Nikon Speedlight SB-900 Review

Well, let's begin Nikon SB-900 A very interesting tool in recruiting a photographer. As one friend of mine says, “this is a work of art, not a flash,” well, everyone has their own tastes. The flash is the flagship in the Nikon flash series. And this means that it is intended for professional use under heavy loads in long shooting series, etc. The flash is just great comfortable ergonomics.

Two-sided view of the SB-900

Two-sided view of the SB-900

I found in her the following advantagesto pay attention to:

1. Supplied with a very secure bag - black, robust bag, 3 compartments for the diffuser, color filterslegs flash.
2. Made in Japan! Qualitatively excellent. Once I worked with SB-900, which fell from 1.5 meters. The flash played a little bit of play, something in it in the middle rustled, but the performance did not suffer at all.
3. Powerful
4. Quick reload. I shoot with Varta 2700mAh batteries, the recharge is just excellent, can withstand up to 4-5 recharges per second (faster, my camera does not take off)
5. Large head zoom range (from 17 to 200 mm), which is very convenient. Moreover, in the mode of filling the light with a card or specially nozzle, the flash makes it possible to use at 10mm.
6. Card for dispersion - forget about the erasers and business cards that needed to be attached earlier (for example, SB-600), just pull out the scattering card and get a reflection card as a gift.
7. Filters in the set. I’ll write separately about this matter - the kit includes a nozzle for attaching color filters. Set of 3 color filters. When attaching them to the flash, she herself determines their type and accordingly changes her settings (there are filter identifier) The diffuser is very convenient, really much better than a card. The flash foot (shoe), as usual, helps position the flash on any surface
8. Automatic recognition of FX or DX - in fact, manually setting this parameter is very easy, but a nice plus. This is important due to the different viewing angles of the lens on the FX or DX.
9. Very comfortable. Access to all functions can be done very quickly and without reading the manual.
10. Of course - command and slave operation with Nikon Creative Lighting System - this means that if your camera has this flash, then you can automatically control other flashes with the SB-900 without additional technical means. An indispensable thing if your camera does not support your command mode outbreaks.
11. SU-4 mode - few people know about it, but this mode will allow you to control the flash remotely using any camera (even a soap box), though the work is hard for real pros, since it is quite difficult to correctly correct the pulse power. The feature of the mode is that the flash is “ignited” by any other flash (by a light pulse) TTL mode is not available at the same time.
12. Auto-fit to ISO. Very comfortable and practical. You can set the ISO manually.
13. Excellent ergonomics - no need to study button combinations for a long and tedious time - everything is elementary.
14. AF illumination - it helps pretty much to focus at night, the “spotlights” are pretty strong
15. FP mode - High-speed sync that helps you shoot with shutter speeds up to 1/8000
16. BL mode - a very convenient thing - filling light, that’s why external flashes are good
17. A bunch of small pleasures for shooting and the ability to customize anything

SB-900 at work (slave mode, ignition from the built-in flash on the Nikon D90)

SB-900 in operation (slave mode, ignition from the built-in flash on Nikon D90)

Disadvantagesthat I would like to fix and which are a little interfere with life.

1. On my copy, the latch does not always hold the corner. When moving, the flash head can rotate even if it was at one of the fixed levels of rotation.
2. No battery indicator - just a catastrophic minus. Really really annoying when shooting, you have to determine the charge level by the speed of recharging the flash - the longer it takes to recharge, the smaller the charge.
3. Overheat indicator is buggy - I don’t argue, maybe it shows correctly, but in the cold of minus 5 degrees I take up to 10 frames and the flash says that it has overheated, and it cools down much longer than usual. Most likely, this is due to the ambient temperature. Also, a rather uncomfortable factor. This problem is treated by disabling the function of detecting overheating. According to third-party tests (I felt sorry for my flash), it withstands very long series of shooting.
4. Remote control of the CLS (Nikon Creative Lighting System) does not work well with a lot of light. If you shoot on a hot day by remote control using another flash, with a lot of light, the flash does not always understand the commands and brutally squeaks from this, you have to come closer, or twist the flash to attract the indicator as purposefully as possible. I would put 2 indicators on it.
5. Heavy - this is not convenient, for example, with good batteries, it weighs more than the camera itself Nikon D40 and it’s not very convenient to hold at the same time. But on cameras by type D90, D300, D700, D3 quite fine.

