1. Nikon Speedlights SB800 & SB600 Product Review
Like a professional digital photographer I've been using Nikon Speedlights for around ten years now.
Formerly, that's before I switched to any or all digital, I made use of a Bronica Medium format film
camera and Sunpak, "potato-masher" type expensive for editorial and wedding projects.
Since I Have switched to any or all digital in 2000, I have tried personally Nikon DSLRs and also the
Nikon Speedilights, SB800 and SB600. They are both rugged little expensive models with lots of
energy.
The SB800 is a little more effective compared to SB600 having a guide quantity of 125 at ISO 100
versus 118 for that SB600. Nevertheless the guide amounts do vary with the quality of zoom used. I
recieve F8 from my SB800 at 10 ft and ISO 100 using the zoom set to 50mm at full energy. After I
add some SB600 at half energy, I recieve F9.
The SB800 and SB600 are extremely nearly exactly the same weight and size at 2.8x5.1x3.7 inches
and 350grams for that SB800, and a pair of.7x4.9x3.5 inches and 300 grams for that SB600. Plus
they have nearly the same features and controls.
Since I Have focus on portrait photography, I personally use the Speedlights when focusing on
location. I truly appreciate the sunshine weight and small size the models, as every ounce counts
when transporting a complete gear bag along a stretch of beach for any half mile, or hiking up a
mountain trail to get at the locations!
What I like about these expensive models is how they possess a built-in diffusion/ zoom system. As
all professional photography enthusiasts know, the more compact the source of light, the harsher the
sunshine and harder the shadows. Though these little buggers, while using SB800 as my key light,
and also the SB600 for fill, I can replicate exactly the same look when i enter my studio utilizing a
30x40 inch softbox on my small key light along with a 4'x6.5' scrim before my fill light!
Generally I'll zoom the SB800 to 50mm, and hang the SB600 to 24 or 35mm. It makes sense an
attractive soft light with gentle transitions from highlights to shadows. Well, really they are doing
create specular highlights on noses and cheekbones, however with somewhat air brush in Illustrator,
the result is gorgeous, soft lighting.
I am an "old-fashionedInch digital photographer, and prefer to control my equipment myself instead of
allow the programs within the equipment control exposure, and so i operate all things in manual
mode. However, the Nikon Speedlights possess a built-in remote trigger system which sees the
sunshine output and makes changes. This feature is known as the Creative Lighting System, or CLS.
Reading through the manuals and trying to make use of the CLS wasn't as effective for me personally
when i might have loved. I've been not able to learn how to make use of the CLS using the expensive
models in manual in order to control the output, despite the fact that I pair the lights with Nikon
cameras. However, you will find other people who let me know they've been able to perform exactly
that.
My greatest complaint concerning the CLS is it is definitely an deduced based system, and then the
'slave' expensive(es) must begin to see the deduced beam from the 'Master' unit, and also the sensor

2. is situated on one for reds from the expensive. Consequently, the models should be in type of sight of
one another. And, since the master expensive transmits out an indication pre-expensive, then
computes the information before firing the 'actual' expensive, it delays the exposure. As well as in
portrait photography a lag between pressing the shutter release and making the exposure isn't a
positive thing!
Both SB800 and SB600 have swivel and tilt heads where you can bounce the sunshine from
surfaces, and simply direct the sunshine in which you need it. In manual mode you are able to fire
them at full, (1/1), energy, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 energy. They likewise have TTL modes you can use
with Nikon cameras which have CLS capacity, as well as for individuals that don't.
These expensive models are hotshoe mount flashes, and also the SB800 also offers your personal
computer plug input. Both of them include little stands, or in other words "ft" which are a set platform
with 3 hotshoe-like docking slots for mounting the expensive. In by doing this you are able to attach
these to an easy stand as at the base from the feet there's a typical threaded nut for this function. You
may also put the expensive on the counter, shelf or even the floor by utilisation of the feet platform.
They work on four AA batteries, and recycle within 5.5 seconds at full energy. I recieve about 120 full
energy flashes on a bouquet of batteries. I personally use the rechargeable batteries, and so i get
about 120 full energy flashes before needing to recharge the batteries. There's an indication light on
the rear of the expensive to show you when it is fully recycled, and also the recycle time does slow
substantially because the batteries get low.
Both expensive models possess a digital LCD readout from the configurations around the back, and
also the controls are very intuitive...specifically for use within manual mode.
I've discovered the sunshine output to be really uniform and consistent, that is a definite resource to
portrait lighting. So that as I stated earlier, I really like the built-in diffusion and zoom abilities.
Additionally the sunshine weight little size, and sturdiness of those models, and you've got a superb
location portrait lighting package!