Why are pics with my SB-600 (on D90) all blown up?

radhakradhak Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
edited November 3, 2011 in Accessories
I have a D90 for a year now, but still if you called me a newbie, I wouldn't be offended :).

Then I bought a used (working) SB-600, but when I tried to use it it wouldn't work. Local Nikon took a looong time to fix it; but when I tried to use it yesterday (on camera), all my pictures were completely blown out - indoors, outdoors, close-up, 10 feet away, everything.

I found that putting the flash on Manual mode, and reducing the power to around 1/32 gave me what I wanted, but shouldn't I be able to get it to work in 'TTL' mode without too much fiddling with other settings?

I tried to follow the user manual, and found that some of the settings don't even show up. Eg - I just cannot get the mode to TTL - BL (and some other similar). So maybe the flash is not fully fixed, or something else broke? I could go back to the repair shop, but want to make sure this is not an operator error.

Of course, you can see that I am assuming this is some technical problem; might well be that I've just not got the hang of an external flash! Is there some place I could read up on how exactly the SB-600 is supposed to function?

Comments

  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited November 1, 2011
    With the SB600 turned on and in your hand and not attached to anything: Can you press the Mode button and see the SB600 switch modes; TTL/Man?
    tom wise
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited November 1, 2011
    In order for a flash to function in a "TTL" mode, there has to be communication between the flash and the camera. A likely cause for mis-communication is dirty contacts on the hot shoe of the camera.

    I suggest cleaning the contacts of the both the camera's hot shoe and also cleaning the contacts of the flash shoe itself. A fresh red pencil eraser can be helpful to lightly scrub the contacts. Be careful not to get any eraser dust in the camera.

    White printer paper can also be used to lightly burnish contacts.

    If you can locate a second flash, try that on the camera to see if the camera is possibly the culprit.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • radhakradhak Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited November 1, 2011
    angevin1 wrote: »
    With the SB600 turned on and in your hand and not attached to anything: Can you press the Mode button and see the SB600 switch modes; TTL/Man?

    When not on the camera, the mode button gives me the TTL and Manual options, but no TTL - BL option.

    Another issue I forgot - when the flash goes into 'standby', and I shoot a pic, the flash does not fire. I had thought 'standby' was how it saved battery power but came awake when shooting, and I would not need to wake up it up by tapping the 'power' button?
  • radhakradhak Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited November 1, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    In order for a flash to function in a "TTL" mode, there has to be communication between the flash and the camera. A likely cause for mis-communication is dirty contacts on the hot shoe of the camera.

    I suggest cleaning the contacts of the both the camera's hot shoe and also cleaning the contacts of the flash shoe itself. A fresh red pencil eraser can be helpful to lightly scrub the contacts. Be careful not to get any eraser dust in the camera.

    White printer paper can also be used to lightly burnish contacts.

    If you can locate a second flash, try that on the camera to see if the camera is possibly the culprit.

    Oh, great - I was wondering how to clean those contacts. Thanks.

    And good idea about that second flash - hopefully my D90 is not sick...
  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited November 1, 2011
    radhak wrote: »
    When not on the camera, the mode button gives me the TTL and Manual options, but no TTL - BL option.

    Another issue I forgot - when the flash goes into 'standby', and I shoot a pic, the flash does not fire. I had thought 'standby' was how it saved battery power but came awake when shooting, and I would not need to wake up it up by tapping the 'power' button?


    It needs to be mounted on your camera to give you the BL option. AND your camera needs to be on a metering option other than Spot.

    Standby will act that way, a simple partial press of the Shutter will awaken it. You can also disable that function in the menu. It's not supposed to be an issue off cam.
    tom wise
  • radhakradhak Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited November 1, 2011
    It worked!!!
    Cleaned up the contacts with an eraser, and lo! All the problems seem to have disappeared! I can see TTL-BL, flash exposure is commensurate with my expectations, the speed-light wakes up with any action on the camera, all custom settings are available!!!

    Wow, what a relief : save me quite some hassle! thanks everybody!
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 3, 2011
    See! All this great advice justifies the exhorbitant cost of DGrin membership! :D
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • radhakradhak Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited November 3, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    See! All this great advice justifies the exhorbitant cost of DGrin membership! :D

    And How! This is just the latest, but by no means the only advice or education I've received here. I've saved money, heartache, and time by just regular visits to this forum. Best of all I've gained confidence in experimenting with photography, always knowing that help is just an arms length away!

    Thanks DGRIN!
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