In Commander mode, the Nikon D700 camera functions as a controller for multiple Nikon Speedlight flash units. While the professional-level Nikon D3 and D3X requires the separate purchase of a hotshoe-mounted commander device, the D700 body has full Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) technology built right into the camera.
You can use normal i-TTL flash technology with the D700’s built-in flash (Nikon calls it a Speedlight) or use Commander mode and the built-in flash to control up to two groups of an unlimited number of external Nikon Speedlight flash units. Nikon makes the powerful SB-900 and SB-800 flash units, along with their slightly less-powerful SB-600 brother and several other smaller Speedlight units, such as the SB-400 or SB-R200. Many of us using the D700 will have an external flash unit, and it will usually be the SB-800 or SB-600, so we’ll consider those in detail in this chapter. The Nikon D700 is happy to let you arrange professional lighting setups using these relatively inexpensive and very portable Speedlights.
Later in the chapter, we’ll also consider how the D700 can use the SB-900 or SB-800 Speedlight’s Master mode or the SU-800 Commander unit instead of the camera’s built-in Commander mode since the external units provide maximum range and flexibility in large flash bank arrangements. The cool thing about the D700 is that it can be a CLS flash commander device or can use Nikon’s other CLS flash commander devices at will. You have great control with this fine camera!
