Fault with SB600 Flash on Nikon D80?

Question

Haven't used my D80 in a while and can't remember the last time I had the SB600 flash unit attached. Went to use them together this last weekend to take photos at a party and had a problem.

The Nikon uses a pre-flash to measure light etc and then the main flash when the image is captured. Whilst the pre-flash is happening OK, the main flash isn't happening 9 times out 10 resulting obviously in a horribly under-exposed shot.

Diagnostic steps.
1) Brand new lithium batteries in the flash
2) Fresh charge in healthy and genuine EN-EL3 camera batteries
3) Reset camera menus
4) Reset flash
5) Cleaned hot shoe mount and flash contacts
6) Played with various metering and focusing modes

The camera performs perfectly using the onboard flash. However with the flash unit attached photos are still under exposed. I photographed a new white car to see the window reflection and I can confirm that although the flash pre-fired, there was no flash reflection at all in the shot. (The car wasn't the only thing I tried to photograph, I tried all sorts of scenes.) When I use the onboard flash there is a reflection of the flash. every time I attach the SB600 it all goes south again. The flash is saying BL and TLL. The camera has an AF-D lens attached and the flash focal length is changing to match the lens. So information is being passed through the hot shoe.

Then in a stroke of rare genius I put the camera into wireless commander mode and put the flash in wireless mode. Now the odd thing is that the flash works perfectly ten times out of ten. I can confirm that when I photograph the car there are two reflections, one from onboard and one from the SB600.

This has me beaten at this point. I will test all this gear against my D300 and SB800 when I get time, but I am wondering if anyone has encountered this problem before, and has some insight, even if I am doing something dumb?

Thanks in advance.

keerok · Answer

TTL not working? Probably a corrupted computer part in the flash. If you want to use it without bringing the flash in for servicing, you have already found a way but you may also use the flash in Manual or Auto mode with the camera in Manual mode. Otherwise, you have no choice. If you live by TTL on flash, you have to bring your SB600 to an authorized Nikon service center for repair.

carsen · Answer

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Fault with SB600 Flash on Nikon D80?

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