How To Setup Nikon SB-900 As a "Wireless Remote Unit"

Last time we discussed about Setting up the SB-900 as a Master Flash Unit and Setting up the SB-800 as a Wireless Remote Unit. Now, we will see how to configure a SB-900 speedlight unit as a wireless remote unit or also called a slave unit. Compared to the Nikon SB-800 and SB-600, it’s fairly easy to setup SB-900 into the slave mode. We can set the SB-900 for a remote operation by using the power ON-OFF switch or also called the wireless setting switch.

Here are the steps to follow,

1. Turn the switch while holding down the button at the center.

2. Align the index on the power ON-OFF switch to REMOTE.

This is all you need to do to configure a SB-900 as a remote unit. The next step would be setting up a group and the channel number on the remote flash units.

Setting up the remote unit was pretty easy and straight forward. Now let’s setup the proper group and channel number as you have set in the camera or the Master Flash Unit or SU-800 unit whichever is controlling this remote unit.

1. Press the Function button 1, then turn the selector dial to choose a desired group name, and press the OK button.

Note : Left button to the lock sign is the function button 1 and the right one is the function button 2.

Group name and the channel number being set appears to be larger than the others. For the remote flash units where the flash mode and the flash output level compensation values are to be set identically, place these flash units into the same group.

2. Press the Function button 2, then turn the selector dial to choose a desired channel number, and press the OK button.

Be sure to choose the same channel number as set on the Master flash unit or in the Commander mode on the camera otherwise they do not communicate with each other. Setting up the SB-900 is much more easier and straight forward than the SB-800 or the SB-600.

Source: A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting by Nikon School

How To Setup Nikon SB-800 As a "Wireless Remote Unit"

In my previous blog posts I discussed about How to configure SB-600 as a Wireless Remote Unit, How to configure SB-800 as a Master Flash Unit and How to configure SB-900 as a Master Flash Unit. Today, we are going to discuss about how to setup a SB-800 as a wireless remote unit or also called a slave unit. These are very easy and simple steps to configure a Nikon SB-800 unit as a remote flash unit. Let's jump right into it.

1. With the flash unit turned on, press and hold the SEL button for two seconds.

2. Locate the shaded box and use the toggle to highlight the wireless symbol.

3. Press the SEL button for one second and the top single arrow will be changed to up and down arrows.

4. Scroll down and select the REMOTE by highlighting it and pressing the SEL button for two seconds. The display will then change to the Remote view.

5. Press the SEL button to highlight "CH", use "+/–" to select the channel. The Remote and the Master units must be set to the same channel or else they will not communicate with each other.

6. Press  the SEL button again to highlight the group. Use "+/–" to choose Group A, B or C.

Note: Please be sure to choose the same channel number as set on the Master flash unit or in the Commander mode in your camera.

The amount of the output compensation set for Groups A, B and C on the Master Flash will determine the amount of the output from the Remote Speedlights. Once you are done with the setup, the SB-800 is ready to receive the signal from the master flash unit and fire the flash.

Source: A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting by Nikon School

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control

Remote shutter release method will come handy when you want to capture a fireworks, do night photography or any other kind of long exposure shooting where the movement of the camera will be the reason to get blurred image. If you want to trigger the camera shutter remotely, you have two options; one is to use a wired remote shutter release cord and the other one is to use a wireless remote control device. Few months ago, I wrote a blog about Nikon MC-DC2 wired remote shutter release cord and today I want to write about my experience with the wireless remote control device, Nikon ML-L3, to remotely control the shutter release. There are a lot of rumors and speculations about using the wireless remote control but I will express my opinion based on my own experience about the accessory and get your feedback as well.

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control

In the past few weeks, I read some reviews about the ML-L3 where reviewers mentioned that it has to have a proper line of sight with the camera IR sensor to trigger the camera shutter remotely otherwise the device won’t work. If you are buying it without knowing this limitation of the IR technology, you might be disappointed with your decision. I think it is a limitation of using any system that works in a Infrared technology that the line of sight is a must for it to work. If the remote is completely out of sight with the camera, it might not work at all but in my experience, I have worked it out by trying from different angle pointing towards the camera. And the other feature that many people are concerned about is it's Autofocus feature. There is no doubt that this remote is able to autofocus the lens before triggering the shutter but it will not re-focus if the shutter release button has already been pressed halfway down to focus the subject. To focus using a wireless remote control, it would be better to compose your shot but do not press the camera's shutter release button half way down to focus it but instead, use the wireless remote control unit.

When you purchase the device, it might not come with the instruction to properly setup and connect the device with the camera. Here is a brief instruction on how to sync your wireless remote control with your DSLR camera.

How to use ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control?

Nikon D90 Top View

To setup a wireless remote shutter with the camera, most of the Nikon DSLRs come with the menu option. If you go to the Custom Settings Menu (CSM) with the pencil icon, you will see the Release mode. This is where you can specify which method you want to use to release the shutter button. With the Nikon D90, its even easier than that. D90 and many other new DSLRs come with the release mode button just to the right side of the LCD panel. This button has a set timer icon and a wireless remote icon nearby. While pressing that button, you have to rotate the main command dial to change your release mode option. Nikon D90 gives you four different options when you rotate the command dial. You can choose for a single shot, continuous shooting, shoot in a timer mode or wireless remote mode. Once you change your release mode option to the wireless remote (it will display a wireless remote icon on the LCD), you are ready to use the wireless remote control to trigger the shutter remotely.

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control supports Nikon P7000, D3000, D40, D40x, D50, D5000, D60, D70, D7000, D70s, D80 & D90 Digital SLR Cameras.