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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
SB800 for Nikon D300...?
Bert Entwistle, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 4:27 PM on 02.18.08 |
->> I'm about to buy a D300, and wonder if anyone has any info how it will do with an SB800 flash...?
Thanks,
bert |
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Jeff Snyder, Photographer
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Metro DC Region | MD | USA | Posted: 4:38 PM on 02.18.08 |
->> The Nikon D300 works fantastically w/ the SB800. The D300 also has the "Remote Commander" function built in so that you can control multiple SB800 units from the camera.
There's no other way to go......SB800's are just on the money |
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Steve Allen, Photographer
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Pleasant Hill | CA | USA | Posted: 6:09 PM on 02.18.08 |
| ->> the SB800 by itself has the master function to be controlled off camera by itself, and to also control multiple units. It is a great flash and jsut as great if used on a D300 or D80 or whatever.......... |
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Tom Mayes, Photographer, Assistant
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 9:29 PM on 02.18.08 |
| ->> It works as advertised. The popup flash of the D300 can control up to 2 groups of remote SB800s, right from the camera. I have had nothing but great results from it. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 1:58 PM on 02.19.08 |
->> The SB-800 is indeed a great tool, but I will throw out my usual endorsement of the under-appreciated SB-600.
It's almost half the price of the SB-800, and makes a great on-camera or remote flash. No, it can't act as a commander, but that's what the built-in flash is for. Unlike the SB-400, it has the full bounce and swivel capability you expect from a shoe-mount flash.
I've been using a pair of SB-600's as remote flashes for wrestling (mostly) with much success, first with a D70, then a D200, and now with a pair of D300's. A great investment for little more than the cost of a single SB-800. |
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Tony Rawlings, Photographer
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Foothill Ranch (Irvine) | CA | US | Posted: 3:02 PM on 02.19.08 |
| ->> SB-800 is a must for the D300 or D3. |
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Bert Entwistle, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 6:56 PM on 02.19.08 |
->> Thanks guys,
I appreciate the info and am looking forward to getting my D300.
bert |
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Thomas Hobbs, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Tallahassee | FL | USA | Posted: 10:57 PM on 04.25.11 |
| ->> Thought I would ask here instead of starting another thread. I have a D300 and an SB800. I am trying to use the remote mode of the SB800 and use the commander mode of the D300. I have the D300 set to Commander for built in flash and Group A Channel 1 for TTL. I have the SB800 set for Remote mode and Group A Channel 1. However for the life of me, I can't get it to trigger the SB800. I have tried different channels, groups, etc. It works great on camera. I hear the beeps off-camera letting me know its ready to go and they are brand new batteries. Any thoughts? |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 11:04 PM on 04.25.11 |
| ->> Is the remote and commander visible to each other? The triggering function is line of sight. The 800 has to be able to see the IR command signals from the D300. Make sure that you don't have something blocking the IR ports. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 11:06 PM on 04.25.11 |
->> Two words: Bullet Proof.
I have three D300 bodies and 5 SB800 speedlights. I shoot portraits all of the time with both.
Is there a reason for getting the D300 at this point in time? |
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Thomas Hobbs, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Tallahassee | FL | USA | Posted: 11:20 PM on 04.25.11 |
| ->> The Sb800 is sitting on a desk about 5ft away. It really baffles me. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 11:27 PM on 04.25.11 |
| ->> I have an SB800 that I previously used with a D300 and it performed flawlessly. I now use it with a D700 and it continues to perform without fail everyday. It's more compact size makes it much easier, in my opinion to handle than the newer SB900 which is larger. |
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Ben Hasty, Photographer
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Reading | PA | | Posted: 12:18 AM on 04.26.11 |
| ->> There is a small circular window on one side of the SB800. That is how the flash "sees" the commander flash. It might help to make sure that window is pointed at the camera's pop-up flash. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:30 AM on 04.26.11 |
->> No, that small circular window on the left side of the SB800 speedlight is the built-in optical slave.
When the speedlight is in SU-4 mode it activates the on-board optical slave. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:33 AM on 04.26.11 |
| ->> Now that I think about it, maybe it controls both optical slave and wireless TTL? |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:35 AM on 04.26.11 |
->> A little trick that Cpt. Ron taught me a while back is that when using the bonus AA battery, it can block the port from "seeing" the triggering flash.
So put a small piece of silver reflective tape on the side of the bonus AA battery housing facing the window and it increases the "visibility"of the triggering flash. |
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Max Simbron, Photographer, Assistant
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Phoenix | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:38 AM on 04.26.11 |
->> The small window is also for TTL. Radiopopper units have an "eye" that is held right to that area via their mounting bracket. It even has foam to cover the area around the window so as not to let light in other than the Radiopopper eye.
So keep that window on the flash facing your commander unit.
Double check the usual culprits (being on the wrong channel or group), and also consider resetting your flash so you start from baseline settings |
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Thomas Hobbs, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Tallahassee | FL | USA | Posted: 5:43 PM on 04.26.11 |
| ->> Still no joy. I did the reset where you hold the two buttons for 3sec, but it still isn't working. Any other thoughts? |
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Shelley Cryan, Photographer
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New England | CT | USA | Posted: 6:12 PM on 04.26.11 |
| ->> Are you pressing the "ok" button on the d300 after you set the group and channel? If you don't it won't take the new settings. I've forgotten that before. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Northwest Missouri | MO | USA | Posted: 7:46 PM on 04.26.11 |
->> Thomas,
Can you make a video of what you're doing. Perhaps we could trouble shoot if you show us what you're doing. You do realize the popup flash has to be UP to properly trigger the off-camera flash. And, yes it can be set to trigger only AFAIK. |
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Thomas Hobbs, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Tallahassee | FL | USA | Posted: 8:33 AM on 04.27.11 |
| ->> Thank everyone, I am leaving tomorrow for a 21 day trainig with the National Guard. I will try to get a vid up tonight if I can, but if not this will have to wait I guess. I'm pressing OK, the flash is popped up, its firing the preflashes. Thanks again, I'll work some more tonight. |
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Shelley Cryan, Photographer
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New England | CT | USA | Posted: 5:30 PM on 04.27.11 |
| ->> Last idea for you -- Darren's comment made me think of it -- are you by any chance wearing a baseball cap when you shoot? The brim can push down on the popup flash enough to mess with the commander function. I know it seems odd but it also seems odd that it won't work for you -- those little sb units are rock-solid imo. I've used a d300/sb800 combo for years (actually, usually multiple sb800s) and the only time they've failed me is when I've done something wrong. Not saying you might not have a funky unit, but it's worth chasing down possible solutions. Good luck with your training, and thanks for serving. |
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