Hello, I am here to explain in depth about wireless flash techniques.  This technique can be helpful with Nikon brand equipment, but you will get similar results with different brands such as Canon, Fuji, Olympus, and the others.  Some brands do not support wireless flash nor do they have a wireless flash commander (such as Nikon's SU-800 commander).  There are Pocketwizards available to use to get similar results, except Pocketwizards are not automatic,and you will be forced to use the flashes manually (in Manual Mode or "M").  I will explain the basic setup for wireless flash so you can get comfortable and get to know your equipment better.  The only three flashes by Nikon that support C.L.S., as known as Creative Lighting System, are  Nikon SB-R200, Nikon SB-600 and Nikon SB-800.  They can be fired completely wirelessly by four different methods:  1)  Using built-in camera flash, 2)  Using either SB-600 or SB-800 as a master flash on the camera to remotely fire another flash unit, 3)  Using SU-800 Commander mounted on the camera's hot shoe, or the ridiculously  4)  Firing the flashes using your finger during  a long exposure.

From left: Nikon SU-800 Commander and Nikon SB-800 flash unit

The Nikon SU-800 is the state-of-the-art wireless flash triggering and/or commander.  It only has one limitation, which happens to be workable with other flash units within 33.4 feet, which is acceptable for most situations.  The SU-800 can remotely fire multiple flashes, up to twelve flash units, at the same time.  It could be used for Nikon's R1C1 Close-Up flash system to remotely fire the smaller flash units (SB-R200) for macro / micro photography.  It is not the only thing it could do - it can remotely fire two other flash units of SB-600 and SB-800.  In this tutorial, we will be discussing the SB-800 flash unit only.    The Nikon SB-800 is a professional grade flash unit and the leading flash unit in the Nikon's historic lineup of flash units.  Many professionals prefer the SB-800 over SB-600 for longer battery life, more stability nearly unbreakable, better communication with SU-800 when firing wirelessly.  The SB-800 has more ability to be controlled by the photographer himself / herself rather than being controlled by the camera itself.  It obeys SU-800's commands very accurately for Manual flash mode rather than Automatic or TTL, as known as Through The Lens.  The SB-800 is the only flash unit that could be set as the master flash on-camera to remotely fire other flash units.  It is similar to SU-800 except the master on-camera flash will fire and could give you unusual results when using wireless flashes.

Image on the left is the Nikon's SU-800 Remote Commander.  It is designed mainly to remotely trigger the flash units that support C.L.S. (Creative Lighting System).  From the SU-800 alone, it can control multiple flash units from only one area where you are located.  It is designed to be very simple and give accurate flash results especially when setting the flash units to M-Mode (Manual Mode).  The SU-800 can be in charge of four separate channels and three separate groups without any hiccup during the work session.  The user can set one or more groups to specific flash modes available on SU-800 of TTL, AA, M, or --- (it will not fire the flash unit).  The SU-800 has two different modes:  Close-up and Normal (there is a switch located inside the battery chamber on the front).  For this wireless lighting technique, the Manual Mode was selected for successful results.  The Close-up mode will work successfully with SB-R200 flash units (as in the R1C1 Close-up Flash System) for macro photography.  The point is, the SU-800 is the commander-in-chief of all.

Move your mouse hover above the image to see the rear side.

Image on the right is the Nikon's SB-800 professional-grade flash unit.  It has been the leader of flash lineup by Nikon for quite a long time now since its first availability back in 2002.  Many professional photographers chose SB-800 over SB-600 (another "average-grade" flash unit) because of its additional features and external battery pack connections (with the Recycle Pack or SB-8A Multi-Power Battery Pack).  From one SB-800 alone, it can widen the ability to take photographs in low lighting conditions, night photography, portraits, or fill-light (to remove heavy shadows off a subject.  It has a built-in diffusion card, reflector card, and PC sync terminal (could be used for studio strobes if the camera doesn't have one, or to connect to other flash units for longer distance).  The SB-800 is successful in Creative Lighting Systems when being controlled by either SU-800 or another SB-800 as the master flash unit.  The SB-800 could be used as the master flash to control other flash units similar to SU-800 except the master flash will fire and SU-800 doesn't.

Move your mouse hover above the image to see the rear side.

We have now gone through the basics of the setup of SU-800 Remote Commander and SB-800 flash unit.  Here are some high quality examples photographed with an SU-800 commander on a Nikon D2X and two SB-800's with gel filters attached to the flash heads.  Please be patient and allow time for the high-resolution images to download.

Image Above:  The glasses were set on top of a table with a SB-800 under the table, facing the wall with a RED gel filter.  Another SB-800 handheld forty-five degrees up and behind the glasses with a BLUE gel filter.  Image Data: Nikon D2X, 60mm f/2.8 AF ED Micro-Nikkor, ISO 100, White Balance set to Flash, 1/60s at F/8, both SB-800 fired at M-1/8 with SU-800 and Adobe Lightroom to improve the colors and sharpening.

Image Above:  The glasses were set on top of a table with a SB-800 under the table, facing the wall with a BLUE gel filter.  Another SB-800 handheld forty-five degrees up and behind the glasses with a RED gel filter.  Image Data: Nikon D2X, 60mm f/2.8 AF ED Micro-Nikkor, ISO 100, White Balance set to Flash, 1/60s at F/8, both SB-800 fired at M-1/8 with SU-800 and Adobe Lightroom to improve the colors and sharpening.

Image Above:  The glasses were set on top of a table with a SB-800 under the table, facing the wall with a BLUE gel filter.  Another SB-800 handheld forty-five degrees up and behind the glasses with a GREEN gel filter.  Image Data: Nikon D2X, 60mm f/2.8 AF ED Micro-Nikkor, ISO 100, White Balance set to Flash, 1/60s at F/8, both SB-800 fired at M-1/8 with SU-800 and Adobe Lightroom to improve the colors and sharpening.

As you can see, the Nikon Creative Lighting System proves that you can get creative with your photographs using multiple flash units.  These photographs, above, were shot with SB-800 being controlled by the SU-800 in M-Mode (Manual Mode).  In the M-Mode, it gives you more accurate results to get any amount of lighting you want to be lighted on the subject.  The Creative Lighting System has wide abilities you can do within the limit of 33.4 feet away from each other.  With the Creative Lighting System, it allows you to "freehand" your photographs using your hand(s) to control the lighting without any clutter of cords and wires.  It works successfully as long as you don't get yourself in your picture.

This is the rear of Nikon SU-800, showing you how simple it is.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me, I will be more than happy to help you out with Wireless Flash Techniques.  Back to the Tutorials