Using Nikon's Creative Lighting System a photographer can create studio effects with handheld units.
The Nikon CLS, or Creative Lighting System, allows photographers to use their Nikon digital SLR (single lens reflex or detachable lens) camera and Nikon flash units as a studio lighting system complete with remote flash control. Photographers can control flash intensity in groups and use separate channels when multiple photographers are sharing a studio. Basic operation of Nikon's CLS features varies slightly from older to newer models of cameras and flashes, but system operation is simple, allowing creative lighting arrangements to be formed using any number of Nikon flash units. For example, the D300S camera and SB-900 flash unit can be used to add off-camera lighting options.
Instructions
Setting Camera Commander Mode
1. Press the "Menu" button on the back of the camera.
2. Select the "Custom Settings" menu using the joystick buttons. Press the middle "OK" button.
3. Select "Commander Mode" from the Custom Settings menu.
4. Select a channel at the bottom of the Commander Mode screen. This will apply to all flashes controlled by the camera.
5. Make any desired adjustments for flash groups A, B or C and the on-camera flash. Select "TTL" to use camera metering and adjust flash intensity by exposure value (EV), "M" to adjust to a fraction of full intensity, or "--" to disable that group's flashes.
6. Press "OK."
7. Raise the camera's on-board flash by pressing the small button on the left side of the flash.
Setting Flash Remote Mode
8. Turn the power switch on the back of the flash to "Remote."
9. Press function button "1" just below the bottom left of the LCD display on the back of the flash unit to change the group letter.
10. Rotate the selector dial to select the group letter for the flash (A, B or C). Press "OK."
11. Press function button "2" to change the channel number.
12. Rotate the selector to select the channel, matching the channel number selected on the camera. Press "OK."
Tags: Commander Mode, back flash, channel number, Creative Lighting System, Custom Settings, Custom Settings menu
