Nikon flash for LF photos

[pocketfulladoubles]

My wife wants a better flash for her D90, and I was thinking we could get one that could also serve as a simple setup for my LF lenses via the PC sync (correct?). I don't know much about studio lighting, but I do know that I may get a second strobe for fill light down the road. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Ed Richards]

The SB900 has enough power that it might do you some good with LF. Or you could get a big Metz potato masher used.

[pocketfulladoubles]

Would the SB-600 be underpowered then? I'm concerned with the 600 as I was told it cannot be a "commander" to drive other units, but then again, I don't really know either.

[BetterSense]

I use an SB-28 all the time with my Speed Graphic. It even has enough power to expose paper negatives out to 15 feet or so, at f/4.5.

[Heroique]

Nikon’s SB-28 is a compact, powerful flash – and an excellent value in today’s used market. As are the SB-28dx and SB-80dx flashes. At full-power, w/ ISO 100 film, you might even shoot as narrow as f/16 and still be able to provide full coverage out to 10 or 12 feet. Or more w/ wider apertures, faster film, a second strobe, or central fill...

But keep in mind – these flashes won’t provide TTL flash (more specifically, i-TTL) for the D90.

(They would, of course, work perfectly w/ the D90 in manual mode, or non-TTL auto.)

For full compatibility, the D90 needs the newer i-TTL series: SB-400, SB-600, SB-800, SB-900.

[ki6mf]

The SB 600 will work with iTTL however it does need a 3rd party adapter to use with your LF camera. The SB800 and SB 900 have a PC Sync cable so these can be used with your D90 and LF cameras. Also look for a SB 26 this works with iTTL and does have a synch chord build in. This is currently available in the ISA Used from $90 to $135 depending on condition. The Strobist has an article on the SB 26 that is worth reading.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/05/for-few-dollars-more-nikon-sb-26.html

[Heroique]

Thanks Wally, that’s an important clarification to make.

Let’s see if one can summarize:

1) Excellent compact flashes fully compatible w/ the D90 and LF work (via PC cord):

SB-800, SB-900

2) Flashes not fully compatible w/ D90 (i.e., no TTL of any kind, but still useful), but still excellent for LF work … that is, as portable flashes go:

SB-26, SB-28, SB-28dx, SB-80dx

(Let’s throw in the SB-24, SB-25, and SB-27, available used, for spit and a song! :p )

3) The SB-600 is, of course, fully compatible with the D90, but it offers less flash power than the others (if not significantly less). And since it doesn’t have a pc socket, you’d need a pc adaptor to slide onto the flash, so you can connect it to your LF lens. Very inexpensive.

(The SB-400 likely has too little power for LF work at the typically narrow apertures.)

[Ed Richards]

The 600 will work as a commander, but that only matters if you have bunch more high end Nikon flashes.:-) The PC adapter should not be very expensive. The SB900 is overkill for the D90, it is BIG for such a little camera, and its real virture is as an off camera strobe - which is great for you, but not so for your spouse. I have a 600 but would probably go for a 900 if I did it again, but I have a D700 which is huge compared to the D90, and I want to use it on a light stand with a little umbrella.

[pocketfulladoubles]

So would it be perhaps a better route to just use separate systems, such as an SB600 for the D90, and get a used lighting system for LF work? What would be a good system to look at for getting started with something low-cost for the LF photos?

[ki6mf]

The low cost alternative to the SB900 is a used SB 800, used SB 800 are still expensive. If you want most iTTL functionality and full manual control look for a SB 26. The SB 26 is the only iTTL flash from Nikon that allows for both full iTTL and manual work.

[Gordon Moat]

I use several SB-26 Speedlights with my 4x5. They can be set-up for slave firing, which makes placement very easy. Sometimes I will use an SB-27 as the trigger flash, just with the power lower. Newer SB-800 or SB-900 would work, though more expensive. I think you really need more than one for 4x5 work, though you might be able to do close portrait shots with just one Speedlight.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat Photography (http://www.gordonmoat.com)