Flash Troubleshooting - Nikon D300 Complete Manual

Hide thumbs Also See for D300:

Table of Contents

camera's meter turns OFF (STBY is displayed on the

flash's LCD). A light press on the shutter release turns the

D300's light meter back ON, and the SB-800 turns ON at

the same time.

The SB-800 has a "special" No Standby mode that can be

set, as well as the ability to set different time-out values (80,

160, 300 seconds). Like the other flash command mode

settings, you get to this function by holding the Sel button

down for two seconds and then navigating the options with

the Direction pad on the flash.

After the flash fires, an icon may appear in the flash's LCD

along with a value. This indicates potential

underexposure. This indicator only appears for three

seconds after the shot.

The Rear Sync option must be selected on the camera.

(Some earlier flash units had this selection on the flash, so

I've included this note here just in case folks who

previously had one of those Speedlights are wondering.)

While the SB-800 has "click stops" for commonly used

flash head positions (45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees for tilt,

every 30 degrees for rotation), you aren't restricted to

those positions. Setting an intermediary position is

allowed (though it can easily be dislodged).

Viewfinder Ready Light Warnings (blinking) occurs in the

following conditions:

- When you press the shutter release halfway and the SB-

800 is not correctly mounted on the hot shoe.

- After the flash fires at full power, indicating possible

underexposure.

Flash Troubleshooting

Problem: Your SU-4 doesn't seem to trigger the remote flash

correctly in TTL mode.

Solution: The D300 is not compatible with the SU-4 in TTL

modes. Nikon states that you must set the triggering flash unit

to Automatic (A) flash mode. That's not 100% correct. You

can use FV Lock to get around the preflash prematurely

Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D300