Nikon sb-910 speedlight....

I'm impressed Nikon found the time to upgrade the SB900- a good thing too as I can't think of any other pressing issues they should be dealing with...Pity they forgot some of those 'improvements' could be done via a firmware update to the SB900...;)

The overheating issue always makes me laugh- the thermal cut off point being reached usually boils down to people machine gunning on full power or using cheap/ mixed batteries. That's not to say it never cuts off in what some feel is too quick a time but when you dig a bit it does seem to be a case in point of people simply repeating what they have heard or not understanding physics.

Always thought the filters were a bit fiddly to fit so I welcome the plastic clip-ons and will get a set when they are out.
 
Looks like it's getting the same filters as the sb 700, hope it gets its menu system as well.

After using both I prefer the menu on the 700.
 
Nobody concerned about the huge price hike for this "upgrade" ?
 
SB900 is a great flash, and I have only once i think overheated it - it certainly is not (or should not) be a common problem.
 
Rockshifter said:
Nobody concerned about the huge price hike for this "upgrade" ?
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I thought it was an interesting move- in the midst of a global recession with a product no one really asked for- produce one and hike the price up. Their reassuringly expensive business model does seem to be sustainable so far though so I give them that.

It's just an odd move- doesn't really inspire me with any real innovation- still not weatherproof or as powerful as some and at least Canon had the decency to build a video light into one of theirs to at least offer something new. Good PR and firmware could have put any issues to bed with the SB900 but Japanese companies prefer to ignore any issues as long as they can as history shows time and time again- recent events with Toyota, Sony, Fukushima and Olympus just highlight their inherent problem with dealing with reality.

Just disappointing all round- roll on the fabled 36mp D800- I'm sure they'll be on to a winner there too...:lol:
 
Dr_O said:
That's not to say it never cuts off in what some feel is too quick a time but when you dig a bit it does seem to be a case in point of people simply repeating what they have heard or not understanding physics.
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cambsno said:
SB900 is a great flash, and I have only once i think overheated it - it certainly is not (or should not) be a common problem.
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Sweet. £350 odd quid for a flashgun and people get to tell me how to use it. I guess it's a sign of weakness to shoot fast.

Most professionals I know have suffered with it once or twice and then turned the heat sensor off. Quite literally we'd rather trash a flashgun than suffer with Nikon's faults.

As for understanding physics.....I think I follow them pretty well. The flash recycles marginally faster than previous models and that generates more heat. The sensor is in the top of the head. The top of the head is black. On a sunny day it shuts down much sooner than on a dull warm day.

It doesn't need PhD level physics to figure out a solution. Some cooling holes would probably solve this. As would reengineering the case to include a heat sync (not too much to ask considering the now £450 price). In fact, painting the flash white would help a little (hmm, forget the Canon white lens controversy - have you ever seen Nikon's Safari lenses?) But no, let's carry on with a poor design and throttle the recycle to punish people who expect pro kit to work.

There are some very good reasons why second hand SB800s still change hands for more than new SB900s. The 910 will fix that - but only because it raises the price by £100.
 
JonathanRyan said:
...
As for understanding physics.....I think I follow them pretty well...
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Maybe- but not English it seems;). I don't see anywhere where I told you or anyone else how to use a flash and specifically don't see any insinuation that rapid shooting is poor technique. We all know it's just bad planning...:naughty::lol:

Using a flash generates heat, the more it's used the more heat is generated so if rapidly firing shot after shot it shouldn't be a surprise that more heat will be generated than say firing one shot every minute. Keep firing the flash continuously and at some point something has to happen due to the heat build up- either the flash breaks or it shuts itself down. How long it takes to reach this point is where the problem lies. I'm not disputing that this point isn't reached too soon with the SB900 in some instances but there are many cases of other factors coming into play and it does get a bad reputation with people offering comments on threads like 'it overheats' when they've often not even used one.

Is an SB900 an appropriate tool for all? Probably not. Is it unreasonable to expect it to be for the price and current positioning? There's a strong argument that it should be. What they should have done is build an SB1000 with more power, weather sealing, a lighter design and cutting edge heat dissipation then charged £500-600. Or better yet, reposition the entire flash range charging £100 for the SB400, £180 for the SB700, £250 for the SB900 and £320 for an SB1000.

If they repositioned the SB900, a firmware fix option could have been offered for those that wanted to lower the risk of overheating and they could have positioned it at the enthusiast level rather than as a pro level flash for instance.

Instead we get some rubbish rehash with worse recycling carried out to mask any shortcomings rather than design innovation to make sure they don't occur.

Not sure I'm with you on the white flash although I don't despise white Canon lenses as much as I used to:D. All Nikon lenses that aren't black look awful. They should be forced to buy them all back and apologise for desecrating them. I'd rather look cool and need a workaround:lol:;)
 
Go buy a studio head for £150.

If it doesn't have a fan or aluminium case to manage the that then you made a really poor choice. I know you pay a lot for shrinking the size and all the clever party tricks an SB900 can do but it really seems like they didn't think this one through.

As a clear indication....when it shuts down the casing isn't even warm. I know there's heat build up when it fires but something in the design holds this inside and that's what they should really be looking at rather than a Mickey Mouse software fix.

