D 90 and Radio Poppers, help?

timebom · 01-20-2010, 07:47 PM

Ok, well just received the Radio Poppers for our studio D 90. Installed the Jr Studio kit: Transmitter on the Hot Shoe and receiver is plugged into an Alien Bee 800
The D90 is running in full manual mode:
iso 200
250
f5
Camera flash is off with the radio popper in the hot shoe, but the Popper still gets a signal.

Now for the problem. When the Radio Popper transmitter is in the Hot Shoe and working, I get a heavy black vignette across the bottom. Take it off and use onbody flash and its fine. I have changed all external stuff like lenses and lights, and the effect is still the same.
So I believe its something in the body/setting of the camera. I havent had time to dig through the manual for the camera yet. Just wanted to see if anyone else has had experience with this kind of thing.
Thanks

xqsme · 01-20-2010, 10:06 PM

I don't have a d90 but my guess is that the camera is not in sync with your flash. On your camera flash menu try : e1 flash sync speed - 1/250 ( auto fp), if it's set there already, then just set it back to 1/250.

jezterr · 01-21-2010, 03:20 PM

such a vignette will show if your shutter is set too fast. typically 1/250 is the max you can shoot with a flash.

when you use the on camera flash, your camera probably automatically adjusts the shutter speed to compensate for the flash, that's why you don't see the vignette with it.

timebom · 01-25-2010, 11:23 AM

Thank you , makes perfect sense. I forgot radio waves travel slower and camera self adjusting for the onboard flash. I havent found the flash speed control menu yet, but have found the Flash Shutter Speed menu. Will play with that and try the settings you suggested

I am really enjoying the helpful nature of this forum.
well my menu is offering in Manual Mode,
1/60s
1/30s
1/15s
1/8s
1/4s
1/2s
1s
2s
ect...
sooo, if my monday math is awake, 1/4s = 1/250th/s?
and if thats right, my next choice is 1/2s. that sounds really slow in the camera world. but its easy to check as I go shoot it. lol

eric · 01-25-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timebom

Thank you , makes perfect sense. I forgot radio waves travel slower and camera self adjusting for the onboard flash. I havent found the flash speed control menu yet, but have found the Flash Shutter Speed menu. Will play with that and try the settings you suggested

I am really enjoying the helpful nature of this forum.
well my menu is offering in Manual Mode,
1/60s
1/30s
1/15s
1/8s
1/4s
1/2s
1s
2s
ect...
sooo, if my monday math is awake, 1/4s = 1/250th/s?
and if thats right, my next choice is 1/2s. that sounds really slow in the camera world. but its easy to check as I go shoot it. lol

No.... 1/4 second = 1/4 second which is slow in the camera world. With a flash and hand-held, you're probably looking at a range of 1/30 to 1/200th or so, maybe a bit slower but likely no faster. Test it out and see how fast you can use it without the shutter showing in the frame.

timebom · 01-25-2010, 02:25 PM

D'oh, nevermind. I just slowed down the main shutter speed. lol
I was messing around in the Bracketing/flash menu and nothing i changed made any difference. so just rotated the rear dial one notch and its very nice now. lol
some things are a lot simpler than I want to make them.
oh and I love using only off camera studio flashes now.

01-20-2010, 07:47 PM	#1
timebom Junior Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 19 From: Central Washington	D 90 and Radio Poppers, help? Ok, well just received the Radio Poppers for our studio D 90. Installed the Jr Studio kit: Transmitter on the Hot Shoe and receiver is plugged into an Alien Bee 800 The D90 is running in full manual mode: iso 200 250 f5 Camera flash is off with the radio popper in the hot shoe, but the Popper still gets a signal. Now for the problem. When the Radio Popper transmitter is in the Hot Shoe and working, I get a heavy black vignette across the bottom. Take it off and use onbody flash and its fine. I have changed all external stuff like lenses and lights, and the effect is still the same. So I believe its something in the body/setting of the camera. I havent had time to dig through the manual for the camera yet. Just wanted to see if anyone else has had experience with this kind of thing. Thanks

01-20-2010, 10:06 PM	#2
xqsme Senior Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 188 Blog Entries: 1 From: Portland My Camera: Nikon D300 / D3	I don't have a d90 but my guess is that the camera is not in sync with your flash. On your camera flash menu try : e1 flash sync speed - 1/250 ( auto fp), if it's set there already, then just set it back to 1/250. Last edited by xqsme; 01-20-2010 at 10:14 PM.

01-25-2010, 11:23 AM	#4
timebom Junior Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 19 From: Central Washington	Thank you , makes perfect sense. I forgot radio waves travel slower and camera self adjusting for the onboard flash. I havent found the flash speed control menu yet, but have found the Flash Shutter Speed menu. Will play with that and try the settings you suggested I am really enjoying the helpful nature of this forum. well my menu is offering in Manual Mode, 1/60s 1/30s 1/15s 1/8s 1/4s 1/2s 1s 2s ect... sooo, if my monday math is awake, 1/4s = 1/250th/s? and if thats right, my next choice is 1/2s. that sounds really slow in the camera world. but its easy to check as I go shoot it. lol Last edited by timebom; 01-25-2010 at 11:31 AM. Reason: somedays I just have to talk to myself on a forum.. lol

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01-21-2010, 03:20 PM	#3
jezterr Moderator Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 740 From: a cesspit. My Camera: disposable	such a vignette will show if your shutter is set too fast. typically 1/250 is the max you can shoot with a flash. when you use the on camera flash, your camera probably automatically adjusts the shutter speed to compensate for the flash, that's why you don't see the vignette with it.

01-25-2010, 02:25 PM	#6
timebom Junior Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 19 From: Central Washington	D'oh, nevermind. I just slowed down the main shutter speed. lol I was messing around in the Bracketing/flash menu and nothing i changed made any difference. so just rotated the rear dial one notch and its very nice now. lol some things are a lot simpler than I want to make them. oh and I love using only off camera studio flashes now.