Add another speedflash

[phishphorphun]

So if I want to get another speedflash for my D70 and SB-800, should I get another SB-800 or save a hundred bucks and get the SB-600? And, when I get the second unit, which cable should I buy?

[Ibn]

I picked up additional SB-800s and never really took a look at the SB-600s. Really prefer that I can use any of them as a master and the higher power output. Also at the time that I picked up the SB-800s, the price difference between the two was only an additional $25.

I haven't linked them to each other before so don't know which cable to pick up. My master is attached to the D70 via a SC-29 cable (also have a SC-17). The extra flashes are set to slave and are tripped by the master via IR.

[phishphorphun]

So the SC-29 cable would be the only required cable needed to fire multiple flashes. I would connect a SB800 to the D70 via the SC-29 cable and it would be the master for the additional remote slaves? I thought that is how it would work. I think Gregory explained it that way in a previous post. I was just confused what cable to get when I ordered the next flash. T

Thanks.

[Ibn]

You can technically fire both sets of SB-800s using the onboard flash to trigger them. What I didn't like about this setup was the preflash going off and that freaked the fish out. Instead of doing so, I use the SC-29 (or the SC-17 cord) and move both units to the top of the tank. That one is set to master and the other one I can position anywhere (just make sure the light sensor is facing the master :) ) as a slave.

I believe that you can also daisy chain the flash units but I haven't looked into that.

[phishphorphun]

I'll probably use the cable to the SB800 as it rests on a tripod from the front and have it trigger the slave on the top using my mirrors setup to reflect the triggering flash.

But I am still confused about the camera firing both without the cable. Someone earlier explained to me that it wouldn't work that way. That the D70 in commander mode couldn't get it done. But I thought it would. Ahh, perhaps they were talking about the preflashes created by ttl and shooting in manual flash instead. I'll have to wait till I get the second speedflash before worrying about the incidentals.

[hir0]

or, you can just set the camera to commander mode -> manual and then set the output strength. that's the way i use mine. i can't bother with the preflashes. It's really not that hard, it normally takes me about 2 or 3 shots to figure out what i need for a good exposure (using manual mode on my camera).

[phishphorphun]

I see what your saying hir0. But it's a pain in the butt for me because the flash above the tank is on the other side of the wall. I have to walk into the utility room, squeeze my arm through the side opening and move the light fixture everytime I make an adjustment. Or are you just talking about making the changes on the master or D70?

[hir0]

yup, you don't touch the flash at all. you just adjust flash output from the camera body. try setting it to commander -> manual you will see what i mean. also - you can control aperture and shutter speed which is what you normally do to control exposure right? can't always trust ttl metering.

[phishphorphun]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have shot everything in commander mode with the ttl so far. Thinking the camera has to be smarter than me :-D