Nikon Flash

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timboellis

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Tim Ellis
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Please can someone help me my head is hurting.


I am looking for a flash for my D50 and just for info I have just bought a Sigma 18mm-50mm 3.5 lens and also have a 70-300 Sigma APO lens.

I have looked all round and every time it points to the SB 600 but cannto quite swallow the price.

I mainly do outdoor landscape, water sports. however just bought a studio kit ie back ground perminant lights etc. but not 100% into it as yet.

So my questions are as follows:


1.Is there alternatives to the Nikon SB 600 or is it a waste of time and money in the long run, so far all I have seen is the Sunpack and the Mets for around £60

2.Could I really justify this money to SWMBO


3.Am I missing something here, I assume I would jsut be using this for portrates etc. with a difuser or would I be able to use this in other situations like outdoor photography in daylight etc?

4.What is iTTL.


5.Finaly why could I not get an old Metz hammerhead and get a hotshoe Sync adapter for it for around £50, I knwo it woudl be manual but woudl it be worth it.

So short of it all would it be worth it or not if so will need to do more over time i think.

Thanks

Tim
 
1. Well I'm a Canon user these days and no doubt the Nikon bods will advise on alternatives, but the bigger the flashgun the better, you can never have too much power in a flashgun but it's easy to have not enough. Flashguns are so integrated with the electronics of the camera these days that I honestly wouldn't consider anything other than a Nikon gun in your situation, but I know plenty of people will argue otherwise.

2 I dunno - can you? :D

3 Yes ..you can and should use them for outdoor photioraphy in sunlight. You'll see wedding and sports photographers using them all the time in bright sunlight to give fill flash.

4 TTL means Thru The Lens flash. The light from the flashgun bounces back from the subject into the camera where it hits a flash sensor which judges the correct amount of exposure, kills the flash and can also do a pretty good job of balancing the flash with the ambient light. Extremely convenient. iTTL means the system is even more advanced and will provide other functions like transmitting distance information from the subject to the camera for even more accurate exposure.

5. You need to be careful and find out what the trigger voltage of the older gun is. They usually had much higher trigger voltages than modern cameras and could well fry your camera electronics.

Hope that helps somewhat? :)
 
Yeah that does help a lot but not from the wife convincing her that I need it.

With regards to the trigger voltage are we talkign if I put it on the hot shoe or we talkign even using a sync cable?

Also seen the SB400 with various reviews woudl this be an option also?

However I am also looking at the option of getting a fisheye instead but still playing with the idea.
 
What price are you looking at the SB-600 for? Because I understand it can be had very cheap, at least £40-£60 less than what I paid about a year back...
 
divine_madness said:
What price are you looking at the SB-600 for? Because I understand it can be had very cheap, at least £40-£60 less than what I paid about a year back...
Click to expand...

:agree: - Get a price off Kerso (PM him from here its quicker than via his Ebay shop)
As to the SB-400 this review seems very positive http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb400.htm - I guess you need to weigh up what you need it for & start smoothing the way with SWMBO :lol:
Paul ;)
 
possibly consider the sigma ef 500dg super, I got one to use with my D70 and works with iTTL and TTL wireless slave too with the d70.
 
Hi Tim.

I too am a fellow D50 user. Recently picked up a SB600 for £99 in the states. As a flash, they are very good and as stated the iTTL will do everything for you - saves you messing your shot up as you get to know your flash.

DO NOT use the old Metz flash without checking your voltage first - it will damage your camera. I do think it is possible to get some form of voltage adapters if you look around.

As for alternatives, there is a Sigma one, but from what I have read, there are mixed reviews on the quality of this flash.

My advice, take the wife out for a nice meal. Over a candlelit glass of wine, casually mention that your new flash makes a difference to your photos and would she like another glass dear? ;)

Good luck matey!

Anth.
 
magpieant said:
My advice, take the wife out for a nice meal. Over a candlelit glass of wine, casually mention that your new flash makes a difference to your photos and would she like another glass dear? ;)
Click to expand...

Yes thanks for all your help but I think this wold be the best option will try an eternaty ring may fair better.

I will have a good look at the SB-600 and the possibilty of the SB-400 but have given up on the idea of the other flashes.

So I will more than likeley go for the SB-600.
 
Yes, as others have said, PM Kerso and ask him. I bought an SB600 through him at a price I couldn't refuse, and much cheaper than anywhere else I could find one.

If you're going to spend a considerable amount on a flash, I'd say it's worth waiting until you can afford at least an SB600. Better that than buying something cheaper and finding that it limits you. The SB600 is an excellent flash gun and easy to learn how to use.
 
Tim, I got mine from a shop in San Fran when I was there - called Calumet.

It cost $199.99.

Calumet has branches in UK - so you could take it back if faulty.

May be worth looking at postage from USA or also trying Kerso who comes highly recommended.

Cheers.

Anth.
 
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