Reading mode: Light Dark

SB-800: What is all the hype about? (I'm a newbie to this lighting stuff)

Go to last post
O

Odinie

Active member
Messages
84
Reaction score
0
Location
Chico, CA, US
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
 
Being able to bounce the light is a fantastic feature. I have a lot of photos that would have been rubbish if I'd used a built-in flash.
Have a look at this....

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=9518746

If the SB-800 is too expensive for you, there are cheaper flashes available but they won't have iTTL, so you'll have to do some work to get the exposure right. I use a $70 Sunpak 383...
Odinie said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is
pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the
flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been
reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest
for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the
SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that
you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a
chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever
dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you
answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
Click to expand...
 
It is a great flash, with lots of wonderful features, some of which you won't apreciate unless you buy more than one flash for a total price tag of nearly $1k.

The great thing, though, is something called Creative Lighting System, which is a set of protocols that allow your camera and your flash to work in tandem, discussing things like the distance to the subject, the ambient light that will illuminate the background, the color temperature of the flash, and so on.

Most of all, it is one of only two flashes that were designed with your camera in mind, the other one being the cheaper but still wonderful SB-600. Since I couldn't justify the SB-800, I went for the 600, and I don't regret it a single bit. Wonderful flash.

It seems that Sigma is also updating its wonderful line of Super 500 flashes to use iTTL and the Creative Lighting System. That might be an alternative, but my guess is that it will simply give you the 800 features for the price of the 600.
Odinie said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is
pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the
flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been
reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest
for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the
SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that
you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a
chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever
dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you
answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
 
Wonderfull accurate exposure for something thats a few cm in front of the lens, all the way to max range and without any settings or calculations.

Example.... You can often shoot a portrait with a mirror in the background and the subject will still be perfectly exposed.
I love mine!
Jose
Odinie said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is
pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the
flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been
reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest
for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the
SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that
you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a
chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever
dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you
answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
Click to expand...
 
Another question for owners of SB-800 or SB-600

Do both of these flashes put out a pre-flash? My experience with a pre-flash is it makes the subject close their eyes. If one of these does NOT use pre-flash, that would be an important detail in my selection process.
Thank you in advance for any help.
 
yes it has to get the flash information from somewhere, but the preflash and then the flash happen extremely quickly if the flash is mounted on camera. if it is on the remote setting then you'd have to let your subjects know ahead of time.
Gloria Payne said:
Another question for owners of SB-800 or SB-600
Do both of these flashes put out a pre-flash? My experience with a
pre-flash is it makes the subject close their eyes. If one of these
does NOT use pre-flash, that would be an important detail in my
selection process.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
 
Odinie said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is
pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the
flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been
reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest
for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the
SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that
you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a
chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever
dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you
answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
Click to expand...
Oliver, read the D70 manual the chapter on how to use the flash would be a good start, where you will find the strength of the flash output is adjustable.

This will be more enlightening than reading books on lighting, at least until you can control the D70. As regard to the sb-800 I'm in the same boat as you, can't afford one yet, but when I do I'll be flash Harry
with respect MikeS :-)
 
I waited for the Sigma and turns out that it may not work well with the CLS system (at least not with other nikon flashes). IT was $100 cheaper, but I bit the bullet and bought the SB-800.

anand
José Luís Malaquias said:
It seems that Sigma is also updating its wonderful line of Super
500 flashes to use iTTL and the Creative Lighting System. That
might be an alternative, but my guess is that it will simply give
you the 800 features for the price of the 600.
Odinie said:
Ok, so I'm a newbie that just got a D70, and I know lighting is
pretty much what makes or breaks your pictures. Presonally the
flash on my camrera puts out too strong/hard a light. Ive been
reading about lighting in books, and I am on an ever-hungry quest
for knowelege. Basically, what I want to know is, what makes the
SB-800 so great? I'm sure the range is awesome, and the fact that
you can bounce it off the cieling is neat too, but that thing is a
chunk of change, and right now I cant justify the $350 or whatever
dollars for one. Is the light softer/more natural or what? If you
answer this, thanks for your time, I really appreciate the help.
  • Oliver
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.anands.net/photos
 
Ok, thanks everyone for your input. I guess I'll start doing some more homework on this thing in the future, when I can afford it. I know if I start diving into the flash now, I'll buy it, because I wont be able to think of much else, and then be completely broke.
  • Oliver
 
Thanks for the heads up, I was thinking about adding the Sigma to my SB-800 for a muti i-TTL set up, I better do some more research

thanks agian
Ray
Anand Sankaran said:
I waited for the Sigma and turns out that it may not work well
with the CLS system (at least not with other nikon flashes). IT
was $100 cheaper, but I bit the bullet and bought the SB-800.

