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Nikon SB-800 preflash

Discussion

1 replies
Posted by Steve Zimic on May 26, 2006 at 7:35 AM
I wanted to share this info because for the last year the preflash delay has been making me crazy when shooting songbirds. In many instances I'd get the shot a split secound past the action because of this delay. You can eliminate the preflash delay by using the FV lock feature found on the D2X, D2H, D200 and D70s. On the first 3 camera you need to set the function button to FV lock in the custom function menu. On the D70 you set the AE/AFL button to perform this function. When you press the button the flash does it's preflash and remembers the setting as long as the meter is active. Now when you shoot there's absolutely no delay. This is also useful if your shooting people and you have a fast blinker that always has their eyes closed when the shutter fires. For bird photography I'll point the camera at a grouping of leaves at the same distance as the bird for the preflash setting. This also makes sure the flash output is not fooled when you have little to no background. Remember to set the 'meter off' time to something longer than the default setting or you'll have very little time before the camera looses the flash power memory. I have my D2X set so the meter never turns off. This feature is available on Canons also but the delay is shorter so it's not as big an issue.
Posted by Hank Pennington on May 26, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Useful info Steve. I haven't tried birds with the 800, but am well acquainted with the "anticipatory blinkers," as an doctor friend calls them.