Picked up an SB-900 today....

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....and it's bloody huge! It dwarfs the 800 and 600 and apart from the added functionality the best part is that it is easy to use compared with the older models, all the controls are logical and I didn't have RTFM once to get it set up in various modes.

Just off for a play now. :D

900-1.jpg


900-2.jpg


900-3.jpg
 
I've just done a quick test and it is so much easier to use. I set up a bottle on the patio table in the shade and wanted to see if I could quickly create a sunset type picture using the 900 and supplied gel. The first image is without any flash with WB set to Cloudy, as you can see the shot is flat, uninspiring and ever so dull. :D

9001sttest-2.jpg


The second shot is with the SB-900 camera left in remote mode and being triggered by the SU-800, I put the orange gel in the filter holder and maintained the WB at cloudy, the camera was in Aperture priority with about -1EV dialled in and the flash was set at +1.7 EV. The flash zoom was set to 200mm.

9001sttest-1.jpg


Not great shots I know but this was just a test to see how quickly I could set this up and it was seconds (and I still haven't RTFM :D).
 
Hacker said:
The second shot is with the SB-900 camera left in remote mode and being triggered by the SU-800, I put the orange gel in the filter holder and maintained the WB at cloudy, the camera was in Aperture priority with about -1EV dialled in and the flash was set at +1.7 EV. The flash zoom was set to 200mm.

9001sttest-1.jpg


Not great shots I know but this was just a test to see how quickly I could set this up and it was seconds (and I still haven't RTFM :D).
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Nice demonstration Hacker, and He hey, someone else has been reading the Hotshoe Diaries and taken note :)! I'm also thinking about picking up an sb900 (got an 800 and 2 600's at the mo)
 
Dangleman said:
Nice demonstration Hacker, and He hey, someone else has been reading the Hotshoe Diaries and taken note :)! I'm also thinking about picking up an sb900 (got an 800 and 2 600's at the mo)
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Great book, isn't it! I have got so many ideas for weddings rattling around in my bonce at the moment. If you are considering the 900 I would recommend it even after owning it for only a few hours - very easy to use and a very clever and capable bit of kit.
 
stop it, Im trying to find reasons NOT to buy one and your really not helping!!!
 
Another stop it from me!! I want one, but just cant afford at the moment. Plus it would be perfect as I just be playing with high speed sync off camera and the SB900 would fit so nicely with that.
Mart.
 
pablob said:
I had a 600 and now own the 900 - As Hacker says it's so much easier to use!

Oh and another here going through Joe McNally Books!
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I've gotta be ready for October 3rd Paul!

:D
 
LOL! At least I won't need to pop over to Spain to grab a tan! That sucker will warm me up just fine ;)

Looking forward to hearing about these other creative ideas too! Sounds like we're gonna be Guinea Pigs! I jest off course!

Have you got hold of that 24-70 yet?! There's a minter on Nikonians at the mo £925 + postage
 
Not yet, got to wait until I sell the 17-35mm but I'm having second thoughts about that. :lol:
 
Hacker said:
I've just done a quick test and it is so much easier to use. I set up a bottle on the patio table in the shade and wanted to see if I could quickly create a sunset type picture using the 900 and supplied gel. The first image is without any flash with WB set to Cloudy, as you can see the shot is flat, uninspiring and ever so dull. :D

9001sttest-2.jpg


The second shot is with the SB-900 camera left in remote mode and being triggered by the SU-800, I put the orange gel in the filter holder and maintained the WB at cloudy, the camera was in Aperture priority with about -1EV dialled in and the flash was set at +1.7 EV. The flash zoom was set to 200mm.

9001sttest-1.jpg


Not great shots I know but this was just a test to see how quickly I could set this up and it was seconds (and I still haven't RTFM :D).
Click to expand...

Hi there also was thinking about the SB-900, you say left the camera in remote mode what do you mean by this? and the SU-800 as a trigger did you have the flash on the camera or off? I have the D90 am i right in saying i would not need the SU-800 as my cameras built in flash would trigger the SB-900.

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question but i am new to all this lighting stuff and would like some help before i bought the flashgun.


Bye the way it's a nice effect with the supplied jel.
 
I wish you hadn't gone and done that, me wanty an SB-900 so badly now :lol:

I was reading that the hotshoe on the new gun is causing a few problems as it's slightly bigger than that on the 600 and 800 (hence the new stand) is the difference in size all that noticeable?
 
GlasgowGunner said:
I have the D90 am i right in saying i would not need the SU-800 as my cameras built in flash would trigger the SB-900.
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You don't require the SU-800, the D90 has the remote commander mode built in already - the SB-600, SB-800 and SB-900 will all work fine controlled remotely by your camera.
 
very good demo, as for the power question i use energizer 2800mah re-chargables and have used them for a 2 hour long boxing venue and not run them down once yet.power consumption is good for the size and power of this flash.
 