anand
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
 
I will look into that option also, I am unsure as to what functions I will be giving up with the 600 vs. 800 or Sigma

thank you
Ray
José Luís Malaquias said:
Raymond Bradlau said:
thanks agian
Ray
Anand Sankaran said:
I waited for the Sigma and turns out that it may not work well
with the CLS system (at least not with other nikon flashes). IT
was $100 cheaper, but I bit the bullet and bought the SB-800.

anand
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
 
Ray

Many threads that explain the diff between the SB-600 and SB-800, but in short:
  • No SU-4 mode (can't have the built in flash contribute to the exposure)
  • 30% less powerful
  • No diffuser
  • No "downward" bounce
  • No color gels
The Sigma is as powerful as the SB-800, but may not work with SB-800 / SB-600 in CLS environment. I do not know if it will work well in an all Sigma environment.

If you have a SB-800 and running short of cash, then SB-600 is a good buy for second flash.

anand
--
http://www.anands.net/photos
 
Anand Sankaran said:
Ray

Many threads that explain the diff between the SB-600 and SB-800,
but in short:
  • No SU-4 mode (can't have the built in flash contribute to the
exposure)
  • 30% less powerful
  • No diffuser
  • No "downward" bounce
  • No color gels
The Sigma is as powerful as the SB-800, but may not work with
SB-800 / SB-600 in CLS environment. I do not know if it will work
well in an all Sigma environment.

If you have a SB-800 and running short of cash, then SB-600 is a
good buy for second flash.

anand
--
http://www.anands.net/photos
Click to expand...
The Sigma flashes in the Sigma environment are remotly controlled by radio. I do not believe you could use a Sigma as a remote in any mode unless you have a Sigma on the hot shoe as a commander. I am not up to date on the very latest version but, I know up to the current version (SAN) are RF controlled.
--
Fred R. Elias Jr.
Warren, MI.
[email protected]
 
Also the frequencies are way different. Might work in a all-sigma flash environment, but may not be otherwise.

I was also a bit worried that I won't be able to leverage the already existing knowledge base for SB-800 :)

Of course, YMMV.

--
http://www.anands.net/photos
 
The biggest function you will lose, and the only one I really envy is the commander mode. But you only can use one commander, and you already have that.

The bigger power seems pointless when it is going to be an assist flash that you can place anywhere.

the white card that protrudes from the flash is only good for on-camera, where you'll have the 800.

You won't have SU-4 on the SB-600, but you are going to use iTTL anyway.

So, I don't really think you need more than one 800 in your setup.
Raymond Bradlau said:
thank you
Ray
José Luís Malaquias said:
Raymond Bradlau said:
thanks agian
Ray
Anand Sankaran said:
I waited for the Sigma and turns out that it may not work well
with the CLS system (at least not with other nikon flashes). IT
was $100 cheaper, but I bit the bullet and bought the SB-800.

anand
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
 
Yes, the preflash is essential for the camera to know what it is doing, but you can use FV-lock to shoot the preflash long before. That way, when you do the actual shooting, there won't be any preflash.
Gloria Payne said:
Another question for owners of SB-800 or SB-600
Do both of these flashes put out a pre-flash? My experience with a
pre-flash is it makes the subject close their eyes. If one of these
does NOT use pre-flash, that would be an important detail in my
selection process.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
 
Thank you Jose, Anand amd Fred

The reason I want to save a little on this flash even though I am sure the SB-800 (having the same power and interface) would be the best is that when I have time to set up I use manual monolights and a meter, the i-TTl would be for speed and becasue it would be so much less weight to lug around

I have had pretty good results with one SB-800 and a reflector outside but for inside I need to light the background a bit

Im in no rush and have started going through the links you gave and some I found

thanks
Ray
José Luís Malaquias said:
You won't have SU-4 on the SB-600, but you are going to use iTTL
anyway.

So, I don't really think you need more than one 800 in your setup.
Raymond Bradlau said:
thank you
Ray
José Luís Malaquias said:
Raymond Bradlau said:
thanks agian
Ray
Anand Sankaran said:
I waited for the Sigma and turns out that it may not work well
with the CLS system (at least not with other nikon flashes). IT
was $100 cheaper, but I bit the bullet and bought the SB-800.

anand
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
Click to expand...
--
http://www.malaquias.net/en/joseluis/
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/ray645
 
Yes Gloria the sb800 does preflash but it happens so fast that you cannot see the preflash. The preflash is there to set the exposure.
Jose
Gloria Payne said:
Another question for owners of SB-800 or SB-600
Do both of these flashes put out a pre-flash? My experience with a
pre-flash is it makes the subject close their eyes. If one of these
does NOT use pre-flash, that would be an important detail in my
selection process.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top