Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
by Nikon
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: NikonRelease Date: 2008-07-26
Model: 4807
Color: black
Product features:
- High-quality flash for standalone use or as part of a comprehensive lighting system
- Commander mode controls up to 3 Speedlight groups or unlimited individual Speedlights
- 4 wireless channel options; prominent master and remote control switch for wireless operation
- Auto power zoom coverage ranges from 17 to 200mm (FX format) to 12 to 200mm (DX format)
- 3 light distribution patterns; measures 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 14.6 ounces
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Customer Review: SB-900
Summary: 5 Stars
I have several SB-800s and SB-600 so my primary basis for comparison is against those. Basically this strobe is excellent but some of the whistles and bells are of questionable utility.
The things I really like about the strobe are pretty much the things that make the SB-800 great.
- Remote capability via CLS system
- Su-4 slave mode
- External high voltage battery pack compatibility (plug on front)
- Nice guide numbers for a battery unit.
- Zoom that can be controlled manually or by the camera.
- Selectable beep for when unit has recycled.
- Can be used as a three channel master for Nikon's CLS system
The things this unit does that are improvements compared to the SB600 and SB800 that I like and what motivated me to purchase it are:
- Zoom to 200mm and not just 85 mm (600) or 105 mm (sb800).
- Different beam patterns
- Head rotates a full 180 degrees in both directions (requires a little surgery on an SB800 to fix this stupid problem on them)
- Manual thumb switch for on/off and selecting remote and master modes instead of the slow menu system.
These are what I wanted/liked and why I went for this strobe unit.
The things I don't like or question the value of them:
- I don't like the size. It is bigger than the SB800 some of which admittedly is needed for the zoom optics for the lamp itself but the lower body is bigger too. I can open SB800/600s straight out and stand them upright in a Think Tank camera pack but the 900 has to be folded 90 degrees and/or laid down and it takes up much more space.
- The colored gel thing to automatically set the white balance with the camera is something I don't care for. I suppose some folks that want idiot-proof will like this but it is simply added cost with no benefit for most photographers who know enough to use gels. Much of the time we specifically don't want the camera to change white balance to tungsten if we put a CTO gel on the strobe. And the green gel to match the strobe to fluorescent lights is of little use because most fluorescent lights any more need more than just a green gel on the strobe to obtain an acceptable match. Green alone is ok for old fluorescent lights but most lights now need a green, full CTO and often a bit of yellow as well to make a decent match. So this feature adds cost but no value.
- I have a real grudge against the 900 because it allowed Nikon to discontinue the 800. Bad move. I'll probably buy more 600s since you can get two of those for the price of one 900 and have more light to boot.
- I have mixed reaction to the modeling light. I like that when you push the button it stays on for a couple seconds, kind of handy to let you use both hands for a brief moment to adjust things. However, with the 800 there were dedicated buttons, one to operate the modelling feature (it strobes at a fast rate and lower output so you can see how the light hits your subjects) and one to just trip the flash. The 900 has only one button and you have to select in the setup memu which function it will provide, flash or modelling light. That kinds of sucks.
- The new Radio Poppers Jr Studio verson wireless triggers have a function and accessory (cube) that can provide manual control of the power for many TTL strobes. A thing called a "cube" makes the connection but electrically the 900 is different so it doesn't interface with the Radiopopper Jrs. like the 600 or 800 do. Sure the RadioPopper PX or older P1 system can provide manual control, sort of (its actually provided by the Nikon CLS), but the Jrs are less than half the price. Probably not significant for most photographers, just something a few will miss.
Interestingly, the price of used SB800s are often, and most all old stock new ones are going for more than the new price for an SB900 so clearly the 900s aren't meeting some of the needs for many photographers. That is probably mostly the size thing, but many Nikon photogs have a collection of 800s and there is value in having stuff be the same, expecially with assistants helping you.
