Do you want a PRO Nikon Flash « Nikon Rumors Forum

Nikon Rumors Forum » Nikon Flashes

Do you want a PRO Nikon Flash

(34 posts) (12 voices)

Tags:

Nikon Pro Flash

12 Next »

bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

OK I was shooting an indoor event inside a large building with flash and surely my SB 900 was turning off from overheating, I was debating if I should just turn the overheat feature off, but I didn't and kind of limped true it.

So I would like to see a PRO flash from Nikon, something like the Metz mecablitz 76 MZ-5 digital flash. The flash should be powered by Nikon En-El3e Li-ion battery used in the D300. The flash should be made with heat sinks and or fan cooling so it can take 60 plus pictures at full power before getting to the shutdown stage (the SB 900 will take app 35 at full power before shutdown). Most shots would be a less than full power and you would then rarely reach the shutdown point.

The Metz sells for app $ 1080.00 incl control module, The Nikon if less than $ 1000.00 should sell OK

In the mean time I think another SB 900 will be purchased or maybe the SB 700 if it gets on the market

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

An SB900 like flash with a cooling fan ?!!! Dude whatever your smoking I want some ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,123
offline

Don't mind Niko... he's posting that on all the forums these days.

As an interim solution, perhaps you could rig up a SB-900 in conjunction with some SB800's (or even 600's) and fire them all at once. I figure 2 SB900's at half power is the same as one at full power. All you need is some gaffer tape :)

Posted 3 years ago #
ted2001

preferred member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 726
offline

Nikon flashes are fun, cool and not comparable to professional flashes with battery packs. That's where you have to look. Lumadyne, Metz, Quantum and Sunpak all make products in this area. Lumadyne and Metz were popular years ago, I don't know who leads the group now. These brands can be more expensive, but I believe they can deliver large numbers of consistent high power flashes.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

Willis are you stalking me? I'm flattered ;^)

Seriously though, bmxdad, if your maxing out your SB900, then you need to invest in the Metz or a Quantum flash like the new Trio with a 2x2 battery pack. That's what the wedding and event photographers all use. "It's very fantastic!"

[+] Embed the video | Video Download Get the Video Player

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

BB-Code:

Embed:

I'd be more interested in a truly weather sealed flash unit from Nikon. There's already a lot of "pro" flash options out there and seeing as how we are still waiting for the SB600 replacement (SB700) I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

Posted 3 years ago #
Robb Mann

member
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 12
offline

Elincrom Quadra. Just ordered an A-head set. Same price as going with a full up Quantum setup, but you get to use all of those wonderful Elincrom modifiers.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

NikoDoby I newer smoke that stuff, but darn it, I seem to be missing a bag of cookies

Anyway, I know their are other brands that at the moment are more powerful, but this is after all a Forum where we wish for something better from Nikon, higher MP, ISO, DR, "NikoDoby something to smoke" and I wanted a more powerful flash from Nikon(and a pro dx slr)

Anyway if Nikon made a Pro Flash:

It would be easy to operate, same menu as on the SB 900

One En-El3e Li-ion battery should shoot app double the amount of pictures compared to 4AA batteries, and just a bit lighter

It would meter just like the SB 900. I have tried other systems, canon, pentax, vivitar and they just don't meter like my D300 and SB 900 flash combo

NikoDoby I don't know if a fan would help, it might just blow smoke, but whatever the design is the flash should fire app double the amount of full power shot before shutdown compared to the SB 900. Then at the SB 900 power level it would shoot 100+ shots before shutting down

So if Metz and Quantum can sell Pro level flashes so why not Nikon

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
shivaswrath

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 841
offline

have you tried using eneloop batteries in the SB900 or the SD9 battery pack? Both transform the SB900 immensely in terms of recycle, flash intensity, and overheating. . .

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,123
offline

I will say that based on what I have read, you can't fry a nikon flash on battery power even with rechargeable Ni-Mh). You have to be using a external battery pack in order to really toast one of those things. Nikon got a little too conservative on the temperature shut-off. Your probably OK to just disable it.

