EdinJahic said:
Sorry for all the questions guys, but ...

If I am forced to use wireless devices such as PW, why would I even purchase a unit like SB or mentioned YN flash?
I could just go by with regular non wifi flash units? I heard LumoPro is not bad?

So complicated ...

I also use my PocketWizards with studio flashes, such as the Elinchrom units, work great here also. The only limitation is the size, they need AC power, and the shortest flash duration is 1/250 second, unlike the SB which can do HSS and fill light up to 1/8000. That being said, the PW's have a nifty feature called hypersync, which allows studio and other lights to work with shorter exposure durations. I have been able to get exposures as short as 1/1000 second with this method. For really bright sunlight with open apertures, the SB900/SB700 cannot be beat.

One of the great advantages of the Nikon System is CLS

I use it with SB900s a D800 and PWs

I works and it works very well

i

R8R, that is really great and useful information.

I did borrow a LP160 from a friend of mine few days ago, and I have noticed issues outdoor already, there were several misses that occurred. Other than that it did seem like a nice manual flash, easy settings and nice output.
However, I like your idea of getting some used/new SB units and go with them, then I can simply just add PW's after I get more used to working with them indoor and take them outdoor.
After all setting up manual units outdoor would probably be pain in the a** I believe.

There are SB800 used units on eBay as low as 300$, where NIB SB700 can be found at the same price tag. Not bad I guess.

Thanks for the heads up on conditions of used units, greatly appreciated.

EdinJahic said:
@R8R, I was looking into used SB units too, but for some reason I don't feel confident, probably due my zero experience with flash units. You think there shouldn't be any problems with used units on longer runs?

Two things to look out for:

1) Is the flash tube fried? If the diffuser lens looks melted or bubbled, then the flash may have been overheated by pushing it too hard with external battery packs.

or

2) Are the battery contacts corroded? Don't buy it if it looks like batteries have leaked inside.

Test the flash on your camera at many different exposure values and flash compensation values to make sure it works properly and the exposures look correct. If so, buy it as cheap as you can. Properly cared for they will work for a long time.

EdinJahic said:
Sorry for all the questions guys, but ...

If I am forced to use wireless devices such as PW, why would I even purchase a unit like SB or mentioned YN flash?
I could just go by with regular non wifi flash units? I heard LumoPro is not bad?

So complicated ...

It's actually simple. No one is forcing you to use anything you're not comfortable with.

That said...

If you want to have the most flexibility, you can't do much better than using the native Nikon CLS system combined with radio triggers.

CLS, when used indoors or at short distances outdoors, works very well and it's super quick to set up. Pop up the on-camera flash, set the values in the menu, and go.

However when you have bright sunlight, obstructions, etc, then CLS is not as useful. I've used it in some cases where simple things like vegetation get in the way and I get misfires.

That's where radio triggers give you the utmost flexibility, although they take a little more time to set up and a little more investment in money and a learning curve.

They are tools. Buy the right tool for the job. If you are shooting indoors mostly, and want a simple set up, then a few new or used Nikon speedlights are all you really need with a D7000. If you want more flexibility and range, add radio triggers later.

OR - while learning the whole process, forget wireless altogether. You can buy a hotshoe sync adapter for the D7000, a couple cheap flashes with manual control, and use cords for everything. Or just use the optical sync functions built into many small strobes or monolights. The Lumopro LP160's are fantastic for this.

Personally I use a SB-700 I bought new, and a SB-800 I found used in Barcelona for €150. Both are work horses.

Sorry for all the questions guys, but ...

If I am forced to use wireless devices such as PW, why would I even purchase a unit like SB or mentioned YN flash?
I could just go by with regular non wifi flash units? I heard LumoPro is not bad?

So complicated ...

Thanks Correlli, that perfectly answered/confirmed all of my doubts. I guess I will be shopping for some PW's after all. Appreciated.

So, I will go and do some research on a good not too expensive setup.

@R8R, I was looking into used SB units too, but for some reason I don't feel confident, probably due my zero experience with flash units. You think there shouldn't be any problems with used units on longer runs?

