SamuraiCatJB
01-27-2006, 01:18 AM
I am leaning towards a purchase of a flash unit for my Nikon D70 Camera. The primary purpose of which is cavern photography. Although I got better than common results with a built in flash (and lots of monkeying with exposure), it just never went far enough. That is a common enough problem in carlsbad caverns since most built in flashes are rated at about 30ft.
My choices are:
3rd party or Nikon
With Nikon I have two choices, SB-600 and SB-800. Most reviews downplay the 800 which has master-slave functionality (SB-600 can be a slave, but not a master) for multi-sync flash. This is actually an idea since I am considering eventually using a diffuser/bouncer on the brighter SB-800 and a SB-600 as a slave at some future time. I have liked what others have done with this providing good ambient wider diffuse light from the stronger flash and a direct SB-600 from the side. This tends to be a portrait flash mode for professionals, but a few caving photographers have used it well too and I liked the results.
I cannot afford both right now.... 9 of 10 reviews say get the SB-600 not the SB-800 and that no one would use the range difference (ISO 100: 98ft for SB-600 and 125ft for SB-800). To me distance makes the difference and I can always sacrifice to ISO 200 and add a third without having to sacrifice quality to ISO 400 or 800 as I did on my last trip to carlsbad (and throw away all but a few images).
I can go cheap now and maybe not fill the need, expand bigger later and the price will be less.... Or fill the need, maybe go "over" and give some ISO flexability back for creativity now and expand to the lower end slave later (which cheaper I wouldn't have to save as long, I could easily buy the SB600 on a whim after March).
Or I could scrap all that and go 3rd party which I could easily go on a whim, but flash load times and all but the most expensive don't match the distances (and it is more expensive than the Nikons). And scrap any future expansion ideas with all but a few (which don't quite match all the features of the Nikon).
My gut says go big now, it may or may not be more than I need, any extra can be considered extra flexability since my intent is long distance flashes.
http://www.blackrabbit.com/cave101.htm
I am even considering trying a timed photo and carrying the flash in a manual strobe essentially painting the cave with multiple flashes (possibly swapping colored gels in the process too). That is only on the SB-800 even though every review I ever read said you will never use a strobe mode and colored gels.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb800.htm
am I crazy? am I making excuses to play with bigger toys?
my gut says SB-800, but 9 of 10 reviews say SB-600. And actually most caving photography says multi-flash or bulb (and outflash even the SB-800). :eek: ( we won't even talk bulb pricing ) :eek:
My choices are:
3rd party or Nikon
With Nikon I have two choices, SB-600 and SB-800. Most reviews downplay the 800 which has master-slave functionality (SB-600 can be a slave, but not a master) for multi-sync flash. This is actually an idea since I am considering eventually using a diffuser/bouncer on the brighter SB-800 and a SB-600 as a slave at some future time. I have liked what others have done with this providing good ambient wider diffuse light from the stronger flash and a direct SB-600 from the side. This tends to be a portrait flash mode for professionals, but a few caving photographers have used it well too and I liked the results.
I cannot afford both right now.... 9 of 10 reviews say get the SB-600 not the SB-800 and that no one would use the range difference (ISO 100: 98ft for SB-600 and 125ft for SB-800). To me distance makes the difference and I can always sacrifice to ISO 200 and add a third without having to sacrifice quality to ISO 400 or 800 as I did on my last trip to carlsbad (and throw away all but a few images).
I can go cheap now and maybe not fill the need, expand bigger later and the price will be less.... Or fill the need, maybe go "over" and give some ISO flexability back for creativity now and expand to the lower end slave later (which cheaper I wouldn't have to save as long, I could easily buy the SB600 on a whim after March).
Or I could scrap all that and go 3rd party which I could easily go on a whim, but flash load times and all but the most expensive don't match the distances (and it is more expensive than the Nikons). And scrap any future expansion ideas with all but a few (which don't quite match all the features of the Nikon).
My gut says go big now, it may or may not be more than I need, any extra can be considered extra flexability since my intent is long distance flashes.
http://www.blackrabbit.com/cave101.htm
I am even considering trying a timed photo and carrying the flash in a manual strobe essentially painting the cave with multiple flashes (possibly swapping colored gels in the process too). That is only on the SB-800 even though every review I ever read said you will never use a strobe mode and colored gels.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb800.htm
am I crazy? am I making excuses to play with bigger toys?
my gut says SB-800, but 9 of 10 reviews say SB-600. And actually most caving photography says multi-flash or bulb (and outflash even the SB-800). :eek: ( we won't even talk bulb pricing ) :eek: