 Mindy Shores |
Studio - Flash Problems I have a Nikon D80 with a SB800 flash. I have been having problems getting the lighting in my studio right. I have been using my built-in flash as a commander and the SB800 as a remote in a small umbrella. Both set to TTL. The remote sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Here is a indepth look at Nikons Creative Lighting System you will mostlikly find helpful: http://www.nikondigital.org/articles/cls_vanhoose/index.htm
http://www.nikonian.com.my/default.php?contentID=557 I hope these help,
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John H. Siskin |
Hi M, Something to keep in mind with strobes running off AA batteries: recycle time is long, at best, and gets longer as the shoot progresses. Are you sure that your problems don’t come down to weak batteries? Frankly, just about any monolight is better in the studio than these things - cheaper too. Thanks, John Siskin
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Mindy Shores |
Can you explain to me how a monolight works? Sorry, but I am still learning about all the different types of equipment that I can use. Thanks!
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John H. Siskin |
Hi M, Strobes differ in the amount of light they create and the controls, primarily in these areas: light output, automatic vs. manual control and the types of light modifiers available for the unit. Big strobes, either studio strobes (systems with a power pack) or monolights, may have as much as 5 stops more light than your Nikon units. That translates to 32 times more light. Many systems do not have this much power, but more power than you have is critical for manipulating the character of the light while maintaining low noise images. Either studio strobes or monolights are stupid compared to the automatic controls in your Nikon units. All power levels, as well as other aspects of light control, must be worked out manually. While this sounds difficult, in the studio where light is under your control, it is not so bad. You might want to take a class about lighting. Finally, you can get an on-camera strobe mounted so that you can use an umbrella. It is difficult to set up the strobe with a large soft box. With either unit there is not much power after the light goes through the modifier. Things like beauty dishes, honeycomb spots, barn doors and snoots are not made for strobe like the Nikon or the Canon units either. You might want to check out this article to give you more information on manipulating light: www.betterphoto.com/article.php?id=129.
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Devon McCarroll |
Hi M, I use my SB600 and D80 with an umbrella all the time, and have done shoots as long as four hours with no problems or delays. I use rechargeable batteries. One thing to remember is that the flash needs about 10 seconds to cycle between shots, or it will stop periodically to "cool off". Hope this helps!
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Debby A. Tabb |
MonoLight is defined through the word mono: meaning one. These lights differ from kit lights that sync together through a battery system. The monolight uses a single power source per unit,and has it's own built in slave,so it can operate as a single unit or as a set(kit) *The advatages to a monolight also include the fact that you can build your kit from one,then add another,without being tied to a battery and it's availabe ports. * no added costs in a battery unit(unless you want to go cordless) ^ The monolight recycles faster * the old batterys units were not only costly but really heavy as well, take a look at the photogenic web site and price them and the rolling light stands, that use to make things easier to move about your studio. Battery $1,499.00: Monolight kit $1,548.95: Photogenic PL125K Studio Three Monolight Kit (120VAC) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/301890-REG/Photogenic_957853_PL125K_Studio_Three_Monolight.html
I hope this helps,
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Jerry |
M, Make sure the SB-800 sensor can "see" the pop-up D80 flash. You have to rotate the SB-800 to point its sensor toward the D80. Jerry
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Karin Marocchi |
Check out strobist.com
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Mike D |
Hi M, I don't have the same camera but I use three SB-800's and I have to agree with Jerry, the sensor has to be in-view or in front of the other flash or sensor in my case. Even when using the SB-800 as main and secondary flashes you have to be careful about where you position them in relation to the sensors. I found that that using Nikon’s SU-800 fires off all my SB-800's with much more consistency. In your case try twisting the head of the flash around and turning the front of the flash towards the subject and backdrop not towards the umbrella. Hope this helps, Mike
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