Nikon Flash Recomendation please

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Bolerus

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Mike
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I have been using a metz flash gun for ages, and it works fine but isnt compatible withthe i-ttl on my camera (nikon d70)

My darling other half has decided she is going to buy my a flash for fathers day (well actually she said she would buy me a nifty fifty - but I asked if i coudl put the extra to it and get a flash)

So, I was looking at a SB-600 (roughly £140) has any body got any suggestions for one that will work with the D70


Also seen this one, which seems to have mixed reviews, some poeple simply dismiss it because it is 3rd party, but htat will alwasy hapen

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=103969

the sigma super dg 500 seems good but seen people saying the I-ttl doesent work and the manual is badly written.

If any body has any opinions, or any other flashes to throw into the mix, id be grateful.
 
ok, forgive my ignorance, but what does the sb800 offer over the others? simply more power or is there more to it?
 
Hi

Firstly it has more power, not much though. Commander mode so it can control other remote flash units, can have a 5th battery so it recycles faster, more power settings in manual mode, more flash modes (AA, RPT) a modelling light, bounce card, some gels, diffuser.

Can’t think of any more from the top of my head.
 
Bolerus said:
ok, forgive my ignorance, but what does the sb800 offer over the others? simply more power or is there more to it?
Click to expand...

Quite a good comparison HERE .

I have both and (for once) tend to agree with most of what he says about these.

Flashy
 
thanks flashman that was excellent, and confirms that I dont need a sb800

now if only i coudl find a simialir comparrison between the sb-600 and the Nissin Di622

(the nissin is more powerful, and from what i can see seems to have more steps of power, but surely that doesent matter with -i-ttl becasuse the flashgun sets its own power to suite- doesent it? )


edit. mm think i have just found something inportant

nissin:-
Recycle 6 Seconds with alkaline batteries, 4 Seconds with NiMH Batteries
Number of Flashes Approx 200

the sb-600 has 2.5 seconds recycle time.

are those numbers JUST at full power or at any point
 
i think you'll find that the nissin is not more powerful than the SB 600 ,GN on the nissin is 44 but @ focal length of 105mm whilst the SB 600 has a GN
of 30 thats at 35mm ... at 85mm GN is 40.
as for recycle times i presume they are on full power.
 
Go for the SB600 or SB800 - you also get the wireless flash option which you don't with non Nikon flash. Personally I'd go for the SB800 as it has so much more with it and is better value IMO - get it from Kerso and he'll deliver it (paying with PayPal) for just over £205.
 
You can fire the SB600 wirelessly from the D70's onboard flash, its not ideal for every situation but pretty good all the same.
Stick with Nikon, its flash metering/exposure is the best on Earth, that can't be guaranteed with off brand flashes.

SB600 or SB800 are the options imo > everything else.
 
One Stop Digital do the SB800 for £195.99 delivered, here,

Free delivery too, and no taxes. I got mine from them, came in 3 days.
Allan
 
thank you for the advice guys,

just trying to find the swivel / tilt angles on the sb600 before clicking the buy it button

the onestop price is only £30 more than the nissin so I think an extra £30 to get a "real" nikon one is going to be better. having the best (EG sb800) might be nice, but i cant see anythign on their that woudl justify the extra £60.

The only reason I am upgrading my sunpack one (for some reason i said it was ametx earlier, slap self) is to get I-TTL and the sunpack doesent swivel, although it doese tilt all the way up.
 
Bolerus said:
just trying to find the swivel / tilt angles on the sb600 before clicking the buy it button
Click to expand...

Just checked mine... it tilts 0 - 90 degrees (ie from straight ahead to straight up), swivels 90 degrees to the right (to point right) and 180 degrees to the left (ie all the way round to point backwards).

Flashy
 
Thanks Flashy, just what I was hoping :)

do you find the pre-flash thing (just been reading about it) a problem with it making people blink?
 
Bolerus said:
do you find the pre-flash thing (just been reading about it) a problem with it making people blink?
Click to expand...

I haven't found it to be an issue... but then I rarely use it on people so may not be the best to ask. You can always use FV-lock to eliminate it if it's a problem.
 
do you find the pre-flash thing (just been reading about it) a problem with it making people blink?
Click to expand...

That only affects around 2 or 3 people out of every 100 - I'm one of them which is why I know.

I have the SB600 and if you are going to use it for portrait work, one vital feature not mentioned so far of the 800 is the distance meter reading to subject and a warning if you are outside the range for the power output. According to the trainer at Nikon training, this is the most common error of people using the 800 and not being aware of it.
 
I was in the same situation last month. I decided to go for the SB600 for my D40x as I figured I wouldn't need the wireless commander mode until I had 2 flashes, hence when I do get round to buying a second flash I'll most probably go for an SB800.
 
Another point to consider, secondhand resale value of SB-600 about £100 on Ebay

Secondhand Nissin? Probably nearer £20, if you're lucky.

Btw an SG3-IR over the onboard flash will stop the visible preflashes from causing subjects to blink whilst still allowing the camera to communicate with an SB-600/800
 
i ordered a sb 600 on friday so should be with me by about wednesday
 
My Sb600 arrived on thursday.

I would like to thank you guys for talking me out of the nissin, im happy with the sb600


havent figured it all out yet, and at one point thought ti was broke, it wasnt zooming (then i realised the built in diffuser was sticking out about a mm and was stopping it)

much to learn now lol. I even started reading the manual !!!!
 
ood luck with the SB-600. Thinking of picking one up as well, where did you get it form in the end?
 
got it from onestopdigital £137 ithink it was, with delivery.

came with full english manual as well, (was expecting to have to download one)
 
I have a real problem with that strobist site.

seen loads of poeple recomend it for tutorials and guides
been on it dozens of times, and I cant find my way around it, cant find a single tutorial

tried to create an account to see if you need to be logged in, and cant create one, every time i type the details in and the stupid "security" word it just errors out

I am actualy trying now, and have so far tried 23 times
 
haha tried one more time, and attempt 24 worked


yeah i knwo sad that i counted, but those stupid security words thigs really anoy me.
 
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