Help with flash

alexam

alexam

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Malcolm
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About to retire and getting back to photography after a long break. I bought a Fuji S9600 in 2007 but never learnt how to use it properly and only used it for a few months on automatic. Now I want to get serious and have bought Photoshop Elements 8.

Having looked at all the digital photographic magazines, studied the video presentations on the PC and bought the first 2 Scott Kelly Digital Photography books, I am leaning towards upgrading my camera to a DSLR in the next few months but would like to consider getting a flash unit now........ if that's sensible?

Problem is, what to get. Thinking the camera may be a Nikon D90 or D300s............... I would love a D700 but that's stretching it a bit far to be realistic once decent glass is added.

The only reason I mention the camera is that I would like to have the off camera flash working wirelessly and wonder if this should determine the right flash.

The Nikon SB900 is rather expensive and looks great, but I would welcome any guidance, particularly from anyone in the West Midlands area of Solihull-Wythall that may be in a local club that I could consider joining, but all help appreciated.

Hope this is posted in the right area?

Malcolm
 
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The Nikon SB600, 800 and 900 will all work wirelessly from anything above a D90 so the cameras you mention will be fine working wireless with the 'lesser' flash units.

And yes, a flash is sensible (depending on what kind of shooting you're going to do), at the most basic level the ability to bounce flash indoors at parties etc is something that once tried you'll never want to be without.
 
Thanks Nawty,

appreciate the reply. How long have you had your D90 and is it as good as it looks in the blurb? With a SB600 upwards, I presume there will be no problem using it with my existing camera? Many years ago I had a Minolta S700 with a couple of lenses but thought it was too big to drag around.... wish I had kept it now.

Don't supose you are in the area?

Malcolm
 
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Personally I don't see that much difference between the D300s and the D90 except that the D300s is much bigger which, given that I've got small hands, put me off the 2nd hand D300 the shop had when I got the D90.

I've had the D90 for 6 months(ish) after upgrading from the D60 and it the difference is massive. Of course, it's the quick access buttons that make the difference so knowing the camera and how to use all of its functions is key to getting the benefit out of a more expensive camera. You've not managed that with the Fuji but by the sound of it you're about to have a lot of spare time to dedicate to it which means getting a camera you can grow in to would seem a great idea :D

I'm down south so not in your area :)
 
Thanks, I will ned to feel them both, but as cost is a concern particularly as I fancy good lens's, the D90 may well be the one I go for.

I am presently looking hard at camera functions and the Fuji has many that will be appropriate to the DSLR and I hope to join a club and get more experiance as well as help from others.

Best of luck and thanks again for your replies.

Malcolm
 
Are you thinking about getting a Nikon flash and using it with your Fuji for now? I wouldn't do that. It will probably fire but you will not have any of the many flash functions - cameras and flash are pretty much integrated units these days. If I've understood that correctly, get a cheap manual gun for now like a Yongnuo for £50 (from Flash In The Pan - see advertisers section) and play with that. You will be able to use it later as part of a multi-flash system.

I'm a big fan of flash, like Nawty. In fact I think many folks should get a decent flash before they get another lens as it opens up a whole new dimension of photography as well as enhancing what you already do.

Choice of camera is a personal thing and largely down to budget. But all the higher end Nikon's pop-up flashes will act as wireless controllers for auto-TTL flash. It's frankly amazing technology :) You need a compatible gun but most of them will be - the bigger Nikon SB flashes are excellent. Cheaper alternatives from Sigma, Nissin, Metz etc.

Find your local camera club here http://www.pagb-photography-uk.co.uk/ Great way to learn and socialise :thumbs: But you'll find that everyone has a DSLR and you'll feel left out if you haven't got one. Likewise this place is an excellent and friendly forum and if you hang around here and ask as many questions as you can, you'll learn fast :thumbs:
 
Hi Richard,

thanks for the advice and that was just what I was looking for - the use of the Nikon flash with my present camera. I used to have a Vivitar many years ago and found it essential, so perhaps a cheaper flash to start with then the SB800 or 900 with wireless control of any flashes.

I see you also have the Elements 8, which I am trying to get into. My set up on PC Windows 7, is with two screens so it's useful to have the Photoshop Elements made easy disc running on the one screen and me moving the actual program on the other to learn.

I will look for a club but am finding that they seem to run in the winter months and not all year, which is a bit dissapointing, but perhaps understandable, but I do want one that will improve me not just to show photos if you know what I mean.

The Fuji S9600 is fairly sophisticated, but not an actual SLR and not with all the up to date features, or RAW, which I feel I would like to get into.

Thanks for your input - Good shooting

Malcolm
 
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Do try and get to a club Malcolm. They generally run the academic year from September.

Without a DSLR you'll miss out on the chat at a club (or indeed on here) because there's a lot of stuff about lenses and other equipment that you'll just not be able to relate to.

The other thing about DSLRs is they have much bigger sensors which is not just more image quality but the bigger the sensor, the shallower the depth of field. Creative use of DoF is a fundamental creative technique and you just can't do much about it with a compact-size sensor.
 
Thanks again Richard,
Will look around locally for a club to join, possibly Solihull or Redditch which are only a few miles away and hopefully I will get the help I require.

Malcolm
 
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