tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post987160748199816018..comments2023-05-27T02:33:34.320-07:00Comments on Nikon CLS Practical Guide: 12 Speedlight Trick #1Russ MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-33831354614861952922011-12-10T15:13:02.895-08:002011-12-10T15:13:02.895-08:00Hi Steve,
You are right! Nikon does'nt explai...Hi Steve,<br /><br />You are right! Nikon does'nt explain things very well. In fact, that's exactly why I wrote my blogs.<br /><br />I'm glad you find my articles helpful.<br /><br />When reading my blogs, be aware that that I wrote about the SB800 speedlight and the SB900 has a few minor differences. One that comes to mind is that the SB900 has additional modes where the preflash sequence can be eliminated. On the SB-800, you had to know how to do it and understand it (and I wrote about it). On the SB900, (which I do not own) it shows you in the display whenever there will be preflashes.<br /><br />Thanks for the nice feedback!<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-16101878632851830742011-12-10T14:17:16.919-08:002011-12-10T14:17:16.919-08:00I have just stumbled across this after struggling ...I have just stumbled across this after struggling to understand the Nikon SB900 manual. This is really really well written by any standard, and is light years ahead of Nikon manuals in general and the SB900 in particular. The simple point that the camera and the flash are essentially independent is so useful to know, but is not made - or at least is not properly emphasised - elsewhere. So - thank you very much.Steve Woodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-63536764979338395072011-09-02T12:59:04.342-07:002011-09-02T12:59:04.342-07:00Hi irvin,
When I am shooting an event like a wedd...Hi irvin,<br /><br />When I am shooting an event like a wedding reception, I normally don't have an assistant, and certainly don't have enough time to take the flash off-camera and set it up. Things move way too fast in events like this, and my little trick works quite well.<br /><br />If I were shooting a model and had plenty of time for the setup, I would definitely get the flash off camera, and I'd use multiple flashes as well.<br /><br />Thanks for the nice feedback!<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-91669000958583577862011-09-02T10:13:42.276-07:002011-09-02T10:13:42.276-07:00A 'bit' late (2 years!) to this discussion...A 'bit' late (2 years!) to this discussion, but wouldn't it be much easier to just get the flash off camera?<br /><br />Great site, full of very useful information!irvin00https://www.blogger.com/profile/04830327375257543808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-18217180674270242032010-06-19T06:34:42.284-07:002010-06-19T06:34:42.284-07:00Hi Frank,
I understand now.
It is very common fo...Hi Frank,<br /><br />I understand now.<br /><br />It is very common for FV Lock to give a different flash power than when shooting without it. On my D200, FV Lock always underexposes by one stop, so I always increase the FEC to +1 ev whenever I use FV Lock.<br /><br />On my D3 it is right on. I get exactly the same flash power with or without FV Lock, so I leave the FEC alone.<br /><br />I have never sent in a camera to have this adjusted. I'm not sure if it can be adjusted or not.<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-31895821567272900082010-06-18T23:08:39.772-07:002010-06-18T23:08:39.772-07:00Yep, thats excatley the way, I thought it should w...Yep, thats excatley the way, I thought it should work. But what I mean is, that the subject in the photo when zoomed out (including the doorframe using fv-lock) is brighter, than it is, when zoomed in and using the same fv-lock value. (not the other way around)<br /><br />I thought, it may had somthing to do with the close distance to the doorway, but maybe you are right, that there is a problem with my camera. <br />I will experiment some more with this, and let you know how it turns out.<br />Have a nice weekend.<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467754621572357655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-79282767007188807372010-06-18T11:23:36.159-07:002010-06-18T11:23:36.159-07:00Hi Frank,
