Nikon SB900 remote flash

GHarve

Hi All,

I'm confused about the advantages of a wireless flash unit to trigger an SB900 off-camera.

I use a D300s, and can trigger an SB900 remotely using the in camera flash set in command mode. Does this method still help the SB900 with TTL?

Hopefully somebody can explain the different options!

Thanks,

GHarve

ziggy53

GHarve wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm confused about the advantages of a wireless flash unit to trigger an SB900 off-camera.

I use a D300s, and can trigger an SB900 remotely using the in camera flash set in command mode. Does this method still help the SB900 with TTL?

Hopefully somebody can explain the different options!

Thanks,

GHarve

If I understand your question correctly, you are uncertain to the benefits of using an external flash off camera and remote, as opposed to having the same flash mounted to the camera's hot shoe?

If that's your question the reason to use a flash like the SB900 off camera is to gain an additional source of light, and the source will be at a different angle.

The Nikon D300s has its on-camera flash and that flash can be used as commander/master to also trigger the second off-camera flash. Yes, the camera will gain information from each flash in TTL, specifically Nikon's i-TTL, and then the camera will set each flash output according to "rules" that you set in the camera. You can have the remote flash act as either the "key" light or a "fill" light or you could even use the remote flash as a background or rim/hair light. The primary use (IMO) would be to use the on-camera flash for fill light and the remote as the key light.

The way all of this works is the master flash, in this case your camera's built-in flash, sends some pre-flash information, the remote flashes respond with their own pre-flash, and then your camera sorts out that information, acquired from the camera's exposure unit, to regulate the final flash output from all flashes in communication. Unfortunately this is all done using light signals and so anything that impedes light from the camera's flash or the remote's flash can defeat the process, so line-of-sight between all flash units is required. Daylight can sometimes also interfere and outdoors does not generally allow as much opportunity for the flashes to reflect cooperatively during the pre-flash operations and subsequent final flash output.

For a good primer on the Nikon "Creative Lighting System", CLS, this page is a good start:

http://www.nikonusa.com/Learn-And-Explore/Nikon-Camera-Technology/Camera-Flashes.page

time2smile

welcome,

Ziggy hit it on the head as always.

have you check the stobist site, some good reading
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html

this one fills you in on good info also
http://nikonclspracticalguide.blogspot.com/

angevin1

GHarve wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm confused about the advantages of a wireless flash unit to trigger an SB900 off-camera.

The Only advantage is if the commander mode is giving you problems, OR you need to be certain of firing without line-of-sight issues.

Anybody who has read my ramblings ( at times) knows I am a huge fan of the commander in Nikon. But I will say, I got a radio trigger late last year, and it has been nice when I want to ensure every single shot is lit. On my commander shoots outside I have a 85% shot rate. I used to have a bit more %, but I tend to push more now-a-days! Also using a trigger lets me use my Nikon flashes with my Canon Camera too..Bonus!

I love the commander funx!!!! Love it!

[EDIT] Inside keeper rate is right near 100%!~