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HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash commands. It works.

If you are able to set 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any flash incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

But if trying to stop action, HSS is NOT the way to try it. Use Speedlight mode, with 1/250 second shutter, which at 1 foot (low power), it is much faster than 1/8000 second. And 1/8000 second reduces your light about 5 stops from 1/250, and HSS reduces your light about 2+ stops from speedlight mode.

HSS is the slowest possible flash, it has no speed stopping capability at all. The only interest in HSS is to allow a very wide aperture and resulting faster shutter speed in bright sun. But indoors, HSS is the worst possible idea. Speedlight is called speedlight because it can be extremely fast.

HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash the commands. It works.

If you are able to set HSS 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to the 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash unit must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any remote flash unit incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

But if trying to stop action, HSS is NOT the way to try it. Use Speedlight mode, with 1/250 second shutter, which at 1 foot (low power), it is much faster than 1/8000 second (at low power, like 1/25000 second or perhaps up to 1/40000 second). Action like water drop splashes are done with speedlight mode. And 1/8000 second reduces your light about 5 stops from 1/250, and HSS reduces your light about 2+ stops from speedlight mode.

HSS is the slowest possible flash (it is effectively continuous light, like sunlight), and HSS flash has absolutely no speed stopping capability at all. The only interest in HSS is to allow a very wide aperture and resulting faster shutter speed in bright sun. But indoors, HSS is the worst possible idea. Speedlight is called speedlight because it can be extremely fast.

HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash commands. It works.

If you are able to set 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any flash incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

But if trying to stop action, HSS is NOT the way to try it. Use Speedlight mode, with 1/250 second shutter, which at 1 foot (low power), it is much faster than 1/8000 second. And 1/8000 second reduces your light about 5 stops from 1/250, and HSS reduces your light about 2+ stops from speedlight mode.

HSS is the slowest possible flash, it has no speed stopping capability at all. The only interest in HSS is to allow a faster shutter speed in bright sun. But indoors, HSS is the worst idea. Speedlight is called speedlight because it can be extremely fast.

HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash commands. It works.

If you are able to set 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any flash incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

But if trying to stop action, HSS is NOT the way to try it. Use Speedlight mode, with 1/250 second shutter, which at 1 foot (low power), it is much faster than 1/8000 second. And 1/8000 second reduces your light about 5 stops from 1/250, and HSS reduces your light about 2+ stops from speedlight mode.

HSS is the slowest possible flash, it has no speed stopping capability at all. The only interest in HSS is to allow a very wide aperture and resulting faster shutter speed in bright sun. But indoors, HSS is the worst possible idea. Speedlight is called speedlight because it can be extremely fast.

HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash commands. It works.

If you are able to set 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any flash incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

HSS will work triggered optically with the Nikon Commander for remote HSS flashes. However, the internal flash cannot do HSS itself, so the commanders builtin flash group must be disabled (with mode "- -"), so that builtin group does Not try to contribute light (internal flash cannot do HSS). Then the commander can do its HSS stuff, and the internal flash will flash commands. It works.

If you are able to set 1/8000 second with commander, you surely already have the built-in flash disabled. Otherwise, shutter speed will revert back to 1/250 sync speed when you open the internal flash door.

But the remote flash must also be set to its commander-compatible mode, which does NOT include the dumb optical slave modes.

The reason you see the remote flashing is this:

The commander first sends various early flashes, the command to set power level in the remote Manual group, or to request TTL preflash in the remote TTL group and commands to set its power. Then after all this setup completes, then the shutter opens and the triggering flash. However, any flash incorrectly in its own dumb optical slave mode will have already flashed when the early commands are seen, before the shutter opens.

Look for the flash menu to enable the trigger mode compatible with the commander. That menu surely also has choices to set Channel and Group, to be compatible with the commander settings.

But if trying to stop action, HSS is NOT the way to try it. Use Speedlight mode, with 1/250 second shutter, which at 1 foot (low power), it is much faster than 1/8000 second. And 1/8000 second reduces your light about 5 stops from 1/250, and HSS reduces your light about 2+ stops from speedlight mode.

HSS is the slowest possible flash, it has no speed stopping capability at all. The only interest in HSS is to allow a faster shutter speed in bright sun. But indoors, HSS is the worst idea. Speedlight is called speedlight because it can be extremely fast.