The SB-900 also has a serious competitor - SB-910, - updated version.

Nikon Speedlight Kit SB-900

Nikon Speedlight Kit SB-900

A couple of notes from personal experience: It is very convenient to carry the flash cover on the belt, passing the belt through a special loop. When you shoot a lot and there is no time to put a flash somewhere - a very convenient thing. For example, it allows you to very quickly remove the flash from the camera and put it in the case and vice versa. True, if a diffuser is dressed, then it must be removed before that. The swivel head is very convenient, it allows you to twist as you want and wherever you want, a couple of times they joked about me that I spin it like a rubik's cube. I strongly advise you to read the instructions for the flash, if you have one.


Conclusions:

The SB-900 is Nikon's flagship professional flash. I have never failed in my work. The flash has a very long zoom head travel as well as a long head rotation travel. The large number of settings makes the SB-900 flash in the professional hands an indispensable attribute of any shooting. The only serious drawback is that there is no battery indicator. On my flash, after two years of use, the lamp burned out, the replacement cost me $ 60. Without repair, the flash ran about 50-60 thousand frames.

If you liked the article, do not forget to press +1, tweet, like. Thanks for attention. Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 166, on the topic: Review of Nikon Speedlight SB-900

  • simply amazing flash! happy with her like an elephant :)

  • Elena

    Good day!
    At the moment I have a choice between SB-700 or SB-900. If you do not take into account the price, then what is still preferable? Now I'm shooting on the D40x, later I'm going to switch to something newer, still at the selection stage.
    Thank you in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I have the same choice right now. I will take the SB-700 and will review soon. For 40x 900 it will be incredibly inconvenient, although the flash is super class.

  • Elena

    Thanks for the recommendation, but what exactly is the inconvenience? Tell me more, please, how to check the flash when buying?
    Thank you)))

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It is very large, larger and with normal batteries heavier than D40 and D40x, therefore it will “nod off” and give a weight imbalance. This can be avoided if the camera has a heavy lens. It's easy to check - see what is written on the flash head Made in Japan and you can take it. But seriously - just insert the batteries, check the zooming of the head (it buzzes terribly - this is normal), make a test flash (it is possible without a camera).

  • Elena

    Now everything is clear))) thanks again)))

  • Elena

    Arkady, I still have a question ... but will the flash work normally with manual lenses of the Soviet period? There after all should be soobvetsvuyuschie regimes?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes, it will absolutely work. Look, in the review of Jupiter-11 photo on manual lens and SB-900. True, the flash power will have to be adjusted manually and used in manual mode. For this, mode M is selected. And if you have a professional camera like D200, D300, D700 and D2, D3, then everything will work automatically there.

  • Elena

    Well, then you can calm down :-)
    thanks again!

  • Andrei

    and I’ll take 900, because I’m convinced that saving 1000 UAH will pull frustration by 5000, take the best

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I have been very satisfied with the 2 for 900 years)))

  • I'm saving up for it now. I know she's great. Now I read the testimonial and salivating already flowed !!!!!!!!!!

  • PERETS

    But could you tell me ... on the d90, the SB-600 flash will work in automatic mode or only in manual mode ??
    Thank you….

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It will work fine in i-TTL mode (automatic), as well as in slave mode from D90 and D90. For those who don't care, the SB-600 is the most.

  • PERETS

    thank you very much for the answer ... so we will take)))

  • Alexey

    I have the same “headache” :-) (I'm talking about the SB-600 on the D90). Of course, I want the SB-900, but I strained it with the budget ... I read two opposing opinions on the Net: not all functions of the SB-1 will work due to the “old age” of the D90 .... 700nd, on the contrary, “it is better to buy SB-700 than SB-90, especially on D2. SB-700 with D600 you can use (some) “goodies” that SB-90 does not have. Whom to believe!? I thought to take the SB-700 .... now I'm lost :-( Help! ( PS thanks for the help with choosing a camera! 90 months, great flight! :-))

  • Alexey

    It would be nice if there was a review of the SB-600 !!!

