Flash

[Soulburner]

Love this thing. Anyone with a Nikon (or Canon equiv.) and $200 to spend that isn't sure what to get, well...this should be at the top of your list. You're about to see why putting out the money for a good flash and some batteries is so many times better than putting $185 toward a new lens or camera model that you won't believe it.

Bounce Flash vs Direct Flash
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/BlackHawk2k6/Misc/FlashFlowers.jpg

I shouldn't have to point out the shadows and overall dull look of the picture on the right.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/BlackHawk2k6/Misc/LivingRoomFlash.jpg


If you want this kind of improvement in your pictures, you have to start bouncing. Easily worth every penny IMO.

A couple examples of the SB-600 bounced off the ceiling:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/BlackHawk2k6/General/DSC_1075Edit.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/BlackHawk2k6/General/DSC_1076Edit.jpg

I'd have better examples but I haven't had a lot of time yet. More later ;)

Another thing I almost forgot...you guys don't know how cool triggering the flash remotely is until you try it. You can hide it almost anywhere within range and it opens up a lot of creative opportunities.

[[XC] 2long4u]

How do you trigger it remotely? Do you need another piece of hardware?
Also did you use a polarizer? If not would it have gotten rid of the glare on the glass on the coffee table?

[Cold Fussion]

The flash sits on top of the camera and is triggered when you take a photo, like any ordinary flash.

[[XC] 2long4u]

I know that but he is saying that you can seperate the flash from the camera. In order to do that you need a trigger on the camera and either have it wired or wireless to trigger the flash behind a plant or something. :shrug:

[Soulburner]

The D70 and up can control Nikon's SB-600 and SB-800 flash remotely. You set the on-camera flash for Commander Mode and set the flash to enable wireless.

[MaxxxRacer]

The D70 and up can control Nikon's SB-600 and SB-800 flash remotely. You set the on-camera flash for Commander Mode and set the flash to enable wireless.

good to know. I didnt realize that the camera had the capability built in. I thought I would need to get the SU-800.

[[XC] 2long4u]

I keep looking more and more at the D80.:idea:
Bracketing and a remote flash!

[Soulburner]

Bracketing, wireless flash, built-in focus motor, top LCD, etc etc...I love my D80. Bring on the D90! :rocker:

Seriously though, learn with what you have first unless it really limits you. Stuff will always be cheaper later.

[[XC] 2long4u]

Focus motor would be really nice. I have a 50mm f1.8 and it won't autofocus. It's funny my coworker has a D50 which is the older version of the D40 and his has a focus motor. I was just going to use the 50mm for macro shots where the auto focus wouldn't be used, but man is that a great lens.

[Nate P.]

Wow, flash shots look great! Too bad it's only useful indoors (or is it?), I take primarily outdoor shots.

[Cold Fussion]

Bracketing, wireless flash, built-in focus motor, top LCD, etc etc...I love my D80. Bring on the D90! :rocker:

Seriously though, learn with what you have first unless it really limits you. Stuff will always be cheaper later.

Pretty sure all dslr's have all the features you listed expect the focus motor. Only the really low end cameras don't have the top screen.

[[XC] 2long4u]

IIRC the D60 doesn't have a top screen.

[Soulburner]

Wow, flash shots look great! Too bad it's only useful indoors (or is it?), I take primarily outdoor shots.
Flash is very useful outdoors as well:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k245/BlackHawk2k6/General/AnnieCollage.jpg

(don't mind the blown sky, I have improved since these were taken)

[Cold Fussion]

2long4u;3022259']IIRC the D60 doesn't have a top screen.

don't know much about the nikon range but anything above the 350\400\450d in the canon range has the top screen.

[Soulburner]

The top LCD starts in Canon 10/20/30/40 and Nikon 70/80/90 series.

[eva2000]

Yeah external flash units are awesome.. just got my first DSLR camera - Pentax K200D and with Sigma EF-530 DF Super (http://fileshosts.com/dslr/pentax/lens/pentax_50mm_sigma105mm/sigma105mm_24_70mm_ef530.jpg) external flash.. the difference very noticeable compared to onboard flash :D

[Cold Fussion]

The top LCD starts in Canon 20/30/40 and Nikon 70/80/90 series.

You left out the 10d.

[Thrilla]

My camera doesn't take external flash :( lol but I made a ghetto diffuser. WOW what a huge difference! I never liked flash before and try not to use it even in low lighting conditions, but bounce flash works extremely well.
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s245/northshorerockstar/photography/DSC02379.jpg

[[XC] 2long4u]

I wish the SB-600 had a negative angle. That is the only reason I would consider the SB-800.
Does the SB-600 rotate also. Example: You are shooting verticle for a portrait can you spin to to point at the celing or will it be pointing at the wall?

[[XC] 2long4u]

Okay, today I bought the SB-600 and damn is it a bad ass flash. The chick at the store was helpful but didn't know much about it. I thought they could be optically triggered but I guess not. I will post up some samples later. :D

[MaxxxRacer]

While this shot doesnt have the nice quality of bounce flash (not possible for this due to speed reasons), it showcases the power of the D300, SB-800 and my ability to stand pefectly still.

Link With Image Info (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxxxracer/2589682510/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2589682510_7fc966e639_b.jpg

[[XC] 2long4u]

What happened to soulburners Pics?

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