Flash
I got my other flash that I ordered back in August just today. KMD was nice enough to ship it to me, but by the grace of the post office, it took quite a while to get here.
I've been playing with it a bit and I certainly like it, but I haven't had a chance to directly compare it against my Vivitar 285HV. The SB-600 can be triggered using CLS, which my D80 handily can be used as a commander for, or by my handy-dandy wireless trigger. CLS allows me to use i-TTL, Nikon's auto-exposure stuff, but I imagine I'll probably use the rather more simplistic wireless trigger. I will definitely be using this as my on-camera flash, though, as it's considerably smaller than the rather massive 285HV and is autofocus. The idea that a flash can be autofocus still kind of boggles my mind.
The coolest feature is the auto-FP sync. I was just poking at it, and it looks like I can get a decent amount of light even at 1/2000th of a second, while my 285HV is limited to 1/200th of a second normally, or 1/400th maybe if you use some silly tricks.
Also, the automatic focus (zoom) of the Sb-600 seems to be much more effective than the manual one on the 285HV, even at similar settings.
For downsides, I don't think the SB-600 has the pure light outputting power of the 285HV. I mean, putting the same batteries in each one, the SB-600 recycles about twice to three times as fast, and you can only pull so much power from those batteries in a three-second period. Combined with the fact that you could buy two 285HVs, triggering gear, and some gels for the cost of a single SB-600, and I certainly don't think the 285HV is a waste of money. Mine probably won't be seeing nearly as much use as it did before, since I can't use both flashes at the sime time without buying about $40 more gear, plus shipping. That's not in my budget at this point.
Since I have this handy extra SB-400 as well, I'll probably buy two more receivers (if/) when I have enough money, and then I'll have three flashes to play with. That seems like it can only be a good thing. Oh, except the minor fact that the SB-400 can't be triggered without i-TTL.
Grr.
For future reference, I would recommend generally against the SB-400 for anyone looking to do anything beyond bounce flash with it. If all you want it for is so you can bounce your flash, it's a good deal, as it has decent power in a small size and without a bunch of expensive features you don't want. But given its lack of an optical slave unit, its reliance on i-TTL and incompatibility with the Nikon CLS, and the funny looks you get from people using real flashes, I would recommend a different flash for someone shopping for anything beyond bounce.
Again, the SB-400 is great if you just want the ability to bounce your flash.
I've been playing with it a bit and I certainly like it, but I haven't had a chance to directly compare it against my Vivitar 285HV. The SB-600 can be triggered using CLS, which my D80 handily can be used as a commander for, or by my handy-dandy wireless trigger. CLS allows me to use i-TTL, Nikon's auto-exposure stuff, but I imagine I'll probably use the rather more simplistic wireless trigger. I will definitely be using this as my on-camera flash, though, as it's considerably smaller than the rather massive 285HV and is autofocus. The idea that a flash can be autofocus still kind of boggles my mind.
The coolest feature is the auto-FP sync. I was just poking at it, and it looks like I can get a decent amount of light even at 1/2000th of a second, while my 285HV is limited to 1/200th of a second normally, or 1/400th maybe if you use some silly tricks.
Also, the automatic focus (zoom) of the Sb-600 seems to be much more effective than the manual one on the 285HV, even at similar settings.
For downsides, I don't think the SB-600 has the pure light outputting power of the 285HV. I mean, putting the same batteries in each one, the SB-600 recycles about twice to three times as fast, and you can only pull so much power from those batteries in a three-second period. Combined with the fact that you could buy two 285HVs, triggering gear, and some gels for the cost of a single SB-600, and I certainly don't think the 285HV is a waste of money. Mine probably won't be seeing nearly as much use as it did before, since I can't use both flashes at the sime time without buying about $40 more gear, plus shipping. That's not in my budget at this point.
Since I have this handy extra SB-400 as well, I'll probably buy two more receivers (if/) when I have enough money, and then I'll have three flashes to play with. That seems like it can only be a good thing. Oh, except the minor fact that the SB-400 can't be triggered without i-TTL.
Grr.
For future reference, I would recommend generally against the SB-400 for anyone looking to do anything beyond bounce flash with it. If all you want it for is so you can bounce your flash, it's a good deal, as it has decent power in a small size and without a bunch of expensive features you don't want. But given its lack of an optical slave unit, its reliance on i-TTL and incompatibility with the Nikon CLS, and the funny looks you get from people using real flashes, I would recommend a different flash for someone shopping for anything beyond bounce.
Again, the SB-400 is great if you just want the ability to bounce your flash.
Labels: flash, photography gear
posted by William at
10/31/2008 06:26:00 PM
3 Comments
