Banding issue or not?

[Underwatercolors 0]

I am not sure if this is a banding issue or improper aiming of the strobes. I have a Nikon D220 with 60 micro in an Aquatica Housing with dual Nikon 105 strobes. I have had the chance to use this on two trips. Both times I have encountered a problem that I think mite be a banding issue. I get a dark thick straight line at the top, bottom or both of the picture. This area is not totally black. I have found that if I change the strobes aim the problem goes away. Has anybody seen this problem? I’m in the process of sending a picture to Nikon for evaluation.

[MikeVeitch 0]

what shutter speed are you using on the pics where the band shows up?

[mattdiver 0]

A banding problem could be from using a shutter spped too high for synchronisation.

 

But if you say changing the strobe orientation solves the problem, it could simply be an aiming issue (e.g. you angle your strobes at very sharp angles, or your strobes are partially blocked by your port).

[Underwatercolors 0]

Shooting Info -

1/800 sec - F/5.6

ISO 100

 

I attached a photo that shows the dark areas at both the top and bottom.

 

Thanks

[Rocha 0]

Your problem is the shutter speed. The D200 has a maximum sync speed of 1/250, if you use anything faster than that you will have a dark area like in the sample that you posted. So, just keep the shutter speed at 1/250 or slower. You don't want to use the camera in "P" or "A" mode (it thinks to much this way), go to manual...

 

Here is a short article to help you understand flash sync:

 

http://www.photozone.de/3Technology/flashtec4.htm

 

Luiz

[Lionfish43 0]

I have seen examples of the banding reported by some D200 users and that's not it. The banding inherent to some D200's is usually, but not always, caused by extreme backlighting at high ISO and can be seen in the edges between high contrast areas.

 

I just looked at your shooting info and it shows 1/800 - that accounts for one of the lines. You can't sync above 1/250th or you will get the line you're seeing. The top line could be something physically blocking the strobe light. Looking at it again, I think it is because the line doesn't look straight.

 

Shoot manual and you won't have any sync issues.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Lionfish43

[Kelpfish 15]

It is definately sync speed. To give you that comfort that nothing is wrong with your D200, shoot a picture in a dark or dimly lit area, use your strobes and shoot at 800th sync speed. Then shoot the same pic at something less than 250th and you will lose your dark bar.

[kriptap 0]

Yup seen that many times, sync speed, try it again below 1/250th and it will have gone. Luiz is correct.