  • PERETS

    Aleksey… I also faced a choice, I wanted to take the SB-600 because my budget is also not big, but I was ahead of me in the store, a couple of days before I matured .. bought… but I couldn’t find it anywhere else for a normal price (maybe it’s for the best), I counted all my savings, collected for a lens and a flash (600 UAH were missing), but still I decided to borrow and buy in one trip to KIEV, since I don’t have such equipment in Poltava ... not sorry not one bit..
    SB-700 flash is cool.. haven't fully figured it out yet, but all gadgets work.. 1) i-TTL works; 2) synchronization at a distance (this is very cool); 3) support for FP (with low shutter speeds it works with a bang);
    swivel head with built-in reflector provides a bunch of advantages
    comes with… the SB-700 itself with a diffuser, two colored attachments, a stand (which is convenient to place on any plane or screw on a tripod) and all this is in a soft case (which is very convenient for transportation)…
    I would advise you to raise money and buy just such a device ...
    PS I also have nikon d90 ..

  • Novel

    Alexey good afternoon! I wanted to consult with you. Please tell me, will the SB-5100 work well on the D900? Thank you!!!!

  • Vadim

    Hello Arkady, please tell me if the FP, BL modes of this flash will work on the Nikon D3100 camera, will it be possible to use it in daylight - with short shutter speeds up to 1/4000?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      BL will be, FP will not be, D3100 does not support this mode of operation.

  • Anatoly

    Arkady, tell me the best flash option for the D5100. Is there an offer for a used SB-800, or maybe look for something cheaper so as not to overpay for functions that will not work on the 5100?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      sB-600, sb-700 just right, 800, 900 and 910 are heavy professional flashes, a number of functions for which you “overpay” will not work on the D5100, these include fast sync, slave and master mode.

  • MELHAUZ

    why does my SB-700 make three weak flashes, and then the one set in the settings? what is it connected with? D3100

    • Arkady Shapoval

      See what mode is set on the camera, most likely SLOW, REAR, SLOW + RED EYE. Turning them off should help.

  • MELHAUZ

    Okay, I'll try now.

  • MELHAUZ

    Thank the eggs, it helped, the red eye stood :( Thanks Arkady.

  • Anatoly

    Thanks for the advice, but what is your opinion about the Sigma EF-530?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Not used. I can not say anything.

  • Igor

    I have been using this puff with the D90 for the second year. I chose the top one so as not to make compromises. The drawback indicated here (the battery charge is not visible) is also annoying. Unfortunately, I can’t even deal with all its charms on my own even after studying the manual. I would be grateful if you give a source for obtaining knowledge on shooting with a reportage. I googled, I didn’t see anything new

    • Arkady Shapoval

      And there is nothing new. The reportage is often filmed without a flash. The flash is mostly indoors only.

  • Jenny

    Good afternoon, Arkady.
    Please tell me I have such a problem ..
    D90 Camera, SB-900 Flash.
    About how many shots do you need one set of batteries?
    I have already bought three sets, the largest in terms of volume .. But the batteries last for a maximum of 60 frames .. :(
    If you photograph, say, a wedding, then while the bride is getting ready at home, before the registry office I can already be left “without a flash” .. :(

    • Arkady Shapoval

      One set is enough for me for 200-300 shots. I use 3 sets during filming, but I have a fairly gentle battery charger. Look at the charger.

    • anonym

      ...If “before the registry office” there is not enough battery charge (on SB-900) - turn off the THERMOMETER in the settings. I had it. Helps 100%.

  • Sergei

    Hello Arkady! Please tell me how this flash will work on the d7000, will it work in slave and master modes? And if you compare it with the sb-910, which one is better or is there not much difference?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Will work. Cameras that can control flashes of the SB-900, SB-910 class are described in the Nikon CLS section. The difference between the 900 and 910 is detailed in the SB-910 review.

  • anonym

    Hello… I’m sorry, not quite on the topic, but maybe you can help… my sb-700 has been giving out “zoom ERR” lately and doesn’t want to zoom… I really don’t want to carry it to the service…

  • PERETS

    Hello… I’m sorry, not quite on the topic, but maybe you can help… my sb-700 has been giving out “zoom ERR” lately and doesn’t want to zoom… I really don’t want to carry it to the service…

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Most likely the zoom lens was attached, I had a similar situation on other flashes. I don't recommend going there myself. The service will help.

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