Nikon Flash Off Camera: I just acquired a Nikon SB-910. I have no flash experience with my Nikon cameras. If I want the flash to fire when it is off of the hot shoe, do I need some...

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I just acquired a Nikon SB-910. I have no flash experience with my Nikon cameras. If I want the flash to fire when it is off of the hot shoe, do I need some type of camera mounted controller? I will use The flash with a D810 and D850. I’m not anticipating heavy use, if there is a less expensive option, it will do for me. Thanks for helping.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

All of your flashes can be fired off camera by setting the camera's pop up flash to command mode and I think you have to set each flash accordingly. Just remember that it’s line of sight only. Radio controlled remote setups don’t have that limitation. They can reach out a couple hundred feet and fire around corners.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

joehel2 wrote:

I just acquired a Nikon SB-910. I have no flash experience with my Nikon cameras. If I want the flash to fire when it is off of the hot shoe, do I need some type of camera mounted controller? I will use The flash with a D810 and D850. I’m not anticipating heavy use, if there is a less expensive option, it will do for me. Thanks for helping.

Here is a step by step guide on using your flash off camera - https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-nikons-wireless-flash-system/

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Sadly unlike the Nikon D810, the D850 does not have a built-in flash...
Same issue with the D500 and D780...

So you are limited to your D810 for a "free" off camera trigger joehel2...

That said I use the Nikon SC-29 an off-camera flash cord which provides full TTL control for Nikon Speedlites for setups that have the speedlights relatively close to my D3x. I actually find it to be an elegant solution in this scenario...

Hope this helps...
All the best on your journey joehel2

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

My first DSLR was a Nikon D40X, an entry level camera. As I got into macro I wanted to use off camera flash so I purchased a Nikon D80 which has a commander mode to fire off camera flashes. The only Nikon cameras that would not have the commander mode are the entry level ones.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

gvarner wrote:

All of your flashes can be fired off camera by setting the camera's pop up flash to command mode and I think you have to set each flash accordingly. Just remember that it’s line of sight only. Radio controlled remote setups don’t have that limitation. They can reach out a couple hundred feet and fire around corners.

Thanks for helping. You refreshed my memory re: commander mode.

BebuLamar

JRiepe wrote:

My first DSLR was a Nikon D40X, an entry level camera. As I got into macro I wanted to use off camera flash so I purchased a Nikon D80 which has a commander mode to fire off camera flashes. The only Nikon cameras that would not have the commander mode are the entry level ones.

But the high end ones (D5, D850, D500) don't have a built in flash. You have to buy a commander module and attach it to the hot shoe.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Shellback wrote:

Here is a step by step guide on using your flash off camera - https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-nikons-wireless-flash-system/

This is a great help, it will make me look like I know what I’m doing when I use the flash.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Thomas902 wrote:

Sadly unlike the Nikon D810, the D850 does not hav... (show quote)

Thanks for the tip re: the SC-29, I’m going to check it out.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

JRiepe wrote:

My first DSLR was a Nikon D40X, an entry level camera. As I got into macro I wanted to use off camera flash so I purchased a Nikon D80 which has a commander mode to fire off camera flashes. The only Nikon cameras that would not have the commander mode are the entry level ones.

Thanks for reminding me re: using the commander mode.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

BebuLamar wrote:

But the high end ones (D5, D850, D500) don't have a built in flash. You have to buy a commander module and attach it to the hot shoe.

Now I’m glad that I didn’t sell my D810, it can be my flash camera. Thanks for helping.

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

BebuLamar wrote:

But the high end ones (D5, D850, D500) don't have a built in flash. You have to buy a commander module and attach it to the hot shoe.

You're right. I forgot that some don't have a built in flash.

CO

The built-in flash can influence the exposure. Nikon has this panel that's for using the camera's built-in flash.

(Download)

Fiddlingbill Loc: Mass.

I bought the godox xpro trigger and slaves. Least expensive, and the work very well.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

CO wrote:

The built-in flash can influence the exposure. Nikon has this panel that's for using the camera's built-in flash.

Thanks for the tip, I didn’t know a flash shied existed.