SB900 iTTL off camera

[fceexp1]

Hello. I read through the forums after doing a seach and I can't find an answer to my question(s).

I am using an SB900 with a D300. When used as a remote, it seems like the iTTL functions all leave town and you are left with having to manually set the power (either through the CLS/ commander screen or on the unit itself) as well as set the zoom. Is this correct? If I hooked up a wireless trigger like pocket wizard, will that "restore" the iTTL capabilities?

Is the zoom feature really just another way of adjusting the power? Can;t you accomplish the same affect by just adjusting the power and not screwing around with the zoom? If this is correct, what happens if you are at full manual power (1/1) but the "zoom" reads 16mm or something to that affect, rather than the max of 200mm. Any help much appreciated and apologies if this was already covered in thread that I missed.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by fceexp1

Hello. I read through the forums after doing a seach and I can't find an answer to my question(s).

I am using an SB900 with a D300. When used as a remote, it seems like the iTTL functions all leave town and you are left with having to manually set the power (either through the CLS/ commander screen or on the unit itself) as well as set the zoom. Is this correct?

Yes, for most triggering systems that aren't CLS--especially low-cost radio-based ones. If you look at a Cactus remote, you'll note that only the middle pin of the flash foot is used--that's the "fire" signal. The other four pins are where the other communication between the body and the flash (such as iTTL, high-speed sync, zoom, etc.) is going on.

If, however, you're using the D300's pop-up to command the SB900 with CLS, you should still have iTTL capability, high-speed synch, and remote power/zoom commanding.

If I hooked up a wireless trigger like pocket wizard, will that "restore" the iTTL capabilities?

Only if you get Flex and Mini units: those are the TTL-capable ones, and iirc, they're not out for NIkon, yet. The only other ways to retain TTL functionality would be a TTL-capable sync cord (i.e., one where you use hotshoe connectors that communicate all of the pins and the flash is fooled into thinking it's on the camera hotshoe), or Radiopopper PX units with a Nikon Master unit of some kind (i.e., a D90/D300 pop-up, an SU-800 or an SB-800/SB-900)--Radiopoppers bridge the proprietary IR signals over radio; needless to say, this is an expensive route to take.

Is the zoom feature really just another way of adjusting the power? Can;t you accomplish the same affect by just adjusting the power and not screwing around with the zoom?

No. The zoom is not the power. Zoom is the spread of the light: the lower the focal length, the wider the spread. Obviously, wider spread => shorter "reach". The narrower the spread (longer the zoom), the farther the light can go.

[fceexp1]

Hi,
Thanks for the help! It seems like when I have it in remote, of camera mode, the power zoom is not responsive to changes in the zoom on the camera. I must be doing something idiotic.

There is an adjustment for changing the light pattern that is unrelated to the zoom feature. I'll have to play around with it. part of the reason i bought this flash was to use the cls, at least until i feel comfortable to switching to manual. i'm also trying to figure out how to use the high speed sync in off camera mode. on camera is pretty easy as the communications are direct.

when shooting through an umbrella or softbox, will i need to make my adjustments manually or does iTTL work in that environment? I think the camera just takes exposures as the shot is being made and then shuts down the flash, but I'm honestly not sure. Any advice much appreciated.

I did attend a "gorilla speedlighting" class taught by this clown in LA. It was a waste of time and I didn't learn a damn thing, so that's why i'm skeptical of classes of late...

[inkista]

Originally Posted by fceexp1

Hi,
Thanks for the help! It seems like when I have it in remote, of camera mode, the power zoom is not responsive to changes in the zoom on the camera. I must be doing something idiotic.

Nope. I'm just a Canon shooter who half-assed guessing about CLS, having never played with it. From this page, it sounds like Zoom has to be set manually on the flash with CLS.

...when shooting through an umbrella or softbox, will i need to make my adjustments manually or does iTTL work in that environment?

Here's how most TTL systems work: the camera sends the flash a signal to send out a pre-flash of a known brightness, and then meters it. Based on how that preflash meters, the camera then adjust the power level of the flash to what it thinks will be right for the exposure. So, iTTL should take into account the umbrella or softbox. However.

As with automatic exposure modes on the camera body, you're kind of at the mercy of the algorithms and settings used for metering, and whatever the camera thinks is the perfect exposure may still not be exactly what you want. So you may still want to ride the exposure compensation and/or flash exposure compensation.

I did attend a "gorilla speedlighting" class taught by this clown in LA. It was a waste of time and I didn't learn a damn thing, so that's why i'm skeptical of classes of late...

Strobist.com and neilvn.com.