frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

Nikon SU800 or Debao SU800/knock off? I have seen a video of the Debao working fine at up to 30ft it also swivel's 180 degrees. Is that an advantage over the Nikon if you remote speed light is behind you? The video's I have seen with the Nikon all seem to be using it to control pocket wizards. Right now I only wanna do CLS.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I have the Nikon SU-800 and haven't ever been in a situation where the speedlights I want to trigger are behind me. You could use a ttl cord on the Nikon product if you needed to. Have only read about the Debao unit but was not aware it swiveled. As a full time pro, I'm leery about using 3rd party equipment on the job. Nikon's SU-800 works great for me, even outside.

frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

Thanks... Maybe I posed my question wrong. I guess I am asking if the IR signal from the SU800 is directional/(only forward) or broadcasts (multi directional)? I have used my on camera flash as commander to fire my speed lights and sometimes with the speed light held to the side or behind the camera. That seems to work ok. I have also used my SB700 as commander. I have never used anything like the SU800 to control Speed lights and I am just trying to understand my position and distance relative to the speed lights. I am planning some shoots that would actually put my remotes behind and in front of the camera but not ready for radio controls yet. In my old studio days working with photo floods, I often worked my camera around the model with some lights positioned behind the camera. Guess I am just an old dog trying to learn some new tricks.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

I gave up on the SU800...the IR system is just to unreliable in bright daylight...also line of sight was another issue.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I seems to cast a pretty wide signal but there are limitations as Brett has found.
There are a lot of inexpensive radio triggers on the market.
Youngnou seems to be a popular brand.
They are almost all manual, but that's how I use my SU-800 most of the time anyway. I find it really convenient to adjust the output from the commander than at the speedlight.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

On paper, the specifications of the Debao look pretty good.
It only rotates horizontally, but 130 degrees in either direction.
Article comparing the two HERE.
One plus for the Debao : it uses AA's rather than a CR123 battery.
One thought, if you really want to go this way- rigging the usually useless diffuser cap you get with a flash on the commander may help disperse the IR signal enough to help trigger your speedlights.
I'm sure it will reduce the range, but it might help with your situation.
Amazon usually has a good return policy.

frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

I decided to go with the Debao version based a lot on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeyN0uaBdnI and article comparing the specs.
thanks for all the input. It seems like a low risk choice and I really like the value added feature that lets you rotate the direction and the AA battery rather than the CR123.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Let us know what how it works, and probably more importantly, what situation you use it in!

FYI: To make a link live, you take the "s" out of https.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeyN0uaBdnI

frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

opps.. thank you. I knew there was something wrong. I will keep you posted and will post the pictures.
Just an off note.. I also went to RIT after I got out of the Army.. Small world :)

jcboy3

IR is light, it's going to come out the front of the unit. Might bounce around some to be detected by units behind you, but if you don't have line of sight, your results may be unpredictable.

I prefer radio; much more reliable, less chance of interference is someone else is shooting.

BTW, radio triggers are definitely old dog now. These fancy optical TTL systems; that's a new trick.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Radio ttl is the future/present.
Look at Canon's 600EX RT for what's here/coming.

zundapp5 Loc: Portugal

Nikon su-800 has a lens coverage:60º vertical and 78º horizontal!
Does anyone know the coverage of Debao?
If it covers more distance but lower angles, can be a negative difference!

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I have never had a problem with the IR signal on my D70s or my D7100 which have CLS built into them. ALL Nikon SU-xxx Speedlights rotate to point the receiver toward the camera so the SB-800 doesnt need to move. Each of the speedlights has a window (usually near the battery door on the light, and you position that toward the camera, the sb800 or the camera emit the signals to give the correct I-ttl. The other brand is NOT i-ttl as Nikon has pattened it. It is straight ttl. In I-ttl, the camera reads the light coming in and tells the flash that it has enough light exposure (even if the ambient light changes). In ttl, the meter makes the reading, sends it to the light and that is the exposure irrealivent of any changes during the shot. PLEASE NOTE: This is Nikon's explanation of the differences and may be skewed to reflect better on their product. However, I have used CLS since the D70s first came out and then was taught my Joe McNally as one of Nikon's Professional Support reps (people who spend their time helping professional photographers rather than the amatures and general callins). So my guess is that they do understand them.
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/fy1hs59m/photography-lighting-tutorial-part-1-control-of-color.html

frankie c Loc: Lake Havasu CIty, AZ

Thank you.... I have had no problems either. My question is referring to the SU800/CLS commander. Not the SB800 Speed Light. My D600 and my D300s with the commander mode on board work just great. My D5100 does not have that available on board so I need this little add on to accomplish CLS with it. I was just weighing my options. The D5100 is my favorite walk around camera and when I am out on the trail on the Las Vegas strip I like to pack light but still want to be a little creative :) So I figures I can pack my camera light/Lite (that's confusing) and maybe tape a speed light to my Margarita Glass and I be like a creative genius. Please don't get mad at this I am just playing. I really do appreciate your comments and help. I have a bad sense of humor which some times escapes. Happy Shooting.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

I have two SB 600 flash's and they use AA baterys. SB 600 has the commander mode.