Hello All,
I really want to buy the SB900 but I'm faced with the over heating issue that everyone seems to freely acknowledge. Please advise if you have had problems with this and if the firmware upgrade solved the problem.
SB900 over heating issues
(32 posts) (23 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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The only time I have had an issue with overheating was shooting a wedding for a family member. The reception was rather dark and I was doing lots of random shots for the wedding party entrance, the cake cutting, the first dance, etc. Whenever the flash is used I would say once every 15-30 seconds, it will overheat in about 20-30 minutes. It will still flash, but not as frequently.
Outside of that, I use the flash occasionally, and have never had to deal with the overheating since. I was hesitant over the same concern before I purchased mine, but it really hasn't been something that I have had to worry about at all.
On a side note, I would actually not classify the overheating as a problem that needs fixed. It may be problematic for a certain scenario, but it is actually designed to keep your flash safe from damage due to excess heat buildup, and thus increasing the longevity of the product.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I never experienced any over heating nor have any of the photographers I know.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I have had mine turn off a few times, otherwise I like the flash. I plan to get one more, then just have one cool down
Pete
Posted 3 years ago # -
Must say it is a brilliant flash except for the overheating thing, I always have to carry a backup SB 800 when shooting weddings because my SB 900 starts screaming at after a few minutes. I had the flash for an upgrade but doesn't seem to be any different. I turned the thermal cut setting off but it gets very irritating when shooting inside the church and the flash keeps making noise.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I have one that over heats if you shoot it full power repeatedly for a long duration.
Now when I use it, I shoot at ISO 400 (instead of 200), which seems to make it choose a lower intensity (iTTL is still sort of a mystery to me in terms of why it chooses the settings that it does).
My guess is that my SB800 also has the same problem, but it just doesn't cut off. I'm expect my SB 900 will outlast the SB800. For event shooting though, I generally use the 800, and use the 900 more for portrait work (it makes a much easier commander flash).
Posted 3 years ago # -
My brother owns two sb900 shuts down all the time.
I have a sb800 and use it until the batteries are dead. Sometimes I have killed the batteries, they have been so hot I could not even hold them. I shoot event and wedding
I need it to work 100% of the time not over heat in the middle of a cake sequence.hopefully Nikon will make a sb950 with out the over heat issue, love my sb800
Posted 2 years ago # -
not me. . .but I use it went rechargeable Eneloops. . .
I'll usually fire off a sequence of 10-20 shots every few minutes for an evening reception and rarely have hiccups. . .
Firmware 5.02, so it's the latest one. . .
Posted 2 years ago # -
Always always always carry a backup if you're shooting a wedding :) Overheats on me almost every time
Posted 2 years ago # -
My SB600 flashguns never overheat and works like a charm...
Posted 2 years ago # -
I have nikon SB900 flash and i alway photography with BOUNSE LIGHT and result is
my SB900 shut down after just 30 to 35 pictures,i use ISO 400 and lens i use nikon 18-105
just advise me that can i use NIKON SB700 OR SB600 for wedding events(who alway fast event)
especially when bride and groom wear rings and photographers alway action fast fast and fast(I ALWAY
MY SB900 HEAD UPWARD FOR FULL BOUNCE PURPOSE)
actually someone gave me sb600 in reasonable price so plsssss advise me that can i get this light or
is this light will HAPPY ME FOR BOUNCE PHOTOGRPHY in 15 to 16 ft high roofs of halls
thanksPosted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
My solution is to have backups. I have 2 SB900s and 2 SB800s. Not everyone's answer, but a good fix.
The SB900 overheats with rapid firing at low ISO out doors, dumping all that light output (and heat, apparently) and other conditions that cause it to output energy and heat up.
The cool off times seem longish to me, too. Once it's hot, it get hot quicker if you use at the same event.
Other posters have already noted, the SB800 doesn't suffer any of these issues.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
Amir:
1. You can turn off the thermal shutoff in the custom settings menu. I've never read about anybody melting their flash unless they were using a battery pack. I've also read that some batteries get hotter than others, with regular Alkali batteries running the coolest (but with a slower refresh time)2. Bounce flash doesn't work all that well in a large room, you might explore a different technique. A faster lens will get you better results than a more powerful bounce flash (provided you like the ambient light).
3. All flashes will eventually cut off (or melt), the SB 900 just does it a little sooner than most out of the box. Since I upgraded to the latest firmware, its been less of a problem. If, however, you are going to be shooting rapid fire on full power, you need to keep a backup flash (Even if you don’t, ALWAYS have a backup flash). Bounce flash doesn't require all of the slick CLS & TTL features of the SB series, consider picking up a cheaper alternative
Posted 2 years ago # -
amir said:
I have nikon SB900 flash and i alway photography with BOUNSE LIGHT and result is
my SB900 shut down after just 30 to 35 pictures,i use ISO 400 and lens i use nikon 18-105
just advise me that can i use NIKON SB700 OR SB600 for wedding events(who alway fast event)
especially when bride and groom wear rings and photographers alway action fast fast and fast(I ALWAY
MY SB900 HEAD UPWARD FOR FULL BOUNCE PURPOSE)
actually someone gave me sb600 in reasonable price so plsssss advise me that can i get this light or
is this light will HAPPY ME FOR BOUNCE PHOTOGRPHY in 15 to 16 ft high roofs of halls
thanksdouble post: question asked in another thread
Posted 2 years ago # -
Like every one else, my SB900 overheats if used bounced frequently in a big room
like Mike I have a spare ( in fact I have 2 spares)
My SB 800 did not over heat, but it did not have the power of the 900, and I hated the menu controls
having a bigger head, the 900 seems to produce a softer light than the 800
Posted 2 years ago # -
Amir do not post the same question in so many threads!
Posted 2 years ago # -
sevencrossing said:
My SB 800 did not over heat, but it did not have the power of the 900,Actually, the 800 has more raw power than the 900. The 900 does a much better job using the power it has due to its awesome adjusting reflector (and the fact everyone thinks the 900 is more powerful is either testament to that or Nikon's PR team), but that awesome reflector only matters when directly lighting. When bouncing from on-camera flash raw guide number is the only true test (unless you are a pool shark), and in that the SB-800 @ 35mm @ISO 100 is 38m vs the 34m of the SB-900.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=t-QpLCtL7gZd2YUq04qwMUw&output=html
Posted 2 years ago # -
Willis said:
Amir:
1. You can turn off the thermal shutoff in the custom settings menu. I've never read about anybody melting their flash unless they were using a battery pack. I've also read that some batteries get hotter than others, with regular Alkali batteries running the coolest (but with a slower refresh time)I have talked to many who have blown/melted their flash and there has been a few people on here who have had this happen.
A back-up is best but you can overheat both if you are firring non-stop. I use a SB-600 which helps but is not as good as the 900.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Ive never had the issue with my sb900 but I seldom shoot it at full power... I heard that the sb800's overheated too. They just wouldn't warn you and kept/keep on shooting...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
The SB900 overheated for me repeated for me over the weekend. Fortunately, nothing was critical.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Easiest solution I found:
SD-9.
Takes heat draw away from body of flash, and of course gives you better recycling time. . ..a bit overkill, but has worked without flaw for me thus far.
Posted 2 years ago # -
casperwb said:
Mike.
what did it do, just stopped working until it cooled down?how long before you could use it again?
Hi Casper,
When it overheats, it stops.
I normally have backups (I have 6 flashes total, so backups aren't a problem), but not this time.
It wasn't critical, nothing but fill flash for outdoor shoots. I just moved the subjects. I hated that I had to do that.
As for turning off warning and cutoff switches, it seems unwise. I don't know anyone who has run into trouble doing it, at least I don't know anyone who has admitted it.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mike Gunter said:
Hi Casper,When it overheats, it stops.
I normally have backups (I have 6 flashes total, so backups aren't a problem), but not this time.
It wasn't critical, nothing but fill flash for outdoor shoots. I just moved the subjects. I hated that I had to do that.
As for turning off warning and cutoff switches, it seems unwise. I don't know anyone who has run into trouble doing it, at least I don't know anyone who has admitted it.
My best,
Mike
thanks Mike.
Posted 2 years ago #
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