D3100 plus speedlights! Help!!!

[Brookeabee123]

So I own a D3100, SB-700 speedlight, 35mm lens, 55-300 mm lens, and the kit lens which is 18-55. I know the D3100 can't control the SB-700 except on slave mode, but what I want to know is can I control other flashes using my SB-700 as the commander while it's in my camera's shoe? It has a mode that says master flash. I really want to get into strobe ligthing, but I don't know what I need to start and my budget is pretty tight. So I guess here are my questions:

1. Can I even use my SB-700 as a commander?
2. If so what are some relatively inexpensive speedlights I can buy that will work with my flash in both slave and wireless mode (I'm not sure what this is called, but I'd like to be able to take pictures without having my commander actually firing any light)
3. What other equipment do I need in order to become a beginner strobist lol

I'm really confused so any help and advice would be wonderful!

[OsmosisStudios]

If you have the SB-700 on the camera on MASTER, you can control other SB units through the flash, yes.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Brookeabee123

... can I control other flashes using my SB-700 as the commander while it's in my camera's shoe? 1. Can I even use my SB-700 as a commander?

As Adam said above, yes, the SB-700 has commander capability when used on the hotshoe, and can be used in a CLS set up to command remote flashes.

2. If so what are some relatively inexpensive speedlights I can buy that will work with my flash in both slave and wireless mode (I'm not sure what this is called, but I'd like to be able to take pictures without having my commander actually firing any light)

You can set the SB-700's output to "--" and that should elminate most of its light from the setup.

However. "Inexpensive" slaves is a relative term. If you're going to use CLS as your triggering system, you need i-TTL-capable slave units that speak CLS. And those ain't gonna be cheap. The least expensive one I know of is the Yongnuo YN-565EX, which goes for around $150, and is coming from a company not known for great copy consistency or build quality. The Nissin Di-622 is another candidate.

Ideally, you probably want other Nikon SB units.

If you're willing to ditch iTTL, and shoot with the lights in manual, however, you could use optical slaves (SU-4 mode in the SB-700), built-in slaves in manual only flashes like the Lumopro LP160 or YN-560, and your pop-up flash set in Manual mode. This way you don't waste your best light as an on-camera commander, and you can get even cheaper flashes. But. You won't have i-TTL, high-speed sync, or the ability to set the power remotely on a flash from the camera back--you have to dial the power in on the flash's back by hand.

3. What other equipment do I need in order to become a beginner strobist lol

This is just my opinion, but the very first thing you seriously need to have before you can go Strobist is a high level of comfort shooting in full Manual mode on the camera. You should be able to swap stops between iso, aperture, and shutter speed in your head, because you're also going to have to do that with power settings and flash-to-subject distance. I tend to think of it as learning to juggle three balls before you try to juggle five while walking a tightrope.

The only thing I think you probably need is an umbrella swivel, so you'll have some way of getting the flash held up where you want it. The swivel will let you attach a flash to a tripod or light-stand.

I'd also recommend radio triggers, proper light stands (a tripod won't go up high enough), and some form of diffuser, like an umbrella or softbox, and color correction gels for white balance, but these can be added on as you need them.