Let's not forget how much £450 (or £900 for 2 since you'll want a spare) really is. That would buy you a 2 head studio kit from Elinchrom. Or most of a Nikon J1. Or a 16MP Sony DSLR and lens.

>> Is an SB900 an appropriate tool for all?

It's their pro offering - so it better be good enough for pro use. I've had one since they first came out and it still looks pretty new. My SB800s are very beaten up - and with good reason. If I need a flashgun I can rely on, I pick up an 800 every time.
 
Cistron said:
I think it's ludicrous that the top-level flashes now sell for 350+.
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It's a massive amount of money indeed. I baulked at the thought of spending £250 of my company's money on an SB700!!

The problem I many people have justifying this type of expenditure is that a lot of the features built into flashguns are so invisible, they question what it is they're actually buying into. Spending 'x' amount on a camera is often easier to stomach because there are marked improvements all round, be it in sensor tech, performance, build, weathersealing, high ISOs etc.... flashes just aren't sexy in the same way. Plus, for me, they get used in manual mode for 90 per cent of the time so I'm basically buying a glorified YN460!!! :)

The big but for me is I rust Nikon flashes so i know that despite my protests, I'll always buy them because they last....
 
I'm sure its a small improvement over the SB900, but 450 quid?

Can't remember how much I paid for my SB900, but fairly sure it wasn't anything like that.

I also have a SB800, which for most things is quite serviceable really - smaller, lighter... the only bummer with it is slightly smaller zoom/range and the extra external AA battery, but if you are really blatting it you are using a proper external battery pack anyway.
 
I had an SB-900 never had any problems with it although I didn't mix batteries and overdo it on the recycling. £450 does seem outrageous, I thought £330 was expensive for the SB-900.
 
Is there any performance differences? Because I don't need the 2sec reload... as im not a paparazzi and thats the only difference I can see...
 
Ah I see, thats good because I can get the SB900 for £250 new, just didnt want to miss out on any 'major' features which the 910 is lacking in :)
 
At £350 for my SB-900, it overheats far too often! For this price you just simply expect more from it, and as others have said here, it is a Pro flashgun. Very disappointed, Nikon.
 
Glad I didn't get an SB-900 - seems like they're more trouble than they're worth and that the SB-700 is just about its equal.

I'm just glad Nikon build in the 'lazarus' firmware into the SB-800 - mine took a swim in the River Lea a month back but has come back to life after a bit of convelescance in the house. Now that is a feature you can't buy!!! :lol:
 
Never had a problem with either my sb800 or sb900 overheating, the only time I got the thermal cut out to even get close was while I was sat on the settee with it on manual and full power setting it off with the test button, after about 50 flashes as quick as I could it was about showing about 3/4 on the temp gauge.

Its like all things, the people who have an issue always shout louder than the satisfied people.
 
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Absolutely no idea what kind of scenario causes the thing to overheat, but its certainly not anything I've come across and I'd have thought that I would have encountered it over the years I've had it. I've shot enough winning drivers/riders getting out/off their vehicle and onto the podium... and thats real machine gunning with flash!

The main heat source appears to be the batteries discharging rapidly, maybe the eneloops I use are the magic in this?

Either that or me just using it as relatively mild daylight fill...
 
I've had it happen a few times at weddings which is a right royal pain in the neck. In this situation i switch flashes from one body to the other as i have 2 900's and an 800. Wish they could do something to fix it. Im gonna try a different make of battery to see if it makes a difference.
 
What sort of batteries do you use Phil?

Presumably you are shooting indoors with them? Indoor ambient temperature (ie warmer to start with) and darker scenes probably means greater flash power used than my outdoor stuff.

A suggestion I saw on another forum a while back is to up the ISO, reducing the power needed...
 
blythieboy said:
I use two sb900s, really embarrassing at the start of a Cross country or cyclocross event when they both overheat....looked at sb700s but they don't have external power capabilities...as I use propacs to power them...so sb910s may be the only way forward...
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Just switch the overheat protection off it's that important to you
 
blythieboy said:
But isn't that there for a reason....?
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Maybe but it's very over sensitive. I've had mine switched off ever since it cut out way to early with no issues
 
Anyone had the cojones to drill some small holes in the body/head? Maybe even attach a small PC fan?

I've never actually got mine to cut out, but have seen the temp meter rise - but then I don't really stress it out. Most I would do is probably four or five shots in a row with there being a good few seconds before the next burst.


The one thing I wish the SB-900 had was a battery meter.
 
I've not had a single overheat problem on either of my SB900's since moving over to non rechargeable batteries.
I did a bit of searching on the net when my first one overheated very quickly when I bought it new. Their is plenty of info out there about this problem.
I can only speak from my own experience.

Kev.
 
OutLore said:
The one thing I wish the SB-900 had was a battery meter.
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+ the fact that you have to still have charged batteries in the flash (to power the screen) even when using an external power supply...recycle time is great from the propacs, but the flash just can't cope...

tempted to try without the temperature warning switched on though....but I still think this is too risky at the start of a race when doing shots every second or so as people run past..?
 
Thing is if you google it, all flash units can overheat and melt down, the sb900 protects your kit...

Proper studio lights have thermal cutouts too..albeit with a larger unit overheat is more easily technically dealt with.

Melted sb800's aren't as rare as some here might suggest...
 
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