SB-900 worth it?

Curt

Senior Member
Well I just ordered a SB-600, after reading up on both I made the choice for the 600. I could not justify the price of the 900.
For what I use it for the SB-600 will do the trick, and I can always add another 600 later. But I am not saying you should make the same choice. It depends on what you are using it for.
The 900 does have features the 600 does not. Check the Specs. and go from there.
 

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blueiron

New member
I have the SB800 and I don't use many of the functions that it has and often prefer to carry the SB400 due to its lack of bulk and the lessened chance of getting it knocked off from the shoe. In retrospect, the SB600 would have been the right choice.

Let us know how you like it.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Well I just ordered a SB-600, after reading up on both I made the choice for the 600. I could not justify the price of the 900.
For what I use it for the SB-600 will do the trick, and I can always add another 600 later. But I am not saying you should make the same choice. It depends on what you are using it for.
The 900 does have features the 600 does not. Check the Specs. and go from there.

I have to agree 100% with Curt here. The price just not justify getting a 900. My new SB-600 does the job for me, and I'm using it with a D200 camera. It has a lot of features for the money, IMHO.
 

Qarik

New member
I have 2 sb900 and have ownwed sb800 and sb600. If you are a hobbyiest and don't intend to go off camera flash then the sb600 is a fine flash. If you are looking to go off camera flash or a professional, the sb900 is well worth it for it's power and ergonomics.
 

blueiron

New member
Let's take a look:

The SB900 costs $459.95 and the SB600 costs $219.95 at B&H as of this date, for the USA models. The difference is $240.00.

What does one get for that money?

The 900 has a rotary power switch, instead of the push and hold power button on the 600 or 800.
It now tilts down to -11 degrees. My 800 tilts down -8 degrees and I was unable to determine the declination on the 600.
One gets a set of color filters and a diffuser dome.
A longer claimed range of 17 to 200mm, instead of the 600's range of 24 to 85mm.
It weighs more, 14.6 oz versus 10.6 oz.
It is physically larger.
It has lots of menus.
It functions as a wireless commander.


My critique is as follows:

The rotary switch is a positive change. It is usable with gloves and more positive in function.
Increased downward tilt to -11 degrees? If one is shooting close enough, one should consider use of a macro flash, a lightbox, or studio lighting depending on circumstances.
One can buy sheet gel filters for $6.99 for a 20x24" sheet and a diffuser dome for the 600 for $9.99.
Its longer range is questionable, since the light output is about one stop greater on the 900. If you need a longer range for a 300mm or longer lens, you can spend $38.95 for a FX4 flash x-tender for the 600 or 800.
More weight is a burden and a 40% increase adds up when having to lug it and the camera any length of time.
It is larger and if you are carrying it as a PJ or as an enthusiast around at an event, it is likely going to get caught up in things and bumped around or off. Hot shoe damage isn't cheap - I know from practical experience.
It has lots of menus. I prefer simple to complex settings and while they may be customizable, how many customizable settings does one need when shooting anything? Especially if the action is busy or fast.
It functions as a wireless commander. Does anyone routinely use their SU800 or wireless commander? If you do studio work, studio strobes or hot lights would be better. My SB800 has that function and I tried it once. It was a lot of effort for not a lot of light output.

Everyone's needs are different and some people prefer to have the latest and greatest devices out there, but a savings of $240 is substantial and one can spend an additional $45.94 for a big sheet of warming gel [a rubber band will hold it on the flash nicely] and a flash extender for the 300mm or longer lenses, the SB600 can be a serious alternative and still save $194.06. If you want the wireless commander, B&H has a used SB800 [rated at 9] for $349.00 and that is a savings of $110.95 over the SB900.
 

Qarik

New member
Blueiron,

Like I said..if you are a hobbyist then the Sb600 will serve you well. Everything you mention is exactly true. But it appears to me you have not actually used an sb900 vs sb600 in field?

Here are a couple other features:

1) the flash head rotates 180 degrees in both directions. This one feature alone is worth the price of admission for a professional event type photographer who does a lot of straight bounce(that's me for example) in real time. It's so simple yet overlooked.
2) regarding off camera flash..have you tried getting your SB600 in slave mode? It involves holding 2 buttons down, scrolling through cryptic menus and symbols, then getting back to the original screen. Even after owning it for over a year I still had to scratch my head a bit to get it into slave mode. The SB900 involves turning the dial. Done. Same thing for master mode.
3) the gels that comes with sb900 automatically set the the WB in your camera body to match the gel. This is handy if you shoot in jpg though I typicaly do not.

You make an excellent argument for value between the flashes but my point is that for a working professional, the value argument doesn't work. The D90 is the best value in the Nikon body lineup and it can do 85% of the D3/D700 does at 15% the price. Yet pros do not use the D90 becasue obviously their livelyhood depend to some extent their gear.
 

blueiron

New member
The head rotation in both directions is something that Nikon should have addressed in all models.

I tried the wireless commander thing once and found it to be far more trouble than it was worth. I preferred working with dedicated strobe packs even on a location.

White balance setting isn't inconvenient, so it is a non-sequitor to me.

