Comments on: Using Nikon’s Creative Lighting System – Setting the Mood http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/2008/07/using-nikons-creative-lighting-system/ San Francisco Wedding & Portrait Photography - Selections of my favorite images and current news Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:34:52 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Michael http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/2008/07/using-nikons-creative-lighting-system/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Michael Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:05:26 +0000 http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/?p=7#comment-131 <a href="#comment-130" rel="nofollow">@Mark Grivell</a> - Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by the blog. Yes, sometimes the manuals are bit difficult to understand. In regard to your questions, this is what I have found to be true. On my D300 there is an option to control the on-board flash (the built-in one) via the menu. For example, I can select TTL, M (for manual), or "--" indicating that no exposure value will be sent from the built-in flash only the remote signal for the CLS system to operate. Without going to my SB-800, I believe that this is the same functionality. On my camera, I have the on-board flash firing at a -EV to give a small catch-light back the camera with the main off-camera flash doing most of the work. Essentially, it allows you to create a ratio between the on-camera flash and the off camera flash. Secondly, since you are using just the on-board flash and one remote flash (the SB-600) using the same channel and group makes sense. The only reason you would want to use a different channel is if you have another photographer working near you and also using CLS. The difference allows you to both use the system without "overwriting" each others signals. The alternate grouping would allow you to have settings for another remote light (i.e., another SB-600/800/900 with a different exposure value) that may be set at different EVs to get a three light exposure - your on-camera flash, your SB-600, and the additional SB flash. I hope my explanation makes sense. I'm glad to hear that you are using off-camera flash to enhance your creativity. Let me know if you have any additional questions as I would be happy to help you. Take care. - michael @Mark Grivell – Hi Mark, thanks for dropping by the blog. Yes, sometimes the manuals are bit difficult to understand. In regard to your questions, this is what I have found to be true. On my D300 there is an option to control the on-board flash (the built-in one) via the menu. For example, I can select TTL, M (for manual), or “–” indicating that no exposure value will be sent from the built-in flash only the remote signal for the CLS system to operate. Without going to my SB-800, I believe that this is the same functionality. On my camera, I have the on-board flash firing at a -EV to give a small catch-light back the camera with the main off-camera flash doing most of the work. Essentially, it allows you to create a ratio between the on-camera flash and the off camera flash.

Secondly, since you are using just the on-board flash and one remote flash (the SB-600) using the same channel and group makes sense. The only reason you would want to use a different channel is if you have another photographer working near you and also using CLS. The difference allows you to both use the system without “overwriting” each others signals. The alternate grouping would allow you to have settings for another remote light (i.e., another SB-600/800/900 with a different exposure value) that may be set at different EVs to get a three light exposure – your on-camera flash, your SB-600, and the additional SB flash.

I hope my explanation makes sense. I’m glad to hear that you are using off-camera flash to enhance your creativity. Let me know if you have any additional questions as I would be happy to help you. Take care.

- michael

]]> By: Mark Grivell http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/2008/07/using-nikons-creative-lighting-system/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Mark Grivell Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:51:54 +0000 http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/?p=7#comment-130 Michael Nice to see someone giving a bit of guidance to newbies like myself with this equipment. Nikon always seem to me to be a bit complicated with their manuals for no reason.. I have experimented with my D80 and B-600 which I obtained recently. I have one question and one comment: Firstly, When using the SB-600 with my D80 in remote as you are describing here I understand you are indicating that I can I use the build in flash for illuminating the subject and also controlling my SB-600 at the same time. Just wanted to confirm this as some forum discussions I have read seem to indicate that I can only use the onboard flash for controlling the remote unit in this scenrio. Secondly, When setting my SB-600 and D80 up for remote (through the onboard flash via the camera menu, I found that as long as I set the speedlight to the same channel and group as the flash unit, they will happily work. I have set my D80/SB-600 both to channel 1/Group A and they still seem to work happily together. In doing so am I sacraficing any functionaliy? Thanks for your blog. It is good that people as yourself are prepared to take the time to white stuff whichis helpful to newbies such as myself. Michael

Nice to see someone giving a bit of guidance to newbies like myself with this equipment. Nikon always seem to me to be a bit complicated with their manuals for no reason..

I have experimented with my D80 and B-600 which I obtained recently. I have one question and one comment:

Firstly, When using the SB-600 with my D80 in remote as you are describing here I understand you are indicating that I can I use the build in flash for illuminating the subject and also controlling my SB-600 at the same time. Just wanted to confirm this as some forum discussions I have read seem to indicate that I can only use the onboard flash for controlling the remote unit in this scenrio.

Secondly, When setting my SB-600 and D80 up for remote (through the onboard flash via the camera menu, I found that as long as I set the speedlight to the same channel and group as the flash unit, they will happily work. I have set my D80/SB-600 both to channel 1/Group A and they still seem to work happily together. In doing so am I sacraficing any functionaliy?

Thanks for your blog. It is good that people as yourself are prepared to take the time to white stuff whichis helpful to newbies such as myself.

]]> By: Michael Muramoto Photography » Getting Beyond “Line-of-Sight” for Nikon’s Creative Lighting System http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/2008/07/using-nikons-creative-lighting-system/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Michael Muramoto Photography » Getting Beyond “Line-of-Sight” for Nikon’s Creative Lighting System Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:23:20 +0000 http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/?p=7#comment-34 [...] couple posts ago I mentioned why I like to use speedlights to enhance or overpower the ambient light to get a [...] [...] couple posts ago I mentioned why I like to use speedlights to enhance or overpower the ambient light to get a [...]

]]> By: Michael http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/2008/07/using-nikons-creative-lighting-system/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Michael Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:47:31 +0000 http://www.michaelmuramoto.com/blog/?p=7#comment-32 <a href="#comment-31" rel="nofollow">@Stanley</a> - Hey Stanley, thanks for dropping by. Great to hear from you. I really like the large photos now and I'm glad I changed to this new blog. Check back on my blog as I have a few more Nikon speedlight techniques to share in the next week or so. I hope you and the family are doing well. Talk to you soon. - m @Stanley – Hey Stanley, thanks for dropping by. Great to hear from you. I really like the large photos now and I’m glad I changed to this new blog. Check back on my blog as I have a few more Nikon speedlight techniques to share in the next week or so. I hope you and the family are doing well. Talk to you soon.

- m

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