Nikon SU-800 Commander: The Basics

[kennethlightstudios]

Yes the SU-800 can run into problems, but in all honesty, I shoot weddings and bridals every weekend and train around 300 plus photographers, some of whome are so called wedding photographers, so I get a ton of out door and indoor work in good and the worst lighting and the SU 800 has never failed me bar one when I ran the battery out soon after I first got it :)

[manuel1212100]

will it work with the Nikon D5000 ?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Yup.

[ny1fanta]

will this work with sb-26?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Nope, only works recent flashes like SB-600, -700, -800, -900, and -R200.

[mattandhisnikon]

Why would you use this when the SB-900 has a built in commander mode that you can use with any other SB-600, 800 or 900?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

SU-800 lacks a flash head and will not fire, unlike with a SB-900.

[kennethlightstudios]

@mattandhisnikon

Its simple, it sets up a 66 foot distance way of controling other flashes, free's up another flash and if you have a D3 you need it to work CLS, it also works great in sunlight, the pop up flash only controls up to 33 feet and will not work well in sunlight.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Actually, SU-800 sometimes runs into problems communicating with other flashes in broad sunlight due to IR (Infrared Red) communications. It's RF (Radio Frequency) communications that works flawlessly in broad sunlight.

[OceanCold]

Can this controler shoot all the channels and all the groups at the same time? Meaning I could shoot 12 flashes with different settings at the same time if I wanted to?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

One word answer: yes.

Only with Nikon speedlights only, though.

[Seadogstudio]

@OceanCold Yes, No and not really Channels is for that you can have four photographer working the same space at the same time. What you would have for is three group(A B and C) but you can put as many flash as you like in a group.

[citizenofvirginity]

@OceanCold "unlimited" as long as they are Nikon's. :D 

[timmymatrix]

Great videos!

I really need some help. My D90 just took a spill off the kitchen table and the housing to my pop-up flash is cracked. It pops up when needed but will not fire. I never use the flash as an actual flash, I just use it to fire my 2 sb-600's. The SU-800 appears to fit the bill as an alternative, however, if i were going to spend the same amount of $, shouldn't I just get the pop-up fixed? Thanks in advance for your help.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Either way will work just fine: SU-800 or have it fixed. Just remember, the SU-800 offers twice as long working space than using the built-in flash (66.6ft vs 33.3ft). That's pretty much it.

[timmymatrix]

@Lilkiwiguy87

Thanks for the super fast reply!

[paoiedude]

good and very helpfull video. thanks! : )

[biggreenmachine2007]

Two quick questions:

1. Does the infrared window on the flash have to be pointed at the SU-800 to fire like it does with the on board commander mode or does it have more flexiability?

2. What is a SB-700?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

1: Yes, infrared red windows on SU-800 and a SB- speedlight need to face each other for better communications. Pocketwizards is a better choice in this scenario.

2: A upcoming SB-600 replacement.

[rafael145pl]

Nissin Di866 got remot mode. Can i use SU-800 with it?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

No, it will not work because SU-800 Commander uses IR (Infrared Red) communications. The Nissin DI866 uses optical slave where it fires once another flash fires.

[TheiGhoest]

can I use the SU800 for strobe technique?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

What "strobe technique" are you talking about there?

[emmernon]

Does the SU800 support the Auto FP feature of various Nikon flashes?

Thanks.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Yes, but only if your SB- speedlight and camera both supports Auto FP.

[mmoszkito]

Nice video! I have a question. I currently own a Nikon D700 and using its built-in flash to triger wirelesly my SB-600's with CLS and I realy like it but i have a few film Nikon's too and I need to find a way to use my flashes wirelesly with them too. I think pocket wizards may work but I dont like them because I cant set the flash power remotely.

Can i use SU-800 to trigger 3 remote SB-600 in manual mode with my Nikon F100 or F5? If not, there is any wireless solution for film Nikon's?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Unfortunately, the SU-800 is compatible with iTTL digital and film SLR's (i.e. D700 and F6) only. The F5 and F100 both uses older metering system of D-TTL, which is not as accurate as iTTL. Pocketwizards won't do the trick because the SB-600's lack a PC terminal slot, unlike the SB-800 and SB-900's. On the second hand, newer Pocketwzard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 will work with the SB-600's but more expensive, sadly.

[markcg888]

Great video, I have quick question. I currently own a D5000 and plan on getting SB-600 but I want to use the flash unit off cam.

Would it be a better option to upgrade to a D90 and use the commander mode to flash off cam or should I get this unit instead... Upgrading to a D90 or purchasing this seems to be in the same price range, i think....

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Great photographers only upgrade if their camera dies on them.

