Nikon SB900 or SB600?

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TaffyTim

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Hi all,

I have at present a Nikon SB600 flashgun which has worked without fault, but now I need a secondary flashgun (backup).

I would like a SB900 cos its got more rotational options and a higher power output, but I am nervous about its thermal shutdown problem which many have reported.

Has anyone purchased a SB900 and have not experienced this problem? or is there a fix around this problem?

cheers

TaffyTim
 
I have the SB900 and 600 and never found the thermal cut off to be a problem, it has gone off once or twice but only when I am using the flash full power for a longer time, you can turn it off in the menu settings as well if its a problem.

Hope that helps
 
I have the sb900 and in normal use I have had no problems. It seems as if the cut off only comes in when the flash is being used a lot on full power.
I know of people using the sb900 for press work and have turned the cut off, off and had no problem.
 
I've never had a problem with it, you have a bar graph that shows you the temp creep up so it's not a shock anyway. Mine has cut out when a friend of mine was using it but it's never done it on me. That's a good point actually, it protects your flash from your friends :) My SB800 obviously doesn't have it, I think I'll only ever lend my 900 :)
 
icnoble said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A40qojKE-3Q

Have a look at this re thermal cut off
Click to expand...

His flash won't be putting out anywhere near 100% being so close to a white reflective surface!
He also mentions the batteries, which are unlikely to be the problem. The temperature sensor is on the charging circuit and it's the inefficiencies of the charging circuit which lead to the heat build-up.

Chances are, Nikon have been over-cautious with the SB900. Switch off the cut-off on the few occasions you might trigger it, if necessary.
 
I have two SB900s, one is more sensitive than t'other, but unless you are hammering it with repeated full power shots I doubt you'd ever notice it. It's certainly not a fault or a problem with the flashguns.
 
User Name said:
His flash won't be putting out anywhere near 100% being so close to a white reflective surface!
He also mentions the batteries, which are unlikely to be the problem. The temperature sensor is on the charging circuit and it's the inefficiencies of the charging circuit which lead to the heat build-up.

Chances are, Nikon have been over-cautious with the SB900. Switch off the cut-off on the few occasions you might trigger it, if necessary.
Click to expand...

Re batteries, on another forum I use, people who had the problem changed to an external battery pack and found the problem was rectified, this was due to the fact that the SB900 recycling time is as fast/faster than the SB800 with the 5th battery fitted so the batteries do get hotter in the SB900. Is it a fault, no, just because people hammered their SB800 snd it didn't stop working doesn't mean they were not damaging it.

To the OP the SB900 is a great flash, the UI is so much better than either the 600 or 800. Plus as you said the increased swivel is useful and setting as remote or master is a breeze.
 
Davec223 said:
Re batteries, on another forum I use, people who had the problem changed to an external battery pack and found the problem was rectified, this was due to the fact that the SB900 recycling time is as fast/faster than the SB800 with the 5th battery fitted so the batteries do get hotter in the SB900.
Click to expand...

An external battery pack kicks out 300V, just like the charging circuit. It's like having another charging circuit in parallel with the one in the flash unit. That's why the problem is rectified.
 
User Name said:
An external battery pack kicks out 300V, just like the charging circuit. It's like having another charging circuit in parallel with the one in the flash unit. That's why the problem is rectified.
Click to expand...


just a question if they use 8 aa batteries how does it push out 300v, also my understanding of the SB900 is that the internal batteries only power the display and do not charge the flash. Please correct me if I have moss understood this.
 
The circuit in the external battery pack generates 300V, in exactly the same way as the circuit works inside the flash unit itself. The capacitor which fires the flash tube requires 300V, from internal or external source.
With the Canon 580EXII the user can choose either external pack only or external + internal to charge. Either option has the effect of faster recycling times.

If you are using a flash remotely on a stand, use an external pack and have no worries.
 
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