 - Paula E. Marsili  Contact Paula E. Marsili Paula E. Marsili's Gallery |
Flash choices I am in the market for an external flach for my Nikon D50. I am looking at the Nikon Speedlight SB-800 TTL(or 600) or the Sigma EF-530 DG Super TTL. They both line up against eachother on paper pretty equally. Of course the Nikon is more $$. The main difference is in the recycle timing, 4 sec on the Sigma vs. 2.7 sec with the Nikon. The other difference is the guide #. The Sigma has a guide # of 174@ISO 100 (105mm) and the Nikon a 125@ISO 100(35mm). Can someone explain the difference here between the 105mm vs 35mm desigation? Am I comparing apples to apples? Plus any comments on these flashes?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mark Feldstein |
Greetings Paula: Recharge time as stated by manufacturers is usually measured under ideal conditions with fresh batteries rather than average working conditions. I use an SB800 and a Vivitar 285 HV (high voltage) with a Quantum turbo (external) battery that reduces the SB 800 recycle time to about 1 sec at full power throughout the life of one charge. It's even faster at reduced power settings for things like fill light. The same is true of guide numbers measured at full power under ideal circumstances. A gn of 125 at ISO 100 produces about f 12.5 at 10 feet from your subject. I actually don't get the difference for light measurement purposes between using a 35mm vs. 100 mm lens. Guide numbers are usually calculated readings taken 10 feet from the light source with the flash at a normal (rather than telephoto or wide angle setting) although the SB800 has both. If that's so, the Nikon is producing f12.5 in a wide angle mode while the Sigma f17.5 in a telephoto mode. In other words, the Sigma is measured while "reaching a bit" whereas the SB is at wide angle mode. In that case, they probably work out to about the same actual GN. Some people use recharables, others like to use alkalines. Rechargables IMO are a hassle and don't hold up. They'll quit at the worst possible moment. Alkalines get pricey depending on how much shooting you do. I can't speak to the Sigma, but I can to the Nikon. IMHO, the SB800 is professional grade, built to withstand the rigors of daily use and provides versatility for all types of lighting situations. You can rig it off camera on a light stand with a radio slave and in an umbrella. It's both powerful and reliable. The documentation is significant and quite good. Once you revew that and practice a bit, using either the SB600 or 800 becomes nearly automatic. I've also found Nikon tech support to be quite good in answering questions not covered by the manual(s) support. Don't know about Sigma. My vote is you get what you pay for and the SB800 really delivers in versatility, reliability and ease of use.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Bernard |
Paula You should also look into which functions will not work when not using a Nikon flash on a Nikon camera, my D80 utilies all the functions of my SB800, I believe some functions will not work using the EF-530
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mark Feldstein |
Excellent point Bernard. I usually use mine in full manual mode so I wouldn't have thought of that one. :>) M.
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Paula E. Marsili Contact Paula E. Marsili Paula E. Marsili's Gallery |
Thanks guys for your input. So even though the Sigma is designated for Nikon there may still be functions on the Nikon camera that may not work when using that flash? Also, any feedback on the SB600 vs the SB800? This will be my first exterior flash so I am a novice when it comes to using them. Any pros or cons between the 600 & 800? Paula
|
|
|
|
||
|
Tammy L. Newcomb |
Good question Paula.... I too am looking at flashes at this time and I have been pondering between the SB 800 and SB 600. I read a review somewhere on the internet which was saying that the SB 600 is just as good as the SB 800 so who knows.... I think I am going to get the SB-600 unless someone here sends me spinning in another direction.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
Paula, I love the SB 800. I have had the SB 600 as well,but sold it for another SB800. I personally like the added power of the SB800, though Ken Rockwell, sees this differently, here is his review that you can read for your self: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600vs800.htm
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Paula E. Marsili Contact Paula E. Marsili Paula E. Marsili's Gallery |
Debby, thank you for that rockwell link. It was very informative. Tammy, check it out if you haven't already. Debby, I know you like the 800 for the extra power etc. and I can see from the level of professionalism of your work that that extra power would be an asset. I do not do portraits and am not entirely sure how much I will be actually using this flash so I think I will probably opt for the SB600 as a very nice "starter" flash. Although,my mind is not totally made up yet.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
Paula, I would just suggest that you wiegh the differances in price againset the possibility that you may upgrade. I used both at a Event that went into the night,and I really did appricate the spread of light I got from the 800 vs the 600. Also, I have bought my Flashes new & used off Ebay with great success. Just some thoughts,
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
heres one to take a look at: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-SB800-Flash-for-D70-D80-D200-D2x-D300-D3_W0QQitemZ120239238333QQihZ002QQcategoryZ107933QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem And this one $288. http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-SB-800-AF-Speedlight-Flash-SB800-D80-D200-D300_W0QQitemZ230237568246QQihZ013QQcategoryZ107933QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
and this looks to be a really nice SB600: http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-Speedlight-SB-600-SB600-Flash-Excellent-cond_W0QQitemZ130209276905QQihZ003QQcategoryZ107933QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Paula E. Marsili Contact Paula E. Marsili Paula E. Marsili's Gallery |
Debby, thanks for all your time and suggestions. I will certainly check out the items on Ebay. Good idea. I never think of looking on Ebay for things. But if you say you have had good luck buying there that puts my mind at ease about buying there. I have to learn how to navigate Ebay. I'm looking for the items you mentioned. Thanks again.
|
|
|
|
||
|
William Schuette |
Paul, another consideration is that the SB800 will operate in commander mode to wirelessly operate other Nikon flashes which can be set up off camera to give you far more versatility in lighting. Using an SB800 on camera but dialing back the flash output and using an SB600 off camera wirelessly controlled by the SB800 can give you some very professional results. Bill
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||