Nikon SB900 Speedlight
August 18, 2009
Dupa o perioada in care am lucrat cu Nikon SB 800 si Nikon SB 600 a ajuns in mana mea si SB900, lansat in 2008 se doreste a fi inlocuitorul lui SB800.
Daca urmati link-ul si va inregistrati pe site-ul F64 Studio beneficiati de reducere Nikon SB900 (valoarea reducerii o puteti afla pe site-ul F64 Studio).
De la primul contact se vede si se simte diferenta de 5 ani intre SB900 si SB800. Finisajele sunt mai atent realizate, blitul este considerabil mai usor de folosit si mult mai intuitiv. In acelasi timp este si mai mare si mai puternic decat SB800. In aceasta toamna probabil va aparea si SB700, succesorul lui SB600. Din perspectiva mea noul blit este un pas spre perfectionarea CLS-ului (Creative Lightning System) deja avansat creeat de Nikon. Intrebarea este cui se adreseaza si in ce masura este justificat pretul dublu fata de SB600?
Din propria experienta cred ca SB900 ar trebui sa fie achizitionat ca al doilea sau al treilea blit extern pentru ca tocmai in momentul in care realizati un sistem de iluminare din 2-4 blituri noile facilitati ale SB900 vor putea intra in actiune si isi vor dovedi eficienta. Altfel, acestea nu vor putea fi folosite decat partial. Desigur exista o multitudine de alte detalii care justifica pretul (inclusiv cei doi ani de garantie).
Plusuri:
- butoane mult mai bine plasate;
- meniu usor si intuitiv;
- buton On – Off – Remote – Master foarte bine plasat si gandit pentru comutarea rapida;
- sistem de filtre care elimina posibilitatea de a distruge filtrele (la SB800 filtrele intens colorate cum ar fi rosu sau albastru la o utilizare medie sunt gaurite – la propriu – de caldura blitului);
- finisaje atent create;
- detectie DX / FX automata precum si plaja de zoom superioara (17-200mm);
- trei modele de iluminare selectabile;
- rotire 360 grade (la SB800 doar 270 grade);
- senzor de temperatura care opreste blitul in cazul utilizarii excesive (previne supraincalzirea si problemele derivate);
Minusuri:
- pret foarte mare (chiar daca justificat);
- dimensiuni considerabil mai mari decat SB600 si SB800.
CLS
Daca te intereseaza CLS-ul si capabilitatile sale pasii de urmat ar fi:
- achizitionarea unei camere care poate fi commander (Nikon D80, D90, D200, D300, D300s, D700). O camera care poate fi commander ajuta la inceput pentru ca nu trebuie achizitionat un commander special pentru camera (SB900, 800 sau SU800). D3, D3X, D3S nu pot fi commander pentru ca nu au blit incorporat.
- achizitionarea 1-2 blituri SB600 sau SB700;
- achizitionarea unui SB900 si a altor blituri SB700 dupa necesitati.
After some time working with SB800 and SB600 I got my hands on Nikon SB900, launched in 2008 it is the SB800 successor. From the first touch you can feel and see the 5 years difference between SB 800 and SB 900. The finishing is better, the flash is much easier to use and more intuitive. In the same time it is bigger and more powerful than SB800. This fall will probably be launched the SB 700, the SB 600 successor. From my point of view, the new flash is a step forward in perfecting the Nikon CLS (Creative Lightning System), that is already advanced.
The question is: for whom is it SB900 perfectly suited and how justified is the money spend on it, considering that is twice the price of a SB600. From my experience I think the Nikon SB900 should be purchased as the second or third flash so you can use it’s full potential when working in a CLS lightning environment. Otherwise the new and fine features it has, will not be used.
Pluses:
- much better placed buttons;
- easy to use menu;
- On – Off – Remote – Master button, very well placed and designed so you can fast switch;
- gel system that eliminates the possibility of destroying the gels (on SB800 the colored gels like red and blue when used the are destroyed by the flash heat);
- great finishing;
- wider zoom range (17-200) and DX / FX detection;
- three types light patterns;
- 360 degrees swivel (only 270 on SB 800);
- stops working when overheat (this prevents various additional problems);
Minuses:
- big price (even if it is justified by it’s features);
- considerably bigger than SB600 and SB800;
CLS
If you are interested by the CLS and it’s capabilities the correct steps should be:
- purchase of a Commander camera (Nikon D80, D90, D200, D300, D300s, D700). By purchasing a camera that can be Commander it helps to avoid purchasing directly a external commander (SB900, SB800, SU800). D3, D3X, D3S cannot be commanders because the do not have a built in flash (aside of the fact that if you have money for them a SU 800 or SB900 is bargain).
- purchase of 1-2 flashes SB600, SB700;
- purchase of a SB900 and other SB700 considering the needs.
