D800 commander mode issues/differences

orangeframestudio

orangeframestudio

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Seems to be quite a well known issue, but not sure if its a bug/fault or what!

Tried my first photo shoot with the d800, I run 4 sb900's, two on group a and 2 group b, channel 3. Triggered by the built in flash which is set to '--' like i have on my d300 for 5 yrs. First 5 shots fine, then all of a sudden it fired only about 50% of the time.

Came home and googled, to see various issues and suggested solutions. Some saying it works fine, some saying its only on channel 3 and 4.
Some said you have to have the built in flash set to TTL or AA or it doesn't work.

Anyone had any issues or have the correct answer? Just gonna do some tests to check.
Surely it should work without having the built in set to TTL then dialling in -3 ev so it doesn't affect the shot too much, this is a system that I thought nikon had got right for some time.
 
I've used commander mode a few times to fire 2 x sb900 and one yongnuo 560 all together. I too had onboard flash set to -- and had no problems. Never tried 4 flashes though. I don't remember even having to set them into different groups, they all just fired right off.
 
Hmmm I can't see that the amount of flashes receiving the signal can be an issue, I shoot manual mode, 1/125th f8 group a about 1/4 and group b 1/6 or 1/8 all manual, and it really is hit and miss with onboard set to --.
 
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Yeah thanks for that... I did read that.

I'm waiting for nikon to give me an official answer, after several exchanges they have asked me the exact details of the setup and say they are trying to reproduce the issue.

I can't believe I'm the only one in the uk that has had the problem. I'm not sure where it will end if they admit its an issue as that link would suggest they have. (Not that it has any weight). Surely it would go down as an unfixable fault. That article is 7 months old. Perhaps they could donate an su-800 to me and I'll forget about it :)
 
To be honest I haven't tried it.

I've just bought a brand new camera that has 200 clicks on the shutter count. I don't want to rattle off 200 shots experimenting if a fault only happens in a certain scenario. Obviously I will if I have to, but maybe at nikons expense as the camera is not operating as advertised.
Will see what they have to say first.
 
It probably isn't what you want to hear (i.e. extra expense), but an SU-800 might be the answer. I never fully got on with using an onboard flash as the commander and I think the SU-800 offers more groups and is way easier to make settings changes.
 
as an alternative to the su-800 I'd even consider another sb800 or sb900, for the same money (ish) you gain all the functionality of the su plus an extra flash as well. I do agree with Pat though, not using on board flash may be the way forward
 
I agree, I'd go with a spare flash gun probably and appreciate the advantages it offers over the onboard in many aspects.
Still would consider it a bit of a cop out as far as nikon are concerned.
The d800 is sold stating the on board flash has built in commander ability. Not built in partial/ temporary ability if you use certain settings, so buy another flash gun to be safe, oh and by the way it's better that way too.
 
It does sound like a massive let-down... my D200 was pretty good with CLS, suffering the general fails in strong sunlight (and/or over distance) that you expect from the system. But I never used the onboard flash with more than two speed lights....

Out of interest, is it always the same flash that doesn't fire, or is it random?
 
It was all 4, as I said to Nikon,


100 shots produced
50 fired and all ok
40 shots all 4 didn't fire at all
10 shots flashes fired but was like they were out of sync cos pictures were dark.

The room was about 12x10 feet, I had 2 lighting a 7x6 hi lite, and 2 in soft boxes on subject, basic high key light setup, for basic portraits.

Been doing it for years with the d300 and it's pop up with not a single error.
 
sounds odd they were firing so far out of sync. I know its a silly question and I know you've done so, but it does almost sound as if you've not left enough recycling time for the flashes?
 
No worries with the questions :)


100% not a recycle issue or heat, or line of sight, there are vids on YouTube showing the issue too.
 
idigitize said:
No worries with the questions :)


100% not a recycle issue or heat, or line of sight, there are vids on YouTube showing the issue too.
Click to expand...

I wonder if it is still a heat issue with the onboard flash but maybe more circuitry related than the bulb itself hence not obvious. Seems very strange though.
 
Looking forward to finding out the answer, the fact the fault seems to be intermittent is very discouraging.
 
Hmm yeah.

Was trying this yesterday and getting occasional misfires. (Couple out fo 20 shots). Looking at that article I was doing exactly what they say (pop up set to not fire, A and B on manual.)

Really really not good.

Oh and thanks Nikon, but using TTL really isn't an answer.
 
Hmmm I have similar problem while using youngnuo transmitters...but always assumed it might be them and not d800...
Will test it on single sb900 tonight
 
nikons reply today is to say they have tested this and can not replicate the issue and have no other reports of similar problems so it must be my specific camera.

Well from this thread and about 200 people online i know that not the case.

Really CBA to send it back for a fault that i know is not just my camera!
 
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