I still want you to try my idea about two Gaffer Taped SB900's. Not because I think it will work, but because I want to see a picture of it and have a good laugh :)

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Yes I agree the SB 900 temp cut is like Windows vista with all its warnings that at first scares you, then you end up just turning them off. Maybe Nikon should have firmware change to up the temp setting that ends up turning it off, it would great to have it turned off when it is actually saving it from getting fried

I still would like to see a Pro Nikon Flash and yes Willis I will look into using to flashes, just to make you day

I have tried different styles of batteries, not the battery pack yet. I did that with my Canon 580 before and must been lucky at not toasting it

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,123
offline

A few other notes from my experience:

With large rooms buildings, I tend not to use the diffuser dome for bounce flash... The high ceilings sort of do that for me (although I do use the bounce card to catch highlights in the eyes.

As a rule, I shoot flash shots at base ISO, but with high ceilings, I'll turn it up just a bit. I don't want to be shooting off full power blasts all night... I don't have that many batteries. Same thing on the aperture... I like to open it up and soak up as much ambient as I can.

I shoot at full power to nuke the Sun... Not to light a banquet hall... If I wanted to do that, I'd take a page from NikoDoby's book and have an unpaid intern \ assistant \ Child follow me around with a Monoblock all night long. It's cheaper than a profesional on camera strobe. Ha!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

Willis there are child labor laws that say your unpaid "interns/assistants" have to be over 17 yrs of age. Trust me I've tried to recruit younger ones but the courts said NO :^) I finally found a loophole but it requires you to be a certified teacher and that you tell the kids the wedding/event is actually a field trip. ;^)

A friend of mine reminded me that Nikon did make a "pro" flash way back when. It was called the SB-11 and it looked kinda like the Metz MZ-5 flash Pete (bmxdad) likes.
It wasn't a popular flash so I doubt Nikon would attempt making one again.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/flash/sb11/index.htm

Posted 3 years ago #
Nexus6

member
Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 21
offline

My solution is what Shivaswrath said, I got the SD-9 High Performance Battery Pack for my SB900, lowered by recycle times and improved flash capacity. It's expensive but worth it if you do professional work. I don't use rechargable batteries by the way, they tend to overheat the flash more for some reason.

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,123
offline

Hey Niko, do those law apply to *Your* child? If not, I'm going to sue my dad for back wages.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

The Nikon SB 11 looked Pro but only had a guide number of 36, less than half of the guide number of the Metz 76 MZ-5 flash. A Pro Nikon flash does not have to look that way it just need to have more power like the Metz 76 MZ-5. And if powered by a Nikon En-El3e Li-ion battery it would last longer per battery change and fast and easy to swap battery when needed

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

Um Pete, your comparing two flash guns that are over 20 years apart! Of course the Metz is more powerful today! My point was that Nikon attempted a Pro flash and it was too bulky and too expensive and wasn't popular. Even back then photographers went for other options. So imagine how much money Nikon would lose given that there are so many choices now. A pro flash as you describe from Nikon just won't happen.

A weather sealed flash is where they'd make big $$$.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Maybe you are right, and a weather sealed flash would be great, I have been wanting to shot when it is raining and just to afraid to fry my flash

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Hi Willis and NikoDoby what about this idea for a Pro Flash setup

Pete

Thanks NikoDoby for the clear description on how to post a picture on an earlier post

Posted 3 years ago #
Gentoo

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,538
offline

An SB900 like flash with a cooling fan ?!!! Dude whatever your smoking I want some ;^)

Sorry but this was just funny!

Posted 3 years ago #
Willis

preferred member
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 1,123
offline

LOL Bmx... I don't want to actually shoot anybody... just take their picture.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 3,461
offline

nice set up for true reporter :)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

The only problem I see with that picture Pete is that the guy's using a Pentax :^)
The Rollei flashguns look cool though !

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

preferred member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 1,864
offline

Yes it would need to be updated to 2 nikon 900 flashes and a D300 but otherwise should work fine, and there should be room for some kind of cooling system

Just kidding

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

The Terminator
Joined: May '09
Posts: 6,598
offline

Yes and it totally looks very weather sealed ;^)

The guy's grin is hilarious. He's thinking, "Oh yeah!!!"

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

I'm under 18!
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 1,999
offline

We can use THAT to kill you NikoDoby if you don't tell us about the D700X! ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #