SU-800 controller

[David_Buzzard]

Does anybody have any experience with the SU-800 flash controller unit? I'm thinking of getting one.

Thanks,

David Buzzard's Technical Blog

[Iversen]

Oh yes.

One of the best thing I have bought for a long time.

The SU-800 can trigger SB600/600 up to 15 m with the sun shining into the sensor at the flash!!!!!

I do have a set up with 9 SB-600/800.

Two stands with two flash and a 80 cm umbrella and the other flashes placed around gives a great light.

An advise is to put the SU-800 on a stand via a MC-17 cabel. Then you can work both landscape and portrait.

If you are working in a very open area with no reflektions you sometimes have to handheld the SU-800/MC-17.

I do allso combine the Nikon flahs setup with a Elinchrom Ranger. Then I use Pocket Wizard to trigger the Elinchom. Remember to turn off the slave trigger at the Elinchrome.

In december I was on a one week job i China and did use the Nikon set up to a lot of shots on a Power Station and some factories.

What I do need is more than tre group of flash, but I don't think it's possible even with two SU-800 as there is a communication between the camera and the SU-800.

(Hope you do understand my english).

Jesper Iversen
Denmark

[Luke_Miller]

I have a much more modest set up than Jesper, but I second his enthusiasm for the SU-800. I use one to control two SB-800s (main & Fill lights) and one SB-600 as background light. I am very pleased with both the set up and the performance of the SU-800.

[Lana Smith]

Jesper,
How do you attach both the pocket wizard and the SU-800 to your camera at the same time?

[ChristianLandry]

I have been using a 4xSB600 (2 flashs on 2 flash stands) set up with the SU800 since last summer. I builted this rig to cover sports outside ( mainly track and field ,soccer portraits and weddings).
1- There is a big difference when using this set up inside or outside. Inside (in a normal size room) it works very well because the signal can bounce from the walls. In a large room, it brings the same problem as faced outside: the units MUST be on a line of sight and within 10 meters to be reliable ( not good for industrial set up).
2- For critical and consistent exposure, i often switch to manual control. Full i-ttl is invaluable for rush situations but can sometime become erratic on a shoot where you have to change angles ( remember that it's TTL an thus sensitive to clothing+background).
3-My main disappointments are : The SU800 should come with an articulated foot ( i use a stroboframe bracket with a SC-17) and emit a much stronger signal.Of course you quikly realise how weak a SB600 or800 really is when you try to light up a group or from more than 3 meters (outside) !!! That why you have to use them in banks ( minimum 2 with the zoom head at 70mm). Also keep in mind that when the flashes are 10 meters away and standing atop of a 3 meters stand you have to : use sand bags ! turn the infrared sensor toward the transmitter and aim the SU800 very precisely !!! ( that become very bothersom when you move a lot to find a different angle).
Over all it is a good system that opens up doors that we dont necessarely this of ( high speed flash, good portable light source outside) but when use professionnally, one must have a clear idea of it's limits ....
On the good side, all this experimenting lead me to use the Stroboframe bracket, the SU800 and 2 SB600 as one unit during PR, press conference or wedding. It acts like a big SB800 with twice the power
Though i keep using the system ( no more cases with big heads and wires) i am now looking toward the Quantum freewire and XQ5d-R for its power ( up to 400Ws) and .... radio I-TTL !!!
Hope this helps

Chris

[larry_angier]

Hi David,

They work well together. I use them in the field for small groups and outhouses...

Probably the best thing to do is to run your SB800s in pairs so you can have more output.

Sure nice to be able to adjust the output on the remotes from the camera!

One of the best sites on use of the SU800/SB800 is Dave Black's Workshop at the Ranch-http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/index.htm. He gives blow-by-blow on how he creates the pix using this neat technology.

HTH,

[Michael Smith]

I have a Nikon D70 and have used it in Commander mode to trigger one SB-800. Works fine, but the D70 is restricted to only one remote. I want to use three flash units (key, fill, background). I have purchased an SU-800 and three SB-800 units. Question is, on my D70 do I set CSM item #19, Flash Control, to Commander or TTL?

Mike