the right flash

[picsfor]

at least you don't have to consider ring flash as well! 

[Jonathan]

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.

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.

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.

I 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....

[Sarasocke]

If you can afford the SB900 then get it.

So be it  Decision made.

Better get some overtime in, or at least make sure hubby does some 

[Eileen]

Enjoy! 

[jinky]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Hinfrance]

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?

[Jonathan]

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.