overseas

topcat374

catspaw wrote:

Yeah, we rock that way :ivar :ivar

Welcome to DGrin!


BTW, for a great source of diffusers and bouncers and such, check out the 'Seconds Sale' through Lumiquest. Call them direct to see EXACTLY what they have in stock. GREAT customer service and I've gotten a few to fill out my arsenal and ended up saving close to 40% retail. Sweet!

http://www.lumiquest.com/sale.htm

EDIT: oh danged, you are in the UK you could see if any US friends could order for you. They are lightweight and should be easy to ship overseas

Thanks Catspaw - I've made a note of that one. I'm sure I can find a US contact if I try hard enough:)

topcat374

Ed911 wrote:

I have a suggestion...about the use of TTL versus TTL BL. I attended a Nikonian workshop on the SB800 about a year ago...or more. TTL BL is best for outdoor use...so I was told by Winston Hall, the workshop instructor.

Second, if you run into a situation where you can't bounce your light, and a can't get your flash off of the camera, the other solution is to take off the diffuser, pull up the little white panel and diffuser flap, and angle the flash at 60 degrees or so depending on the amound of light you want bounced forward off of the little pull up white card. Works well on both the SB800 and SB900. I've shot that set up in a lot of sitations. Gives you a sort of global lighting with some extra bounced forward for illumination purposes. You'll be surprised what you don't need in order to take great pictures.

Watch your histogram...try to keep it between the lines, shoot RAW, and adjust your camera exposure and flash intensity to move the histogram around, left or right.

Sure, they make bigger, better, extra this and that...but, essentially...you're using the little version of it when you use the little bounce card and diffuser that's included with your flash.

That's about it.

That sounds like really useful advice and something which I can put into practice straight away...thank you:) As I said, it's this kind of situation (nowhere to bounce light off) that I've been struggling with. When you say 'adjust the flash intensity' is that using the flash's exposure comensation? I think that's the only thing I've learned to adjust...

As for shooting in RAW, I've had a go at this before using rawshooter essentials but beyond tweaking the white balance haven't really got to grips with the benefit of this either. I feel like such a rookie!! I think I may post a whole new thread on shooting in RAW at some point in the future!!It's my daughter's birthday this week so should be an ideal opportunity to take some indoor snaps.

Thanks again.

Sportymonk

Check this site out. http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/01/nikon-flash-two-separate-metering.html It is by Russ McDonald who is top notch. The site is focused on Nikon but is good for any lighting issues. You might also want to prowl around Nikonians.org.

topcat374 wrote:

Hi everyone. I'm new to Digital Grin but have been impressed by the responses I've seen shared in the forums so thought I'd ask for your help too!

I own a Nikon D50 with an 18-55mm kit lens and an additonal 55-200mm lens. It's my first SLR of any sort and I love using it! About a year ago, I decided to buy a hot shoe flash as I was taking lots of indoor, long distance shots. After much research, I decided to buy the best i could afford (an SB800). After a year of using it quite crudely to provide loads of extra light bounced to avoid shadows I finally want to learn how to use it 'properly'!

Can anyone give me some basic tips on how to start getting to grips with what seems like a really complicated piece of kit?! I don't want to do anything fancy just yet but simply improve my indoor photos in low light levels. Anything you can offfer would be really useful:)

Thank you in anticipation!

topcat374

Sportymonk wrote:

Check this site out. http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/2008/01/nikon-flash-two-separate-metering.html It is by Russ McDonald who is top notch. The site is focused on Nikon but is good for any lighting issues. You might also want to prowl around Nikonians.org.

Thanks for this - looks like a really useful site:)

zoomer

ditto the strobist, a years worth of reading on the subject.