Nikon Flash Commander vs Nikon Flash Head

[EdinburghGary]

If we take into account the limitations of working with Nikon's CLS - the main one being no Radio Triggering, and we also take a view to keeping your strobes to 4 or less (including one on camera), then is there any advantage other than price, size and weight, to buying a Nikon Flash Commander, as opposed to an SB-900 to act as a commander WITH lighting abilities too?

All I keep thinking of is perhaps you want ALL your strobes off camera, which I guess is the point...

Discuss!

Gary.

 

[Foggy]

Would you not be better off buying something like a set of RF602's? Can get enough for your lighting rig for around £50

 

[PeteStewardson]

If we take into account the limitations of working with Nikon's CLS - the main one being no Radio Triggering, and we also take a view to keeping your strobes to 4 or less (including one on camera), then is there any advantage other than price, size and weight, to buying a Nikon Flash Commander, as opposed to an SB-900 to act as a commander WITH lighting abilities too?

All I keep thinking of is perhaps you want ALL your strobes off camera, which I guess is the point...

Discuss!

Gary.

I've looked at this too. From what I've read I think the main thing is the SB on camera still getting in the shot ( catchlights etc ) which would be worth getting the SU800 for. I've never had a problem yet with using an SB800 on camera but I haven't done too much close flash work.

Would you not be better off buying something like a set of RF602's? Can get enough for your lighting rig for around £50

No because then you loose the advantage of CLS.

 

[Snapper73]

I have the SU800 and don't really use it as it is useless out doors because of the infra-red (nothing to bounce off) its good indoors if using TTL. I've being using my pocket wizards and manual setting when doing any flash stuff now. Its over kill but better off using SB900 as you can direct it at the other flashes as where the SU800 is fixed.

 

[HoppyUK]

Commander is very small and light, but assuming it's the same as Canon, sticking an IR filter over the SB900 would turn it into a Commander but with a few more options, ie more range, directional, can be used as a flash. That's how it works with Canon 580EX.

You want Pocket Wizards Gary. The new one, due this autumn for Nikon, does everything the Commander does, but via radio and also has their Hyper-Sync feature which increases x-sync speed

Sounds fantastic, at a price.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I have the SU800 and don't really use it as it is useless out doors because of the infra-red (nothing to bounce off) its good indoors if using TTL. I've being using my pocket wizards and manual setting when doing any flash stuff now. Its over kill but better off using SB900 as you can direct it at the other flashes as where the SU800 is fixed.

I prefer the SU-800, mainly because I don't like "wasting" an 800 or 900 as a commander and digging into the camera menu to do adjustments is a pita.

When I tested it outdoors (with a 900 in the shade) I was getting around 60-70ft range, which is pretty decent, although normally I'd use PWs if there was the remotest chance of sunlight, rare as it is round here, messing up the signal...

 

[desantnik]

I've only ever had a small dabble with CLS and I'd agree that indoors its pretty damned good but outdoors its so random and limiting that in the end I wanted to beat the SB900 to death with my tripod...

Definitely worth the money for some radio triggers and if you really want TTL, buy the sooper dooper new Pocket Wizards when the Nikon version comes out.

CLS is a great way to have a play with off camera flash and a great way for Nikon to tempt you into buying multiple SB's but once you've had a taste, it has to be radio all the way!

 

[NorthernNikon]

and we also take a view to keeping your strobes to 4 or less (including one on camera)

Why are you limiting the number of strobes? The only limit is the number of groups, not strobes. In theory you can trigger dozens of strobes from either an SU-800 or a commander flash.