Off-Camera Speedlight Flash Control (Page 2): There is the su-800, which is Nikon's "master" controller for three channels. There are also non-OEM equivalents (much less expensive).

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

leftj wrote:

I don't know if there is a dedicated controller for the SB 800. I recently Purchased a good used SB800 from a friend. I noted that it can also be a controller so I plan to just get another SB800 and see how that works.

There is the su-800, which is Nikon's "master" controller for three channels. There are also non-OEM equivalents (much less expensive). try Amazon, B&H and/or Adorama, or, look at KEH, usedphotopro (Roberts) and/or MPB for used items.

Bonsai123 Loc: Puerto Rico

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OEyih0vtkik
Check this no need for trigger you can use your own built in flash as commander

Bonsai123 Loc: Puerto Rico

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OEyih0vtkik
Check this no need for trigger you can use your own built in flash as commander

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Bonsai123 wrote:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OEyih0vtkik
Check this no need for trigger you can use your own built in flash as commander

Not with the OP’s Nikon D3300.
You need to have a D7xxx or better to do commander mode with the pop-up flash. (The 3xxx and 5xxx have no commander mode in the menu)

If It’s possible to put the 3300’s flash in manual mode or somehow eliminate the preflash, it may be able to trigger the SB-800 in slave mode. Not sure if the SB 800 can be programmed to ignore the preflash. Haven’t had one in a long time.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Silverrails wrote:

I have a Nikon Speedlight SB800, and looking for a Master Controller for Off-Camera Flash, to put on my Nikon D3300 Crop-Sensor Camera, recommendation Please.
Thank you.

Godox is good, as is Yongnuo.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Silverrails there actually is a rarely used arcane feature of the powerful Nikon SB-800 which will allow you to control it with your Nikon D3300's built in flash. It is called SU-4 mode

If you haven't yet downloaded the SB-800 User's Manual I strongly recommend you do so.
https://download.nikonimglib.com/archive2/9nBAS00MAAL201vA1P470ePJuS88/SB-800_EU(En)03.pdf
That said I've learned from this forum that precious few seem to read through a 137 page manual (though it is stellar!) To this end I've provided a step by step guide on how to setup your SB-800 in SU-4 Mode.

This will empower you to start using your SB-800 as a remote today absolutely free!
Albeit as a legacy wireless slave.

How To Slave an SB-800

1. First, turn on your flash.

2. Now get into the submenu by pressing and holding the "sel" button for 2 seconds.

3. Arrow right (the "single tree" button) to get the upper right quadrant highlighted.

4. Push the select button again.

5. Scroll down ("-" button) until "SU-4" is highlighted.

6. Push "sel" again to select.

7. Push and hold "sel" for 2 seconds to get out of the submenu.

8. Your flash will now say "REMOTE."

You are now in SU-4 mode Silverrails, a legacy, wireless, slave mode for which the SB-800 is backward compatible to any flash on camera or otherwise (But not for TTL). By pressing the "mode" button you can toggle between automatic and manual. Choose manual.

By pressing the "+" or "-" buttons, you can change power in 1/3-stop increments all the way to 1/128 power.

Important: You want to use all flashes in the manual mode, so they will not influence each other's output.

The "eye" of the slave is the circular optical port on the left side of the lash if you are facing the front of the flash. So you will want to rotate the flash body so the window faces the master flash.

Caveat: Please be certain to set the D3300 on-camera flash to manual and avoid TTL preflashes.
The SB-800 in SU-4 mode is so sensitive it may fire from those little preflashes.

Ok, have I used the SU-4 mode? Absolutely! I have a spare SB-700 that I have set to SU-4 Mode that I use in my studio when I need a touch of fill for full length catalog fashion. I place it on its stand on the floor at ~ 8 +/- feet out and it provides just enough fill to illuminate the talent’s lower wardrobe. It’s a handy quick fix during a long catalog session. Those pesky designers want their textile artistry clearly display meaning no deep shadow areas.

Hope this helps Silverrails and saves you the costs and frustration in using cheap third party solution’s whose documentation can be somewhat arcane.

Oh as an extra benefit since there are no complex signals between the controller and slave this setup can have a range of well over 100 feet! How cool is that!

