Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

I've never been a fan of flash photography. However, I felt I needed something to help out in low-light situations outdoors. I tried a cheap flash but didn't get along with it. I decided to go the whole hog and see if the best Nikon has to offer could help.

This flash is absolutely amazing and has completely transformed my outlook on flash photography, so much so that I use it far more often that I ever imagined I would. It takes a short while to get used to the functions, so requires a quick read through the manual, but most of the time I leave it in auto and let it do it's thing, just occasionally dial in a bit of +/- exposure compensation and adjusting the angle of the head to get the right look.

Coupled with the D300s it produces such natural results that I've even found myself using it for general family portrait shots that I would never before have considered using a flash for as I hate the startled rabbit glare that is so often associated with on-camera flash photography. Get it right and this flash adds an extra zing to photographs whilst still looking natural.

Despite it's rating, I've even used it with a 200-400mm lens at 400mm shooting wildlife outdoors, which helped to produce some great pictures in difficult conditions.

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

Please excuse me if I don't go head over heels over this gun. The crash course I'm going through with my normal photo workload is far more complex than I dared believe.

True, the leap going from the SB600 (mine is six years old now) to the latest whizz gizmo isn't what most serious snappers go through. You didn't need any instructions for the 600; now with the 900 I have a slab of essential "reading" that I absolutely have to digest, just to take a single picture. It might be my age (45) that turns me sour at needing command dials and menus just to change a single setting.

The creative possibilities may be endless and I'm sure I will learn to use it seamlessly and grow to love it. At the moment I'm fingers and thumbs. And at the hefty price "the price of a computer" a friend commented, I've got to, as an investment, it has to be.

I used it on some band photographs and the photos did come out very well. Whereas the SB600 lacked a real punch, the 900 lit up the whole end of the house with murals in the sample photo, under street lighting. Balancing the background, a cinch with the 600 is getting easier now and allowed me to get the shot without a tripod.

I do feel though Nikon really ought to produce a gun that fits into the range between the SB600/700 and this one. At the moment it seems unwieldy and I suppose the bottom line is that I feel that it's master of me and not the way round it should be.

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

The only negative is for me the unlocking of the head which could go easier.

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

Am doing a few weddings so got me one to upgrade and add to a sb600. What can I say, partnered with a d300 the results were flawless. Fill in or main light the results were beautifully expose whites and blacks needing minimal post prosessing. Combined with the sb600 and a couple of umbrellas on the d300's CLS is truly the business.

Needs a bit of learning in that there are a few buttons but nothing too challenging. Buy it hide the bill fom the Mrs and just enjoy using a fantastic bit of equipment as it is worth every penny

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

great piece of kit

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

I ordered one of these as soon as they came out, and now my SB800's stay in the bag as backups.
Top product.

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

made the leap from a couple of SB600's and glad I did.
Used SB800's are commanding a high price now so decided to get the SB900 instead.
I had reservations after reading some forum reviews which indicated problems with overheading. Glad to say that these complaints are a thing of the past.
I also bought Enloop batteries which are awesome.
I set the flash to manual and shot 42 frames on rapid. The "ready" light didn't even blink and the temp meter didn't move; every shot was perfectly exposed.

Go buy one now!

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

I bought the SB900 to complement my SB600, and the difference between the two is amazing. On every level, the SB900 is easier to use, faster, more powerful, more flexible and more robust.

The included accessories (Diffuser dome, Gel holder + Gels, stand and case) are very useful but, coupled with the physically large size of the flash, make quite a large package to carry - the case is 24x9.5x7 cm, compared to the SB600 case which measures 17x8x7cm - the difference means to me that it doesn't fit in a 'lens' slot in my backpack, and has to be carried in the top part.

Despite the size, this is my first choice of flash - it is 100% reliable, and I have never encountered any issues with the much-rumoured 'overheating'. Two of my friends have bought the SB900 since using mine, and in both cases they have been very pleased with it also.

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

I have owned some Flashguns in my time ,but this is the bees knees.
This is a powerful Flash with some great features .
I like the way one can pick different illumination patterns suitable for most subjects, also the slide out bounce card and wide flash adapter.
Plus the filter set supplied . I could go on and on but it,s already been covered so I won,t.
This is a great Flash .

Comments about Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flashgun:

Top of Nikon's flashgun family. It takes a bit of a learning curve to find your way roung the controls and menus but once you've got your head round it, this is a great piece of kit.

Having the dedicated Master/Remote switch is brilliant - no more fiddling with deep menus (SB-800). This saves me so much time on hectic shoots.

Included dome diffuser is good and the coloured gel holder is a real bonus - no more velcro-ing or taping gels to my flashgun. I just cut my coloured gels to fit the same profile as the supplied gels and they work perfectly.

This flashgun is a great partner to the SB-800, and I recently bought a second SB-900 as well. Says it all really.