Sunday, 5 Apr 2009
Nikon SU-800 Review
It’s unfair to review this after 2 disappointing shoots outdoors.
For what it’s worth, it’s not the unit’s fault but the inherent problem with using infrared light as a trigger. Triggers that use radio frequencies to trigger remote flashes simply have a much higher success rate outdoors where there is lots of (light) noise.
During 2 shoots, I have had trouble triggering the flashes from less than 5 feet away. Primarily the problems occur when shooting into the sun. Other times, problems arise simply from the remote flash’s ability to see the IR signal. Basically outdoors, the trigger is nearly useless.
Indoors? Flawless. When the IR signal bounces, it goes everywhere just like light. Indoors the trigger almost never fails. It will even go around walls and even into into softboxes where remote flashes might reside during a shoot.
The great thing about the SU-800 and Nikon’s CLS system is the TTL system. However for me, I almost never shoot TTL unless I’m on the go, in a “run and gun” type of shoot during which I’d be at the mercy of the SU-800’s IR signals.
For my purposes, I foresee inevitably moving to an RF trigger. Either Cybersyncs or the new Pocket Wizards.
posted at 8:12pm
