SB-400 not working?

gumbald · 20 Nov 2012 at 18:54

Just bought an SB-400 for my D3100, got it home but sadly I think it's not working! Hoping someone can point out something I'm missing...

1) Ready light comes on, and goes off after a timeout (which I presume is standby)
2) In the settings menu, the item changes from in-built flash to optional flash when I power it on
3) It takes photos with nice and short exposures in auto mode (as if it's expecting the flash to go off)
4) Have opened and closed the battery cover while it's turned on (one of the troubleshooting steps in the manual)
5) When taking a photo, the 'ready' light goes off very briefly (implying the flash is getting the signal)

Going to try on someone else's camera tomorrow, but don't know anyone else with a flash that I can try on my camera to test whether that's the problem. Anything else that anyone can suggest before I send it back? Seems there's no way of triggering it manually.

philstanbridge · 21 Nov 2012 at 11:44

I believe I had the same (or very similar) problems with my 400 and 3100. Maybe there is a pattern there? I found most of the problems were rectified with fresh batteries, but maybe there was something more fundamentally wrong with it. Stupid question maybe, but have you used a fresh set of batteries, and is there any sign of corrosion in there at all?

gumbald · 21 Nov 2012 at 18:55

philstanbridge said:
I believe I had the same (or very similar) problems with my 400 and 3100. Maybe there is a pattern there? I found most of the problems were rectified with fresh batteries, but maybe there was something more fundamentally wrong with it. Stupid question maybe, but have you used a fresh set of batteries, and is there any sign of corrosion in there at all?

They were brand new Energizers... I've not got it to hand at the moment, but will try some different ones when I get home. Corrosion within the battery compartment, or on the hotshoe connectors? Neither that I can recall...

philstanbridge · 21 Nov 2012 at 21:40

The more I think about it the more I had problems like yours and it was mighty frustrating. I ended up ditching the SB400 in the end because of the hassle and it really put me off. I wonder if there is a problem with the 3100 using the flashgun. Worth investigating I think.

It's very unlikely there would be corrosion but you never know - just check the connectors are clean.

richardirv · 22 Nov 2012 at 07:50

I have the D5100 and own an SB-400 & 700, both work perfectly. I can also say that a friend of mine has a D3100 and I have used the SB-400 on that body a few times with no issues. I would send it back for a replacement.

gumbald · 24 Nov 2012 at 16:30

Tried it on a D700, nothing happened. Tried friend's SB-700 on my camera and that worked fine so sent the SB-400 back for a refund and ordered another one already, I was feeling impatient...