Need some speelight advice

[TheObiJuan]

I have an SB-800 with a damaged screen, so only part of it is visible. This makes going through the settings challenging.

I have been asked to make a 'studio' space for the occasional official portrait.
I want to keep my small work studio using speedlights and not move them toward monoblocs.

I was thinking of getting two SB-600s and keeping the broken (but still functioning) SB-800.
This would give me a three light setup.
Fill (800) w/softbox or brolly.
Hair (600) on a boom above and snooted
Background (600) grided .
Reflectors and modifiers to taste.

For the most part my Navy newspaper only has be doing assignments, but every now and then someone new comes aboard and an updated official portrait is needed.
I have a small space 10'x15'x8' with no windows, so loads of power is not necessary.

I am currently using my 580's triggered by cybersync's, but Nikon's CLS will work fine--perhaps better and more flexible.

I am tempted to get all SB-800's, (modeling, similar power, etc) but that will cut into my budget for other equipment and lenses.
Are SB-600's adequate for my needs.
I have an SB-80 and SB-80DX but they do not support CLS or iTTL.

On another note, anyone know how to get my SB-800 to go into FP mode?
On my 580s, I just have to hit the button for it, but I thought it was automatic on the Nikon.

[jcon]

I use 3 SB-800s for all of my work but it sounds like you could get away with SB-600s for your confined space.

As for the FP, it has to do with your shutter speed and can not be set manually on the SB-800 but in the camera. Check page 60 in the SB-800 manual for a more in depth explination.

[Rooz]

On another note, anyone know how to get my SB-800 to go into FP mode?
On my 580s, I just have to hit the button for it, but I thought it was automatic on the Nikon.

set your cameras flash sync speed to 1/320s FP, once you do that the sb800 automatically goes into FP mode. remember tough that with CLS you may be struggling a little and have to adjust flash comp in the cmaera once you add light modifiers cos cls will not take light loss from those modifiers into account when you are shooting.

sb600's should work just fine. they're a great little unit. the only downside with an sb600 is there's no sync ports, (from memory), so if you do decide to switch over your flashes to cybersyncs you wont be able to do that. so perhaps consider something like an sb28DX whichhas a sync port and ttl. prepare to be shocked at how much older nikon flashes with sync ports go for.

http://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/speedlights.htm

[TNB]

You can get a third-party hot shoe with a sync-port and then connect an SB-600. That's what I did so I can still trigger an SB-600 with Pocket Wizards. Personally, I'm sort of surprised by the comment about just getting all SB-800s since the only ones around here being sold are used and that is for around US $400. Then the signature has SB800/SB900, which could be a three-light set up already counting the on-camera flash in the D300 body or at least be used to trigger the speedlights off camera.

[TheObiJuan]

TNB, the SB900 is with another camera at all time. It needs to stay with it so I have the broken SB-800 and the SB80 and SB80DX.

I am surprised to see the SB600 does NOT have a pc sync port, both the SB80 and 80DX have them?!

I guess SB-800s is the way to go for consistency.

[achuang]

If it was me I'd probably just stick with what you've got. You could put the SB800, SB-80DX all on optical slave (SU4) mode and just fire them with your popup flash in manual. Or you could use a cybersync on one flash and the others will just fire by their optical slave. This is the cheapest option as it doesn't require spending any money. I've got a SB600, SB-80DX and 2 SB-26 and they all work fine for things like this. You probably don't really need the TTL capability.

[XaiLo]

I have an SB-800 with a damaged screen, so only part of it is visible. This makes going through the settings challenging.

I have been asked to make a 'studio' space for the occasional official portrait.
I want to keep my small work studio using speedlights and not move them toward monoblocs.

I was thinking of getting two SB-600s and keeping the broken (but still functioning) SB-800.
This would give me a three light setup.
Fill (800) w/softbox or brolly.
Hair (600) on a boom above and snooted
Background (600) grided .
Reflectors and modifiers to taste.

For the most part my Navy newspaper only has be doing assignments, but every now and then someone new comes aboard and an updated official portrait is needed.
I have a small space 10'x15'x8' with no windows, so loads of power is not necessary.

I am currently using my 580's triggered by cybersync's, but Nikon's CLS will work fine--perhaps better and more flexible.
I am tempted to get all SB-800's, (modeling, similar power, etc) but that will cut into my budget for other equipment and lenses.
Are SB-600's adequate for my needs.
I have an SB-80 and SB-80DX but they do not support CLS or iTTL.

On another note, anyone know how to get my SB-800 to go into FP mode?
On my 580s, I just have to hit the button for it, but I thought it was automatic on the Nikon.

Actually what you want to set up will work fine with what you already have, at this point it's pretty straight forward and all about ratios both the SB-80 and SB-80DX should support manual mode. I know the SB-80DX does.

Edit: Also in this instance the brolly or softbox will be your key light you can get an in expensive reflector to use as fill lighting.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Wow this thread reads like a whole other language:(

[TheObiJuan]

If it was me I'd probably just stick with what you've got. You could put the SB800, SB-80DX all on optical slave (SU4) mode and just fire them with your popup flash in manual. Or you could use a cybersync on one flash and the others will just fire by their optical slave. This is the cheapest option as it doesn't require spending any money. I've got a SB600, SB-80DX and 2 SB-26 and they all work fine for things like this. You probably don't really need the TTL capability.

That's a good point, Joe McNally showed me I can use one skyport and set the rest off in SU4 mode a few months back, duh!

Thanks for the reminder.

I'm leaning more and more toward Nikon everyday. Working with both Canon and Nikon on a daily basis, I see the best of both.
I just wish Nikon would not ask so DAMN MUCH FOR THEIR LENSES!

[RichNY]

Just bite the bullet and fully move over to the Nikon side- especially when it comes to flash.

I have an SU-800 or SB-900 on the D3 with (3) SB-800 units that I was fortunate enough to pick up used in mint condition a year ago for $200 each. When your flashes are mounted up high as a hairlight or in other inconvenient locations the ability to control the power level from the camera position really is convenient. IMO having all the flashes being SB-800s will cost you a few dollars more but the convenience factor of TTL and only having to remember one interface is worth it.

As for the lenses, you'll find lots of 70-200s going cheap these days because it is being updated, the 85 f/1.4 is a brilliant lens for a fraction of the cost of the 85L and you'll save money because there isn't an equivalent to your 135L :)

I still own my old 30D and a few lenses but haven't taken a shot with it in over a year. It's time to get off my lazy a@@ and sell the remaining gear since I know I'll never go back to shooting with it.

[TNB]

Rich,
One person suggested to me that I should also purchase an inexpensive Canon body so that I could borrow his Canon lenses in case I didn't have it covered with a Nikon lens. Who knows, perhaps someday someone will offer to loan you a 1200mm Canon lens. ;)

[RichNY]

Rich,
One person suggested to me that I should also purchase an inexpensive Canon body so that I could borrow his Canon lenses in case I didn't have it covered with a Nikon lens. Who knows, perhaps someday someone will offer to loan you a 1200mm Canon lens. ;)

When I've got a friend who will lend me a 1200mm Canon lens you better believe I'll hit them up for a loaner body. Note to self, I need new friends. ;)