Sb800 auto zoom issue?

[Mach0]

Here's some more important info on the SB 800. Don't send it back just yet. The Instruction Manual published by Nikon is misleading. Probably because of terminology. AutoZoom on the flash is controlled by the MENU in the LCD screen, as I stated. But when you access the Zoom Menu, the two options of ON and OFF react axxx-backwards from what you would think. Moreover, I was incorrect when I said look for an M above the word ZOOM at the bottom of the LCD screen.

M is always there, but when AutoZoom is disabled, a small 'X' preceeds the word ZOOM. But here's the real twist. When you reach those two options in the AutoZoom Menu, OFF is the one you want. OFF enables AutoZoom. ON shuts it off and pops the X in the LCD Screen. Crazy, huh. AutoZoom works by disabling the rocker switch zoom function --- you know, the clear plastic rocker switch with 3 trees on the left (for wide) and 1 tree on the right (for tele). In other words, you need to turn off the rocker switch zoom control to enable the lens to match FOV with flash coverage. It can only be one or the other. The Zoom Menu decides which. Off is for Lens, On is for rocker switch control.

So, here's what to do:
a) Press and hold SEL for 4 seconds
b) When the Setup Menus appear on the LCD, scroll up-down/L-R to get to ZOOM.
c) Hit the SEL button to open the Zoom menu.
d) When you hit the SEL button, you will see up/down arrows that toggle between the two settings. You want OFF. This switches off PowerZoom and enables AUTOZoom, which responds to signals from your lens.
e) Tap the ON/OFF button to view the LCD control settings. The 'M' should not have a 'X' to the left. Your lens should now control zooming out to 105mm.

Go to Amazon.com and order the Nikon CLS Lighting book by Mike Hagen (RockyNook publishers). It will load some bullets in your gun as far as strobe shooting goes.

I ran through these. It works. It works fine with my other lenses. It's just on my one af-d lens it doesn't zoom from 60-70. It stops at 60. Makes me want to retire it to strictly off camera flash and replace it with the sb900.

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[Mach0]

Called KEH. I was told to try and clean the contacts out and see if my local camera shops have any af-d lenses to try out and see if it's the same. He said it might be either the lens not communicating properly with the flash or the flash thinking the difference between 60-70mm is negligible. If it works with other af-d lenses, I can send it back under warranty. It's a toss up. I bounce flash anyway so auto zoom doesn't really matter. I'll call the camera shop for piece of mind.

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[Mach0]

Just a follow up. It's the lens. It will be going back to KEH next week while it's still under 6 month warranty.

 

[bravozulu]

Good thinking. When you consider all the parts that have to work, that lens is pretty complicated. Focus and coordination with the strobe both depend on a good electrical connection with the body. Come to think of it, the camera shoe and the contacts on the bottom of the strobe should be squeaky clean as well.

Hope it works out. None of this gear is exactly cheap.

 

[Mach0]

Good thinking. When you consider all the parts that have to work, that lens is pretty complicated. Focus and coordination with the strobe both depend on a good electrical connection with the body. Come to think of it, the camera shoe and the contacts on the bottom of the strobe should be squeaky clean as well. Hope it works out. None of this gear is exactly cheap.

The absolute dead give away was the exif. I took pics at 70 mm but exif showed 62 mm. That explains why it was soft or missed focus at anything 60 and above at 2.8.