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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
SU-800 or another SB-800/900
Michael Price, Photographer
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Pickerington | OH | USA | Posted: 9:59 PM on 08.09.09 |
->> Could use a bit of insight/experience here. Have been using the Nikon CLS for the last few weeks pretty heavily. Currently have two SB-800's and an SB-900. Well and good.
I want to expand a bit more, but can't decide whether to get an SU-800 commander or another SB-800/900, which can be used in commander mode. The price difference isn't *that* big a thing, so I am wondering why I would get a uni-tasker like an SU-800 and not another Speedlight that can serve either as a commander or a flash or both if needed.
Is there some feature in the SU-800 that I am missing that would compel me to get that instead of another Speedlight?
Thanks!
-Mike |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 10:19 PM on 08.09.09 |
->> SU-800 is a good deal cheaper, has an easier to use interface and is certainly less bulky on the hotshoe. Its also an IR pulse so you don't have issues with subjects blinking. For me its mainly about it being lightweight as the SB900, D3 and 70-200 gets pretty heavy during a portrait session. Call me a wimp if you want but the SU800 is just more pleasant to use when the SB900 is just for triggering lol.
On the downside, its not directional without the off camera cord which then becomes a bit of of pain if you want a slave to your right/left or behind you and need line of sight.
SU-800 might not be perfect for every situation but its still a pretty darn useful accessory to have and not pricey too high.
I've been reading Joe McNally's latest book (Hotshoe Diaries, excellent btw) and he seems to always prefer the SU-800 to trigger even though he's got more than a dozen SB's he could certainly use if he wanted to.
Its just one man of course, but I'd tend to belive if using a SB-900 for example was in any way "better" than the SU-800, you'd see him suggesting to use that instead. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 10:34 PM on 08.09.09 |
->> To use indoors or outdoors?
Outdoors especially in bright sunlight, a speedlight in "Commander Mode" will be a bit more reliable than an SU800.
But it seems to me, that spending $450+ for an SB-900 just to use in "Commander Mode" is a bit much...an SU800 is about $250.
I have 4 SB-800 speedlights and use both the SU800 and a speedlight in "Commander Mode". I like both, but unless you need another speedlight, I wouldn't speed the extra $$$.
That's just me. |
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Michael Fischer, Photographer
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Spencer | Ia | USA | Posted: 10:34 PM on 08.09.09 |
->> IIRC correctly, and I'm just getting use to the SU800, it's effective distance is double that of the SB900.
Both of Joe's books are recommended. I've got the Visa bills to prove it... |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 10:45 PM on 08.09.09 |
->> I've never tested them personally, though Joe McNally claims that the SU800 has better range than the speedlights, even though the specs themselves dont really support that claim. He says its a gut call based upon his own experiences with them.
One thing to remember is that the speedlights when sending the pulse trigger aren't firing at full power, rather its a much weaker pulse. So while you'd think a SB900 zoomed to 200mm sending the trigger signal would reach out 100yards easily at 1/1 power, its really just working at 1/128th for the purpose of communication and as such, its roughly the same as the SU-800, or even less, depending on who you ask |
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Michael Price, Photographer
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Pickerington | OH | USA | Posted: 7:58 AM on 08.10.09 |
->> great insight. The distance thing isn't something I had heard about.
Yes, I have both of McNally's books. Picked up a few very useful ideas that I use now.
I can get a used SB-800 for about $300 so was waffling back and forth between a flash and the remote commander. I think I will try the SU-800, if nothing else, to get around the blinking issue. That cropped up a lot on a shoot last week in an indoor shoot.
Thanks
-Mike |
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