SB 800

fujitsu1522 · 19-02-2007, 22:49

Hi there, I am taking the pictures at a Venue In October, where I will need Flash I was looking at the SB800, the building Is very dark indoors, a wedding is the venue, and I dont know anything to do with Flash units My camera Body Is a D50, I would like to use it for fill flash aswell outdoors, never used flash apart from the built in flash on the camera, I have done about six Weddings so far, and everyone as been Happy, using another camera, I now want to use my digital body, would this be a good unit to buy, or is it to technical for someone who as never used flash in a pro manner? How creative can one be with this unit, and I will use the unit before the event, and boggle my mind with everything i can read up, but I have only used studio set-ups at collage and light meters, someone is willing to buy the unit for me,

so price is not a problem, and I shall be increasing my Wedding venues, is this the kit for me?

**Dabhand16** · 19-02-2007, 22:59

I'm no expert in this field, but I would have thought if you were going to get a flash, get one that is powerful enough for outdoor wedding groups use too. I suspect the SB 800 is better than nothing, but whether it is a good buy for general wedding shots I'm afraid I don't know.

Someone with more know-how will be along soon.

VinnyP · 20-02-2007, 00:15

Well to say it is better than nothing is selling it a bit short, it's pretty much better than anything you can stick on any camera. The SB 800 is an amazing gun, flashguns are one area where Nikon is well ahead of any competitor. Whilst you can just about get more powerful guns you are unlikely to need them and they just don't have the integration and control of the SB800.

It's as creative and complicated as you want it to be. Yes the instruction book is a novel and the ITTL system means you can use numerous guns all at once wirelessly, but on teh other hand just stick it on the camera and it will turn out perfectly exposed pictures as the main or a fill light direct, bounced or using the diffuser.

The only thing I can't say for sure is how many of the features you can use with your camera. It has definitely got bags of output for anything you are likely to be doing. You say you use the built in gun, well with a GN in meters of 38 it's over 3 times as powerful as the built in flash, it has an auto zoom head so at 70mm it's 6 times as powerful etc. It also has a bounce and swivel head, built in bounce card, diffuser and other goodies. For fill flash if your camera is compatible then it has a balanced fill mode which works very well. With the 5th battery the recycle times will more than keep up with a wedding shoot.

There was a time when pros used a third party hammerhead like the old Metz (for focal lengths over 50mm the SB800 outpunches the HUGE metz 45). Now pretty much all the press and wedding snappers who have Nikon use the SB800.

VikingPhotography · 20-02-2007, 00:37

I use SB-800's all the time - mounted directly on bodies, in master / slave CLS modes, firing them into brollies, through diffusers, bouncing the output of walls, ceilings, reflectors... there's nothing that they can't handle in terms of getting the right light onto your subject.

Paired with your D50 you'll get full iTTL control but, for a little extra creativity, you can use your D50's built-in flash as a remote trigger for an SB-800 in wireless mode.

I'll look out some examples of indoor SB-800 work under poor lighting conditions and post them when I find them.

**Dabhand16** · 20-02-2007, 00:43

Thanks for the input, Guys, I did say that someone who knows better will enlighten us.

The pros that I work with all use two Metz hammerheads (probably the 45's) pretty much all of the time. I had no idea that the SB 800 could hold it's own agianst them

We live and learn.... Shuffles away to put SB800 on wish list........

silver · 20-02-2007, 01:23

if price is no object then it has to be sb800,. metz has got some interesting flashes with full CLS and wireless but personally I'd say stick to the nikon ones unless you know you want a metz

the only issue with the d50 + sb800 is the d50 won't do commander mode (unlike the d70/s + d80 + d200) you can use slave flash trigger which fires whenever another flash goes off but you can't control the remote flash output wirelessly

if you are doing weddings then perhaps 2xsb800s and d80/d200 - but for sure an sb800 to start is good

Sil

fujitsu1522 · 20-02-2007, 02:13

Thanks for such speedy replys on this, look forward to more input, I,m starting with a D50
and will advance my kit when i get a profit coming in, cheers, will keep watching for more,

fujitsu1522 · 20-02-2007, 02:30

Thanks to Viking for input, Love your photography, reminds me of the night I went to shoot Iggy Pop, invited in a rush, got some excellent shots, he was singing to me. got home to find no film in camera,

My next shoot was Ian Hunter & Band. Was more prepared that time.

nyogtha · 23-02-2007, 09:37

Hehe. I'm new here, and maybe my first post should have been some sort of introduction, but I just have to say I love that Iggy Pop story. You must have been totally gutted when you found out mate.

Oh, and looking forward to getting to know you all

fujitsu1522 · 28-02-2007, 03:25

I shall be buying the SB 800 as I now think it will become an essential part of my kit, only this week I have been asked to photograph a dance troup, some publicity posters, but also the work of photographing the dancers for there parents, recieving awards etc, could be a little earner, about once a month, class of thirty students, some shots requested are mid Air shots, because of the dance movements.

It would be interesting for an Input on how to best utilise the flash, should I think of using some kind of softbox set-up for the portraits, because the direct flash could be to harsh, the venue is the same every month, and the set-up will be the same conditions for room area and light, and not having used a flash on the D50 yet, external that is,
I wonder what settings to use within the camera, should It be Matrix-spot etc?
thanks for help on this, basically I would have permission to use any equipment I need for the shoot, the parents are crying out for regular photographs, awards etc, or even just dance shots...

JMitchell · 28-02-2007, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by fujitsu1522

I shall be buying the SB 800 as I now think it will become an essential part of my kit, only this week I have been asked to photograph a dance troup, some publicity posters, but also the work of photographing the dancers for there parents, recieving awards etc, could be a little earner, about once a month, class of thirty students, some shots requested are mid Air shots, because of the dance movements.

It would be interesting for an Input on how to best utilise the flash, should I think of using some kind of softbox set-up for the portraits, because the direct flash could be to harsh, the venue is the same every month, and the set-up will be the same conditions for room area and light, and not having used a flash on the D50 yet, external that is,
I wonder what settings to use within the camera, should It be Matrix-spot etc?
thanks for help on this, basically I would have permission to use any equipment I need for the shoot, the parents are crying out for regular photographs, awards etc, or even just dance shots...

I'd use the bounce card on the flash, and maybe the diffuser as well, for a less harsh light (although I'm sure you are fully aware of that)

fujitsu1522 · 12-03-2007, 00:08

Cheers guys, recieved my SB800 this morning, did a few quick test shots, seams ok, now I need to get some pratice In before the shoot, 20+ kids group, and single shots, anyone who uses the SB 800 alongside a Nikon D50, I would love some help on setings for the above shots, I was thinking of (A ) control, TTL , any advice on this would be greatfully taken...cheers guys for your Input..
Pete.