Nikon F2 and SB-800

[red_erik]

Hello,

I have a question regarding Nikon F2 and using "modern" flashes with it.
I have a Nikon F2 and the AS-1 adapter for standard ISO flash shoes. When I set the F2 to flash sync speed, the flash fires once, as expected. But when I set the camera to a slower speed like 1/15 or 1/2, the flash fires twice; at the start, and at the finish of the exposure, or (I presume) when the shutter opens, and when it closes. This is a problem for me, as I want it to fire only once

The reason I'm using such a "modern flash" is that I already have it, and because I can control the flash output strength, which I cannot do on other, older flashes that I currently own, as they have either an automatic mode, or a manual mode, which fires at full strength always.

I presume the SB-800 fires twice because it doesn't use up all the stored power in the capacitor, since I usually set it to 1/128 or 1/64.

Why do I want to do this? As I started photographing with a D90, and I mostly shoot concerts, I want to replicate the stuff I did in digital (for example, https://www.flickr.com/photos/92657514@N00/12364877655/) on film. In short, I want to fire the flash at a low power, and have it fire only at the beginning of the exposure, so I can capture more of the surrounding light and the background.

So, does anybody have a suggestion on fixing this behaviour with the SB-800, or can recommend a older flash (like the Nikon SB-20, which has manual control from 1/1 to 1/16, and 8sec recharge time) that will fire only once?

Thanks in advance

 

[ronnies]

I suspect it's not the SB-800 that's at fault. It will only fire the flash when the camera tells it to so perhaps the F2 is at fault?

Ronnie

 

[John Koehrer]

Does the SB800 have a red eye reduction feature? Some units do & that would give two flashes.
The F2 only has one flash synch switch and it may be possible for it to bounce but it should close
and remain closed when the first curtain is fully open. So I doubt it's a problem in the camera.

Confession time: If it has menu directed options I already don't like it. On/Off switch with
and power options is already pushing my limited abilities.

 

[horacekenneth]

Sover Wong just posted about this in the F2 group, are you the person he is talking about?

 

[mweintraub]

But when I set the camera to a slower speed like 1/15 or 1/2, the flash fires twice; at the start, and at the finish of the exposure, or (I presume) when the shutter opens, and when it closes.

My Polaroid Miniportrait 202 does the same thing in Bulb mode. I will try this with my F and SB-600 and 900, though.

 

[ronnies]

Does the SB800 have a red eye reduction feature? Some units do & that would give two flashes.
The F2 only has one flash synch switch and it may be possible for it to bounce but it should close
and remain closed when the first curtain is fully open. So I doubt it's a problem in the camera.

Confession time: If it has menu directed options I already don't like it. On/Off switch with
and power options is already pushing my limited abilities.

If it was the red eye reduction flashes it would happen at flash synch speed too not just at lower speeds.

I assume the gap between flashes varies with the shutter speed used?

Ronnie

 

[Theo Sulphate]

You mentioned the SB-20, these allow control over power output and can be bought inexpensively.





(in manual mode, you can select power from 1/16 to full).

Since these are old, before buying ensure it will still flash by testing it via the red button.