I would like to buy an external flash for my D700, but I have no flash experience whatsoever.
Up to now I have rarely needed a flash, but I think I will do so more in the future.
I can't give any examples of where I would use it, except maybe inside buildings ::)
I've been looking at the Nikon SB900, but I'm not 100% sure if another manufacturer wouldn't do the job at least almost as well. Or an SB600 ....
Any advice ?
wait til you come to Cornwall and ask Eileen.
She has a D700 and a wealth of flash experience (and a flash to demonstrate with) - if Eileen can't answer the question - probably not the right question :tup:
You may well decide to stick to the brand, but check out Nissin and Metz alternatives - both have been making flash systems since before Cankon ever thought of making cameras.
Also you might want to check out strobist.com for a wealth of information on all things flash related.
Actually I need to buy the flash within the next two weeks as I have booked to take part in a workshop on flash photography on the 21st March. Maybe Eileen will look on in here .....
Send her a PM Carol. May not answer today or tomorrow but you will have answer by Monday or Tuesday.
Eileen has a Nikon 800 or 900 if memory serves.
Flash work shop as in general use of flash or targeted at a specific area? Need to include that in your PM for best advice.
I've done the Canon equivalent on a couple of areas and found them extremely worth while and seem to recall Eileen has also done one or two.
The flash workshop is general, studio and outside.
When I look at the Nissin DI866 at 199 euros, it would be a saving of over 160 euros which is quite a lot. But then I don't know if I'd want to chuck it after 6 months.
As I work at the moment it would be spending a fair amount of money for something I don't use much. On the other hand once I have one, I shall probably use it more.
I'll drop Eileen a pm.
never looked back after getting my 580ExII.
The on board flashes were handy on the 30D and 40D but the external flash gave more options and greater control.
Now with 5DMkII i don't have any choice - no on board flash - don't really miss the on board flash...
Carol I have the cheaper sb600 model and I find its more than adequate for the little strobe work I do. Another good site I often look at is http://neilvn.com/tangents/ which I find is more about, on camera flash and what you can do with that
Irv
I have the SB800 and it's like having the sun attached to the top of your camera :)
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 05, 2010, 06:46:07 PM
You may well decide to stick to the brand, but check out Nissin and Metz alternatives - both have been making flash systems since before Cankon ever thought of making cameras.
Um, not quiet true! Canon's first camera was the Kwanon camera in 1934, though actually a prototype by Canon's predecessor "Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory". The Canon company was formed in 1947, after being a trademark since 1935.
1952, Canon introduced the first speed-light synchronised flash camera, the Canon IVSb.
The same year Metz started production of a flash for Agfa and Carl-Braun. (Metz was founded in 1938).
So, wrong on many levels! ;D
I've heard from Eileen - if you look in here, Eileen, thanks again!
I think I may go for the SB600. I really don't think that I shall be doing soooo much flash work. I don't use it for my dog photography, that's one of the reasons I went for D700 - it's performance under high ISOs.
If I get loads and loads or work in the future, it may merit the purchase of a second flash, but somehow I doubt it :P
Thanks for your help, guys !
just got the latest edition of DC Mag - must be my last edition under subscription.
It has done a review of flash guns and rates the SB900 as best due to its additional features and compatibility with the newer Nikon bodies.
But as has been said - really is horses for courses.
Carol - you`ve probably decided now but just seen this. I made the mistake of buying the SB600 first and it was OK. Even bought another 2nd hand on the basis of 2 must be better than 1 for off camera flash work and again was OK for a while. When I came to help out at my first wedding I realised they were more underpowered than I needed - enter a 2nd hand SB800 and it blew the other two away in quality of light. Then again I was doing a park based shoot an hour before and after sunset last night and I was bemoaning the fact i did not have another SB800 to light up a castle behind the model. As said above depends what you`ll use it for but if you just buy one I`d make it the SB800 or the Nissin Di866 Pro which might well be a future buy for me.
oddly enough the Nissin Di866 Pro was given the overall prize by DC Mag just ahead of the SB 900.
It's a similar question to the one at the end of last year - the D300 or the D700. I opted for the D700 as I thought I might continue to yearn for it later ....
oh heck ... :beer:
at least you don't have to consider ring flash as well! ::)
IMO for D700 owners it's simple.
If you can afford the SB900 then get it. If you can't then get the SB600. If you can't afford that then look at a third party like the Sigma.
QuoteIt has done a review of flash guns and rates the SB900 as best due to its additional features and compatibility with the newer Nikon bodies.
Another great example of their leak poor reviews. Did they explain which of the "recent DSLRs" the SB600 isn't compatible with? Or which Nikon DSLR anything other than the SB900/800/600/400 is compatible with? Modern or otherwise? Idiots.
QuoteI was bemoaning the fact i did not have another SB800 to light up a castle behind the model.
say WHAT? An SB800 to light up a castle? Sounds intriguing....
QuoteIf you can afford the SB900 then get it.
So be it :tup: Decision made.
Better get some overtime in, or at least make sure hubby does some :legit:
Enjoy! :)
say WHAT? An SB800 to light up a castle? Sounds intriguing.... Jonathan
I posted a few shots in the people album of the Gormengahast costume - Queen of the Night. She wanted the emphasis on the clothes but her mate turned out to be a good little poser. I wanted a blue light on the castle walls behind and to shoot further away but found my CLS system wanting in the conditions using on camera flash as trigger. Needed more light for the gel too
Yeah I saw your Gormenghast pics - very nice ;)
Since the original request has been answered maybe a thread hijack won't seem too rude.....
First of all the pics. Really like them. Great dress and nice pics. Hope the designer likes them too - people can be fussy if they want pics of the dress and you give them great model pics. But they look good to me.
Anyway, the lighting. I was intrigued because a mate of mien does this. Like this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/51975854@N00/3909461425/ :)
CLS should have worked fine for the backlight because it was dark and the light bounces. But it often doesn't work when you need it. One option is to put the master light on the end of an SC-19 and get it up nice and high or round the back. Of course that doesn't work with a pop up.
Amazed to hear an SB600 didn't have the power though. Was the front light running at full power? If not then of course you could have swapped them.
To me you really need a back light to give separation on the pictures. Dress designer is going to want everyone to see the edge and shape of the frocks and they are receding into the stone.
It's actually amazing how much light you can get out of these small flashes. Here's one from yesterday - I'm using 2 X SB800 on full power to quench the sun which had bizarrely started shining just when I didn't want it :)
(http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_DSC_1317.jpg) (http://cameracraniums.com/gallery/albums/userpics/DSC_1317.jpg)
I'm still struggling with why someone would willingly pay 30% more for 20% less power . . and no secondary reflector.
I must be in need of a label therapist or something.
And while I am pretty sure that the optical wireless system on Cankons is likely to be more reliable than the underdeveloped one on my Pentaxes, radio triggers always work. In my experience that includes through walls and around corners.
So why did you make that poor person fall out of a tree Jonathan?
Quote from: Tringle WP on March 07, 2010, 06:29:35 PM
I'm still struggling with why someone would willingly pay 30% more for 20% less power . . and no secondary reflector.
Than what?
The reason why I'll often use CLS over radio is the control it gives me. From the camera I can change the power or metering mode of any of my flash guns. That's a huge advantage for me. All modes work too, including high speed sync - that shot is at 1/1000s.
With radio you choose your manual power and run with that until you can get to the flash to change it.
The FlexTTL from PW offer that but since it's 3rd party can't guarantee future compatibility. There have also been lots of concerns over their reliability - doesn't surprise me that the Nikon one sare very overdue.