Flash for Nikon D5000

[DaveLissa]

I'm a poor photographer ("poor" whether you look at my bank balance or my photographs), but a friend of mine has recently asked me to photograph her wedding for her - probably only because my camera is larger than hers!

I have D5000 and a free flash that came with it from Adorama. I can use other flash in slave mode, but it fires whenever anybody in the room takes a photo with flash - I guess it feels left out :-) I've found out that the D5000 doesn't have a wireless transmitter for iTTL so I can set up another flash if needed. So I believe my best best is a SB-800 or SB-900 and put it on the shoe, so that it will set off other flashes wirelessly, and other "flashers" will not drain the battery.

However, being the afore-mentioned poor photographer, I was thinking of instead getting the Dissin Di866 for Nikon, or something similar, and save about $150.

I wanted to find out whether this is correct, any other comments/recommendations (a Sigma flash?) would be highly welcome!

Thanks!

[OsmosisStudios]

You can try a wireless trigger and receiver set with some dirt-cheap flashes.

Even if you had the SB-800 or SB-900, you'd need another SB unit to fire remotely: it doesnt just work on anything.

[DaveLissa]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You can try a wireless trigger and receiver set with some dirt-cheap flashes.

Even if you had the SB-800 or SB-900, you'd need another SB unit to fire remotely: it doesnt just work on anything.

Thanks, OsmosisStudio; just to be sure I understand, the SB-900 can't be used as "transmitters" on the D5000 to trigger other flashes? I thought when specifications say "master" and "slave" flash, it meant it can be used to trigger other flashes.

"Use on-camera, as a wireless Master Commander or as a wireless remote light source." - SB-900 AF Speedlight from Nikon

Similar for Di866: "Wireless TTL Master / Remote, 4 Channels, 3 Groups (A, B, C), Modes: Off/ TTL/ Manual, TTL Flash Ratio Adjustable" - Nissin Digital Flash: Di866 NOMENCLATURE SPECIFICATION

Thanks for your help!

[OsmosisStudios]

The SB-800 and SB-900 when used on-camera CAN be used as transmitters, but they require other SB units (such as the SB-600, the new SB-700 or other SB-800 and SB-900 units) to be used as slaves. An SB-900 wont trigger an off-brand flash the same way it does a Nikon flash: You end up having the same issue as you currently have.