No command option in flash menu on the D5200?

[realdereal]

I just started a post asking for a suggestion for a light stand for the SB-700 and come to find out there is not even a command option to take my SB-700 off camera in the flash/bracketing menu : (

I thought all DSLRs would have that wireless capability!?

Anyone know of another option to have my SB-700 off-camera?

[Manfred M]

No, only this functionality is only supported by the higher end consumer cameras - D90, D7000, D7100. Top of the line pro cameras D4 does not have it either.

If you get another Nikon flash and use it on camera, it can be used as the Commander. There is also SU-800 Commander module that can be used as well.

[PhotomanJohn]

The SB-700 has a slave mode so you can set the flash output manually and get it to fire along with the cameras flash which would probably be operated in manual mode as well. Other than that, you can get radio triggers to fire the flash which is what I often do.

John

[Shadowman]

The SB-700 has a slave mode so you can set the flash output manually and get it to fire along with the cameras flash which would probably be operated in manual mode as well. Other than that, you can get radio triggers to fire the flash which is what I often do.

John

And if you don't want the on-camera flash to influence the shot you can reduce the power of the flash.

[realdereal]

The SB-700 has a slave mode so you can set the flash output manually and get it to fire along with the cameras flash which would probably be operated in manual mode as well. Other than that, you can get radio triggers to fire the flash which is what I often do.

John

I tried to do that all night last night *grumble

[Manfred M]

Kristen - I don't know about the SB-700; I have the SB-600 (which the SB-700 replaced). It cannot used as an optical slave other than through the Nikon CLS (Commander) mode. If Nikon did not add the functionality, you will have to find some other way of triggering the flash.

With my D90 (and D800) I have Commander mode, so have no issues. I also use PocketWizard radio triggers.

[PhotomanJohn]

Manfred - One of the differences between the SB-600 and the SB-700 was the addition of some of the features of the higher level units which included the slave function.

Kristen - To put it nicely, Nikon manuals suck. Do the following:

Turn your flash on so that the selector is in the REMOTE position.
Set the selector to the left of the display to MANUAL.
Press the MENU button, rotate the selector dial to highlight REMOTE, Press OK
Rotate the selector dial to highlight SU-4 and press OK.
Press the MENU button to return to the main screen.

To set the output of the flash, press SEL and rotate the control dial and press OK.
Press the ZOOM button and rotate the control dial to set the zoom and press OK.

The flash will now fire in response to the flash on the camera as long as it's sensor can "see" the camera's flash.

Very simple - RIGHT?

John

[inkista]

+1. SU-4 mode is a "dumb" optical slave mode that will let you tell the flash to fire in sync with your pop-up flash, so long as you are out of CLS slave/commander modes, and both the pop-up flash and the SB-700 are in Manual. SU-4 mode on the SB-700 can actually be used with ANY flash burst--even one from a P&S built-in flash. You cannot use i-TTL (or, if you had a body that could do it, FP [high-speed sync], so you will be limited to 1/200s or slower shutter speeds). And you will have no way of changing settings on the remote flash from the camera body--you'll have to adjust settings directly on the SB-700. And you will require "line of sight"--the sensor on the side of the SB-700 (above the battery chamber) must be able to "see" the pop-up flash's burst (which is why we like swiveling heads). Indoors with bounce surfaces, this may not be an issue, but once you go outside, you will have to pay more attention to this.

If you want CLS commander/slave capability, you'll need to get a CLS commander unit on the camera's hotshoe, or purchase a higher-end body, such as a D7x00. The Nikon CLS commander units are the SB-910/900/800, SB-700, or SU-800. 3rd party speedlights like the Metz Mecablitz 58 or Nissin Di866 can also do this.

Line of sight and range/reliability outside in bright sunlight are the main weaknesses that cause most folks to eventually switch to radio triggering. If you want something like CLS over radio, there are triggers from PocketWizard, RadioPopper, Phottix, Pixel, and Yongnuo that can do this at varying price ranges/reliability rates, as well as (much) cheaper "dumb" radio triggers.

[shreds]

There is also SU-800 Commander module that can be used as well.

Whilst the SU-4 Commander will undoubtedly work, line of sight triggering is a pain. Only if you are likely to suffer significant radio interference would I suggest you look at this. The SU-4 is designed primarily for close up work where the Nikon Close Up system works well.

None of this is unfortunately cheap, so decide what you need now and in the near future before committing to any flash set up. Just remember, compatibility is very important.

[realdereal]

Manfred - One of the differences between the SB-600 and the SB-700 was the addition of some of the features of the higher level units which included the slave function.

Kristen - To put it nicely, Nikon manuals suck. Do the following:

Turn your flash on so that the selector is in the REMOTE position.
Set the selector to the left of the display to MANUAL.
Press the MENU button, rotate the selector dial to highlight REMOTE, Press OK
Rotate the selector dial to highlight SU-4 and press OK.
Press the MENU button to return to the main screen.

To set the output of the flash, press SEL and rotate the control dial and press OK.
Press the ZOOM button and rotate the control dial to set the zoom and press OK.

The flash will now fire in response to the flash on the camera as long as it's sensor can "see" the camera's flash.

Very simple - RIGHT?

John

It went off right in my eyeballs and then went out of batteries before I could even set it up.
I'm going to go replace the batteries again and retry as soon as I regain my sight.

[realdereal]

Thank you John.
I honestly didn't understand anything past the first part but with your first few steps I was actually able to use my flash off camera for the first time so it is a momentous occasion for me. If me and my daughter ever see again at full function there will be some celebrating.