Flashgun Advice

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Lukeeee1990

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Luke
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Brief story:

Borrowed a friends SB600 and used it a few times then put it to one side, didn't even take it out in the camera bag. Went to use it a few months later, it didn't even turn on. Got new batteries (two DIFFERENT sets!) and it still didn't turn on. After a bit of reading it turns out they are very delicate bits of equipment - although I've not even picked it up in several months! :thinking: And having read Nikon's terms & conditions on their website about the repairs procedure I figure it will be alot easier to invest in a new flash, with a nice new guarantee etc etc :)

So basically I'm after recommendations on something that will perform the same as the SB600, maybe not as techy...I don't think I need the ability to adjust it so finely...Just needs to be brighter than the flash on the camera really, and able to be remotely triggered by the cameras flash/sit remote from the camera

Thanks in advance guys :)

Luke
 
Have a look at FITP's page on this forum, he does cheaper versions of Nikon FGs that will probably suit you!
 
Sorry! It's Flash In The Pan, he advertises on the forum.
Sells Youngno flashes etc.
Try a search for his username.
 
Yes the Youngno flashes are pretty good, i just bought the YN-460ii and for the price you cant go wrong. I have this and a Canon 430Exii, both work well the build on the Canon is nicer but you are paying for it.

I shoot a lot of mountain biking so if i think there is a chance of someone coming off n hitting the flash put the Younguo their instead of the canon as its only £30 instead of £200 if it breaks.
 
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Lukeeee1990 said:
Brief story:

Borrowed a friends SB600 and used it a few times then put it to one side, didn't even take it out in the camera bag. Went to use it a few months later, it didn't even turn on. Got new batteries (two DIFFERENT sets!) and it still didn't turn on. After a bit of reading it turns out they are very delicate bits of equipment - although I've not even picked it up in several months! :thinking: And having read Nikon's terms & conditions on their website about the repairs procedure I figure it will be alot easier to invest in a new flash, with a nice new guarantee etc etc :)

So basically I'm after recommendations on something that will perform the same as the SB600, maybe not as techy...I don't think I need the ability to adjust it so finely...Just needs to be brighter than the flash on the camera really, and able to be remotely triggered by the cameras flash/sit remote from the camera

Thanks in advance guys :)

Luke
Click to expand...

Wait!

You borrowed your friends SB600? So technically you broke THEIR flashgun?

I'd buy them a new SB600 TBH and if you're thinking about buying a cheaper flashgun and then giving it him as a replacement then I would think again!
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Well, it's a model that was phased out over a year ago, so heaven knows where they got the stock from.....

Oh, and the optical slave function on the 460 is next to useless, so you'll need a set of triggers if you want to use it off-camera, sorry.
Click to expand...

No idea how they got it then if it is discontinued? :thinking: And what do you mean by "triggers"? How do you mean the optical slave is next to useless?

mastertrinity said:
Wait!

You borrowed your friends SB600? So technically you broke THEIR flashgun?

I'd buy them a new SB600 TBH and if you're thinking about buying a cheaper flashgun and then giving it him as a replacement then I would think again!
Click to expand...

Not that it's anything to do with you, but they are a close friend and I spoke to them and told them what happened - I went to use it and it didn't work...I didn't break it by doing anything my self - and they said not to worry as it can't be helped
 
Lukeeee1990 said:
And what do you mean by "triggers"? How do you mean the optical slave is next to useless?
Click to expand...

You mentioned in your original post that you want to control the flash off camera. Your D90 supports Nikon's Creative Lighting Systen (CLS) which controls a compatible flash like the SB600 off camera by using the onboard flash to communicate settings to the flash to get the correct exposure. The onboard flash uses the IR part of light to communicate, so it can be turned down to not contribute to the exposure.

Optical slaves use the actual flash to set them off. No settings are communicated, so they have to be set manually to get correct exposure. The onboard will also contribute as it has to flash to trigger the slave.

You can also get a radio trigger that has a transmitter that mounts on the hot shoe, and a reciever on the remote flash to control it. This is what you will have to buy to cotrol the flash you have bought off camera.

By the way, what probably "broke" the SB600 you had was the discharged batteries leaking and corroding the contacts. A clean up of the terminals would probably fix it. Always try to use rechargeable batteries in flashes except in emergencies and remove batteries when not using the flash for long periods.
 
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jomike said:
You mentioned in your original post that you want to control the flash off camera. Your D90 supports Nikon's Creative Lighting Systen (CLS) which controls a compatible flash like the SB600 off camera by using the onboard flash to communicate settings to the flash to get the correct exposure. The onboard flash uses the IR part of light to communicate, so it can be turned down to not contribute to the exposure.

Optical slaves use the actual flash to set them off. No settings are communicated, so they have to be set manually to get correct exposure. The onboard will also contribute as it has to flash to trigger the slave.

You can also get a radio trigger that has a transmitter that mounts on the hot shoe, and a reciever on the remote flash to control it. This is what you will have to buy to cotrol the flash you have bought off camera.

By the way, what probably "broke" the SB600 you had was the discharged batteries leaking and corroding the contacts. A clean up of the terminals would probably fix it. Always try to use rechargeable batteries in flashes except in emergencies and remove batteries when not using the flash for long periods.
Click to expand...

Thanks for a great, in depth reply! All makes sense and the battery thing is a possibility although the contacts did look clean. When funds permit I will probably get an SB600 for myself so will bear that in mind for the future. I will also not leave the batteries in this cheapy flash either :)

Big thanks, and nice camera ;)
 
Lukeeee1990 said:
No idea how they got it then if it is discontinued? :thinking: And what do you mean by "triggers"? How do you mean the optical slave is next to useless?
Click to expand...

It'll be old stock that's been lying around, the 460 was superceeded by the more powerful 460-II, in around December 2009.

The main problem with the YN-460 is the positioning of the optical slave. On most flashes it is either on the front or side of the main body, meaning it can pick up the signal from the master flash whilst the head is pointing in a completely different direction, so the slave unit can be placed anywhereand it will still "see" the flash from the master.

For some reason YongNuo, in their wisdom, put the slave on the YN-460 in the head, so to pick up the signal from the master flash it needs to be pointing more or less directly at it, rendering it useless. This was corrected in the redesign for the 460-II version.
 
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