SB-800 off camera

[LarryLetzer]

I put my SB 800 on a flip style bracket and use a SC 27 cord which plugs into the hotshoe on the camera (cost for the cable is about $40.00) Then I use a quantum battery with a CKE cable that plugs into the SB 800. Works perfectly.

[James Haba]

Well, I am going to trying the su-800 for my flash control. It seems like over kill, all I want is a long cable that I can buy ready made but that just seems like it will not happen easly. So I am going the hi tech route . . . well at least no one will trip over the cable.
Jim

[James Haba]

Just curious, what is the largest group of people that it is practical to shoot with the Su-800 & Sb-800 setup. I intend to shoot individuals with my setup, 2 to 3 800's, but I can just see someone saying can you get us all in?
Thoughts?
Thanks
Jim

[DouglasUrner]

If you're shooting in a relatively small space (e.g. a studio) and you're not going to great pains to keep your SB's out of sight of each other it is very likely that an SB-800 or an SU-800 will do exactly what you want.

Even with a camera with an on-board commander (e.g. D70/80/200) the SU-800 is a huge win. The controls are right there and are dead easy to adjust. The SU-800 is lighter and smaller than an SB too. Which one to choose depends on how you work and what is important to you.

With an SB-800 you pay in weight and a bit more money, but you have a spare flash and you can use an external battery if you need to get the cycle time down. The SU-800 makes for easier handling and is really nice if you do a lot of shooting close to things that reflect (or you could filter the SB-800's output).

If you're not shooting in an environment where you can count on the visual signaling between the strobes you've either got to switch to cables (call Paramount) or give up CLS. I really wish that Nikon would make a little "radio dongle" to attach to the CLS strobes so that you could switch to radio if you need to. If it was an "outboard" accessory and sufficiently flexible with the interface they could probably get away with only having to go through the regulatory approvals once (rather than each time a new flash comes out).

Doug

[KC Ramsay]

Originally Posted by Gary Rather

Thats easy if you are using the D200.

Place the D200 in commander mode.
Place the SB-800s in remote. Use the on camera flash for a trigger

Control each remote sb-800 from the camera.

D2x will work as well but you must then have a one flash connected to the camera.

Gary

Just joined this forum this morning and have already had one of those knock in the head experiences. Gary, your note about using the D200 on camera flash in commander mode has rocked my world. I just shot a wedding where that piece of advice would have been useful. Many thanks.

[Gary Rather]

Hey I like this new guy!!!!

Welcome aboard. It is amazing how much you really can learn from others who do the same thing as yourself.

Its kinda like a non stop local PPA meeting.

I find the folks here all willing to share and not be to worried about spilling the beans to the competitor.

Which in some cases where you are in the same locale people feel they should share .

Gary

[DouglasUrner]

IMHO, the D200 in commander mode doesn't quite cut it. The problem is that the controls are too hard to get to, and not quite quick enough to operate.

Give it a try, but you may end up deciding the at the SU-800 is just the ticket.

Doug