I am looking to buy a new flash. I had the SB-800 with the extra recycling battery before but all of my equipment was stolen from my car a few weeks ago. I had planned on getting another SB-800, but because of the small price difference I am now considering the SB-900. My main concerns are the weight and the problem with the auto shut off that wedding photographers are having. I work for a newspaper and have to cover football games. I can't afford to have my flash shut down halfway through a quarter. I saw somewhere that it said you get anywhere from 30-50 photos in a short time. My question is what is considered a short time. I guess my question is how long does it usually take for the auto shutoff to happen.
SB-900 for football games
(9 posts) (7 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
-
Welcome to the forum, Leah. Sorry about your gear. Are you filing an insurance claim for it or did it belong to your paper?
edit: I know I'm not answering your question. There are some experts on the SB-900 that will shortly, I'm sure.Posted 3 years ago # -
It is my equipment, but car insurance won't pay for it and I don't have renters insurance on my home.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Welcome to the forum leah. Sorry to hear about your gear :^( What camera did they steal?
As for the SB900 overheating I wouldn't worry too much about it. I've asked other photog friends about the issue and none has had a problem with it (sports & weddings). I know some have said they've experienced this problem here but perhaps it was only an "issue" with early production SB900s?
Posted 3 years ago # -
I've had no problems with the auto shut off using an sb-900 on a D3 at 9fps for sport. Think it's dependant on batteries used and eneloops work well for me. The auto shut off can also be switched off. It just takes common sense; as with any small flash, firing off full power bursts will heat the flash head. If it feels silly-hot then give it a break! The sb-900 is brilliant and you won't be disappointed!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thank you so much! I think I will go for the 900.
The camera they stole was a D80 with an 18-135mm lens attached.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Of course for a football game, firing off a bunch of shots at full power is exactly what you'll be doing. I actually think the SB800 would be better for that purpose because of the 5th battery.
Nikon didn't change physics. For single flash on-camera use, I prefer the SB-800 (I own both).
If you want to build out a CLS system, then the 900 starts to gain the upper hand.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Welcome leahtheresa,
I had all my photo gear stolen out of my house about 30 yrs. ago. Three Nikon pro bodys and 17 lenses. I did have my stuff insured though. I gave a list of serial numbers to the camera stores in town. At that time I was working at one of them part time. A couple of weeks after the robbery, some guy came into the store on Sat and had a lens he wanted to sell. I happened to wait on him. I asked him why he wanted to sell it and he gave this story of how he was moving. It sure looked like one of my lenses. I told him I have to have the owner check it out in order to give him a price. The serial was checked against my list and it was my lens. One of the guys went in back and called police. That was the only lens he had. They searched his car and house.
Anyway you might get lucky, pass the serial numbers around.Posted 3 years ago # -
leahtheresa said:
Thank you so much! I think I will go for the 900.The camera they stole was a D80 with an 18-135mm lens attached.
Overall I like the SB900, I still hope that Nikon at some time will make a better and stronger flash. I do know that at sports events your flash will fire at close to full power and you will get about 40 pictures in a row and your flash will power down, depending on amount of time between shots, The SB800 will not turn off but you risk the chance of the flash frying on you (and the SB900 turn-off feature can be turned off) I think you need to get 2 flashes if you really want to fire lots of full power shots. I am getting one more
Pete
BTW here is a fun thread on Nikon Pro flash
Posted 3 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