Your wording is a little confusing, so ...Hi Frank,<br /><br />Your wording is a little confusing, so let me try to explain what happens better.<br /><br />In TTL mode, the flash sets its power by what is included in the viewfinder.<br /><br />If you take a picture through a doorway of a subject standing in a dark room, the reflected light from the preflashes from the door frame will by much brighter than the reflected light from the person, so the flash power will be set very low and the person will be dark. <br /><br />When you zoom in so the subject fills the viewfinder, and you press FV Lock, the flash power will be set to what is needed to set the subject to 'standard' brightness. This power will be much higher than when the doorframe was in the viewfinder, because the reflection from the doorframe is no longer metered.<br /><br />Then, when you zoom back out, the door frame will again be in the viewfinder, but the flash power will remain at whatever value was locked in when FV Lock was pressed.<br /><br />This will make the subject much brighter and the door frame will blow out.<br /><br />The flash power should be the same after FV Lock is pushed, regardless of what zoom position is used.<br /><br />However, you have to remember that the flash also zooms. This spreads the flash pulse out as you zoom back, and this will tend to make the subject a little darker when you zoom back out to include the doorframe.<br /><br />If the subject is overexposed after zooming back out, this means that the metering was not accurate when you were zoomed in. Several things could cause this: The subject may have been wearing dark clothing, or the background was dark and it was occupying most of the frame, or the FV Lock function on your camera locks in a value that is too high, in which case, the camera and flash needs to be calibrated by Nikon.<br /><br />Hope that helps,<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-33560547505600573682010-06-18T01:25:11.410-07:002010-06-18T01:25:11.410-07:00Thanks for your kind reply to my earlier question....Thanks for your kind reply to my earlier question. I will definetley email you later. But for now, I have a question about FV-lock, as you use it in this blog.<br /><br />"You can also leave the flash in TTL and zoom in on the subject so that the door frame is no longer in the picture, hit FV Lock, zoom back out to include the door frame, and take the shot to achieve the same thing."<br /><br />I did so, but it seems to me, that not only the doorframe, but the hole picture is overexposed. (aprox distance to door: 3 feet - to subject/background: 20 feet)<br /><br />When i compare how the flash sounds when zoomed in (to get free of the doorway) and how it sounds, when its zoom out, its obvious, that it dumps more power, when zoomed out (this is with the fv-lock value from when zoomed in)<br /><br />Dont really get this. Shouldnt the output be exactly the same when fv-lock is used? Or does the flash power up a bit in order to cover a wider angle - and still try to keep the same flashvalue for the flash-metered area?<br /><br />(D50, SB900, 1/60, f2.8, ISO 200)<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />FrankFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06467754621572357655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-28492919797605137542010-06-15T05:07:34.926-07:002010-06-15T05:07:34.926-07:00Hi Arrovel,
Thanks for the great feedback!
Yes, ...Hi Arrovel,<br /><br />Thanks for the great feedback!<br /><br />Yes, I will plan to add an example of this technique. Good idea.<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-13161452235830595002010-06-14T10:53:19.411-07:002010-06-14T10:53:19.411-07:00Russ,
I am new to photography but I am a fast lear...Russ,<br />I am new to photography but I am a fast learner and avid reader. Your blog is fantastic and I thank you very much for doing it. I have become a daily reader of your blog as well as the Q&A section that is a nice complement to your writtings, and to my developing as amateur photographer.<br /><br />For this particular section, would it be possible to have some pictures on this topic, so we can have a better graphic explanation of your trick?<br /><br />Thank you,<br />Arrovel <br />Mc Lean, VAArrovelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-40355389018029489872010-05-13T04:54:40.184-07:002010-05-13T04:54:40.184-07:00To anonymous,
Your comment is great feedback!
Th...To anonymous,<br /><br />Your comment is great feedback!<br /><br />Thanks! <br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-74947636270662255082010-05-12T23:09:23.073-07:002010-05-12T23:09:23.073-07:00Russ you are blowing my mind with how awesome your...Russ you are blowing my mind with how awesome your explanations are. ...Nikon flash manuals kinda suck. Thanks you so much for this info!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-36383219628951955062009-12-12T05:29:29.923-08:002009-12-12T05:29:29.923-08:00Hi Billy,
I appreciate your kind comment!
