SB800 vs SB900 vs SB400

[SwissJon]

I was recently given an SB800 as payment for a photo session. I'm really bleased with it, but I find that I need more than one light in a lot of situations.. The second speedlight I have is a Yonugiriuijns...... (Or something.. It's an unknown brand any how) and works ok as a slave, so long as you get the set up right, it needs to be set manually.

I was recently looking at getting a second SB800, because I like the control you have over exposure settings, and the feedback it gives you.

But then I looked at the rice of SB400's and realised they were about half the cost, and SB900's were only slightly more than SB800's on the second hand market.

So the question I have is this.. What are the advantages of the 800 over the 400 and the 900 over the 800? (and vice vesa.) and do I really need another big flash, or will the 400 suit my needs (by allowing me to set the exposure via the camera etc)?

Thanks in advance.

[sk66]

Forget the 400. It's not CLS compatible.
I'd buy used SB600's for remote flashes on a budget if you want to us CLS.
As you go up each model has a little more power and a little more functionality. If *I* were buying only one or buying one to use on camera and as master, I'd probably buy the 900....No I wouldn't; I'm too cheap. I'd buy a used 800 and you have that.

Supposedly the Metz 58 af-1n is Nikon CLS compatible...no experience with it though.

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by sk66

.No I wouldn't; I'm too cheap. I'd buy a used 800 and you have that.

Me too.... It is more powerful and is less prone to overheating. Except for the 200mm coverage on the SB900, the SB800 is a winner

[ccting]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Me too.... It is more powerful and is less prone to overheating. Except for the 200mm coverage on the SB900, the SB800 is a winner

I just bought YN465 but i think it does not worth it. Nissin Di622 mark 2 has 1 GN greater than SB900. It comes together with Off-camera TTL code. You can have 4 continuous shoots (vs 5 for SB900). You can buy 4 nissin di622 for 1 SB900..I should have bought di622 and not yn465 for better value/performance . Forget about sb speedlight, they are just too expensive for me to play with.

[SwissJon]

Thanks guys.. I'm looking at getting a slave so the SB 600 is on the radar.. I've had a poor history of getting 3rd party products and then regretting it, so I'm going to stick with Nikon However I've just checked.. The SB 800, new, is about $200 more than the 900, and the second hand 800 is going to end up at ALMOST the same price (about $40 less) than the NEW SB 900. Given that, which of the two would you pick?

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Thanks guys.. I'm looking at getting a slave so the SB 600 is on the radar.. I've had a poor history of getting 3rd party products and then regretting it, so I'm going to stick with Nikon However I've just checked.. The SB 800, new, is about $200 more than the 900, and the second hand 800 is going to end up at ALMOST the same price (about $40 less) than the NEW SB 900. Given that, which of the two would you pick?

Pretty easy for me $200 MORE???? SB900 does have the 200mm reach and unless you are continuously firing it (like at a wedding reception) the over heating shut down is not a huge issue. By the way, did I say $200 MORE????

[Matthias099]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

Thanks guys.. I'm looking at getting a slave so the SB 600 is on the radar.. I've had a poor history of getting 3rd party products and then regretting it, so I'm going to stick with Nikon However I've just checked.. The SB 800, new, is about $200 more than the 900, and the second hand 800 is going to end up at ALMOST the same price (about $40 less) than the NEW SB 900. Given that, which of the two would you pick?

The SB800 is $200 more than the SB900? How can that be? I think it's the opposite. I have a SB900 and love it. Overheating? Not a problem, unless you fire continuously at 100%. Who would do that?

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by ccting

It comes together with Off-camera TTL code.

I thought they were only on camera TTL & off camera optical slave.... do they support Nikon CLS????

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by Matthias099

Overheating? Not a problem, unless you fire continuously at 100%. Who would do that?

Me . Mine konks out twice every wedding & needs a cool down period. I have to switch up speedlights regularly to prevent this.

Every wedding photographer I talk to complains about the over heating on these units.

[SwissJon]

Well I'm not thinking about shooting weddings..

Yeah.. the SB-800 is $620 new, the SB-900 is $400 new, the SB-800 is about $360 second hand, I've not seen an SB-900 s/hand, the SB-600 is about $280..

I'll check out how that compares to ebay, these are local prices, but with ebay I have to pay import duties.