More Discovery About Flashing with Nikon SB-900 Speedlight

A flash is still a flash when it comes to her primary role, spreading an even, center-weighted, or standard beam of white light to anything in her path when fired. I found both the use of the filter pack (TN-A1) or direct flashing, having an equal effect of whitening the whole scene up.

That is far from ideal when our intention is still to retain the orangey warm ambience when the shot is taken. Hence, we are faced with two options - shoot on a tripod without a flash or shoot at WB above 7000K, with a flash. I often choose the latter while manually zooming in my strobe to 200mm.

This experiment pleasantly resulted in my subject being lighted up in a modest array of orange tint while the background's incandescent ambience is wonderfully preserved. I don't really like white light when shooting any night indoor scene unless I am in a hospital.

Just thought this can come in handy at some point in time.

More About Flash Photography

Just when you thought you are invincible with the use of Nikon's ultimate flash SB-900 speedlight (so naive!) on the Nikon D90, a short visit to a museum recently simply threw all that I know back into the trash bin about lighting.

You name it - on-camera, off-camera, diffuser, zoomed flash, bounced flash, everything, and I can immediately see why one Speedlight can be so limited and why folks like Joe Mcnally need dozens of them!

In built-up areas where light sources are limited and placed more to light the place than on any interesting subjects, lighting something you are interested in can be a mind-boggling challenge! It stretches my imagination many steps forward, in ways that takes time to get comfortable with.

Take this scene on the right for example. Determining a suitable main subject to use was already a challenge to me. Shoot, delete, shoot, delete again. I was getting desperate and I ended up using this old water hydrant as my main subject. Lit the scene with my Speedlight in diffused mode on camera at 18mm.

Did I nail the scene? You tell me...

Nikon Speedlight SB-400 Battery Usage Observation

Can you believe it? Running on two Energizer AA batteries, my Nikon flash finally stopped flashing after 5 months of on/off usage. Remember that I bought my Speedlight almost together with my Nikon D90. Shot count on my camera currently read 5350.

So, here's my mini verdict. I hardly use my flash, however hard I tried in my daily routine. I was quite determined to get the Nikon SB-900 lately but concluded that I would grossly under utilize it as well.

Nikon Speedlight Guide Number Explained

I have for the last one month, been finding myself using either the built-in flash or Nikon Speedlight SB-400 more and more often in broad daylight. It does help bring down the ISO of my shot in less ideal condition, while not casting a harsh flood of white light on my subjects due to its i-TTL logic.

In attempting to shoot beyond a certain distance say at 200-300mm range, I found insufficient light reaching my subjects with the above hardware. Say for example, the SB-900 has the following guide number: 34/111.5 (ISO 100, m/ft), 48/157.5 (ISO 200, m/ft) while my SB-400: 30m/98.4ft. (ISO 200, m/ft at 18mm zoom-head position, 20 degrees C/68 degrees F).

By its Guide Number, assigned to almost all built-in and shoe-mount flashes and listed—in feet, meters. The GN tells you how far your flash will carry at a given aperture or what aperture to set for a given distance. Just divide the GN by either distance or f-number. For example, if a flash has a GN of 80 in feet (at ISO 100), it can reach up to 20 feet with a lens set to f/4 (80÷4=20). If you want to shoot at 40 feet at the same ISO, you’d have to open your lens to f/2.

Applying the above formula with my cheap Nikkor 70-300m at 300mm (F/5.6), my SB-400 can only effectively reach a maximum distance of about 18m at ISO 200, while the Nikon D90 built-in, at 10m. You are pretty much on your own beyond that.

Using a $420 Nikon Speedlight SB-900 will allow me now to cover as far as 28m.

Sigma EF-530 DG Super Flash for Nikon D90?

Perhaps, I have not fully appreciated Sigma lenses at this point in time with my Nikon D90 but there's nothing really to stop me from evaluating her top-of-the-line flash - Sigma EF-530DG Super?

Priced at a Nikon Speedlight SB-600, perhaps, its a value buy?

So, here it is, my next agenda to accomplish and share with all.

Check back soon.

Nikon D90 X-Sync Function In Action

Yup. I have only recently felt the urge to see how the Nikon D90's Flash Sync actually perform in conjunction with my Nikon SB-400 Speedlight. Obviously, my kids are often the test subject.

As it turned out, the fastest speed I can engage my Nikon D90 is 1/200 second, implying intended subjects should not be too fast to be captured in those low-light conditions. Again, my Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 made my day in the above shot.

