I know the D5000 does not have Remote Commander mode but I am confused by the following statement on the Nikon website D5000 specifications page:

Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander.

What does it exactly mean by 'Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash'

If I have an SB-800 can I position it off camera and fire it using the built in flash?

The Nikon CLS system is how the flash exposure is computed. This may or may not include addition Nikon CLS Speedlights through the wireless master/remote assignment. The built-in flash on the D5000 uses the CLS system for computing the flash exposure from a low power pre-flash to obtain an exposure reading, computes the amount of power needed for a proper exposure, sets the power level for the flash and triggers the flash. This method is used for the built-in or any attached Nikon compatible CLS flash unit, SB-900/800/600/400.

Then there are the cameras and Speedlisghts that support the CLS Wireless system. This extension allows certain cameras and Speedlights to control remotely located Speedlights, by IR light signals, and use the CLS computation system to compute the power needed by each individual remote group and master unit using a series of pre-flashes and then trigger all the groups and master with the shutter release.

The D5000 built-in flash can not wirelessly control any remote unit using the Wireless CLS extensions. To control an CLS Wireless Speedlights, one needs an SB-900/800 or SU-800 mounted on the D5000.

See Fast Track to Wireless Speedlights for more information an the Advance Wireless system.

George
My Nikonian Galleries

>Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
>Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash,
>SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander.
>
>What does it exactly mean by 'Advanced Wireless Lighting
>supported with built-in flash'

I think it means somebody got the specs wrong on the webpage.

>If I have an SB-800 can I position it off camera and fire it
>using the built in flash?

Only with the SB-800 in SU-4 mode.

Hope this helps,
Chris

> Only with the SB-800 in SU-4 mode.

And while that can work, it is only useful if the onboard flash is in manual mode - NOT any of the TTL (through-the lens metered modes). That's because the way iTTL flash metering works involves a pre-flash, and that pre-flash actually fires the SU-4 remotes. Manual mode doesn't meter, thus doesn't use a pre-flash, thus the remote fires when the real flash occurs.

> What does it exactly mean by 'Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash'

I have no idea. The specs page also says "Built-in Commander mode not available."

As far as I know, the built-in flash has nothing to do with any remote flash, other than SU-4 mode. (And SU-4 is purely reactive to light - it simply looks for a sudden, relatively bright change in light. Almost anything will trigger it - I've had one fire accidently when a passing car reflected the sun into the room, and lots of wedding photographers had SU-4s triggered by guests' P&S flashes.)

> If I have an SB-800 can I position it off camera and fire it using the built in flash?

Not really - as above, you have to run the built-in on manual, and the remote has to be on non-TTL auto, or manual. You can, however, put an SB-800/900 or SU-800 in the hot shoe, and then put other iTTL wireless remotes (any SB-600/800/900/200) elsewhere and have them fire with full iTTL control.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Thanks for all the replies - I guess that it must be a typo on the UK website.
Cheers