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Quick Note: Silverrails if you get frustrated with SU-4 mode and want to reset your Nikon sb-800 to factory default settings.

Turn your SB-800 on, then hold down your "mode" and "on/off" buttons simultaneously. (Press the "mode" button first or all you'll do is turn off the flash.) You have to keep holding them for 2-3 seconds.

It's that easy to do a "Reset"

Again hope this helps...
The Nikon SB-800 is a very powerful flash... Enjoy!

Silverrails

John Kwas wrote:

I find discussion about flash timely. After many years of photography I pretty much have avoided using a flash. I recently acquired a used SB-800 hoping to become somewhat proficient at using it before a wedding next year. I'm a bit confused when it comes to the need of using controllers like Godox. I have a D610 and D500. Am I correct that I can use them off camera without additional gadgets only using built in wireless Nikon settings?

Hope all works out well.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

leftj wrote:

I don't know if there is a dedicated controller for the SB 800. I recently Purchased a good used SB800 from a friend. I noted that it can also be a controller so I plan to just get another SB800 and see how that works.

A 800 is a controller and I use it to control a 600

Silverrails

Thomas902 wrote:

Silverrails the Nikon D3300 does not have CLS Comm... (show quote)

Yes, must look into finding a Used
SU-800 Flash Commander to go to with my SB-800 Flash.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Silverrails wrote:

I have a Nikon Speedlight SB800, and looking for a Master Controller for Off-Camera Flash, to put on my Nikon D3300 Crop-Sensor Camera, recommendation Please.
Thank you.

Yongnuo has a nice set of options for you that do not rely on optical flash triggers or line-of-sight infrared. Like the Godox, they support iTTL, can control the SB800 like an SU800 would, and are far less costly than OEM Nikon stuff.

https://www.lightingrumours.com/yongnuo-yn-622n-flash-trigger-for-nikon-first-look-hands-on-4102

https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-622N-Wireless-Trigger-Transceivers/dp/B00EQQVZ2Q

Pocket Wizards would offer similar capability and more, but at a premium.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Gene I dislike the extra weight and complexity of having to deploy Yongnuo transceivers on off camera flash units. Been there done that with Phottix Odins. Which btw are far better built than Yongnuo and have excellent support.

This issue was totally resolved when I purchased a SU-800 from another UHH member for considerably less than the Yongnuo solution. And the SU-800 has a much stronger signal than either another Nikon Flash in Master Mode and certainly stronger than a popup flash. LOVE the SU-800 for it's robust build and simplicity...

And did I mention the SU-800 stellar User's Manual. Yongnuo likely has some of worst User Documentation on the market (collaborated by many Yongnuo users).

The SU-800 requires only a single 3V CR123A (or 3V CR123) battery they're identical which weighs 16 grams
The Yongnuo transmitter and receiver require 4 AA batteries (minimum) which weigh 95 grams (add another 48 grams for each Yongnuo receiver you add to this mix.)

Plus the fact that you are stuck with mounting your flash on Yongnuo's flaky non-locking foot (they only have a rotating screw down lock which is a pain to use and can easily work lose).

The SU-800 has a superb lever lock that deploys the Nikon locking Pin... That puppy isn't coming lose, period!

I've used the SU-800 and it's lack of complexity greatly increases the speed of setup not to mention reliability... That said in bright sunlight I still use my Phottix Odins which being radio triggers/receivers are not effected by ambient... However in all honesty I'm a major fan of Paul C Buff's Lithium Battery Pack to drive my Alien Bee 800's on location... While I have used a cluster of SB910 effectively in bright sunlight the Alien Bee solution is often my first choice in this scenario.

Bottom Line? Gene have you actually deployed a Nikon SU-800 in a real world scenario?

While Yongnuo initially may look fabulous on paper it's limitations and complexity seriously reduce it's actual worth and value in my humble estimation... You pay your money and taken your choice... It comes down to if you shoot frequently on commercial gigs... When there is a client in the mix I'll go with Nikon's reliability every time.

btw, I have/use Yongnuo radio remote triggers for my Pro Build Nikons (D700; D800; D3 & D3x) with Ten Pin Remote Terminal connectors. These Yougnuos are reliable and very cost effective. Kudos to Yongnuo for this accessory.

