Got POP! SB-900 WOW

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Archive 2008 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Elan II
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p.2 #1 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Terry D wrote:
No worries Elan .... we're all friends here.

I'm not going to fight over a strobe light.... but you get between me and my supper and buddy you're goin down.

I'll try to remember that!

I'm not knocking the SB-900. I just don't want someone reading this post to get the impression they can illuminate a football field with one. The power and recycle times of the SB-900 are about the same as those of the SB-800. That leaves the ability to focus the light to 200mm as the one major benefit I see and the reason I might buy one. I'm going to wait for some feedback and hopefully reviews by wildlife photographers before parting with $500 though.

Edited on Aug 24, 2008 at 12:28 PM

Aug 24, 2008 at 12:27 PM

Terry D
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p.2 #2 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Point well taken Elan.... I do see the new controls as an asset too. Working with it the other night was quite easy (sorry Ken... ) in addition to the 200mm capability.

I shoot some birds, too and I'm curious as to how well it works compared to the BB.

T

Aug 24, 2008 at 03:44 PM

butchM
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p.2 #3 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Neil van Niekerk just posted his first impressions of the SB900. His main points were full rotation in both direction and easier use of working with CLS.

http://planetneil.com/tangents/2008/08/21/sb-900-speedlight-review/

Aug 24, 2008 at 09:58 PM

Terry D
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p.2 #4 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Maybe Ken R was mistakenly writing about the new Canon flash instead of the SB-900.... "The menu of the 580EX II (and the original) is so obscure you need to carry the manual with you, or some kind of note," says Neil van Niekerk.

Thanks for the link Butch.

Edited on Aug 24, 2008 at 10:45 PM

Aug 24, 2008 at 10:44 PM

ANDS
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p.2 #5 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Well it says here that the SB-900 is no better than the SB-600: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb900.htm

That's not what it says at all.

The SB900 has all the bells and whistles and for a great majority of people (the people Ken feels he is speaking to) has for more than they could ever even think they need. His major complaint about the 900 is that it isn't some drastic leap in the realm of off-camera flash to justify its existence.

Aug 25, 2008 at 10:59 PM

camerapapi
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p.2 #6 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

I do not own or have used the SB-900. I like the fact that now Nikon has a flash that can be rotated 180 degrees. I do not do a lot of flash photography but I am sure photographers bouncing the flash will appreciate that.
I do use both, the SB-600 and SB-400 often. They are not super powerful flashes but they work very well for a fraction of the new beast from Nikon and they give me all the light I need for my photography. I am in total agreement with the gentleman who stated that we do not use only one flash to illuminate a football field.
As Ken stated, both of the flash I mentioned are easy on the pocket and easy to figure out. If you do not need a lot of light you should do well with them.
If things get complicated I guess the best to do is to buy Pocket Wizards and use them with whatever flashes you are using at present instead of depending on just one flash.
Just my humble opinion.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.

Aug 25, 2008 at 11:29 PM

Terry D
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p.2 #7 · Got POP! SB-900 WOW

Hi William. Honestly I don't find electronic flash all the difficult to use, but I have a full studio set and I don't find those that complicated either. Adding pocket wizards to the mix is more crap to carry and deal with. And the thing is, I just don't ever know how much flash I will need until I need it. It is always better to have more than you need than not enough.

My gosh, the average DSLR is much more difficult to figure out than the few controls that are on even the most sophisticated on-camera flash. Now integrating the two can be a bit more challenging, but again not all that difficult, especially the way that Nikon has approached it....... that is what makes these such a joy to use.

It is just a matter of what each individual needs. If I shoot birds and have to take a flash with me and then remember a BB too.... maybe the SB-900 will allow me to shed the BB and that is one less thing to have to fumble with and carry.

T

Edited on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:47 AM

Aug 26, 2008 at 01:44 AM

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