Thanks for all the information guys, greatly appreciated.

I own a D7000 btw, thanks.

I was a beta tester for Pocket Wizards and long answer short, you cannot mix and match CLS and wireless PW transmissions. You need a PW (mini or TT5) on your camera to transmit and then a TT5 on each flash, they cannot share one TT5 between flashes. This turns off CLS and you are relying totally on the wireless triggers, which are great but add the cost since you need one for each flash and one for the camera. The only exception is that you can have a flash on camera attached to the wireless trigger, but for all off camera flashes you need a receiver unit. You can mix and match other products from Pocket Wizard which are less expensive for basic triggering. If you are using an on camera flash it is set to master but all the receiving flashes are just set to the first "on" position, not to "remote" like in CLS. I have 3 SB 700's and two SB900's and it all works great. The best is to also get an AC3 zone controller to put on the mini, which lets you change settings by flash in either auto or manual modes. The very latest is to get the new Sekonic meter 478DR which allows control of the flashes directly from the meter and shows % ambient/flash in every shot, it is amazing! I hope that helps, but realize it is expensive.

EdinJahic said:
If SU-800 commander can trigger SB units, could the same or similar unit trigger YN units the same way?

Thanks a bunch,

It *should* be able to trigger and control any CLS compatible flash. However, I doubt you will get the frame to frame consistency that you would have with a Nikon unit. In fact I would buy a used Nikon speedlight any day over a brand new Yongnuo unit. The SU-800 will work with any CLS speedlight - SB-600, 700, 800, 900 and 910. (and the SB-R200) They work. And work. And work. With a little care, they last indefinitely and the output is reliable. They work very well with the SU-800, but it lacks the range and flexibility of a radio setup.

Now as to the questions above about the Pocketwizards - they work with CLS with the speedlights set to normal TTL only. You can't set the SB-700 connected to the TT5 in commander mode. Won't work at all.

Also, in the scenario above (2x TT5 and 2x SB-700) you can't optically slave the secondary flash because of the pre-flashes from the CLS.

So:
One TT5 on camera set to ControlTL
One TT5 on #1 SB-700 (set to TTL, not remote mode)
#2 SB-700 set to SU-4 optical slave

In this case, #2 flash will fire when triggered from the pre-flashes of #1. The resulting flash will end up wasted, having fired just *before* the exposure.

To make two TT5's work with two SB-700's, set both TT5's to basic trigger mode only, and the #1 SB-700 to full manual. Set #2 to SU-4. Full manual trigger set up. (Very reliable btw).

I think the other way to do this is add the AC3 controller onto the camera TT5. Then set the trigger mode to "M" and it will cancel the pre-flashes.

Good luck.

I don't have the Yongnuo but what I can read from the specs it does not have a radio wireless unit build in (like the Pocket Wizard), but it understands the wireless commands that Nikon Speedlights use (using IR flashes) with the CLS. The Nikon wireless system (called CLS) uses pre-flashes to control the remote units.

I use a D700, an SB-700 and an SB-900. I can use the build in flash of the D700 as Master and the two speedlights as slaves. I also use a little accessory called "SG-3 IR" that blocks the visible light from the D700 flash.

From what I read in the Yongnuo specs you can also use the YN568EX as slave in such a setup, but you will need a master. This can be the build-in flash of your camera (depends on the camera so please read the manual) or a Nikon SB on the camera. As far as I understood the YN specs you cannot use that unit as master on the camera.

The Nikon wireless system works fine if you are indoors, but in bright sunlight I heard it is problematic because the control flashes might not reach the slave units (never tested it myself). So if you need it over a longer distance or outdoors you might want to think about something like the Pocket Wizard that uses radio to control the slaves. You will need a sender on the camera and a receiver on each flash.

So if you want to go low cost you need to check if your cameras build in flash can be used as master in Nikon CLS (camera manual). The SU-800 or another SB speed light from Nikon would also work as master (or commander).

If you want to control the flash over a longer distance or outdoors in bright sunlight you will most likely need to use a radio system like Pocket Wizard or something similar. In that case you need a sender on the camera and a receiver on each flash unit.

