SB900 overheating and weddings. Is it a real issue?

EspressoJunkie

EspressoJunkie

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,886
Name
Greg
Edit My Images
Yes
I shot my first solo wedding at the weekend and I managed to get through it pretty well.

The only thing that let me down (apart from lack of experience :-P ) was my Yongnuo 568 flash. Its been a great flash for general shooting, but on Saturday I just felt that it didn't perform as well as I wanted it to. I was using my works SB900 on my second camera and wound up switching them over during the wedding.

Now obviously the SB900 is in a different league to the Yongnuo and its prompted me to look at getting one myself. The only thing that does worry me a little is the apparent overheating issue. It's not something I've experienced yet myself but as I move forward to do more weddings should it be something to concern me? I know stuff like this gets bandied about the internet and often grows out of all proportion so I'd like to hear from anyone here who does weddings or similar with the SB900.

I know the SB910 is the obvious solution but I really don't have the budget to stretch to one of those at the moment, so a S/H Sb900 is the best I'll get.
 
It was a real problem for me. I grew to hate the bloody thing. It seemed to overheat at the most inopertune moment. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I replaced them with 910s. They don't overheat and stop working when the going gets tough. You don't need that kind of hassle at a wedding.
 
Almost the same but older !!!! Don't have the same overheat issue as the 900 (although I'm sure you can fry them if you try hard enough) !
 
EspressoJunkie said:
I dont want to have battery packs at a wedding.

I'd not considered the SB800 though. I know they're older but how do they compare to the 900?
Click to expand...

Diving Pete said:
Almost the same but older !!!! Don't have the same overheat issue as the 900 (although I'm sure you can fry them if you try hard enough) !
Click to expand...

Ive got 4 SB800s and have had them from new (so they're a few years old now) and they've never let me down, I ended lending one to the 'official' tog at my daughters leaver do/prom on Friday as his SB900 fried. I'm not 100% up on the SB900 specs, but I know they have a longer zoom of 200mm opposed to the SB800s 105mm, the SB900 has a slightly more user friendly interface (IMO)
 
One_Light_Wonder said:
Ive got 4 SB800s and have had them from new (so they're a few years old now) and they've never let me down, I ended lending one to the 'official' tog at my daughters leaver do/prom on Friday as his SB900 fried. I'm not 100% up on the SB900 specs, but I know they have a longer zoom of 200mm opposed to the SB800s 105mm, the SB900 has a slightly more user friendly interface (IMO)
Click to expand...


The zoom thing doesn't really bother me because the longest lens I currently use is 120mm. And I had read about the interface being simpler on the 900 but to be fair I'm planning on sticking them on top of the camera and not changing anything!
 
EspressoJunkie said:
The zoom thing doesn't really bother me because the longest lens I currently use is 120mm. And I had read about the interface being simpler on the 900 but to be fair I'm planning on sticking them on top of the camera and not changing anything!
Click to expand...

Then I'd say, get some :)

The Nissan Di622 (?) are pretty good, tried a couple of these a few years back and quite liked them, but I'm a Nikon whore so stuck with my SB800s
 
One_Light_Wonder said:
Then I'd say, get some :)

The Nissan Di622 (?) are pretty good, tried a couple of these a few years back and quite liked them, but I'm a Nikon whore so stuck with my SB800s
Click to expand...


I've had a nissin before and I wasn't a great fan.

Having had a look at eBay I think i will go for an 800. They seem pretty cheap which might leave me some cash for a new modifier as well :-D
 
I switched off the thermal protection setting on mine and never had any issues after that, previously it did used to switch off and stop working after a few quick bursts and took ages to become usable again. Since switching off the protection it was fine. Although I've long since got rid of the 900s as the 700s suited me better for weddings, smaller and easier to adjust and more than enough power for my uses. I'd consider a pair of them unless you need the power of the 900s.
 
I use a few sb-700s when the time calls for it. Never miss a beat and lighter/smaller than the 900s
 
Must say I have never had the overheating issue with my SB900 and most people I know cannot replicate it either with theirs. Seems that if you machine gun the 900 without respite it can overheat, but as I say mine has been sweet ever since I first got it.

I also have a couple of SB800, which are definitely less user friendly, especially compared to the SB900, but I have been using them so long, its not an issue.

All the talk wouldn't stop me buying another SB900 if the price was right.

For weddings I would personally look at using something larger and longer lasting with a soft box though.
 
shreds said:
Must say I have never had the overheating issue with my SB900 and most people I know cannot replicate it either with theirs. Seems that if you machine gun the 900 without respite it can overheat, but as I say mine has been sweet ever since I first got it.

I also have a couple of SB800, which are definitely less user friendly, especially compared to the SB900, but I have been using them so long, its not an issue.

All the talk wouldn't stop me buying another SB900 if the price was right.

For weddings I would personally look at using something larger and longer lasting with a soft box though.
Click to expand...

Well having had a look at eBay price is also a benefit of the SB800 ( I could get 2 for the price of a S/H SB910) and this appeals as currently my second flash is borrowed from work.

Bear in mind that this is for on camera at weddings during the actual ceremony. I will think about a separate studio type light for the after photo's but thats a little way down the line for me yet!
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Well having had a look at eBay price is also a benefit of the SB800 ( I could get 2 for the price of a S/H SB910) and this appeals as currently my second flash is borrowed from work.

Bear in mind that this is for on camera at weddings during the actual ceremony. I will think about a separate studio type light for the after photo's but thats a little way down the line for me yet!
Click to expand...

Don't forget to ok flash photography with the vicar/priest etc beforehand if in a church. They don't all like it and some insist on available light only in which case make sure you have a very capable camera.
 
shreds said:
Don't forget to ok flash photography with the vicar/priest etc beforehand if in a church. They don't all like it and some insist on available light only in which case make sure you have a very capable camera.
Click to expand...


Well I've been lucky enough so far (only done 2 though!).

But yeah I'm aware that it could be an issue in the future. I'm using two D750s but my main lens is currently a 24-120 F4 which obviously isn't the greatest for low light, the VR helps but only if the subject is still!

I have a 50mm 1.8 which I could use along with the 85mm at a push but yeah at some point the 24-120 will probably be replaced by a 24-70 2.8 (most likely a Tamron) and the 50 hopefully by a 35 1.8.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top