I just saw the Canadian press release for the Nikon SB-910 on Photoxels (page is now removed). The new SB-910 will have a new thermal cut-out feature, hard-type color compensation filters, three illumination patterns, a dedicated menu button, improved user interface, etc. The price is CAD 579.95. The SB-910 is supposed to be available at authorized Nikon Canada dealers in November, which is impossible. This was probably the press release from the October announcement that never happened and they forgot to update it. Here is the full press release:
New Nikon SB-910 offers advanced flash technology and intelligent features
Mississauga, ON, November 29, 2011 – Today, Nikon Canada announced the addition of a new flagship Speedlight, the powerful and capable SB-910. Building on the versatility of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS), the SB-910 incorporates an enhanced intuitive operating system and graphic user interface (GUI). The SB-910 Speedlight comes equipped with a wide zoom range covering the most popular focal lengths as well as FX/DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body. This new Speedlight also provides a more efficient flash coverage and use of batteries as well as an enhanced Thermal Cut-Out function.
“Nikon’s new flagship Speedlight, the SB-910, provides exceptional high performance and creative versatility, which is exactly what users expect from Nikon’s Creative Lighting System,” said Gregory Flasch, National Advertising and Communications Manager at Nikon Canada. “The SB-910 delivers a new level of portable lighting functionality, with performance and intelligent features that adapt to a wide range of lighting challenges.”
With its enhanced operating system featuring illuminated function buttons, a dedicated Menu button with quick access to custom settings and an improved LCD screen graphic user interface, the SB-910 Speedlight is designed to provide easy operation and menu navigation. Whether the unit is used as an on-camera flash, wireless commander, or remote, the SB-910 Speedlight will provide dependable and consistent flash exposure. Engineered to address the creative lighting challenges faced by today’s photographers, the SB-910 Speedlight includes quick on-demand performance and the ability to adapt seamlessly to nearly any possible lighting scenario.
Additionally, the new SB-910 incorporates a new Thermal Cut-out function, which offers protection against damage to the flash panel and body that can be caused by overheating during continuous flash use. Now, rather than ceasing operation to protect the unit, the flash recycling time is automatically delayed if a significant rise in temperature is detected. For additional durability, heat resistance and ease-of-use, the SB-910 uses new hard-type colour compensation filters for fluorescent and incandescent colour temperature balancing. When using these filters, the flash automatically recognizes which filter is being used and adjusts white balance accordingly on the connected Nikon digital SLR camera. Additionally, the AF-assist illuminator of the SB-910 is compatible with the complete line of AF systems used in Nikon digital SLR cameras.
The SB-910 Speedlight features three illumination patterns (standard, centre-weighted and even), which are designed to match almost any shooting situation when utilizing the Speedlight. The “standard” pattern will cover all conventional, standard flash coverage. The centre-weighted pattern provides larger guide numbers than other light distribution types at the same focal lengths. This illumination pattern is ideal for shooting still subjects such as portraits, in which the light falloff at the image edges can be disregarded. When “even” is selected, the light from the flash will cover a subject from centre to edges without light falloff. This pattern is applicable for shooting group photographs indoors. For coverage with a variety of lenses, the SB-910 Speedlight incorporates a multi-step power zoom range that covers a wide 17-200mm angle of view, and can automatically detect Nikon FX and Nikon DX formats to help select suitable light distribution.
The SB-910 Speedlight includes support for Nikon’s advanced wireless TTL operation and can function as a wireless commander with control over three separate groups of Speedlights or as a remote Speedlight triggered by other SB-910 Speedlights, SB-700 Speedlights, SU-800 Wireless Commander or the built-in Speedlight set to Commander Mode on compatible Nikon digital SLR cameras. The SB-910 incorporates a high-speed recycling time of approximately 2.5 seconds for full power with NiMH batteries, and approximately 3.0 seconds with AA Alkaline batteries.
Optional water guards will be available for select cameras to protect the connection between the flash and camera, allowing users to utilize the flash when weather conditions are less than ideal. The SJ-4 Colour Filter set provides a Warming, Red, Yellow or Blue filter for adding colour to the background, foreground or just to accent the scene. The SB-910 comes equipped with the AS-21 Speedlight Stand, SW-13H Diffusion Dome, SZ-2FL and SZ-2TN hard-type Colour Compensation Filters and SS-910 soft case.
Price and Availability
The Nikon SB-910 Speedlight is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers in November at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $579.95.