Enjoy!

Nikon SB-R200 Speedlight Versus Nikon SB-600 Speedlight

If I can turn back the clock, I would seriously consider the Nikon SB-R200 instead of the SB-400 as my first flash. For $40 more, here's the reasons why:

Strengths

• Small and equally lightweight
• Its wireless and can be commanded directly from the Nikon D90
• Get it to sit on a table/floor or clamped onto a nearby stand/rack for flash operation AS-20
  
• Comes with colored filter sets SJ-R200
• Diffuser-friendly with SW-12
• Interoperable with Nikon SB-600/900
• Auto FP High-speed sync capable with Nikon D90
• FV Lock ready with i-TTL Nikon CLS capability

Weaknesses

• Cannot be mounted on Nikon D90 hot shoe, must be handheld or placed on the floor/clipped
• 50% lesser flash power over Nikon SB-400 (similar to built-in flash strength)
• White balance auto adjustment prompt to Nikon D90
• Uses less common battery type - CR123 versus AA

Nikon SB-600 has all the above advantages and a $100 dearer price tag than the Nikon SB-R200 but you get more power and WB auto adjustment in a heavier weight combo too.

Fun - Nikon P6000 with Nikon SB-900

Anyone using this combination? It will be quite intimidating and "professional" won't you think?

Just for some 15-minute lunch break Photoshop fun! Have a good laugh! Apology to anyone who actually uses this monstrous combination.

Repeating Flash for Nikon D90 Built-in Flash

If you own the Nikon SB-400 speedlight, repeating flash option is not available for your use with the Nikon D90. In those instances where you see its use, you have to rely on the built-in flash to get the job done.

There's some serious logic you need to understand while in the "Flash Cntrl for built-in flash" menu (e2) to use repeat flash. First, we determine its power output for each repeating flash - between full and 1/128. With that done, the Nikon D90 will automatically limit you to determine your desired number of times it fires. (Note - your desired value may not translate to actual number of times the flash fires). Take note that in its full capacity, the built-in flash can only reach up to 18m at ISO 200 / 20 Degree Celsius).


Hence, at say, 1/4 power, you can effectively reach subjects not further than 4.5 meter away from your camera. With that in mind, the power of the repeating flash you set is directly linked to the distance of your subject, which in turn, affects the total number of times your built-in flash can fire in one second!

Now, its quite sensible to set your shoot mode at shutter priority for repeating flash shoot. Hence, if you set your repeating flash to fire at 5 times per second, you should get five "ghost" images of your subject in motion during shutter release duration of that one second. Try it with your kids or a moving object.

My kids love it!

Nikon SB-400 Killer?

I'll be darned! This is the problem you face when you research a bit more persistently. A better product that threaten the very meaning of conventional products. For those of you who is ready to splurge on the Nikon SB-400, hold your horses!

Introducing a strong alternative to the Nikon SB-400 - Professor Kobre's Lightscoop. And boy is it favorably priced at $34.95!

Check it out [here].

Nikon School of Creative Lighting

In my quest to improve my use of Nikon SB-400, I got hold of this extremely useful videos made by Nikon - Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting.

It consists of two video segment, each lasting about one hour. In it, you get to learn how the world-renowned photographer - Joe Mcnally shoot with his Nikon CLS suite to achieve stunning imagery in the face of challenging scenes like the fishing wharfs, bridal day, habor portraits, dance studios etc.

A must have for those who wishes to improve a better use of their Nikon Speedlight. Well I did!

Its indeed an eye-opening experience.

Buy it [here]

Perfecting the Use of Nikon SB-400 Speedlight

Ever since my purchase and use of the Nikon SB-400 Speedlight, I keep getting the impression its being under-utilized. Well, the bounced effect was always great, with my subject not burnt with white light due to Nikon's legendary CLS engine in the Nikon D90 but I think I am still missing something here.

My recent desire to step up to the Nikon SB-600 has been subverted by a couple of professionals I came to know; and laying on the line for approximately another $250 for the SB-600 is not exactly my idea of prudent spending in a bearish economic scene like now.

So, I am reverting my ways to take a second look at "squeezing" every drop from my Nikon SB-400 before moving forward. And perhaps, my research can yield added techniques to improve our flash photography skills (without being outlandish in getting new equipment after new equipment!).