Description of Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
The SB-900 i-TTL Speedlight leads the Nikon Creative Lighting System delivering the portability, power and versatility to support any photographer?s creative lighting imagination. FEATURES: Nikon?s Flagship Creative Lighting System Speedlight: Powerful and versatile SB-900 works as a stand-alone flash, featuring wireless operation as a Commander or wireless remote light source. Control up to three remote Speedlight groups and an unlimited number of compatible Speedlights: The SB-900's Wireless Commander Mode offers wireless control at the master Speedlight position. Four wireless channel options allow you to manage wireless conflicts in multiple photographer environments. Streamlined controls and menus: The Rotary Select Dial sets key flash functions quickly?a prominent Master and Remote control switch simplifies wireless operation. FX/DX format identification: Automatic FX/DX switching optimizes light distribution angle. Expanded Auto Power Zoom Coverage: The SB-900 provides zoom coverage from 17-200mm in the FX-format and 12-200mm coverage in the DX-format. Choose from 3 light distribution patterns: Improve light quality by selecting Standard for general illumination, Center-weighted for portraits, or Even for groups or interiors. User-friendly firmware updating: Allows uploading of performance enhancement developments to the SB-900 with select Nikon digital SLR cameras Color gel filter identification: The SB-900 automatically identifies mounted color gel filters and adjusts the camera?s auto white-balance setting with select Nikon digital SLR cameras. Flash Tube Overheat Protection: An added mThe SB-900 i-TTL Speedlight leads the Nikon Creative Lighting System by delivering the portability, power, and versatility to support any photographer's creative lighting imagination. The SB-900 works as a wireless standalone flash, or you can use it as a commander or wireless remote light source. In commander mode, the SB-900 controls up to three remote Speedlight groups and an unlimited number of compatible Speedlights, with four wireless channel options helping you manage wireless conflicts in multiple photographer environments. The flash also offers streamlined controls and menus, including a rotary select dial that sets key flash functions quickly, along with a prominent master and remote control switch to simplify wireless operation.
Photographers working on zoom photos will appreciate the SB-900's expanded auto power zoom coverage, which ranges from 17 to 200mm in the FX format to 12 to 200mm in the DX format. Photographers also have the choice of three light distribution patterns: standard (for general illumination), center-weighted (for portraits), and even (for groups or interiors). Finally, the SB-900 automatically identifies mounted color gel filters and adjusts the camera's auto white balance setting (available with select Nikon digital SLR cameras). Other details include automatic FX/DX format identification; user-friendly firmware updating; flash tube overheat protection; and a drip-proof mounting foot cover.
Technical Specifications
- Guide number: 34 meters/111.5 feet (ISO 100), 48 meters/157.5 feet (ISO 200)
- Electronic construction: Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry
- Flash exposure control: Slow sync; red-eye reduction in slow sync; front curtain sync; rear curtain sync; rear-curtain slow sync; auto FP high-speed sync; FV lock flash
- Lens coverage: 17 to 200mm (FX format, automatic mode); 12 to 200mm (DX format, automatic mode); 12 to 17mm (FX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed); 8 to 11mm (DX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed)
- Bounce function (tilt): Flash head tilts down to -7 degrees or up to 90 degrees, with click stops at -7, 0, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees
- Bounce function (rotate): Flash head rotates horizontally 180 degrees to the left and right, with click stops at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 degrees
- Minimum recycling time: 4 seconds with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 4.5 seconds with lithium (1.5 volts); 3 seconds with Oxyride (1.5 volts); 2.3 seconds with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)
- Flash duration: 1/880 second at M1/1 (full) output; 1/1,000 second at M1/2 output; 1/2,550 second at M1/4 output; 1/5,000 second at M1/8 output; 1/10,000 second at M1/16 output; 1/20,000 second at M1/32 output; 1/35,700 second at M1/64 output; 1/38,500 second at M1/128 output
- Required power source: 4 AA-type batteries in the following types: alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts), lithium (1.5 volts), or Ni-MH (1.2 volts)
- ISO range: 100 to 6,400
- Optional power supply: SD-9 high-performance battery pack, SD-8A high-performance battery pack, or SK-6 power bracket unit
- Ready light: Yes
- Minimum number of flashes: 110 with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 230 with lithium (1.5 volts); 190 with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)
- Wireless flash modes: Off, master, master (repeating), remote, and SU-4
- Wireless communication channels: 4
- Wireless groups: 3
- Dimensions: 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D)
- Weight: 14.6 ounces
- Supplied accessories: AS-21 Speedlight stand, SW-13H diffusion dome, SJ-900 color filter set, SZ-2 color filter holder, SS-900 soft case
Flashes
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