Thanks...Hi Billy,<br /><br />I appreciate your kind comment!<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-61625504607081847672009-12-11T18:48:54.849-08:002009-12-11T18:48:54.849-08:00Thanks Russ for sharing so much info and being so ...Thanks Russ for sharing so much info and being so unselfish. Appreciated.<br />Billy(Kingston, Jamaica)Billynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-11087497295208117202009-07-22T07:17:44.483-07:002009-07-22T07:17:44.483-07:00Hi benjie,
No, not quite.
What I am describing i...Hi benjie,<br /><br />No, not quite.<br /><br />What I am describing is simply a quick way to switch the flash between TTL-BL and TTL. This is useful when you are shooting in a situation that has backlighting in some areas and not in others. For backlighting, you always want to use TTL-BL, but for other areas, you want to use regular TTL.<br /><br />When you select spot metering, it de-selects TTL-BL and forces the flash into regular TTL mode.<br /><br />This is simply a quick and simple way to switch the flash back and forth between TTL-BL and Regular TTL.<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-2877366315987000102009-07-22T02:13:43.472-07:002009-07-22T02:13:43.472-07:00Hi Russ,
so i use matrix mode to set my exposure ...Hi Russ,<br /><br />so i use matrix mode to set my exposure to optimum dial 0. and then i switch to spot metering so that the flash will switch to TTL-BL and then take the shot. did i get it correct? thank you veyr much for this information.<br /><br />benjieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-61524316907557559072009-06-07T23:47:14.619-07:002009-06-07T23:47:14.619-07:00Great blog!Great blog!John Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17269289841578774845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-89486005033573529092009-04-30T09:57:00.000-07:002009-04-30T09:57:00.000-07:00Hi again Abe,
Yes, that's in TTL mode.
I agree t...Hi again Abe,<br /><br />Yes, that's in TTL mode.<br /><br />I agree that zooming in is best - if you can do it. But what if you are using a fixed lens? Or what if you can't zoom far enough in to get the door frame out of the image. It's always good to have choices!<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-70543169622811033442009-04-30T08:45:00.000-07:002009-04-30T08:45:00.000-07:00Sorry to shower you with so many questions, I'...Sorry to shower you with so many questions, I'm just loving this blog/info too much.<br /><br /><br />>>If you don't want to remove the diffuser, another way to do this is to zoom in on the subject and hit FV Lock. The flash metering system will only look at what is in the frame center weighted. Then, zoom back out to include the doorway or whatever is between you and the subject, and take the shot. Of course, the doorway will be blown out, but that's normally OK in this type of shot. <br /><br />This method/trick is this in TTL mode or do you still need to switch to TTL-BL? If this is for TTL then this would seem to be a much superior method, why ever both with the first trick?Abehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03284124199609874383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-45383242084280520862009-04-22T20:44:00.000-07:002009-04-22T20:44:00.000-07:00Thanks Russ. I was asking it backwards of what I ...Thanks Russ. I was asking it backwards of what I meant...but you answered what I meant to ask in the last paragraph. I will get the camera out tomorrow and check it out.BMC Portraitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00982079240837207542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-35566593389717338612009-04-22T12:36:00.000-07:002009-04-22T12:36:00.000-07:00Hi again BMC,
If you are in Spot Metering you can...Hi again BMC,<br /><br />If you are in Spot Metering you cannot put the flash in TTL-BL mode. It won't let you. The only flash mode that is available in Spot metering mode is regular TTL.<br /><br />The reason for this is that in BL mode, there has to be metering information information from the background for the flash to balance with. In Spot Metering mode the only information from the metering is coming from the subject, so the flash would have nothing to balance with.<br /><br />Now, if you start in Matrix metering mode and put the flash in TTL-BL mode, and you push the FNC button to switch to Spot metering, the flash will switch temporarilly to regular TTL mode. Then, when you release the FNC button, the camera will go back to Matrix metering, and the flash will go back to BL.<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-10146251498638646932009-04-22T12:19:00.000-07:002009-04-22T12:19:00.000-07:00Hey Russ,
