Remote Flash

[Tony]

Hey guys,

I'm really trying lately to get some good pictures with my wife's Nikon D80 and having really mixed results. Taking pics of the fish with the flash on washes them out and gives their scales an unnatural metallic look. When I don't use the flash, only one out of five shots of a still fish comes out and still looks pretty sad.

I've seen Kevin using a remote flash over at Richard's house. From the couple of threads I've seen here, it's the way to go. I was wondering if I could use my wife's old (10 years or so) detachable flash that she had for her old Nikon film camera, along with one these cords:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-SC-29-synchro-terminal/dp/tech-data/B00019JPRO/ref=de_a_smtd

I've seen new units and they can get pretty pricey. If we can use the old one with this cord, that would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[maddog10]

I have never been sure about what older flashes can be used without any voltage issues. For that reason, I bought new flashes. The D80 has Commander Mode built-in so you can use an SB-600 as a WIRELESS remote flash.

 

[danger_chicken]

I can see a cable to the camera being a PIA taking fish pic's.

 

[Tony]

I know that her old flash works with the D80. Didn't realize that it had the "commander mode." That is pretty slick. Looked up the SB-600 on the web and it looks like they run around $200-$250, depending on the site.

If I could get it around that price, it makes me think that spending $70 on a cord is just throwing good money after bad....

So from your response, DC - I take it no one uses a corded remote flash?

 

[danger_chicken]

I'm sure some people do. I could see it being a problem for me, the cord hanging down in the way or me walking away and dragging the flash behind me. On the plus side, if you drop the flash in the tank you can use the cord to fish it out...my biggest fear.

 

[Pat Kelly]

Yeah, a cord can be used but is always in the way. Plus if you
have the flash on top...... You Will pull it off and smash it at some point.
Now a corded flash could be used if you have a bracket (or make one) to have the flash over the tank while you are taking pics from the front. Saw Mo doing that in Atlanta in 08. Had a homemade bracket.

 

[iamzrad]

If you want to spend some extra money and get a reliable remote flash system, look into PowerWizards (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441353-REG/PocketWizard_801_125_Plus_II_Transceiver_Radio.html)

But with these wireless triggers, you would need to essentially update your flash unit. An SB400 or SB600 will suffice for an off-camera flash.

Then you will need some sort of flash hot shoe to mount your flash and Pocketwizard up to. Before I go on let me explain the Pocketwizard.
It's a "tranceiver" meaning it acts as either a receiver or transmitter. So to operate one flash, you will need two of them. One to mount on the camera's hot shoe (where a regular flash would mount to) and one to the off camera flash (via SB400/600).
I use this product with my SB600s (http://www.flashzebra.com/products/0151/index.shtml)
You put the flash on the hot shoe and connect the cable to the Pocketwizard.

It works great and makes the whole off camera flash possibility happen.
It's not cheap to operate, but you get your moneys worth when you capture awesome fish pictures, especially with no glare! (If you have plastic/glass tops, you would set the flash on top looking down on the fish and snap away!)

This is all posted coming from experience and what I use to photograph fish.
There are other products, but the Pocketwizards are very versatile and you can sync many together with more flashes.

 

[Tony]

Geeze Phil... That's like 2x$169 for the Pocket Wizards + $25 for the cord + the cost of the flash... $200.

I'm sure it is a bomb setup, but I'm not sure I'm in for $600 for a remote flash system right now.

Think I may spring for the cord for now and figure out some sort of bracket system like Pat's talking about.



EDIT: Will the D80's Commander Mode work with the SB-600 without the Pocket Wizards?

 

[maddog10]

Pocket Wizard is a good setup, mainly if you do not have something like the Commander Mode (which you have). The Nikon lighting system is arguably one of the best systems on the market. The good thing about it, it is built into your camera or an appropriate flash unit.

All you need is a Nikon SB-600, SB-800 or SB-900 and you are in business.

 

[Tony]

Awesome. Thanks a bunch, Mike.

I'll talk with you guys a bit more tomorrow about it at the meeting. I hope to be getting there pretty early.

 

[iamzrad]

Pocket Wizard is a good setup, mainly if you do not have something like the Commander Mode (which you have). The Nikon lighting system is arguably one of the best systems on the market. The good thing about it, it is built into your camera or an appropriate flash unit.

All you need is a Nikon SB-600, SB-800 or SB-900 and you are in business.

But in order to fire the SB600/etc. you need to fire your cameras built-in flash....:unsure:
Since that is how the camera reads the other flash.

 

[maddog10]

Nope. The Commander Mode is a wireless (and flashless) feature on certain Nikon models.

 

[iamzrad]

Hmm, really?
When I first got an SB600, I needed to fire my D200's flash in order for the two to communicate...
Must be something new then.

 

[Tony]

Bumping an old thread because I'm ready to finally get the remote flash. Trying to pick between the SB600 and SB800. Used, we're talking around or just under $200 for the 600 and about $300 for the 800.

Read an old thread about the SB800 being more powerful and can be used to control other flashes. I thought you could do this on the D80 with commander mode (ie: fire two SB600s via commander mode - don't see myself getting more than 2 remote flashes for some time, lol). So I guess it comes down to added power. Is it a noticeable difference?

Thanks in advance.

 

[maddog10]

You can notice the difference when shooting in a deep tank. Plus we are guys, we always want more power!!

The SB800 will allow you to control flashes on your next camera body if it does not have Commander Mode.

The SB600 is useable, but the SB800 gives you more options later on down the road if things change.