Nikon SB-600 or SB-800?

[Dally4rff]

Hey All,

I shoot with D80 and am about to buy a flash.

From your experience, which do you think is best for a serious amateur -
SB-600 or SB-800 ?

Also, where's the best place to get one for the best price?

Thanks

[goofball]

SB-800 if you can afford it. It has more features than the SB-600 + more power + comes with the coloured gels (which you may not use, who knows)

[craftsman]

I picked up a SB-600 for my D200 not because I can't afford a SB-800 after buying a D200 but because it's lighter. When you travel with an D200 and an assortment of f/2.8 lenses, you want light.

The SB-800 is a little more powerful that the SB-600 but most people won't use the power. The SB-800 has a more powerful CLS commander built in but most people won't use it. The SB-800 has a nice assortment of gels but most people won't use it. The SB-800 can connect an extra battery for faster recycle times but most people will lose it before they use it.

The one thing that the SB-800 has that people should use all of the time is the diffusion dome for portraits but most people won't know what it is for.

[najibs]

SB800 all the way. It's not THAT much more than the 600, but it's better, and you can use it later as a master to wirelessly control and fire SB600's.

In the long run, you'll be glad you got the 800. As for the previosu poster, the difference in weight between the flashes is practically indistinguishable.

[sfu_engineer]

Have u considered getting an older SB24/SB25/SB26 instead? You note you are a SERIOUS amateur. How series? I have got quite serious in recent months and have sold my SB800's to get several older Nikon flashes and wireless transmitters. To me and for MY photography the investment in multiple RF triggered flashes is much better than getting just ONE SB800.

The wireless mode in Nikon's CLS doesn't work too well for me outdoors and the range I find is limiting. It all depends on how serious you are and what type of photography you are doing.

If I had to choose between the SB600 or the SB800 I would get the 800. It is not that much bigger or heavier but the power is always nice to have. Also it has a nice FP mode that allows you to use faster sync speeds. Also the inclusion of SU-4 optical trigger, pc sync jack, and faster battery recycle times is good and as a serious amateur myself I have used ALL those features multiple times.

[looniepincher]

SB800 all the way. It's not THAT much more than the 600, but it's better, and you can use it later as a master to wirelessly control and fire SB600's.

In the long run, you'll be glad you got the 800. As for the previosu poster, the difference in weight between the flashes is practically indistinguishable.

Agreed that if you can afford it go SB800 right off the bat.

But if you're on a budget, you can do the reverse and get the SB600 now and get the SB800 down the road to use it to control your SB600. That's what I'm doing.

[Neb]

I say get the SB600. Can the D80 control flash wirelessly and make the SB600 slave? If it can, than i think the SB600 is sufficient since you will not need the master control. You can alway get an SB800 later and use that as a master.

I have a SB600 with D40. I am very happy with it, I just have to get it off the camera now. :) eitehr with a wireless trigger or a cord. does anyone know if TTL is maintained with those wireless trigger by gadget infinity? I know this is off topic :).

[KorruptioN]

does anyone know if TTL is maintained with those wireless trigger by gadget infinity? I know this is off topic :).

The Cactus triggers? They're manual only.

[Neb]

The Cactus triggers? They're manual only.

Thanks, Do you know of any wireless triggers that would transmit TTL info too? or the cord is my only choice? How are the no name cords on ebay?

[sfu_engineer]

Thanks, Do you know of any wireless triggers that would transmit TTL info too? or the cord is my only choice? How are the no name cords on ebay?

http://www.radiopopper.com/blog/

Radiopoppers will transmit wireless TTL.

[2000fordfocus]

Hey All,

I shoot with D80 and am about to buy a flash.

From your experience, which do you think is best for a serious amateur -
SB-600 or SB-800 ?

Also, where's the best place to get one for the best price?

Thanks

Go with a sigma... no, i am just kidding...

Both are great, but i give another vote to sb800! A serious amateur will find a way to use all of sb800's potential :)

A true strobist will tell you to just get any cheap flash you can buy.... I say true to that, light is just light after all, unless you start to care about light temperature or stuff like that, than you a better off with pro lighting anyways... so ya, go buy any durable flash you like, just remember that you have to figure out the exposure yourself.

[2000fordfocus]

http://www.radiopopper.com/blog/

Radiopoppers will transmit wireless TTL.

Hey sfu,

I see your latest picture here: www.spencerfu.wordpress.com
You a getting a lot better with flash! Bravo!

Just join modelmayhem and you will find get tons of girls asking you to take shoot! Especially if you a willing to do it TFCD. They tend to go for glamour and somewhat sexier side of things, so be sure to keep your cool :)

[TenzoR]

I'm using a SB-600, I don't think I'm using it properly but I'm learning as I go along ;)

[sfu_engineer]

Hey sfu,

I see your latest picture here: www.spencerfu.wordpress.com
You a getting a lot better with flash! Bravo!

Just join modelmayhem and you will find get tons of girls asking you to take shoot! Especially if you a willing to do it TFCD. They tend to go for glamour and somewhat sexier side of things, so be sure to keep your cool :)

All the photos done on my photo blog are done with OLD Nikon flashes. A SB-25 from 1992 and a SB-26 from 1994. I "borrowed" the SB-25 from my father and bought a used SB-26 online for $60. Throw in a $300 Skyport wireless trigger set and I am a much much happier than when I just had my single SB-800.

The SB-800 is feature rich but it is still only one flash. That may or may not fire properly wirelessly depending on conditions. It is definitely much easier to use than my current setup which lacks iTTL but I will make due.

I am already on ModelMayhem:
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=609039

But I find the people there are just interested in sexy glamour photos. I find there is too much sexy there and not enough art. I would like to lean more towards art and less sexy if you can find that easy enough to believe. I recently turned down a paid artistic nude assignment as I was not comfortable with that amount of "sexy". :D

Wireless flash is a lot of fun! Check out www.strobist.blogspot.com.

[2000fordfocus]

All the photos done on my photo blog are done with OLD Nikon flashes. A SB-25 from 1992 and a SB-26 from 1994. I "borrowed" the SB-25 from my father and bought a used SB-26 online for $60. Throw in a $300 Skyport wireless trigger set and I am a much much happier than when I just had my single SB-800.

The SB-800 is feature rich but it is still only one flash. That may or may not fire properly wirelessly depending on conditions. It is definitely much easier to use than my current setup which lacks iTTL but I will make due.

I am already on ModelMayhem:
http://www.modelmayhem.com/member.php?id=609039

But I find the people there are just interested in sexy glamour photos. I find there is too much sexy there and not enough art. I would like to lean more towards art and less sexy if you can find that easy enough to believe. I recently turned down a paid artistic nude assignment as I was not comfortable with that amount of "sexy". :D

Wireless flash is a lot of fun! Check out www.strobist.blogspot.com.

My plan is to get skyport eventually, as my cheap cactus trigger is starting to fail on me~~ Must be nice having one... but dont you think is odd, buying a trigger that is worth more than the flash? I see many people buying Pocket Wisurd and yet they have a Vivitar flash~ Odd indeed~