Yeah. That helps. I haven't been us...Hey Russ, <br /><br />Yeah. That helps. I haven't been using the AE Lock button on the back of the camera (been using the DOF for that function). Will make the switch. <br /><br />One last question, if I set metering to spot and flash to BL, then switch to matrix (and the flash goes to TTL) and am shooting, will the flash revert back to BL if I spot meter by using my FN key, or only if I turn the actual switch on the back of the camera (which on the D300 is a ring around the AE Lock button)?BMC Portraitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00982079240837207542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-15415041659899862392009-04-22T06:58:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:58:00.000-07:00Hi BMC Photo Blog,
Thank you for the compliments!...Hi BMC Photo Blog,<br /><br />Thank you for the compliments!<br /><br />With my D200, the only way to fire FV Lock is with the FN button.<br /><br />That's why, on my D200, I suggest switching between Spot and Matrix by using the metering selector switch. It is easy on the D200 to reach up there with your right thumb and change it. Not sure if this is the same on the D300.<br /><br />I see in the D300 user's manual that the both the depth of field preview button and the AE-L button can be set to fire the FV Lock pulse using Custom Settings f5 and f6. <br /><br />It sounds to me like you could put your FV Lock on your depth of field preview button and that would leave your Spot selector on your FNC button, and your AE-L button would also stay the same.<br /><br />To use this trick, you have to be in TTL-Mode and Matrix metering to begin with. Then when you select Spot metering the flash is forced into regular TTL mode.<br /><br />If you start off with the flash in regular TTL mode, switching between matrix and spot mode has no effect on the flash mode. It stays in regular TTL.<br /><br />Hope this helps,<br /><br />RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-66779273533097165162009-04-22T06:03:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:03:00.000-07:00Hey Russ,
First off, have to add to your accolade...Hey Russ,<br /><br />First off, have to add to your accolades...your blog has seriously changed the way I work. I'd been using manual flash all the time, then the Hot Shoe Diaries got me thinking about using CLS (since I paid for it already anyway). But I was hopelessly confused. Now, thanks to you, I am using it more and more. Really appreciate your contribution to the photoblogosphero.<br /><br />I do have a question...I used a D300 but am sure it would be the same on the D200. I use spot metering a good bit (without flash) so I have my FN key set to spot. I have my preview button set to AE-Lock...which I also use a good bit. I shoot in A mode typically, but working toward shooting in manual more and more.<br /><br />Do I need to give up my spot metering or AE lock button to set up easy access to FV lock? What happens if I set the FN button up to be both AE and FV lock and shoot in manual? AE lock gets overridden by the manual setting and FV will lock my flash exposure? Is that right? <br /><br />Of course I don't have the camera or manual handy so not even sure the button can be set to store both AE and FV. But seems that it should be one of the options.<br /><br />Also, if I use your speedlight trick and set my flash to BL and change my metering back to matrix, then I spot meter using the assigned (DOF) button, does that change the flash into BL mode?<br /><br />ThanksBMC Portraitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00982079240837207542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113726419970930271.post-69129761792102739352009-03-13T12:18:00.000-07:002009-03-13T12:18:00.000-07:00Hi Kati,Yes, I am familiar with the Lowel 12V Ligh...Hi Kati,<BR/><BR/>Yes, I am familiar with the Lowel 12V Lights. I don't use them, but some of my friends do. I've seen them used to throw a focused beam onto the formal shots, especially to highlight the bride.<BR/><BR/>I just don't want any more equipment to have to lug around.<BR/><BR/>RussRuss MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288785902650834143noreply@blogger.com