You see, top-mounted flash photography (with vertical bounce feature) is level 1. Enhancing the Nikon SB-400 with color gels (to offset "bad" light spectrum) or diffuser (e.g. from Sto-fen) is level 2. But getting a Nikon SC-28 extension cord for off-camera TTL flash photography with the SB-400 is what I consider level 3.

The above image is taken with the Nikon SB-400 at level 3. The effect can be startling! And even if you deicide to shoot with the Nikon SB-400 at level 3 with an independent flash stand, the SC-28 can reach a total stretched distance of about 1.5 meters between the camera and the flash point! There you go! Who needs that Nikon SB-600 after all?

Technical Details of Nikon SB-400:

• Compact, lightweight Speedlight unit
• Operates on two AA-size (1.5V) batteries; fast 2.5 second recycling time
• 18mm angle of coverage with Nikon DX format digital SLR cameras
• Bounce capabilities in 4 steps up to 90 degrees; flash shooting distance range from 2 and up to 66 feet
• Approximate guide number of 98.4 feet at ISO 200 (at 18mm zoom head setting)

O yes, the Nikon SC-28 costs around $45.

Outdoor Flash Photography Explored

As far as outdoor flash photography is concerned, the Auto FP sync found in Nikon Speedlight SB-600 and beyond can give that 'umph' and flair to the overall composure, eliminating remaining shadow that may lurk at corners. I have not gone down that road to get a SB-800/900 yet but let me do a bit more homework on what are REALLY the difference before getting one to improve my pictures.

As Nikon claims, the top-of-the-range SB-900 really makes the world your studio!

Building a Cheap Ring Flash Tutorial

As we know, ring flash setup with the combination of a series of Nikon SB-R200 Speedlights and SX-1 can create dramatic pictures but it sure can set us back with its cost of ownership. And what better cheap alternative venture it can be to build one yourself! Of all the DIY ring flashes, I find this to be the easiest. Attached is a detailed step chart to make one yourself. Have fun!


Here's a sample of shot effect from a DIY Ring flash.

Summary of Nikon CLS

As the diagram on the right shows, the concept of Nikon CLS is broken down into a few areas of competency and I have been happily exploring each of this area (except wireless commander mode) which the Nikon SB-400 does not support.

But that aside, it works 90% of the time and its superb and bargain to use one, as opposed to the more advanced SB800/900. FV lock was especially useful while the Auto FP high-speed sync allows beautiful night shots even at high shutter speed.

Review - Nikon SB-400 Flash

Moving along with my hands-on on the Nikon D90, I moved into flash photography today. My first impulse was to turn off that auto ISO limit and moved it all the way down to LO.1 (or ISO 100). Facial hairs, reflections on the pupil of my portraits became apparent and natural, utilizing bounced flash for each of those shots.

Again, as I said, its a hobby and I intend to keep it that way. SB-400 is good enough for me. With an effective range of up to 60 feet, NEF images on my Nikon D90 appears analog-film clones. Installing one is a snap. The D90 automatically detects it and control it for each shot. Rear sync flash becomes fulfilling once again.

But do still bring your tripod along for nightscape as flash doesn't work in those shots. Here's a rough guide table for your flash shoots


The SB-400 flash unit supports improved Though The Lens (iTTL) balanced fill-flash feature, FV lock, flash color information communication, rear curtain sync and red-eye reduction on the Nikon D90. Flash Value (FV) lock is the ideal tool to take out-centered subjects in dark backdrop with the intent to bring out the background detail. The AE-L/AF-L button can be configured to activate this function on demand. Please remember to switch E5 custom menu item to ON to enable Auto FP high-speed sync to take shots with varying shutter speeds of 1/200 to 1/4000 second. I encourage you to know all about flash photography [here].

To Flash or Not to Flash

Most pros refuses to pop that built-in flash on their camera and they have an extremely good reason in not doing so. And in situation they use one, it would be an external unit flash that can be either connected wirelessly or physically to their DSLR.

The Nikon built-in flash, though compensate-ready, more often whiten the subject than adds clarity to it, all for the fact its direct fire on your subjects. Though whitened, your subjects now becomes significantly sharper but less natural looking. The ISO 3200 exposure without flash has now been automatically adjusted to ISO 200 by your camera.

To have the best of both world, the use of "bounce" flash shots is like a dream come true. And such feature can only be available in an external flash unit. So, its like a must for those of us coveting significantly better indoor pictures.