Speedlight Advice Please (sb900/sb800/sb600)

psenior1

psenior1

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I stupidly sold my SB800 a while ago and now need another speedlight for a christening I'm shooting soon. I wasn't massively impressed with th sb800, the menu's were such a PITA and fiddly to use considering how much it cost.

I'm guess I'm now wondering if the 900 is worth the extra money over a 600, I'll be using it on camera and and in a ezybox type setup. I've also been asked to do my first wedding later this year so need it for that too... :thinking::thinking::thinking:
 
The '900 will offer you more power than the '600. I' can't believe you didn't rate the '800 - compared to any other flash I've used it's a doddle. Each to his own and all that though... :)
 
The menus on the 900 are much easier to use. To set it for off camera remote - just turn the switch to "remote". To use it as a master to control other remotes - set to "master" on the same switch.

easy as that.

There is a button to do each control. So with it attached ot the camera (or hot wired) for menu functions, press the menu button. Scroll through by means of a control wheel - much like the camera.

To fiddle flash exp comp - there is a button for +/- comp, press it and then scroll up or down with the wheel in 1/3rd stops.

Zoom has its own button and the head will zoom to 200mm. The 800 only goes to 105.

There are dedicated colour comp filters which interact with the auto white balance on the camera - if you are shooting indoors with normal light bulbs, put the orange (tungsten) compensation filter (1/2 and 1/1 supplied) in the filter holder and your flash becomes a tungsten light source, so the ligting will be balnced. Same thing with fluorescent, use the green gels supplied and your flash becomes a fluorescent light source.......the camera does the maths for you, unlike when we used to shoot with film and had to use colour temp meters and stuff. All that buggering about is now done by the camera's "brain".

Of course, you can still out think it and use this stuff to help you outside (like setting fluorescent colour balance to make twilight even more vivid! It is only the electronic way of putting a magenta filter on the lens. And you don't have to carry a bag full of gels with you, just a few swatches.)

In short - get the 900. The 600 wil only disppoint unless fo roff camera only.
 
I've used the SB-600, SB-800 and the SB-900 and have to say the SB-900 is easier to use and less fiddly then the other 2. Its a lot bigger than the SB-800 and cost more but I love it.

SB-900 All the way. :thumbs:
 
I have all 3 (600, 800, 900) and if I had to have just one it would be the 900 without question. It is so much easier to use than the others and for a social tog the ability to switch between modes i.e. between on camera and remote (as well as master if you need that) with just one switch is simply something I couldn't live without now.
 
:agree:

The 900 is a doddle to use - the menus are so much easier to navigate than with the 600 and 800.
 
VOUCHERS - you mean you can get lunch there now as well?

That link you posted, I had a look and nearly feinted. At the top on the right I thought it said:
FREE. 40 free pints.

I would have been round there like a shot tomorrow.:lol:
 
Lensflare said:
VOUCHERS - you mean you can get lunch there now as well?

That link you posted, I had a look and nearly feinted. At the top on the right I thought it said:
FREE. 40 free pints.

I would have been round there like a shot tomorrow.:lol:
Click to expand...

No, but you'll be dining out on that pun for ages :lol:
 
well SB-900 is in the bag, Jessops for £309. Got an Ezyfold (like Ezybox) a couple of days ago too - so lots to play with this weekend :D:D:D
 
let us know how you get on with the Ezyfold please. i use an 80-20 kit, and have done for some time because it is great out and about in the field, but I know I need something a little softer, even if it is less portable (the 80-20 goes in your pocket or flap of the bag.)
 
I have been finding the 900 easier to use than the 600. The menus of the 900 are easy to access, but quite long if you have the 'full menu' option... However you can disable the menus for most of the functions and using 'my menu' after un-ticking the stuff in setup, that you don't want to see all the time.

After much swearing, I found it works fine as a remote if you select the same channel and group on the flash, as your using in the cameras flash/bracketing CLS menus. If the D700 is like the D300, always press 'OK' after changing any of the CLS settings, otherwise the changes will not be done if you just exit from the menu after fiddling.
 
i have the SB900, SB800, SB28 all great flashes

really love the power from the 900 but find it a lttle big for every day in the bag so carry one 800 everywhere.

cant wait to play with all three with my new triggers
 
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