Is it possible to remotely trigger the SU-800 on my D3 without making an exposure? I want to use my Sekonic 758DR to measure flash strength at the subject location. I have no problems doing this with my Pocket Wizards. Since I have the SU-800 as part of my R1C1 kit, I wanted to try it out as a quicker way to do a setup. The extra exposures aren't a big deal, I just like to minimize wasted shots.

Curt

A San Francisco Peninsula Nikonian

WilliamRowePhotography

The SU-800 does not have a radio receiver in it like the PocketWizard products do. Also the Nikon CLS Wireless system requires a series of preflashes before the exposure flash that the flash light meters can not adjust for. So one needs to use the FV lock on the camera to lock in the flash exposure and then use the light meter to record the full shutter release with the locked exposure settings.

George
My Nikonian Galleries

I knew it didn't have a radio receiver. I was hoping for a wired connected at the least. You mention of the pre-flashes reminded me why I gave up on using the system some time ago. Now that I think about it, I believe the Sekonic has a mode to set it to capture a flash when it's fired within a given time period. If I put it on a light stand, I'd have time to get back to the camera. I'll look into the FV lock.

Thanks

Curt

A San Francisco Peninsula Nikonian

WilliamRowePhotography

FV-lock will not work. It sends the flash amount data before the final flash.

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You use FV lock to run the pre-flash sequences and set the necessary power for the remote and main units. Then you can start your flash meter and trigger the final shot. Only the triggering and recording of the shot will occur. No more pre-flashes. So the meter should only record the final trigger release action. So you record and set the required exposure and have a user delayed period before the final shot and only the final shot.

See 4. So, What is Flash Value Lock? By Russ MacDonald for other uses of the FV lock.

Yes you may have a wasted shot, but you can reuse digital media, unlike film.

George
My Nikonian Galleries

Curt:

Why are you worried about a "wasted shot" on a digital camera?

What am I missing?

Regards,

HBB in Phoenix, Arizona
Nikonian Team Member

Photography is a journey with no conceivable destination.

Hal,

It's a minor irritation boiling down to having to delete the test shots. Like I said, minor problem.

I did try using the SU-800 in manual mode and noticed that I could only set it in full stops (e.g., 1/2, 1/4) whereas I can set one third stops at the flash (e.g., 1/2, 1/2 - 1/3 ev, 1/2 - 2/3 ev, 1/4). Am I missing an option to set thirds? The booklet that came with the R1C1 didn't indicate one that I could find.

Curt

A San Francisco Peninsula Nikonian

WilliamRowePhotography

Hi Curt,

If you want to control the remote Speedlights in Manual Flash mode via the SU-800 the only thing I can think of is to place the SU-800 in a PC to hotshoe adaptor with a Pocket Wizard Tranceiver attached via the PC port and see if it works.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty