D70 Flash

[white_van_man]

I have finally got some money together to buy some new bits for my camera i will have about £300 to spend. on my list is a Flash and a remote release and maybe a some more memory if i have some money left over. What is the best flash to go for the SB600 or SB800 i need a flash that will be reasonable for every use.

Thanks for your help
WVM

[simpo two]

white_van_man said:

I have finally got some money together to buy some new bits for my camera i will have about £300 to spend. on my list is a Flash and a remote release and maybe a some more memory if i have some money left over. What is the best flash to go for the SB600 or SB800 i need a flash that will be reasonable for every use.

IMHO the SB600 is perfectly good for most uses; the SB800 is a bit more powerful and gets more involved with the CLS (creative lighting system) and multiple flashguns - if you don't need that, I'd stay with the 600 and save some £.

You can't attach a corded shutter release; you need Nikon's own IR remote unit which is £11-20. There's also a Chinese jobbie that apparently works.

SB600: £200
IR remote: £15
= £85 to spend on memory.

[beano500]

If I've got it right, the more expensive 800 has wireless capability and a higher guide number (i.e. more powerful).

But for the extra money (£50 plus???), will you be wanting these features?

If you're going to use more than one, then the 600 is still controllable from the camera (D70, I assume) or from another 600/800 IIRC....

Two 600s might be a better spend than one 800 - and you can get one now and one later?

[HankScorpio]

D70s has a corder release, anyone know why it won't fit on a D70?

[fergusd]

No connector on the D70 . . . IR only . . .

Fd

[406tm]

I have both the SB600 and the SB800. To be honest, if you dont need the extras that you get on the SB800 go for the SB600. Both are mighty fine flash units

[size13]

I was looking at flashes the other day too.
This should explain the differences.

www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600vs800.htm

£155 was the cheapest I could find.
www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=141_180_199&products_id=995
but I've heard microgloba are not UK stock

fotosense have then for £189.99

>> Edited by size13 on Monday 12th December 16:03

[white_van_man]

Cheers guys i think it will be the SB 600 and spend the extra on something else

[simpo two]

'Idiotic repeating strobe mode
Tupperware Diffuser
1950s Flashmatic mode'

Good old Ken - possibly even more opinionated than me

[size13]

white_van_man said:

Cheers guys i think it will be the SB 600 and spend the extra on something else

Where have you decided to get it from?

[white_van_man]

i expect it will come from microglobe, but im hoping jessops will match their price.

[size13]

white_van_man said:

i expect it will come from microglobe, but im hoping jessops will match their price.

Just found cheaper www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=454

[white_van_man]

i will try my luck at jessops soon

[_dobbo_]

size13 said:

white_van_man said: i expect it will come from microglobe, but im hoping jessops will match their price. Just found cheaper www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=454

Good find size13!!

I ordered one of these on wednesday, just arrived this morning, marvelous.

Trouble is I don't have any batteries!

[Mad Dave]

I bought the SB800 and i'm glad I did - the wireless lighting mode is really useful! I even bought a brolley and speedlight adaptor as the guide number on the SB800 was higher than that of the studio light I was looking at, and it works beautifully. Given the choice I would go for the SB800 - it just means that as your skills progress/change, you won't need to upgrade so soon

[406tm]

_dobbo_ said:

Trouble is I don't have any batteries!

Get some Ni-MH 2800 Mah batteries and a charger. Much cheaper in the long run

[_dobbo_]

Mad Dave said:

I bought the SB800 and i'm glad I did - the wireless lighting mode is really useful! I even bought a brolley and speedlight adaptor as the guide number on the SB800 was higher than that of the studio light I was looking at, and it works beautifully. Given the choice I would go for the SB800 - it just means that as your skills progress/change, you won't need to upgrade so soon

Sound advice Dave but that said I can't see any studio work in my future - it quite simply does not appeal to me in the slightest. Maybe that will change - if it does I can always buy an 800 and use the 600 as a slave, giving me even more flexibility in a studio environment!

[poah]

www.surreyphotography.co.uk does good prices on the nikon SB600 and 800

[Mad Dave]

_dobbo_ said:

Mad Dave said: I bought the SB800 and i'm glad I did - the wireless lighting mode is really useful! I even bought a brolley and speedlight adaptor as the guide number on the SB800 was higher than that of the studio light I was looking at, and it works beautifully. Given the choice I would go for the SB800 - it just means that as your skills progress/change, you won't need to upgrade so soon Sound advice Dave but that said I can't see any studio work in my future - it quite simply does not appeal to me in the slightest. Maybe that will change - if it does I can always buy an 800 and use the 600 as a slave, giving me even more flexibility in a studio environment!

Fair enough. I just like being able to hold the flash off camera and still use it without wires etc. If you're happy with the SB600 then get one and enjoy - it's still a nice piece of kit

[_dobbo_]

Mad Dave said:

I just like being able to hold the flash off camera and still use it without wires etc.

You can do this with the sb600, just been messing around with the flash on the floor and the D70 set in commander mode, you can get some interesting results - simpo can post his cat picture he took a while ago, I've now got an exact copy except it's got my shoes instead of a cat!