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Actually what it stands for is slave unit. A slave is any flash that is off camera and is activated by any other flash, in this case the commander flash. The number 4 indicates that a maximum of four flashes in different locations can be set off simultaneously. Actually, that is only with Nikon flashes. You can set up any number of flashes to slave with separate slaves that each flash plugs into. They're small and inexpensive. I hope this helps.
In all the years I've owned my SB800 I never used SU4. The reason being, I got it to use as the commander with my Nikon SB600's. I have just put it in SU4 and successfully used it with my little 'Olympus C-1Zoom' camera (my first digital camera). Thank you :)
Thanks for doing this, Dom!! It's much appreciated. I bought this model two years ago just before I knew they were replacing it w/the SB900. Wished they had NOT stopped making it b/c it's a great flash. I just got mine back from repair and REALLY missed it...
For Dom any anyone else who needs to know SU-4 stands for Sensor Unit 4. The series of sensors were as follows: SU-1 is a light sensor that makes the SB-5 automatic SU-2 sensor for sb-11 and sb-14 SU-3 sensor for sb-140 SU-4 TTL/M sensor For those that make up what SU stands for, the UK nikon store describes it as TTL Sensor Unit SU-4 Thats the mode thats being emulated, it;s not just a simple slave as it can start and stop flash firing to match another flash duration.
Why didn't you describe how to use the flash in Automatic mode? I sometimes use the flash with cameras other than Nikons. It also works on Panasonics and Fujis. It seems like you only described the modes YOU use . . .
Does anybody think Nikon should make a speedlight that uses the same battery as the camera (e.g. en-el3) instead of AA batteries? Is there a reason they dont, or have they just not though of it??
Well here is my thoughts 11 years later than your question. I currently use the SB-800. Over time and across camera models, batteries are not always interchangeable. The trusty old AA batteries, regular, lithium, or rechargeable are always easy to obtain. I think to use AA was simple and smart by Nikon.
Canon ex rt system blows this away. Canons interface is so much better. I've used them in my architecture photography with slaves inside lighting interiors and slaves lighting exteriors, shooting outside using the st e3 rt controller on hot shoe and control all 5 groups from rear LCD. I've triggered slaves from 350 feet from my camera/st e3. AMAZING CANON THANK YOU.
