A quick comparison between the Nikon SB-900 and the new SB-910 Speedlight flashes. First the specs differences:
| Nikon SB-900 | Nikon SB-910 | |
| Dimensions | 3.0x5.7x4.7in. (78.0x146.0x118.5mm) | 3.1x5.7x4.4in. (78.5x145x113mm) |
| Weight | 14.6 oz. (415g) | 14.8 oz. (420g) |
| Other Available Functions | AF-assist illuminator | AF-assist illumination for multi-point AF |
| Ready Light | Front, Back | Front |
| Other Functions | Thermal cut-out | Improved Thermal Cut-out |
| Price | $494.95 | $549.95 |
On the back of the SB-910 a new menu button replaces the previous zoom button. In the press release Nikon mentioned only two SB-910 improvements over the SB-900:
- the SB-910 provides more efficient battery usage as well as an enhanced Thermal Cut-Out function
- the SB-910 uses new hard-type color compensation filters for fluorescent and incandescent color temperature balancing
Here is a list of the specs that are 100% identical in both SB-900 and SB-910 (based on the specs published on Nikon's website):
- Guide Number
- Lens Coverage
- Bounce Function (Tilt)
- Bounce Function (Rotate)
- Commander Function
- Remote Function
- Electronic Construction
- Flash Exposure Control
- Illumination pattern
- Minimum Recycling Time
- Flash Duration
- Required Power Source
- Optional Power Supply
- Flash-ready Indicator
- Flash Compensation
- Custom Setting
- Minimum Number of Flashes / Recycling Time
- Wireless Flash Modes
- Wireless Communication Channels
- Wireless Groups
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157 Comments
Simple – if no one buys the 910, the price will come down.
Not so sure about that, according to some decisions made by Nikon lately they will most likely raise the prices in an attempt to increase the profit (stupid people logic: I am selling 1 unit per month for 550, so I will double my profit by selling this same unit for 1100 right?).
Is anyone really going to buy this? I already have the SB900 and use it for light enthusiast use – never had a problem with the over-heating. Can’t see any reason to change and feel this is a rather cynical attempt at a quick profit from a company to which I am wholly committed and otherwise respect greatly. I am disappointed, Nikon!
Well, I’m glad to see the SB-910. For a while there, I thought they might come out with something really better. Like RF implementation of CLS/iTTL. Glad they fixed the thermal protection issue with the SB-900 – finally admitting it’s a problem? But no trade-in plan unless you’re Joe McNally, so the problem still remains in all those otherwise useful SB-900s out there. No firmware update – no service bulletin to replace defective design.
At least now I don’t have anymore reservations going with Nissin Di866s. Nothing in the SB-910 that warrants a $200 premium over Nissin’s flagship.
I am angered (as I am sure are many) by this – an admission that the thermal cut-out issue on SB-900 was definite hardware problem. So I have to spend another $500+ to be able to use a “flagship” flash that I 95% already own but is not useable for much of the type of work I do – unless I have two of them…
Still no more support for film TTL.
Bad…
For film you can get the excellent SB600, still in stock at B&H.