Flash advice SB600/900

simonedgar

simonedgar

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After spending all afternoon looking through loads of threads and website i'm still unsure on what to buy!

I currently use a Nikon D60, main interest is sport photography but i'm keen on trying portraits etc.

So my problem is so i need the extra power, features (commander)?? Will the extra length covered by the 900 help i generally use a sigma 70-200f2.8 lens.

I'd rather spend the extra if it would be of advantage or should i save the cash and spend it on something else?

Any advice/commets would be great!

Simon
 
I had SB-600s initally and couldn't see what benefit the SB-800 (as the top model then was) would have over them, but now that I've got the 900s I can see where the extra money goes and I wouldn't swap back, even though one 900 cost me more than twice what my 600s did originally.

If you're only going to use this new flashgun on camera and it's to be your only CLS-enabled flash,then the 900's Commander mode will make no difference. It's only an advantage if you have a second SB-900 or a 600/800 to trigger with it as well, but for portrait use you'll be wanting to get it off the camera (although you'll still need some way of triggering it) and that's where the benefits of the 900 become apparent.

Is it worth the extra £100 or so? That depends on whether you see the more flexible power adjustment, adjustable beam pattern etc as benefits. If you're just going to stick it atop your D60 to see if flash is of use to you then I'd suggest an SB-600...
 
Unless you're considering adding more flashguns to whatever you get, I can't really see the point in getting the 900 - even doing portraits, you're going to need to get it off camera, so it will be either a cord or a wireless trigger you'll need. The 600 is more than powerful enough for doing portraits with an umbrella, be it reflective or shoot through.

Personally, I'd save the money unless you're perhaps thinking of changing camera bodies to a CLS enabled one.
 
Thanks for the commets! Still unsure - i'm feeling the 600 would do ok for now but i may end of wish i got the 900...... Does the D80 have enabled CLS?? - Just my dad has one (Maybe i could use that!!!)
 
simonedgar said:
Does the D80 have enabled CLS?? - Just my dad has one (Maybe i could use that!!!)
Click to expand...

Yes, the D80 does CLS... see how to set the Nikon flashguns for CLS here.
 
I have a 430 ex and there's times I would really like the extra power of a 580 ex (canon I know but its just a thought - power is goooooood)
 
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