Troubleshooting my SB-600 Flash

OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
edited March 4, 2007 in Accessories
Hi guys. If there are any flash experts out there, I'd love your input on this one...

I have a D50 and an SB-600 Flash. Although I know my D50 quite well, the external flash is still somewhat a mystery. Like - what is TTL? Anyway, that's not the point. The point is, that despite a few hundred shots I've had with my flash, I haven't really had a problem. Until now.

My problem is this:

With the flash mounted on the D50 and in 'P' Mode the "flash" icon on the D50 just flashes and no shot is fired. I've looked up the "troubleshoot" fix in my D50 manual but it just says that the problem is "Speedlight that does not support i-TTL flash control attached and set to TTL." But in my SB600 manual, the D50 and the TTL work fine together - and I know this to be true because I've fired plenty of shots in the past.

So I've reset the speedlight and fiddled around and can't figure it out. Also, I'm using the D-Type Nikon Lens - so no problems there.

Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Cheers
Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited February 25, 2007
    Oakley wrote:
    ... what is TTL? ...

    TTL stands for "Through The Lens" as in, the flash is using sensors, over 400 sensors, within the camera itself to assist in the correct illumination produced by the flash. For Nikon shooters, the important term is i-TTL as this is the best method of measuring flash exposure available on Nikon cameras.

    It appears that the Nikon D50 is compatible with the SB-600:

    http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikon_dslr_chart.html

    As for your problem with the flash, I would suspect that "Program Mode" may be part of the problem. I suggest you use the camera in Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode for best results with the flash.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    ziggy53 wrote:
    TTL stands for "Through The Lens" as in, the flash is using sensors, over 400 sensors, within the camera itself to assist in the correct illumination produced by the flash. For Nikon shooters, the important term is i-TTL as this is the best method of measuring flash exposure available on Nikon cameras.

    It appears that the Nikon D50 is compatible with the SB-600:

    http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikon_dslr_chart.html

    As for your problem with the flash, I would suspect that "Program Mode" may be part of the problem. I suggest you use the camera in Manual mode or Aperture Priority mode for best results with the flash.

    Thanks for the info Ziggy. Much appreciated.

    I did try the other modes, M, A, Portrait, Landscape, ect...and I get the same flashing "flash" on the D50 and no shot taken.
    Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
    www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
    Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Are the batteries, in the flash, still in good shape? headscratch.gif I'd try a new set to confirm this isn't the problem. Start with a simple/cheap troubleshooting sequence... thumb.gif
  • OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Seymore wrote:
    Are the batteries, in the flash, still in good shape? headscratch.gif I'd try a new set to confirm this isn't the problem. Start with a simple/cheap troubleshooting sequence... thumb.gif

    Seymore - sorry, I forgot to mention - changing the batteries was the very first thing I did.
    Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
    www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
    Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Oakley wrote:
    Seymore - sorry, I forgot to mention - changing the batteries was the very first thing I did.
    OK... Good to know. But talk to me about this... What manuf of batteries and what size (mAh) are they?
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    I guess another thing to do is to call Nikon and see if they have any other ideas.
  • OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Seymore wrote:
    I guess another thing to do is to call Nikon and see if they have any other ideas.

    I gave a post on Nikon's website.

    As for the batteries --- I'm using Kirkland Signature Alkaline Batter 1.5V size AA. Just typical disposable double A's.
    Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
    www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
    Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Oakley wrote:
    I gave a post on Nikon's website.

    As for the batteries --- I'm using Kirkland Signature Alkaline Batter 1.5V size AA. Just typical disposable double A's.
    OK... Well, I'm just wondering if the simple problem is the issues. Also, off the camera, does the flash charge up and can you manually force the flash?
  • OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
    edited February 25, 2007
    Seymore wrote:
    OK... Well, I'm just wondering if the simple problem is the issues. Also, off the camera, does the flash charge up and can you manually force the flash?

    Yes, the test flash works just fine. As well, when the SB600 is disconnected, the built-in flash on the D50 works just fine too.
    Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
    www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
    Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited February 26, 2007
    Oakley wrote:
    Yes, the test flash works just fine. As well, when the SB600 is disconnected, the built-in flash on the D50 works just fine too.
    Well, see what Nikon can help you with. Sounds to me like something has failed in the cam or the flash.

    Please let us know what they say. And if it's still under warranty... send it back. Shipping one way, by you, is a cheap fix.
  • OakleyOakley Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2007
    Seymore wrote:
    Well, see what Nikon can help you with. Sounds to me like something has failed in the cam or the flash.

    Please let us know what they say. And if it's still under warranty... send it back. Shipping one way, by you, is a cheap fix.

    Hey Seymore - here's the update -

    Nikon did reply back to me and told me to try resetting the flash and the camera. I had reset the flash - but I forgot to try resetting the camera. They said, if that fails, then the contact either on the flash or the body is damaged and the would need to be sent in for repairs.

    With very little hope, I reset the camer and - BAM! - it worked right away. What a relieve. With my first son/daughter on the way, the last thing I wanted to do was send my camera off to get fixed.

    I really appreicate your help. Have a great week.

    Ryan
    Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
    www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
    Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited March 4, 2007
    Oakley wrote:
    Hey Seymore - here's the update -

    Nikon did reply back to me and told me to try resetting the flash and the camera. I had reset the flash - but I forgot to try resetting the camera. They said, if that fails, then the contact either on the flash or the body is damaged and the would need to be sent in for repairs.

    With very little hope, I reset the camer and - BAM! - it worked right away. What a relieve. With my first son/daughter on the way, the last thing I wanted to do was send my camera off to get fixed.

    I really appreicate your help. Have a great week.

    Ryan

    Great news Ryan. thumb.gifclap

    Keep us posted on the baby situation. (Photographically if possible.)

    Best,
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2007
    Thanks for the update Ryan. Glad to hear you've gotten this worked out. Now, if/when this occurs again... please try to remember what changes you recently made that may assist you in resolving what happened to create this problem. (just a thought...)
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