Based on the people I know who shoot for a living, they use what they are comfortable with and what works. It isn't always the most expensive gear and they get great results.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Hello all,


I received my SB-600 today, I had it set up and working in a matter of minutes.
So far I love it! It is true everyone has their own needs. For me the 600 is great!
It is small enough to fit in my case (even with a couple of lenses & camera body, with a lens mounted). I am not a professional photographer by any means. But for the money and what I use it for (close up table top mostly) it works great. It mounts nicely on the hot shoe and is light enough not to feel a real strain on the camera. I could see myself getting one more in the future. So for me two things played a large factor- Price & size.
 

Curt

Senior Member
Does anyone know what custom setting on the SB-600 work or don’t work with the D80?
Example-auto flash mode, auto balance, etc. Just got a SB-600, manual doesn't explan very well???
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
I am bringing this back up on the thread...I have the SB400 and it was woefully inadequate for a recent shoot I did in a large auditorium where I was trying to reach a key note speaker as well as other events on stage..I go to several of these a year so my interest in a flash is how far will it effectively go...it appears hands down it is the 900..however it is a lot of $$.
Anyone that has used both flashes care to comment?
In addition to a zillion buttons and options on the 900 I assume there is a "auto" setting?
 

blueiron

New member
Advertising 'range' of a flash is at optimal conditions and is very conditional.

The 400 is useful for addtional lighting and range beyond that of the popup flash on the consumer/prosumer models, but it has its limitations.

The 600/800/900 may be what is needed, but it isn't a simple factor of range in feet/meters. The stage lighting, range to the stage, lens/es used, angle to the speaker, potential to move up to a more favorable distance, knowledge of your flash settings and capabilities, et al. play important parts in the equation of adequate flash for a given range.

Unlike the most advanced cameras of today, no one that I am aware of makes a flash with Program mode, where the flash and camera set everything and you fire away. The 900 is really confusing to many shooters because of all the settings and variables that one can select.

It sounds like you may need a flash extender: Visual Echoes | FX4 Better Beamer for Select Mid-Size | FX4
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
The extender is a great idea...in theory...have you used one? I would assume that this would narrow the beam significantly? In these large auditoriums I cannot get closer. And yes I do use a telephoto at about 115mm when I am taking single shots of the speaker..but down to 18mm when I am taking shots of the room/crowd. I take the picture from a seated position as not to inturrupt the event. I should be ok with the 900, but would be a learning curve..but I simply don't want to fork out the money until I am convinced it is $200 better than the 600 for the conditions I may find myself in.
I Love the SB400 and will continue to use it for 80% of my flash photography.
 

Curt

Senior Member
I have not had the opportunity to use the SB 900 as of yet.
I have a SB 600 and it works very well, I don’t know about large distance shots as in a auditorium, but I have used mine for portrait work and close up and it works wonderful.
I use it off camera (mostly on a tripod), it was easy to set up and it’s easy to use, switching from the hot shoe to wireless is a snap. I am thinking of getting another one in the future.
I though of getting the 900, but for the price, I can use the camera in commander mode to control the SB 600s. As the 600s are just slaves. But my camera (D80) can do all that.
I can assign the speedlights to group A,B, etc. and I can use many speedlights and set them all different.
 

zx7dave

Senior Member
While I have never used a SB600...I decided to get the SB900...for a few reasons..mostly the flash recycle time..I find the menu easy to understand and was reaady to go with some very quick basic settings...well worth it...however it is more than I have ever paid for a flash....it was used off eBay...
 

naja

Senior Member
Yes it IS worth the extra over the SB800, and it is far and away better than the SB600. I own some of all three and the SB900 is my preferred choice all the time.

It re-cylces so much quicker.

It runs cooler if doing multiple flashes over a period.

It can be pushed to over-flash (similar to over exposure compensation) very easily and effectively.

It uses less battery power per shot and so the batteries last longer. (this recoups the extra cost if you do a lot of flash work)

It has much finer adjustment for fill-in flash

having said that I do a lot of wireless flash work using SU800 commander units and several heads. It is a much cheaper method than having to buy specialist outdoor flash gear and is a huge amount lighter to lug around.

I have used up to seven Nikon heads to get the effect I have wanted in an image. Using all three types of Nikon flash gun means I can also use their different guide numbers to give different amounts of illumination.

If you can afford the SB900 and use flash a lot then it is well worth the cost. If you just use flash now and again, and not over great distance, then the SB600 will do just as well.
 
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ohkphoto

Snow White
I love my sb-900 not because it's the latest mode (I originally shopped for an sb-800 but its ebay cost was more than a new sb-900). It has a lot of features but you have to take the time to experiment with them and learn what works in what situation. . . no different than when you get a new camera --I've had my D200 for more than 2 years and am still finding out things I didn't know about it.

I rarely use on-camera flash so comander mode and remote settings are important to me. I'm finding that more and more people are wanting "portraits" done in their homes rather than in the studio, and I would rather take 2 sb-900's along rather than my big studio strobe and have better lighting and more control. And it really puts out a lot of light. I don't always need that much, but it's nice to know it's there if and when I need it. Like a toolbox --you don't need all the tools all the time, but when you do , it's there.

As an example, take a look at some of Ranie's portraits on the "flash" thread --he's too nice to brag, so I'll do it for him. He uses several
sb-900's as well other speedlights and in my opinion has mastered nikon's CLS (creative lighting system).

So I agree it's a matter of preference. If you're not going to take advantage of all the features, you probably don't need it. It's like someone getting a D3X and shooting in P mode and all other automatic settings!

For me the extra cost was worth it and has paid off for me in many situations. I just ordered a second one(refurbished) from Nikon.

Best Regards
 
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