Pop-up flash Vs SU-800, HELP! :)

stu_the_flat

stu_the_flat

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Stuart
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I had taken to using my pop up flash on my D300 to command two SB-600 flashguns,

the system works quite well but it wasn't perfect, So I bought a SU-800 hoping for a bit more of the same, but I can't get the SU-800 to fire the flash guns from a distance of about more than 4 feet with the camera pointed directly at the flash gun, while in the same conditions the pop up flash will work just fine and can work from much further ditances. I know that its not supposed to work well in direct sunlight, but I was using it in very dark conditions on an overcast day.

The SU-800 is on commander mode (not macro), I've tried in on manual and TTL, the battery is new.

does anybody have any idea what I could be doing wrong?

Cheers Stuart
 
Are the IR receivers on the SB's pointing towards the SU800? If you're working in large open spaces, there isn't anything for the IR signal to bounce off so the signal may not actually be reaching the sensors.
 
Yes they are pointing towards each other, I set up both flash guns one sitting in a hot shoe and the other lying on its side. at a distance of under ~4 feet and under both fired, then just the one in the hot shoe fired and at 6 feet nethier of them fired, I then swapped the flash guns position and the was still the case that the flashgun in the hotshoe was firing at a slightly larger distance.

Tried to mount one of them on the end of my soft box and this set up was next to useless and would only trigger if I photographed the softbox itself!

Cheers Stuart
 
stu_the_flat said:
I'm trying to exhaust all possibilities before I come to that conclusion. I might has just put it in some strange setting,

Cheers Stuart
Click to expand...

You may but the only setting I can think of youve not talked about trying - there's a grey switch in the battery compartment that allows switching between macro and normal mode be worth checking it's in normal
 
The switch is in the lower postion which show a symbol of a flashgun,

The symbol also appears on the back of the LCD screen,

Cheers Stuart
 
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stu_the_flat said:
The switch is in the lower postion which show a sysmbol of a flashgun,

The sysmbol also appears on the back of the LCD screen,

Cheers Stuart
Click to expand...

Ok was all I could think of- no other ideas other than may be faulty :shrug:
 
You shouldbe able to get 30-40ft range easily with an SU800, the sensors on the flashguns must be pointed at the camera though, a few degrees out can make the difference between firing and not.
 
Cheers Graham

I've just gone out and set it up so that the flash gun is at a prefect 90 angle and then sightied the camera so that the flash gun was squre in the middle of the veiw finder. still had similar range to what I was reporting. :(

Next suggestion? :)

Stuart
 
The lack of range suggest to me you've got it on the macro setting and the SU operates on a reduced output in that mode.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
The lack of range suggest to me you've got it on the macro setting and the SU operates on a reduced output in that mode.
Click to expand...

Except I'd already asked that and we checked he hadnt
 
OK so I've been out again, I got a step further back this time. I assume that is because of the failing daylight being less competion for the signal

I tried it in both commander mode and macro mode.

I had the same effective range with both,

So I am starting to wonder that there is a fault with the SU-800 and its not increasing the power when I am going into commander mode?

Stuart
 
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How fresh are the batteries in the SU800 and the flashes? The SU is quite heavy on it's battery and that might account for the reduced range if it's on its way out.
 
Its was a Duracell Ultra CR123A 3V

Just I type the last post I decided to change to a new battery as these odd batterys may well have been sitting in the shop for an age, But it hasn't changed anything.

I was acutly expecting to get a bit more range as it is really quite dark now (the nights are fair drawing in! :) ) but the range was much the same as before.

Stuart
 
stu_the_flat said:
Two groups, Just doing all the testing using Group A and manual 1/16th power just encase the TTL is deciding it dosen't need to fire.
Click to expand...

There should be three groups* if you only have two showing then it's in macro mode.........







* by this I mean do you have the option to use 3 groups, or just 2
 
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Ok, well at least we know it's definitely in Commander mode. Try putting the SU on your TTL cable and moving it around and see if that has any effect on the success rate.
 
Sounds as if you're very unlucky with equipment, Stuart as a quick Google of "SU-800 fault" (which also brings up posts with "error") shows the only thread that comes up at all that pertains to a potentially duff SU800 is this one.....
 
I know, thats why this thead is in extance! I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong, as the SU-800 is a pretty depenbale unit. But if I can't find out what I am doing wrong what else am I supossed to do?

When you put your SB-900 in that westcot softbox where you using radio triggers or the SU-800? From, memory you where using your SU-800 it was pretty sunny both times you where using it and there wasn't a big problem getting the signal to work.

there are pleantly of people talking about reduced range in strong sunlight, but that doesn't really apply in scotland! :D

Just to state that I have also reset the unit so in theory it should have corrected for any user error other than the big switch in the compartment which I have treid in both modes and got the same range from them.

Stuart
 
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Yup, it was the SU-800 that we used with the Westcott, the only problem then was range in the direct sunlight, in shade you can easily get 60-70ft.

The SU is very sensitive to the angle of the flashes though, I was using mine at the skatepark and could get 30-40ft with direct line of sight, but even a few degrees out of line, even for the flash that was only 5 ft away and it wouldn't fire.
 
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I have read the manual (first thing I did before posting this thread)

I know i states that spreads the signal 30 degrees from the centre axis, I can't get more than 5ft away from my flash guns with out them failing. I know that the angle is even more critical at close angles, I know that if I try and take a photograph with out my flashguns in the frame they will not fire. (they will with the pop-up flash) so it still leave the question of why is there a reduced range.

Just to state that EVERY test shot I have photographed the flash gun in the middle of the frame with the IR port facing the camera, so at this point angle of firing should not be an issue.

Stuart
 
Would cleaning the IR fliters help? the SB-600 isn't overly dirty but is it the case that a small film of dirt could disrupt the signal? Doesn't sound likely but I'll try it when I get home.
 
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