Anyone with the SB-600 Who can Post Before and After Shots?

I am probably going to get either the SB600 or SB900 (most likely the 600 due to cost and being more portable), and was wondering if someone with the SB600 could post a portrait type shot, indoors with and without the SB600 flash?
Much apprecitated!

It's a flash, it will work fine.

So many variables i.e. was it bounced from a card on the camera or ceiling? was it direct or diffused? was there a filter on the lens, if so which?

I've had flashes (or Metz strobes) for all my cameras except my current D80 that I've had for the last year or two. I just ordered a SB600 w/o ever even seeing one. Its a flash, you know the guide number and that its TTL. Just buy one.

Steve

stevenjames said:

Just buy one.

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Agree, examples aren't going to help you, too many variables. For the huge majority of non-pros the SB-900 is way more than is needed and quite large.
--
Lora

I've been on Dpreview since June 2006. Unfortunately, some posting history has been lost along the way...

I'm going to get SB 600 this weekend.
--
Regards

Cris T.

I have both, but I much prefer the SB-900.

Often times for me it means a difference of ISO 400 vs 800 in many indoor situations simply because the sb-900 has so much more power than the sb-600.

But for non-serious shots where I don't need the best IQ, sb-600 does an absolutely fine job.

kevin peters said:

I am probably going to get either the SB600 or SB900 (most likely the 600 due to cost and being more portable), and was wondering if someone with the SB600 could post a portrait type shot, indoors with and without the SB600 flash?

Click to expand...

As others have mentioned, an example shot is not going to be of much use. Getting a flash like an SB600 or SB900 is the easy part -- learning how to use it is a lot harder.

If you just put an SB600 on your camera and take a portrait-type picture, the result is going to be very similar to what you get when you use the on-board flash. Not much different from a P&S with flash, in fact.

However, when you start bouncing your flash, things start looking different. But the result will depend on what you bounce the flash off (wall, ceiling, reflector), at what angle, what distance and direction from the subject, etc.

Then you can balance the flash with other light sources, use it as fill-flash rather than the main source.

Then you can take the flash off-camera, light the subject from the side. Use a narrow or wide beam. Light your subject from behind.

And then there is the use of multiple flashes, when the possibilities are really only limited by your imagination.

If you just want to make a good, studio-type portrait shot, there are some standard setups you may be able to use; that may or may not be enough for you. But the real fun with flash comes from being more creative.

By that time, you may want to check out http://strobist.blogspot.com .

Eric
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http://www.lumenssolutions.com/

I always use my sb600 on manual. The best part is using the flash in commander mode off the camera but I really need two flashes to get what I want. It's the quickest way to get portrait/studio shots on a budget. I have set up some pretty good shots this way but like stated you have to learn how to use the flash first. Also a must is a diffuser.

The one funny thing is there are about a million books on how to use flash in different ways and they should all help. Best thing you can ever do is go to the mall and sit down at a bookstore/cafe and read till you find the right book or just read all the books and don't buy.

Anyone got any good suggestions for books on using a camera flash.

Good idea about getting a book. I always browse at bookstores until I find what I'm looking for. The last few years I've been searching amazon.com, reading the user reviews and making my choice that way.j
Long story short - here you go:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nikon+sb-600&sprefix=nikon+sb

Oh yeah, good choice getting the SB600 and not obsessing about purchase. Its made by Nikon for Nikon and I'm sure you'll be happy with it, if not there's always craigslist and ebay.

Steve

Thanks all for all of the helpful responses! I guess I am hopeful that it will help smooth over harsh indoor lighting such as this

Any idea if a sb600 would help this shot? Specifically tone down the harsh lighting? thanks--

I'm no pro, but I don't see anything all that harsh about this lighting. Perhaps a little flat, but that's about it.

Hmmm thanks, thats what my wife said, maybe im too critical? It doesnt help that our walls are yellow. Anyone know of any economical way to create some soft nice lighting, maybe where I can turn the overhead nights down or off? That may help given this is a 50mm G1.5

SUPERHOKIE said:

I have both, but I much prefer the SB-900.

Often times for me it means a difference of ISO 400 vs 800 in many indoor situations simply because the sb-900 has so much more power than the sb-600.

Click to expand...

Perhaps in indoor situations where you have to throw the light an extremely long distance. At equivalent zoom settings, the difference in output power between the two units is aproximately 2/3'rds of a stop. In most cases you won't be approaching full power output levels so the power differences between them will seldomly come in to play. If it does come up often, for example when using large modifiers, night time sports, etc., neither flash is really up to the task and one should be looking for something considerably more powerful than either.

Not to say that the SB-900 doesn't have a lot to offer over the SB-600 in terms of overall features. Just that the power differences between it and the SB-600 are often overstated.

SUPERHOKIE said:

But for non-serious shots where I don't need the best IQ, sb-600 does an absolutely fine job.

Click to expand...

--
'Here, look at the monkey. Look at the silly monkey!'

Tom Young
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/

kevin peters said:

Hmmm thanks, thats what my wife said, maybe im too critical? It doesnt help that our walls are yellow. Anyone know of any economical way to create some soft nice lighting, maybe where I can turn the overhead nights down or off? That may help given this is a 50mm G1.5

Click to expand...

That's not too bad of a shot really. Between the yellow walls, daylight windows, and apparently tungsten balanced overhead lighting you've go a few issues to deal with.

Just having droped the flash output level a little bit using flash exposure compensation would have helped balance things out a bit. Turning off the overheads and using the flash and window light alone would be another choice. That or shooting later in the evening with the lights turned on and a daylight to tungsten conversion filter gel placed over the flash with the camera set to a tungsten white balance. Or in lieu of any white walls, bouncing the flash off of an umbrella or even the refrigerator if it happens to be white.

Lots of options to choose from. That's what keeps things interesting!

--
'Here, look at the monkey. Look at the silly monkey!'

Tom Young
http://www.pbase.com/tyoung/

thanks, never easy is it?? lol

I have used the SB900 and really overkill for my needs the SB600 works very well for general shooting situations on my D300.

Grab you a soft screen and Softbox easy to attach to the flash units and really works well at diffusing the harshness of the flash at closer ranges.

Go Amazon.com a little cheaper for the model you select.

http://www.lumiquest.com/products.htm

Love SB-600. That is all I ever needed

--
Nikon D300- Nikon D40- Panny TZ5- Sanyo E2 - Canon SD770IS
Previously owned DSLRS: Canon 40D, Nikon D40x

kevin peters said:

Any idea if a sb600 would help this shot? Specifically tone down the harsh lighting? thanks--

Click to expand...

That's not harsh lighting it harsh contrast. If you want a more subtle lighting, just point the flash at the ceiling. It's called bounce light and the SB600 is more than powerful enough for that small room.
--
Staying young is getting harder as I grow older.

If you shoot with an SB-600 or any other flash straight on you're going to get the harsh flash light that you don't like.

The SB-600 is a great flash, I have one, but you have to learn how to use it. I highly recommend the strobist site which has already been recommended.
--
Bryan V.
P.S. I've had amnesia for as long as I can remember.

A cheap diffuser would help. I think they cost $10-15 and are well worth it. I shoot most o mine when the flash is on the camera with the flash pointed at 90 degrees. Remember it has cls so you could remotely fire the flash withing 10 feet or so.