Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Does anyone know if a Nikon CLS flash in commander mode will trigger a non-Nikon optical slave without affecting the flash exposure? Or is the only option to set it on its lowest power setting and use aperture, shutter, and ISO to keep it from affecting the exposure? I hope this question is clear.

Thanks!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

This blocks the visible and only allows IR light through, it's what most slaves are sensitive to.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/410445-REG/Nikon_4905_SG_3IR_IR_Panel_for.html#!
I think you would have to use the pop-up in manual mode to eliminate the pre-flash signals.
Never done it that way myself.
Good luck!

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Thanks, Goof. I'm shooting the D500 now. No more pop-up flash, FBOW.

Ben

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Loved that camera!
I use radios for triggering now.
Phottix Odin for the Nikon flashes.
Recently bought a Godox TT685 with built-in receiver.
It's a great value for the money and a pretty vast system.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Yes (with limitations). If you use a CLS capable slave such as the Yongnuo yn-565 or yn-568, you can set your commander to provide no light to the exposure, and optically adjust slaves remotely.

However, if you are very close to your subject, and the commander is pointed directly at the subject, the tail of the command signal flash may contribute slightly to the exposure. This is true whether you use a hot shoe mounted commander or a pop-up in command mode.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I did have that situation happen once.
Had a tiny bit of fill from the pop-op in my shot using 2 SB-800's.
Think it actually helped a bit with the sign.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Thanks, Rick. So it has to be CLS compatible, not merely an optical slave. That makes sense.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I just checked and can confirm:
If you set the pop-up to manual (e-3 in the menu on my D810), there is no pre-flash and it will trigger a dumb optical slave.
You can set it as low as 1/128th power.
Whether the slave flash sensor responds to the trigger flash is another question.
You may have to up the power on the pop-up.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Yes, the optical slaves need to be compatible with the Nikon CLS system, but only if you want to use CLS optical remote adjustments.

You can mix CLS and dumb slaves in one exposure if you like. Just set power and zoom on the dumb slaves manually, and make sure they are set to ignore the pre-flash. (assuming the dumb slaves are capable of ignoring pre-flash)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Good tip.
That would mean the dumb slaves are smarter than we give them credit.

Photocraig

When I use the pop up to trigger the Optical slaves, if I don't want even the lowered output from my pop up to hit the scene, I simply tape a card over the flash. The slaves are sensitive enough to fire off the reflected spilled out the side flash. It is kind of counter intuitive, but it has worked for me. Try it. I am careful to keep the tape off the flash tube. just let the card hinge down from the top. You could also hinge a piece of translucent plastic (or a few) to diminish the light and diffuse what it does put out. I cut mine from plastic milk or juice containers. Also, if you do this, be sure the lens hood is removed to avoid the pop up casting a shadow on the subject.

Good luck. This is the budget friendly way to go.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

The issue that I have run into experimenting with some inexpensive optical slave flashes is that the optical detector is built into the flash head. It will detect a flash and fire if and only if the other flash is pretty much directly in line with the optical detector. As in a cross lighting situation for example. If the optical slave is on the camera left as a fill and the regular flash is on the camera right as the key light the optical will not always see the flash and not fire. This lack of firing is really bad if you want to put any kind of modifier on the optical slave flash. It pretty much just will not see any other flash in most cases. I would recommend you go with some sort of radio or IR firing if you are using Speedlites. Interesting I have not found any Nikon or Canon Speedlites that will fire optically as a slave.

Interesting enough I have found that the Alienbees by Buff have an optical slave that seems to detect any flash going off anywhere around it, even bouncing off another wall. This is good and OK if you are not using any pre flash such as ETTL, but any flash or pre flash fired would probably trip the Alienbees. This would not be a problem in a home studio but if you set them up to use optical slave in a wedding reception they would likely be going off overtime any flash was triggered. So, I can use my Canon 600EX-RT flashes to trigger the Alienbees optically as long as I am using Manual mode and not ETTL on the Speedlights. The is handy for me. As usual Your Mileage May Vary...

Best,
Todd Ferguson

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Thanks, Craig.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

This is useful, Todd, and you’ve given me ideas for my personal situation. Thank you!

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

I have successfully used the on camera pop up flash on my D5300 to trigger two non brand slaves for group shots indoors.