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

What are you shooting- sports action, portraits, events, still life, flash fill of suplamentry flash out of doors? This helps determine whuc system will be best suited for your needs.. Simple triggering or fully interfaced TTL exposure control and be separate or combined issues.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thomas902 wrote:

Gene I dislike the extra weight and complexity of having to deploy Yongnuo transceivers on off camera flash units. Been there done that with Phottix Odins. Which btw are far better built than Yongnuo and have excellent support.

This issue was totally resolved when I purchased a SU-800 from another UHH member for considerably less than the Yongnuo solution. And the SU-800 has a much stronger signal than either another Nikon Flash in Master Mode and certainly stronger than a popup flash. LOVE the SU-800 for it's robust build and simplicity...

And did I mention the SU-800 stellar User's Manual. Yongnuo likely has some of worst User Documentation on the market (collaborated by many Yongnuo users).

The SU-800 requires only a single 3V CR123A (or 3V CR123) battery they're identical which weighs 16 grams
The Yongnuo transmitter and receiver require 4 AA batteries (minimum) which weigh 95 grams (add another 48 grams for each Yongnuo receiver you add to this mix.)

Plus the fact that you are stuck with mounting your flash on Yongnuo's flaky non-locking foot (they only have a rotating screw down lock which is a pain to use and can easily work lose).

The SU-800 has a superb lever lock that deploys the Nikon locking Pin... That puppy isn't coming lose, period!

I've used the SU-800 and it's lack of complexity greatly increases the speed of setup not to mention reliability... That said in bright sunlight I still use my Phottix Odins which being radio triggers/receivers are not effected by ambient... However in all honesty I'm a major fan of Paul C Buff's Lithium Battery Pack to drive my Alien Bee 800's on location... While I have used a cluster of SB910 effectively in bright sunlight the Alien Bee solution is often my first choice in this scenario.

Bottom Line? Gene have you actually deployed a Nikon SU-800 in a real world scenario?

While Yongnuo initially may look fabulous on paper it's limitations and complexity seriously reduce it's actual worth and value in my humble estimation... You pay your money and taken your choice... It comes down to if you shoot frequently on commercial gigs... When there is a client in the mix I'll go with Nikon's reliability every time.

btw, I have/use Yongnuo radio remote triggers for my Pro Build Nikons (D700; D800; D3 & D3x) with Ten Pin Remote Terminal connectors. These Yougnuos are reliable and very cost effective. Kudos to Yongnuo for this accessory.

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought.

Gene I dislike the extra weight and complexity of ... (show quote)

Never had an issue that wasn't quickly resolved with any of the Yongnuo stuff I own. And customer service is not an issue either - a simple email to Yongnuo, and the issue is promptly resolved with a new component, at no charge. That has happened once. As far as weight is concerned, it's minor. everything else is heavy anyway, so the difference between a CR123 and a set of AAA batteries is a minor consideration for me.

Yes, I have used the SU800 - and it is fine, just expensive if new.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I started in a radio-based slave system years ago and I am heavily invested in Pocket Wizard gear- I have 3 transmitters at 12 receivers. I don't require TTL functions in the work I do. The Pocket Wizard is comparatively heavy-duty and has survived many grimy industrial sites.

I am, however, familiar with the Yonguno, Godox and Flashpoint gear. The young fols who work as my assistants and second shooters a weddings and events use them and they work reliably. They are good value for the money and the service, at least up here in Canada, is fine.

As for this thread- it is difficult for me to recommend any specific system if I don't know what the OP is intending to use it for. Just about any of the currently popular brands will trigger the lights and transmit the command data. If however there are special applications that require greater operating range (distance between the transmitter and the receivers), controlling lighting ratios, operating with more than 3 units, employing HHS, well- all of these are considerations.

In certain scenarios, the TTL function may no be necessary. Oftentimes it can take less time to take a reading with a meter, crack off a few quick tests, and hone in on the exposure and ratio rather than going through a raft of menu settings, holding buttons down, and working around the system.

Weight? Again, it depends on what and where you are shooting. Attached is my current rig for running around construction and industrial sites- hanging off Sky-Jacks and stepladders- all hand-held. The lamphead can be used directly, bounced, bare bulb, at various powe settings and the transmitter triggers at, least 5 units. Manual exposure.