Off-Camera Flash Photography with Nikon's CLS System

http://froknowsphoto.com/off-camera-flash-photography-with-nikons-cls-system/

This video is an introduction to using Nikon's built-in CLS (creative lighting system) to wirelessly trigger off-camera flashes. Many Nikon DSLR's have the capability to wirelessly command and control off-camera flashes. This system is very powerful in that you can use both TTL and manual control and somewhat limited because infared is line-of-sight and has a limited range. The amazing thing about this is that you can control the power output of several flashes in different groups directly by using the built-on, pop-up flash from your camera.

In this video, I use a Nikon D700's built-on pop-up flash to control an off-camera Nikon SB800 flash thru a small softbox and another SB800 thru a shoot-thru umbrella. By going into the flash control settings on the camera and setting the camera's built-on flash to act as a commander, you can wirelessly control off-camera flashes directly from your camera.

I touch understanding a bit about different lighting zones - Ambient light, Key Light and Fill Light. All important to understanding how to dial-in the right amount of light for flash photography.

If you have any questions of comments, please leave them below or email adamlernerphoto@gmail.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Nikon
• Canon
• Camera
• digital
• dslr
• flash
• CLS
• creative lighting system
• Flash (photography)

[Mustangous]

awesome video! Thank you! Can you trigger the lumopro flash you were recommending with the nikon built in flash system? I have one sb900, but would like another flash to remote trigger with my d7000 but dont want to spend the money on another nikon flash. expensive for hobby use.

thanks again!

[AdamLernerPhoto]

@Mustangous yes by putting the LumoPro in slave mode to optically trigger it. distance would be a limitation as well as you'd have to manually dial in the power

[jh3835]

haha. love the grocery bag weight. good stuff adam!

[AdamLernerPhoto]

@jh3835 ha yes thanks - that's a bag of rice in there!

[movania89]

nikon d5000 :(

[AdamLernerPhoto]

@movania89 right, but you can use a SB600, SB700, SB800 or SB900 on-camera as a commander to wirelessly trigger other flashes by putting the on-camera flash in commander mode.

[Minirappen]

Most of Adams videos gets more views then the Fros : ) I think i know why.

[cesarstoer]

Fake! this is photoshoped!

Your hands are different! hahahahah

[pc8922]

@Minirappen why?

[bhonnaich1314]

Adam,great video, very informative, thanks.

I too have the D700 and just getting into lighting so extremely limited in my knowledge. I have a 2nd hand SB800 so i can set up the main light in exactly the same way as you.

My other light is an old SB80 which can be triggered optically. Can the SB80 triggered optically work in place of your 2nd SB800 or will the the CLS system and the SB800 trigger the SB80 too early?

What is my cheapest work around triggering the SB80's optically?

Many thnx Gary

[vicR64]

Thanks Adam,found you through the fro's web site. That video was just what i needed as i have an umbrella and new flash on its way and did not know how to sync the camera to flash. Next video now.

[VexedFilms]

@AdamLernerPhoto classic

[SuperFocus360]

What type of speed lights are you using? What are they set on?  (TTL? M?) Thanks.

[LiviaTrends]

fake photo, Adam Lerner? On photo, hands together... on 'pose' hands separated... why? "/

[asjesus1]

04:50 photo does not match your pose. Didn't like the shot and decided to use the first one ey? lol good video sir....

[swapnilhitman]

The first photo you showed as you got is not the actual first picture .... you have your hands in different position .... :D

[tordern22]

You my friend has some awesome tutorials! Thank you. Now i only have to get myself a couple of SB-700's