Twice on important client assignments in the pitch dark, I have come face to face with my D200 and my sb-800 NOT producing the little infrared light that helps me focus in the dark.

The first time I was on a broken boat with the bride and groom in the middle of a lake.

The second time I was standing in a river.

What settings do I have wrong?

There is one in the flash.

There is one in the menus on the back of the D200 .

Do I need to get out of manual? Aperture prority? Does that matter?

Yes, I will think twice before ever getting back in a boat in the dark to take photos.

I have both books and I have read them. Maybe you guys know which page I am skipping.

Thanks in advance.

OK, I think I'm going to win the prize (what IS the prize, by the way?).

You have the focus switch set to AF-C (Continuous). You won't get focus-assist when it's set to that.

The other thing is if you are using the SC-29 iTTL sync cable, there is an On/Off switch on that too. But I'm guessing it's the focus switch.

Aww man ya beat me to it!

Yeah... by about EIGHT HOURS!!!!

What SHOULD it be set to?

ooh, I know, I know!!!!

Set it to "S" the little lever on the left side of the lens.

Love you guys!

Love Love Love OSP! (and Get-Free, too!)

S for SB-800! I keep running into the same problem, so I need to burn this into my brain.