Can't believe the size of it!!! Think they've made it that big to make anyone who's not on a equally big camera like a D3 feel inadequate :)
 
NorthernNikon said:
Same way as I hide one of these ...

nikkor200.jpg


:nuts:
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Well I guess if you can hide THAT - then the SB900 must be a doddle :clap:

There again - I reckon a 'free' SB900 should be on my way now as I know your secret & where you live :naughty:

:lol:

DD
 
After seeing that I think the tag line from The Hot Shoe Diaries is pushing it a little bit "Big Light from Small Flashes":lol:
 
different story for me.

I have only ever used an on camera flash before, so got myself a SB900 for my recent trip to egypt as I wanted to get some nice pics of the pregnant miss's at night.

I couldnt get a single decent shot when using it so went back to the room and got her pocket camera instead.

I know it was me.

any recomendations on books or websites that give a simple read on flash photograpy much appreciated.
 
Used a pair of 600s with 800 master for a year or so....bought a pair of 900s the other week....big to pack in the kit bag, but the ease and speed of use is worth it for anyone doing a lot of work. The 600s are still damn good guns though, just more fiddly to use from a button pushing aspect....although the one tap on the power button to go back to main menu is a shortcut not mentioned in the manual, works for the 800 too.

The 800 has a higher guide number than the 900, but with the extra zoom of the 900, the range is actually extended with less guide number. Power consumption is very economic - I did 4 shoots over a weekend and did not need to change the batteries and was only about half way through the power source. Very impressed. I must say, the gels that come with them are very thin and not that good. I have been using Lee Filters gels with my other guns for about 10 years...and just cut my own for the 800 and 600s, just using a tab to push in the card slot......provided it isn't too windy it works. Wind does lift the gel and so a tiny bit of blu tac sorts it. The new gel holder on the 900 is quite cumbersome and I am worried by it becoming scratched (illogically because ti will not effect the light!)

Anyway, the 600s make good background lights or back lights so they are not redundant yet. High speed synch on remote is more powerful with the 900s too - so even in bright sunshine you can wok contra jour and fiill with remote. Very useful.
 
Lensflare said:
The 800 has a higher guide number than the 900, but with the extra zoom of the 900, the range is actually extended with less guide number.
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Just to clarify, guide number relates to the power of a flash at a certain ISO (usually 100) and focal length (usually 50mm).

So the SB-800 is more powerful but the SB-900 has a great zoom range. It would be interesting to see what the working difference between the two Speedlights is - the SB-800 may still be able to throw light as far as an SB-900 zoomed in to 200mm, but obviously the light from the SB-800 would be thrown over a wider area.
 
The extra zoom of the 900 gives it more working distance...what I was trying to say in the first place, but you are quite right in your correct way of putting it!
 
Been thinking about picking up an SB900 myself. The controls make it worth the effort alone. Putting the SB800's in and out of slave/commander mode taxes my brain every time I need to change them. Luckily the 600 never comes out of slave mode :lol:
 
Hey Hacker I spose you dont know which is the cheapest place to get one of these fellas do you? I was just about to ask , when I saw your post. Never used a flashgun really been thinking about getting one of these for a while most say how easy they are to use.
 
Dominic5749 said:
Hey Hacker I spose you dont know which is the cheapest place to get one of these fellas do you? I was just about to ask , when I saw your post. Never used a flashgun really been thinking about getting one of these for a while most say how easy they are to use.
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£290 from Jessops website, using the code Spring20 :)
 
Much easier to use than the 800 - I have a few 600s, an 800 and a pair of 9s now. The selctor button has been replaced with a simple switch - just turn it to the setting you want: on camera flash, master or remote. That is it! Then, obviously you use the menus for detailed programming, but it stays put at your last settings for convienance and exp comp on flash is again, just a matter of knocking a button, or pressing one and turning the dial - either works, just a matter of preference which way you do it.

Excellent piece of design work in the 900 to make it so user friendly. I think someone who has never picked a flash up before could be using to good effect within 5 minutes.
 
Just picked my 900 up from Jessops, bleedin' 'ell it's a big gun :lol:

When I see the price decent SB-800s are going for on Fleabay I'm tempted to go and get another 900 as they're only about a tenner more :shrug:
 
I was in Currys off J9 M6 on wednesday, they had a ticket in a cabinet for SB-900 @ £275 but none in stock, I asked the assistant who said he'd ordered some for del on friday and the price would be the same but I live 80 miles away so didn't go back to check.

I suspect that £275 price may be because they're pre price increase stock as they're still showing the 1D Mk III at £2397 though they do have those in
 
Can anyone recommend a good diffuser to attach to it or any other stuff I will need to go with it.
 
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