Speedlights SB-700

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wazy15

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Just back from my busy wedding and fancy treating myself to a speedlight. I see the SB600 has been discountiued, can anyone post any thoughts on the new SB700?
 
wazy15 said:
Just back from my busy wedding and fancy treating myself to a speedlight. I see the SB600 has been discountiued, can anyone post any thoughts on the new SB700?
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:thinking: They may have been discontinued, but they're still available to buy or are you set on getting a SB700 :shrug:
 
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I recently purchased the SB-700 after having owned an SB-400 for approx a couple of months (changed primarily as I wanted to tilt and bounce when shooting portraits).

Although it is not as powerful as the SB-600 (guide number), I do the like its layout and ease of use compared the 600. It's pretty well built (barring the slightly flimsy battery compartment cover!) and more than adequate for my shooting needs. I'm pleased with it.
 
I have a SB-900 but I wanted a SB with very similar controls to the SB-900 but smaller and the SB-700 was the answer. Built quality is brilliant and if you are into filters then you ll like the clip on new filters
 
Bought one yesterday, so only had a brief play with it last night. So far, LOVE IT!
 
I bought my SB-700 in December last year to go with my D7000.
It's easy to use, good build quality and the results are very good too.
I wouldn't want to change it for any thing else !
 
There's a review in the latest Amateur Photographer (we 23/4/11). It gets 5 stars.
 
you can still get sb600 at most online camera stores. i prefer sb600 over 700.. do some research and reviews that has been already made by advanced and pro photographers. they're everywhere... just hit search engine
 
Nikon newbie said:
It's currently selling for ~@£240 delivered, the cheapest it's ever been;
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For the extra 50-60 quid, I'd go for an SB-900. The SB-700 does have the advantage that it can double up as a CLS commander if required (as can the SB-900), which the SB-600 cannot. Whether it's worth the £100 or so extra cost over the SB-600 is up to you.
 
My decision was also influenced by both size/weight issues before purchasing the SB-700. The 900 is very much larger than both the 600 and 700. Horses for courses really!!
 
Astro said:
Absolutely. The SB900 is a monster and probably best reserved for putting on D700 and larger bodies :eek:
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And D300s. I agree it's probably better suited to the pro range than the smaller bodies. It can make things a bit top heavy if you're using a small body and a short or light lens.

On a heavier body like the D300s, especially with the grip attached, it's not a big deal and with a long heavy lens like the 70-200mm f/2.8VR (which is what I mostly have attached to mine when using flash) you barely feel the extra weight or imbalance of the flash.

Personally, I'd be happy to add at least a dozen more SB-900s to my army. ;)
 
Kaouthia said:
On a heavier body like the D300s, especially with the grip attached, it's not a big deal and with a long heavy lens you barely feel the extra weight or imbalance of the flash.
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Yeah, I definitely agree with that.:agree:

And if using off camera, then bigger is better -> SB900 all the way :clap:
 
Astro said:
And if using off camera, then bigger is better -> SB900 all the way :clap:
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Yeah, the SB-900s are fantastic off the camera as CLS slaves. Been having a think about adding a bunch of YN-560 though. Powerful and cheap, but you do have the hassle of having to physically go over to each flash to adjust power, and no AutoFP HSS.
 
Cheers for the advice guys, just tried a SB900 and was very impressed so going for one of those!
 
architectfadi said:
I have a SB-900 but I wanted a SB with very similar controls to the SB-900 but smaller and the SB-700 was the answer. Built quality is brilliant and if you are into filters then you ll like the clip on new filters
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Do the clip on filters work with the SB900 or are the sizes different? SB900's a bit of a faff in that department.

It is awesome though so I forgive it:love:
 
The SB-900's a faff how?

The SB-900 comes with a filter holder and a set of filters - and I've had no problem using a velcro strap and a Lumiquest FXtra and Roscoe sample packs when I need something that didn't come supplied with the SB-900.
 
Kaouthia said:
The SB-900's a faff how?

The SB-900 comes with a filter holder and a set of filters - and I've had no problem using a velcro strap and a Lumiquest FXtra and Roscoe sample packs when I need something that didn't come supplied with the SB-900.
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It's all relative and I do have zero patience and big hands calloused up from lots of climbing:D. Maybe 'faff' was too strong though tyring to open tesco bags I would describe as driving me insane rather than a faff:lol:

I just find it a pain bending the filters into the holder and lining them up with the hole etc and they're not the most robust. Be easier to just have coloured plastic that just clips on like the diffuser though looking now I see the SB700 only has 2 of those- fluorescent and incandescent- the plastic would probably use too much power. Still, the SJ-4 filter set doesn't look like you need to bend in the same way as the SJ-900 but hard to tell from the pics.

Will take a closer look at your link ta.
 
Yeah, it was a little odd the first couple of times I had a go at it (the Tesco analogy is very good!), but you soon get used to it. :)

The FXtras are great. I got one for the SB-600 after I started getting SB-900s, as the 600 doesn't come with any kind of filter holder. After picking up a couple of YN460-II flashes, I got a couple more, and they're very handy.

Only have SB-900s now, so don't really need to use the FXtras all that much, but I do plan on getting some YN-560 flashes, so they'll come in useful again. :)
 
wazy15 said:
Cheers for the advice guys, just tried a SB900 and was very impressed so going for one of those!
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Me too! I killed my old SB600 last week, tried the 700 and 900. I couldn't notice a weight difference on my D7000, the flash still fits in exactly the same places my old SB600 did so to me their was no real world size difference either. In that particular shop there was so little between them in price I went for theSB900.
 
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