SB-800 issues.

[RMThompson]

So lately during a shoot I'm having some strange experiences with the SB-800, and I am wondering what the issue might be.

When shooting, I get some randomly dark photos, even though everything seems to be firing fine, and then even less often some GREATLY overexposed photos.

It's all the flash, the camera settings are in manual, and when using natural light everything works great!

Does anyone have any experience with this? It doesn't "feel" like the flash is dying or underpowered, but I am not ruling anything out at this point!

 

[tirediron]

Post some examples with EXIF data; are your batteries fresh and strong?

 

[RMThompson]

I am PRETTY SURE the batteries are fresh and strong. Here are some samples, all shot on the same settings:

CFA Pattern [Green,Blue][Red,Green]
Color Space Uncalibrated
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel 4
Compression JPEG (old-style)
Contrast Normal
Create Date 2010:12:26 14:39:36
9 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes, 33 seconds ago
Custom Rendered Normal
Date/Time Original 2010:12:26 14:39:36
9 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes, 33 seconds ago
Digital Zoom Ratio 1
Exif Image Size 680 × 1,024
Exif Version 0221
Exposure Compensation -4/3
Exposure Mode Auto
Exposure Program Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Time 1/160
F Number 2.2
File Source Digital Camera
Flash On, Return detected
Flashpix Version 0100
Focal Length 50.0 mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 75 mm
Gain Control None
ISO 200
Image Unique ID 9d28090d04522dd70ec309f8f9af4140
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Light Source Unknown
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Max Aperture Value 1.7
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Camera Model Name NIKON D90
Modify Date 2010:12:26 14:39:36
9 days, 17 hours, 9 minutes, 33 seconds ago
Orientation Unknown (0)
Resolution 300 pixels/inch
Saturation Normal
Scene Capture Type Standard
Scene Type Directly photographed
Sensing Method One-chip color area
Sharpness Normal
Software Picasa 3.0
Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Subject Distance Range Unknown
Thumbnail Length 5,053
User Comment
White Balance Auto
X Resolution 72
Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Y Resolution 72

CFA Pattern [Green,Blue][Red,Green]
Color Space Uncalibrated
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel 4
Compression JPEG (old-style)
Contrast Normal
Create Date 2010:12:26 14:39:40
9 days, 17 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds ago
Custom Rendered Normal
Date/Time Original 2010:12:26 14:39:40
9 days, 17 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds ago
Digital Zoom Ratio 1
Exif Image Size 680 × 1,024
Exif Version 0221
Exposure Compensation -4/3
Exposure Mode Auto
Exposure Program Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Time 1/160
F Number 2.2
File Source Digital Camera
Flash On, Return detected
Flashpix Version 0100
Focal Length 50.0 mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 75 mm
Gain Control None
ISO 200
Image Unique ID 5dded4f1334eb4c55fc98627c23d9b4f
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Light Source Unknown
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Max Aperture Value 1.7
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Camera Model Name NIKON D90
Modify Date 2010:12:26 14:39:40
9 days, 17 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds ago
Orientation Unknown (0)
Resolution 300 pixels/inch
Saturation Normal
Scene Capture Type Standard
Scene Type Directly photographed
Sensing Method One-chip color area
Sharpness Normal
Software Picasa 3.0
Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Subject Distance Range Unknown
Thumbnail Length 4,250
User Comment
White Balance Auto
X Resolution 72
Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Y Resolution 72

CFA Pattern [Green,Blue][Red,Green]
Color Space Uncalibrated
Components Configuration Y, Cb, Cr, -
Compressed Bits Per Pixel 4
Compression JPEG (old-style)
Contrast Normal
Create Date 2010:12:26 14:39:52
9 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes, 9 seconds ago
Custom Rendered Normal
Date/Time Original 2010:12:26 14:39:52
9 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes, 9 seconds ago
Digital Zoom Ratio 1
Exif Image Size 680 × 1,024
Exif Version 0221
Exposure Compensation -4/3
Exposure Mode Auto
Exposure Program Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Time 1/160
F Number 2.2
File Source Digital Camera
Flash On, Return detected
Flashpix Version 0100
Focal Length 50.0 mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 75 mm
Gain Control None
ISO 200
Image Unique ID e4711079cf051e7825936521410894bf
Interoperability Index R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
Interoperability Version 0100
Light Source Unknown
Make NIKON CORPORATION
Max Aperture Value 1.7
Metering Mode Multi-segment
Camera Model Name NIKON D90
Modify Date 2010:12:26 14:39:52
9 days, 17 hours, 11 minutes, 9 seconds ago
Orientation Unknown (0)
Resolution 300 pixels/inch
Saturation Normal
Scene Capture Type Standard
Scene Type Directly photographed
Sensing Method One-chip color area
Sharpness Normal
Software Picasa 3.0
Sub Sec Time 00
Sub Sec Time Digitized 00
Sub Sec Time Original 00
Subject Distance Range Unknown
Thumbnail Length 4,547
User Comment
White Balance Auto
X Resolution 72
Y Cb Cr Positioning Co-sited
Y Resolution 72

Today I reset the flash and I took a series of test photos, and produced a few dark images, but I was shooting rapidly, so I cannot attribute it to anything other than cycling perhaps, even though the flash DID fire.

 

[Wilsan]

Is that happening with all the lenses or only with one.

Another thing what is the Shutter Speed ?
If is going over the 1/250 it could be sync problems.

 

[RMThompson]

These were shot with a 50mm 1.8 lens.

Shutter on all is:

Exposure Time 1/160

 

[KmH]

It looks like it's your recycle time. There were only 4 seconds between the first 2 shots you posted, then 12 seconds between the second and third shots.

What kind of batteries are you using, Alkalines, NiMH (regular or slow discharge), NiCAD?

 

[dirtfan21]

I would guess by your data that its your recycle time. Are these pictures take with a fresh charged batteries? I do have Sb-800 and i have found out the recycle time can be slower and not always think your flash is back to full charge when you think it is. I have learned this the hard way. So I switch to a external battery pack..