If you wish to use off-camera flash, there are many ways. However, with a D5000, you can buy either SB-800 or SB-900 and set it for SU-4 mode, that way, they will fire wirelessly using D5000's built-in flash.

The SB-600 doesn't have SU-4 mode, which is out of question unless you buy SB-600 and SU-800 both in order to get it to work.

[rodentdiver]

Newbi here. Can the SB-800 be used like the SU-800 to control more than one flash in the same way your video shows, being able to set different flashes to different power outputs? If so, then it only makes sense to buy the SB-800 for your main flash that can also be used as a commander when other flashes are needed...correct? Thanks, I am enjoying your great videos.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Yes, that is correct.

[FromMyPerspectPhoto]

Would you suggest that a person on a strict budget try and get this utility with one flash to start off, and then add in more flashes to be used as his/her budget allowed?

For example, I'm planning to get a Nikon D5000 with a couple of lenses to start off, an SB-600 speedlight, and the SU-800 for whenever I need to take the flash off the hotshoe for the sake of creative lighting.  Do you think this would be a wise investment, or would I be spending unnecessarily right now?

Thanks in advance.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Well, if you wish to spend less, you can try looking for a used SB-800 then buy a Nikon SG-3IR panel. Set the SB-800 for SU-4 mode then slide in the SG-3IR panel onto the D5000, using the built-in flash as the commander to trigger the SB-800 wirelessly by optical slave. The SG-3IR is under $20 but a used SB-800 is very hard to find nowadays.

[FromMyPerspectPhoto]

Oi. Purchasing a new SB-800 is definitely out of the question - that thing alone costs more than my entire current flash kit. If I can't find an SB-800 on eBay or whatever, I think my budget will survive from getting a -600/SU. I'll just have to garner up more income.

Well, nonetheless, this is very helpful. Thanks a bunch!

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Ah, very well. I would suggest you to rent a SU-800 and SB-600 out for a week or two to see if that setup suits your needs. The SU-800 is somehow limiting such as working in harsh sunlight and cannot trigger the flash if it's too far away out of SU-800's range. Not to mention ridiculously expensive battery for the SU-800 that drains the power easily. Rent it out first to see for yourself.

[HTCSWEOD]

I find that the SU-800 works better with the SB-900 over the SB-800, the SB-800 fails often, to receive the signal specifically outdoors.

The SB-900 receives the SU-800 signal much better and over a greater range. When I set up series of 800's and 900's in the same CLS, it's the 900's I can count on to give me predictable light 2 to 1 over the 800. I like it because it does not throw any light the way a D700 pop up does as a commander unit. Inside, it's great, outside, takes tweaking.

[mrmindstorms]

2 question: will i be able to have my flashes behind the su 800 and it will sitll trigger.

And how well does it work in outside daylight?

/ thanks :D

[Lilkiwiguy87]

1: 50:50 chance the SB- speedlights will successfully fire or it will fail to fire when it is behind the SU-800.

2: Your answer is in the video, please watch it again.

[speede1972]

hi there bud, great stuff, so you need a pocket wizard for every flash to fire, i need to have 3 firing so do i need 3 pocket wizards ? thank you. Chris

[Lilkiwiguy87]

No, silly, you can use just one SU-800 to remotely fire other flashes (SB-R200, SB-600, SB-800, or SB-900 only) but if you're working in a big working location that is wider than 33.3 feet in diameter then yes you would need a pair of Pocketwizards (one on the camera and one on one of the flash) then set other flashes for SU-4 (on SB-800 / SB-900 only) and it'll fire away.

[Buku9]

would i be able to do this with a d40 and a sb600 flash?

[Lilkiwiguy87]

One word answer, yes.

[ladiCZekabin]

Good thanks :)

[tmlim526]

Is the SU-800 pretty much the same as the SB-800, except cheaper and has no flash??

Seems to be, for another 25% more cost, getting the SB-800 is more worth it in case you do need to have a flash at your camera.

I'm sorta new to flash photography, so bare with me if I sound way off.

[Lilkiwiguy87]

Yes, that is correct except: SU-800 have 66.6ft working range (which SB-800 have 33.3ft working range).

[tmlim526]

Thanks!

33.3ft is more than enough for me.

[vitezkoja88]

you are missing a letter in the title :p

and if you have a nikon camera that has pop-up flash and two command dials, it's probably wiser to spend your money on additional sb600 than this ;)

[Lilkiwiguy87]

I fixed the title, thanks for the notice.

If your camera have popup flash and have internal Commander Mode then yes, you can forget about SU-800 and get SB-600 instead. If your camera don't have Commander Mode, SB-600 won't fire because lacking the SU-4 ability (unlike SB-800 / SB-900).

[C4dor]

nice video 5/5