Is anyone using a D80 with PB-6 bellows and using the built in flash in commander mode to control off camera flash units? I am attempting to do this but am unable to get the flash to fire. I get a flashing flash icon instead. The D80 works fine in commander mode with a lens attached, but not with the bellows. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks
JD
D80 flash commander mode with PB-6 bellows.
Moderators: Chris S., Pau, Beatsy, rjlittlefield, ChrisR
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Firephoto798
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:36 am
JD,
Since no one else has responded yet, I'll throw out a few thoughts, though no definitive answer. I tried to replicate what you describe with a D200 (which is similar, but not identical, to the D80 in terms of flash function), a PB-6 bellows, and an SB-800 flash. While I rarely use the D200's built-in flash as a commander, when I did it just now, it triggered the flash perfectly well.
So some questions and possible things to try: Are you using your camera in program mode, aperture priority mode, or shutter priority mode? If so, I'd suggest trying manual mode.
Is the flash in iTTL, TTL, or automatic mode? If so, I'd suggest trying manual mode.
Your camera should be treating the PB-6 bellows as if it is a lens without a "CPU." In some modes that involve automation, the camera will be looking for focus-distance and aperture information from the lens, and might throw up an error if none is provided. Here is an area where the D200 and D80 differ (the D200 has more capability in dealing with non-CPU lenses), which might be why I didn't replicate your problem. Also, if the lens you're trying is a modern lens with "CPU" contacts, this could explain why the flash is triggered when a lens is used, but not when the bellows is used. But in this case, manual modes should work.
If manual modes do not work, can you provide some more details? What flash(es) are you using? Where is the blinking flash icon displaying (on the camera, I presume--not the flash)?
--Chris
--edited typo
Since no one else has responded yet, I'll throw out a few thoughts, though no definitive answer. I tried to replicate what you describe with a D200 (which is similar, but not identical, to the D80 in terms of flash function), a PB-6 bellows, and an SB-800 flash. While I rarely use the D200's built-in flash as a commander, when I did it just now, it triggered the flash perfectly well.
So some questions and possible things to try: Are you using your camera in program mode, aperture priority mode, or shutter priority mode? If so, I'd suggest trying manual mode.
Is the flash in iTTL, TTL, or automatic mode? If so, I'd suggest trying manual mode.
Your camera should be treating the PB-6 bellows as if it is a lens without a "CPU." In some modes that involve automation, the camera will be looking for focus-distance and aperture information from the lens, and might throw up an error if none is provided. Here is an area where the D200 and D80 differ (the D200 has more capability in dealing with non-CPU lenses), which might be why I didn't replicate your problem. Also, if the lens you're trying is a modern lens with "CPU" contacts, this could explain why the flash is triggered when a lens is used, but not when the bellows is used. But in this case, manual modes should work.
If manual modes do not work, can you provide some more details? What flash(es) are you using? Where is the blinking flash icon displaying (on the camera, I presume--not the flash)?
--Chris
--edited typo
Last edited by Chris S. on Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hello
As a D70, with a D80, when you use a lens without CPU, you have no TTL.
You can use your camera in "M" mode, but the built-in flash do not fire.
You must buy an external flash - Yongnuo built some cheap strobe - and you use it in "M" mode also (full - 1/2 - 1/4... of power).
You can use a cord for sync (SC-28 clone)
As a D70, with a D80, when you use a lens without CPU, you have no TTL.
You can use your camera in "M" mode, but the built-in flash do not fire.
You must buy an external flash - Yongnuo built some cheap strobe - and you use it in "M" mode also (full - 1/2 - 1/4... of power).
You can use a cord for sync (SC-28 clone)
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Firephoto798
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:36 am
Thank you for the responses. I found that I am able to make it work with the camera set to manual flash mode rather than iTTL. The camera triggers the off camera flash units ok and I am able to set the level of flash (1, 1/2, 1/4, etc) from there and can control the exposure that way.
I was just surprised, because when I used my D7000, it controlled the units in iTTL and did an excellent job of controlling exposure. I was thinking that I had set the D80 up wrong, when it did not work in iTTL.
Thanks again for the input.
JD
I was just surprised, because when I used my D7000, it controlled the units in iTTL and did an excellent job of controlling exposure. I was thinking that I had set the D80 up wrong, when it did not work in iTTL.
Thanks again for the input.
JD