Nikon flash question

lovejoy

Senior Member
Can anyone here please advise me on whether the Nikon SB800 flash is a good choice or not for a D5100? What are your thoughts and why?

I'm brand new to this and trying not to make expensive mistakes:D
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Can anyone here please advise me on whether the Nikon SB800 flash is a good choice or not for a D5100? What are your thoughts and why?

I'm brand new to this and trying not to make expensive mistakes:D


I am fairly new but bought the SB-700.. Pleased so far...

Pat in NH
 

lovejoy

Senior Member
I am just fishing for ideas, I have never had a digital camera until a few days ago and bought the D5100.

There is however, a SB700 on the list of cash back offers from Nikon so if I buy before 21st January I can claim £25 off.

So if the SB700 is right for my D5100 I may as well buy now and at least get the £25 off it.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
I am just fishing for ideas, I have never had a digital camera until a few days ago and bought the D5100.

There is however, a SB700 on the list of cash back offers from Nikon so if I buy before 21st January I can claim £25 off.

So if the SB700 is right for my D5100 I may as well buy now and at least get the £25 off it.

Saving money is always a good thing. :) The SB700 is an awesome flash, and it's what I like to call Idiot Proof. Very easy to learn and perfect for your D5100. You'll like all the bits it comes with, too. :) And of course, when you do get it....read the manual! :)
 
What they are all failing to tell you is that the furthur the flash is from the centre of the lens the bigger the shadow it casts....so and SB 400 is the closest you can get ..I have the YN 565 and power pack(SB910 equivalent) but never use it as the SB400 does everything I could ever need at a wedding ..if you intend to buy and are a mean yorkshire man the YN 468 is your best buy.
 

§am

Senior Member
I'm looking at getting the SB-700 too, and until couple days ago, Amazon (UK) had it the cheapest.
One thing I would point out though - it's a HUGE flash, not as big as the SB-910, but none the less, it's a big 'un!!

Pistnbroke - the SB-400 is quite the dinky little flash isn't it :)
Only problem I found was that it's not as powerful as I might have liked, but definitely an improvement over the on-camera/built-in flash, and it only swivels for ceiling bounce (no use if you then turn your camera to the side :( )
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
I think that depends on what you are actually doing with the flash.. bouncing off the ceiling .. a wall.. the wall behind.. Today's flashes provide so many options for bounce, angle adjust etc I think it is not always "no flash is any good when you turn your camera to the side if its still on top of the camera"

That's also true of ISO, you can use auto ISO but higher levels will affect the noise... I have been burnt a couple times where the camera made a choice I would not have.. I prefer to set the ISO what I can live with and manage the other variables myself.. That's just me..

Pat in NH
 
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you cannot rely on having a wall or a ceiling at the right distance and the right colour but you can rely on a flash flipper..if you got time to mess about fine but I aint and neither have my customers
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
you cannot rely on having a wall or a ceiling at the right distance and the right colour but you can rely on a flash flipper..if you got time to mess about fine but I aint and neither have my customers

Agreed that you cannot always have a wall/ceiling where you would like in all situations... But I was trying to point out options to someone who is a beginner that may help him make a choice. Sorry that that neither you nor your customers "aint" got time to mess about. Some experimentation is good to not only possibly get a creative shot and also for new people to learn the effects of various lighting scenarios and camera controls that affect light.

No offense meant, as I said, trying to help someone new...

Regards,

Pat in NH
 
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I agree with you but most dont think about keeping the flash over the lens to minimise the shadows....did all my experimenting 30 years ago and for my situation which is weddings the flash flipper rules.
 
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