Need help with a decision. SB-600 or Lens? nifty fifty?

jamin100

jamin100

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Morning all,

So i need help making a decision on my next purchase. I currently have the following.

Nikon D90
Nikon 35mm f1.8
Tamron 28-75 f2.8

I have recently sold my SB-400 flash and was thinking about going for a SB-600. I have been offered an almost new SB-600 for £140 which i think is about the going rate. But im thinking that soon the lighter nights will start coming will i be using my flash as much?

Would i therefore be better getting another lens?
50mm f1.8 pheraps?

Any other suggestions?
Cant really spend any more than £150
 
Would you get much from a 50mm? Its really about 75mm with the crop sensor, which you have with the Tamron, but not at 1.8 obviously.

A SB-600 will give you off camera flash (through D90's commander flash mode) so that can open up a wealth of photo opportunities. Once you start with off camera flash (light nights or not) its great. :thumbs:
 
Rokkin said:
Would you get much from a 50mm? Its really about 75mm with the crop sensor, which you have with the Tamron, but not at 1.8 obviously.

A SB-600 will give you off camera flash (through D90's commander flash mode) so that can open up a wealth of photo opportunities. Once you start with off camera flash (light nights or not) its great. :thumbs:
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Yes I see where you are coming from. I suppose I already have the 50mm length covered so it would be a waste really. I really like my 28-75 it gives some cracking results!

I'm just waiting for the seller to get back to me regarding the SB-600 but hopefully he will email me today.
 
jamin100 said:
Yes I see where you are coming from. I suppose I already have the 50mm length covered so it would be a waste really. I really like my 28-75 it gives some cracking results!

I'm just waiting for the seller to get back to me regarding the SB-600 but hopefully he will email me today.
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I have the SB-600 (with the D300) - i never knew that the command mode could fire the flash off camera! :bonk: (should of read the manual!) Knock up a quick DIY softbox and your on your way to studio shoots....
 
Rokkin said:
I have the SB-600 (with the D300) - i never knew that the command mode could fire the flash off camera! :bonk: (should of read the manual!) Knock up a quick DIY softbox and your on your way to studio shoots....
Click to expand...

off camera flash will open up a whole new area of photography to me.

cambsno said:
SB600 - using bounced flash makes a huge difference.
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Yes I agree, I dont use the onboard flash as its too harsh. I liked using the SB-400 as it was light and powerfull but when shooting in portrait mode it was poor because I had to try and bounce it off a wall which didnt always work.
 
I don't think the D90 has commander mode, you'd need some wireless flash triggers for off-camera work, or a cord. PLEASE IGNORE THIS COMMENT, I'M AN EEJIT - IT DOES HAVE COMMANDER MODE!

Flash can be very useful in all sorts of environments, not just dark rooms.

Bearing in mind you already have the 35mm f1.8 (which is excellent) I'd probably look at investing in a flash rather than a 50mm lens.
 
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justinitus said:
I don't think the D90 has commander mode, you'd need some wireless flash triggers for off-camera work, or a cord.
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it does :)

justinitus said:
Flash can be very useful in all sorts of environments, not just dark rooms.

Bearing in mind you already have the 35mm f1.8 (which is excellent) I'd probably look at investing in a flash rather than a 50mm lens.
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Yes I think i'm tending to agree, just which he'd email me back now lol
 
I have a d90 and have just borrowed a sb600 to try out. Commander mode it works perfectly, this will definitely be on my to buy list.
 
To throw something else in the frying pan.....

Do you really need a flash that works in commander mode? Why not go manual.....

You could get a sb600 or:

2x third party flashes
2 x light stands
2 x Softboxes with brackets
1 x set of triggers

And that would come in under your 150.
 
Against getting the SB600 I would save a bit longer and get the SB900. The controls are a lot easier to use and definately worth getting. I have both the SB600 and the SB900 so able to do a side by side comparison.