Hope this helps

Hello everyone,

I am brand new to Nikon. Have been reading the forum for awhile now.
Now I have a question and decided to ask for your help.

I am sorry for reviving this very old thread, but I need advice from the pros on this very same subject.
I am about to invest in my first flash setup, and I am really, really confused with all these wireless options.
I was thinking about buying one Yongnuo YN568EX unit for now, then probably another one soon after. What I am concerned is how all this setup works. If I purchase YN unit, I understand that I need a PW unit to be able to trigger the flash, but here comes the question. Do I have to get 2 PW units or I can trigger YN with only 1 PW unit off the camera since YN has a built in wireless functionality. Or, if I cannot do it this way and I need 2 PW units, what is the purpose of YN having a built in wireless functionality?
I know I am probably being complicated now :(

Is there a unit that can control YN without the need of having another unit attached to YN itself to operate.

If SU-800 commander can trigger SB units, could the same or similar unit trigger YN units the same way?

Thanks a bunch,

That sounds realy good Colosse. Some inventive thinking. You obviously have had to forgo TTL on the flash without a PW, and won't be able to include it in an AC3 controlled set up, but I didn't know what you have tried was possible, thanks for sharing.

I just don't have de 200$ to buy the TT1 for this month, we can use the TT5 or TT1 on the camera, it's the same but a bit bigger.

My setup work now, I use the TT5 one one flash in TTL, i will use this one for the front light, the second one is on remote tigger by the first one, is in manuel for now, until i buy the TT1, i will use this one for a back or ambiant light.

i'm not a professional and it's my first flash, then i learn how to use it.

Colosse said:
you can use a TT5 to tigger the other one

Ahh, if I understand you correctly, you're trying to save paying the money for a TT1, by using one of your TT5's on the camera, and then want the one SB700 that has no PW, to be triggered by the one that does?

casperwb said:
guys, correct me if I am getting this wrong

but, can't you use one Sb700 in commander mode and the other in slave

or use both in slave and the camera flash as commander?

and still have full use of cls?

if the above is true, then what is the advantage of the pocket wizard with these flashes, the sb700?

for that money, you could buy another SB700 or SB900, if you do not have on camera flash and use it as commander.

The advantage of PW: it offer more flexibility as it is trigger by radio signal rather than IR. It let you place the flash probably anywhere you like i.e behind a wall or out of sight. It has much better distance coverage as well.

and when you get a error of communication, from pocket wizard site:
Repeated red blinking indicates an error condition. Power off the unit, reseat all connections, and power back on.
it's not really good... :(

i need a kit of pocket wizard, i shoot in some event, i place some flash not fare one to the other on the scene and i use a zoom after to get the scene from the top... i was at 200 feet sometimes more. the fisrt time i try with a commander, but i never get a good result when a was to far or when i have the flash behind me (sometimes i install it in the structure or in the top of the room)

I just found how to set it, thanks.

I have to set the remote to su-8, but i don't understand why, when i set one in master, sometime the pocket wizard return a error.

guys, correct me if I am getting this wrong

but, can't you use one Sb700 in commander mode and the other in slave

or use both in slave and the camera flash as commander?

and still have full use of cls?

if the above is true, then what is the advantage of the pocket wizard with these flashes, the sb700?

for that money, you could buy another SB700 or SB900, if you do not have on camera flash and use it as commander.

you can use a TT5 to tigger the other one

Hi Colosse, welcome to the forum. You say you don't have a TT1 at the moment, what are you using to trigger your two TT5 equipped SB700s ?

It's my fist post, but i come over here to read many time a week, i appreciate if you can help me.

I just buy 2 Flex TT5 and 2 SB-700, with tripod etc... it's 1600$, i wanna use the set of TT5 for one flash, and it's work perfectly, but i wanna use also the second flash in slave with the first one in master on the pocket, and i think it's not possible.

I just need your experience about that. It's my first set of flash, i don't have a lot experience with that. If you have some info to use these 2 flashs with my setup.

-- I do the firmware update on TT5

-- I will buy a mini TT1 later, it's over my budget for now :(

Thanks