Nikon flash units and 'D'-awareness?

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Nikon flash units and 'D'-awareness?

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studio460

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I recently bought a Nikon N90s and a Nikon SB-23. While the SB-23 pre-dates the N90s, and the development of Nikkor 'D' lenses, it continued in production both during and after their introduction. I know that the N90s does in fact support 'D' (distance) lens information.

But, does anyone know if the 'D' capability needs only to be supported in the camera body and the lens, or does the flash need to have 'D' capability as well? Since the flash, under TTL-control, would be controlled by the camera, I would guess not? I'm just unsure if my SB-23 needs to be 'D'-aware or not. Thanks.

Posted 2 years ago #
jonnyapple

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I'm pretty sure you're right that just the camera needs to be aware of the subject distance and it will set flash output based on that info. The fact that it works in balanced TTL (source) makes me think that's what's happening. What else would balanced TTL mean?

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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The flashgun itself would need to be compatible, for distance information to be used in the flash calculations. The camera can get the distance information, but if the flash doesn't know what to do with it, then it cannot use that information. Basic TTL metering is fine, it just cannot used more advanced aspects of TTL calculations, which don't matter too much since the F90s was invented before D-TLL or i-TTL.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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Thanks for your comments, guys. I thought the N90s did support 'D' information, however, since in Ken Rockwell's review of the N90s, he mentions that, "the D lenses, made since 1993, may give a little better exposure with flash [with the N90s]." According to the same site, the non-'s' N90 ended production in 1994, and apparently (according to Thom Hogan's site), the N90s became available sometime later in 1994.

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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The F90X does support distance information, but if the flashgun does not, it doesn't matter. Putting my SB-15 on the F90X doesn't give it D-TTL metering. Both the flash and the camera have to meet the requirements for D-TTL metering to work.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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PB PM said:
The F90X does support distance information, but if the flashgun does not, it doesn't matter. Putting my SB-15 on the F90X doesn't give it D-TTL metering. Both the flash and the camera have to meet the requirements for D-TTL metering to work.

Thanks for your reply. I just bought the SB-23 because it was super-cheap (and, super-compact!), and was really just was intended as a substitute for the fact that the N90s doesn't have a built-in flash. I had originally asked (here, in this now re-edited post) if anyone knew which of the 90s-era Nikon SB flashes support D-TTL, but are also compatible with the SC-17 TTL cable . . . but I just did some more reading on Ken's site about Nikon flashes under, "Nikon Flash Speedlight Guide," and found that the 'D' technology, according to Ken, isn't really all that beneficial anyway. Boy, he sure isn't a fan of the 'D' technology! Apparently, I'm not going to be missing much there, either with my SB-23, or by using any of my non-'D' AF Nikkors.

So, I guess I can go with an SB-28, or actually, according to Ken, virtually any Nikon Speedlight, past or present, for my N90s. I just really wanted to make sure that I got a flash that is both electrically and data-compatible with the SC-17, so that I can still benefit from TTL-controlled, off-camera flash with my N90s.

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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Most flash guns will work just fine, D doesn't make a lot of difference unless you are looking more for fill light. I use my SB-800 on my F90X, no problem, and the old SB-15 works in auto mode (the flash does the metering).

Posted 2 years ago #

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Nikon flash units and 'D'-awareness?

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