Realspeed
 
Going the other way Ben, have you thought about a Nissin Di622? I use one and I think they are still £100. I had mine off John Forrester at Hales Owen photo centre.
 
jamin100 said:
Morning all,

So i need help making a decision on my next purchase. I currently have the following.

Nikon D90
Nikon 35mm f1.8
Tamron 28-75 f2.8

I have recently sold my SB-400 flash and was thinking about going for a SB-600. I have been offered an almost new SB-600 for £140 which i think is about the going rate. But im thinking that soon the lighter nights will start coming will i be using my flash as much?

Would i therefore be better getting another lens?
50mm f1.8 pheraps?

Any other suggestions?
Cant really spend any more than £150
Click to expand...

I think with your crop sensor body, u will be fine with the 35mm. Go for the flashgun for that matter. But I'm suggesting u save up abit more and get the sb900. Unless u need a flashgun desperately, its better to wait n save up more. That's just my opinion.
 
Flash +1
 
Thanks all for the replies.

I decided that the flash would best suit me at the moment so I ended up going for a sb-600
I had considered a nissin di622 but the newest (Mark 2) versions are £105 delivered from eBay. I managed to get the sb-600 second hand but apparently had only been used once for £130 delivered. So I figured for the extra £30 I'd be better getting the Nikon.

I didn't have too much cash to throw into this so ruled out the 800 & 900. Pheraps if I get on well with the 600 then I may add an additional flash in the future.

I'm just playing with the sb-600 now and especially using it off the camera with cls on my d90. I'm struggling however to manage to position it correctly and bounce it from the ceiling in my lounge. So I guess I need some more practice lol

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
scottthehat said:
just using it on the camera and bouncing works a treat, try using mmanual set iso to 400 shutter speed to 200/sec apature f8 and see what that does if you need more power ramp the flash power up. really works great.
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Scott, curiousity really- You say use manual settings, so I take it that that's for the camera - what about if any settings for the flash... or just let the camera do the "bits" :shrug:

Think in the 2yrs I've had my SB600 its left its case twice hence the daft question :$
 
Have a look at the Metz range of flashguns,.I am sure the new 44af is about £150 and will fire as a remote from your D90.I got the 48af and never looked back
 
Trig's said:
Scott, curiousity really- You say use manual settings, so I take it that that's for the camera - what about if any settings for the flash... or just let the camera do the "bits" :shrug:

Think in the 2yrs I've had my SB600 its left its case twice hence the daft question :$
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hi steve to be honest im no expert, but the other day i set the d700 to iso 400 ss to 1/200th and apature to f8 and flash i had on the camera and set to ttl,bl, and i went between o and 1 ev power output on flash with bouncing the flash and using the wide angle thing. and it work spot on. will post some example if interested.
as above settings f8 +0.3 ev flash output. straight from the camera.
SJB_0559.jpg

f2.8(this i guess why the nikon flash system is so good)
SJB_0560.jpg
 
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scottthehat said:
hi steve to be honest im no expert, but the other day i set the d700 to iso 400 ss to 1/200th and apature to f8 and flash i had on the camera and set to ttl,bl, and i went between o and 1 ev power output on flash with bouncing the flash and using the wide angle thing. and it work spot on. will post some example if interested.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that Scott :thumbs:

You've just saved me looking through the umpteen books on "how to use/get more from your flash" books that I have shoved in the draws and reading through 4-5 pages to get an understandable answer in one line... Which then usually takes a 500 times re-read to understand it :lol:

I'll have to dig out my SB600 & give it a try....

Cheers :thumbs:
 
Trig's said:
Cheers for that Scott :thumbs:

You've just saved me looking through the umpteen books on "how to use/get more from your flash" books that I have shoved in the draws and reading through 4-5 pages to get an understandable answer in one line... Which then usually takes a 500 times re-read to understand it :lol:

I'll have to dig out my SB600 & give it a try....

Cheers :thumbs:
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its worth it, i should of done it alot earlier.
i will be using it alot more i can tell you that,
and it took me a while to work out ruffly what was best for me, but when you have used it this way you can adjust it to what suits by uping the lash power.
 
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