SB-800: cheaper alternatives, same features

Dangleman

Dangleman

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,316
Name
Dan
Edit My Images
No
I've been happily poddling along with an SB-800, 2 SB-600's and more recently the Elinchrom Quadras (nice!) up until now.

However, I want to add a couple more speedlights to my set up, but I want SB-800 equivalents/ features ie TTL AND a pc sync port. The SB-900 is too expensive I think, obvious choice would be second hand 800's but they're hard to find and the soon to be released SB-700 has no pc sync port.

Are there any cheaper 'Chinese knock offs' that are TTL (and will work with Nikons CLS) and have a pc sync port so I can hook them up to Elinchrom skyport receivers? It seems like various new brands have cropped up in the last year or so that I know nothing about (Nissin? thought they made cars, oh ho).

Am I asking too much?...
 
Last edited:
The Nissin Micra, sorry Di866 Speedlite pro always seems to do pretty well in most magazine tests. I seen it on fleabay for around £180 from memory, have been thinking about getting a second unit to pair up with my SB800. Might be worth a look.

Voted Editors choice in Digital Camera Magazine in April. Even beat the SB900!
 
Sb600 + stand modified with 3.5mm jack or pc sync port of your choice...
 
Have a play with the SB900 they are worth every penny. I have both an sb800 and sb900 and the sb800 only gets occasional use now. The SB900 is so much more user friendly.
 
The Nissin Micra, sorry Di866 Speedlite pro always seems to do pretty well in most magazine tests. I seen it on fleabay for around £180 from memory, have been thinking about getting a second unit to pair up with my SB800. Might be worth a look.
Click to expand...

That looks a pretty bloody good alternative!

Cheng said:
Sb600 + stand modified with 3.5mm jack or pc sync port of your choice...
Click to expand...

Oooh hello :) Tell me more about this option....

Are you saying something like this
http://flashzebra.com/products/0126/index.shtml

could turn my sb 600's into a radio fired unit as and when needed, once I hook up a skyport receiver?

This would be ideal, and a lot cheaper. Only need to buy 1 extra skyport receiver and a couple of cables....
 
Last edited:
Dangleman said:
Ok chaps, after doing a spot of research, just need confirmation here before I go mad:

For off camera flash - Can I fit an SB-600 directly into this http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cords...iser_hotshoe_to_minijack_adaptor/19124_p.html

...and then plug the cord from that into an elinchrom skyport receiver, and have radio controlled flash of the SB-600?
Click to expand...

yes, though sb600s are occasionaly funny with different hot shoes... find one that is definitely ok with sb600s. flash zebra does one.

tbh, sb800s are only £200 second hand... sb600 + one of those is basically that.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
yes, though sb600s are occasionaly funny with different hot shoes... find one that is definitely ok with sb600s. flash zebra does one.

tbh, sb800s are only £200 second hand... sb600 + one of those is basically that.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave. I'm looking at this 'Kaiser' one from Speedgraphic (UK based, and used them before) http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/cords...iser_hotshoe_to_minijack_adaptor/19124_p.html

They also do the new Skyport receivers so feel a mini bulk buy coming on...

I'll then have my Elinchrom Quadras and up to 3 speed lights that can all work together on the Elinchrom radio system, but I can still use my sb 800 and 2 sb 600s in 'CLS' TTL mode when environment allows. Good times.
 
Dangleman said:
That looks a pretty bloody good alternative!



Oooh hello :) Tell me more about this option....

Are you saying something like this
http://flashzebra.com/products/0126/index.shtml

could turn my sb 600's into a radio fired unit as and when needed, once I hook up a skyport receiver?

This would be ideal, and a lot cheaper. Only need to buy 1 extra skyport receiver and a couple of cables....
Click to expand...

No, you can modify the stands with a bit of wire and a jack so that you can plug in a pc port/3.5mm jack. Try googling it - it was on strobist a few years ago. It should cost very very little. You only need the centre pin and the metal plate to trigger the flash on manual mode so thats the basic idea behind it.
 
I had an SB800 from new until about a month ago when I swapped it plus an external battery booster for an SB900.

I prefer the SB900 hence the swap and I like the manual switch for the mode but there is not a lot in it. I also like the 200mm zoom and FX/DX auto detection. The SB800 was really good though.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top