NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Other => Topic started by: PeterN on October 13, 2015, 10:04:31

Title: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: PeterN on October 13, 2015, 10:04:31

I haven't used flash much and when I used it, I used it in manual mode. But I added a SB-910 recently to use the TTL mode. But I haven't been able to get the exposure right in TTL mode. I tried a variety of settings but the one constant factor is an exposure flash correction of -1 in TTL/FP and TTL/BL/FP mode. I've checked camera and flash unit settings and I do not compensate. So the metering software does something that I do not understand.

Can anyone point me in the right direction what/where to look at?

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: Jakov Minić on October 13, 2015, 11:15:41

I would reset the body by pressing the two magical green buttons at the same time ;)
Then, I would press the magical two green buttons on the flash ;)
I bet it should work after that :)

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: PeterN on October 13, 2015, 11:40:37

Quote from: Jakov Minić on October 13, 2015, 11:15:41

I would reset the body by pressing the two magical green buttons at the same time ;)
Then, I would press the magical two green buttons on the flash ;)
I bet it should work after that :)

Thanks Jakov, I had reset the flash but that did not change anything. I did not reset the body yet because I've changed quite a few settings. Instead, I went through all menu settings to check everything that could have a connection to metering and flash. Resetting the body is perhaps a last resort?

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: Peter Forsell on October 13, 2015, 12:46:52

My experience with Nikon flashes suggest the following:

1 direct flash TTL BL needs no compensation
2 bounce flash TTL BL needs +1 EV flash compensation
3 direct flash TTL needs -1.7 stops flash compensation

This is systematic and works consistently with SB800, SB900 and SB910.

Auto ISO is not recommended with flash. There's too much auto going on like matrix metering and TTL flash metering. Auto ISO melts the camera's brain.

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: PeterN on October 13, 2015, 12:59:05

Quote from: Peter Forsell on October 13, 2015, 12:46:52

My experience with Nikon flashes suggest the following:

1 direct flash TTL BL needs no compensation
2 bounce flash TTL BL needs +1 EV flash compensation
3 direct flash TTL needs -1.7 stops flash compensation

This is systematic and works consistently with SB800, SB900 and SB910.

Auto ISO is not recommended with flash. There's too much auto going on like matrix metering and TTL flash metering. Auto ISO melts the camera's brain.

Makes sense but in my case, each of those type of shots is underexposed.

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: PeterN on October 13, 2015, 17:31:53

Found the problem. It wasn't in the menu but in the little flash exp correction value setting button on the camera. That was - for whatever reason - set to -1.

Title: Re: SB-910 underexposure
Post by: Jakov Minić on October 13, 2015, 17:42:53

Now press the two green buttons and see whether it will return the -1 exposure compensation :D