How do I set up repeating flash for my Nikon D80?

Question

I have just bought a Nikon D80 and have found the repeating flash option in the flash menu but I can't get it to fire the flash more than once. Can anyone tell me how to do it?

Thanks

Answer 1

Yes you CAN use repeating flash with the on-board flash on the D80. I just tested this with my D200 and learned a few things.

I refer you to your manual on page 95. This is not hard to do, but there are too many steps and variables to make it reasonable to describe here.

The first thing to realize is that this function is only available in the P,S,A or M modes. The key thing to realize is that the flash will repeat only as long as the shutter is open. You would only actually SEE the repeating flash for a long exposure.

Go to Custom Settings menu #22, titles Built-In Flash. Scroll down to the repeating flash option that you have already found. You will then be able to set three different parameters - the output, the total number of times the flash fires and the number of times per second the flash fires. This is why I suggest you check out page 95 in your manual, because it gives a little more detail.

Mostly, you will have to experiment with this and see what it can do. For starters, just to prove to yourself that it works, don't change ANY of the parameters. Select the "M" mode and set the shutter speed to 1 second or so. Pop up your flash and press the shutter release. You'll see that the flash indeed fires several times.

The trick would be to play with the output level, etc., so you get the desired end result. I have never usd this, but I assume it would be pretty cool to catch multiple images of a moving object, like a running cat or a bouncing ball, or you could move the camera while looking at a stationary object. I remember articles that went on for pages and pages in Popular Photography when I was a kid. Now we just set it on a menu and it's done automatically. How cool is that?

Answer 2

Hmmmm I didn't know the D80 could do that on its own. I have an SB800 flash unit which does this on my D80. So perhaps you need to buy one more toy for the D80?

Answer 3

You probably cant with the built in flash becaues the built in flash on the camera has a slow recycle time while on an external unit its realatively fast.