Nikon SB-910 Professional Flash. Nikon SB-910 is suitable for all modern Nikon digital SLR cameras. If you find your camera in genealogy plate of Nikon cameras, then your camera can work perfectly together with the Nikon SB-910.
Nikon SB-910 Flash Review
In order to fully understand all the features and subtleties of the Nikon SB-910 flash, you need to read the instructions, or remove it for several days. It so happened that I did not have instructions in the kit, which is a definite minus of the configuration. But since I shot for a long time on SB-900, then sorting out the SB-910 settings was easier than ever since the SB-910 was almost a complete copy of the older flagship (in the past) professional flash SB-900. My comparisons of SB-910 and SB-900 You will find a little lower, but for now the main points when using the SB-910 flash.
1. The flash can automatically recognize DX and FX format cameras, but if it was not recognized, then in the camera menu, you can set the type of camera on which the flash is used - DX or FX. Depending on this setting, a minimum focal length will be available when using the built-in diffuser card. For DX it will be 10mm, for FX it will be 14mm. Considering that 10mm for DX and 14mm for FX is a kind of wide-angle chapel for Nikon lenses, you shouldn't want more. The flash will be able to provide scene lighting for both the DX wide-angle Nikon 10-24mm f / 3.5-4.5G ED AF-S DX Nikkor and the FX full-frame Nikon 14-24mm f / 2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor.
2. The flash is very large 17-200mm zoom... In fact, when used on DX cameras, the zoom is available from 10 to 200mm, which is 20X. Considering that the most common focal length range for ordinary photographers working at full frame is 14-200mm (14-24, 24-70, 70-200), the flash can work with the most common optics.
3. The Nikon SB-910 has a very large guide number 34. The guide number, roughly speaking, is responsible for the flash output. This means that the flash is powerful enough, more powerful SB-700, SB-600 and as powerful as Nikon SB-900.
4. Good delivery: comes with a square case, two color filter, dispersion dome and foot stand.
5. Nikon SB-910 has all the little thingsthat are so indispensable when shooting: card diffuser, button illumination, quick reload, auto focus infrared light, color filter support, smart overheating program, quick latch on the shoe (there are other types, for example in Metz-48 instead of a latch - a nut).
6. The SB-910 flash is heavy - 410 grams, such a flash will be rather inconvenient to use on a younger line of cameras, such as Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D50, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100 etc., since the flash introduces serious weight imbalance in the camera-flash kit.
7. Angle of rotation of the head - full 360 degrees. The swivel head is fixed with a button. You have to press the button quite hard to unlock the current position of the head.
8. One of the most important features in the SB-910 is possibility of command mode for controlling other flashes (Master), as well as operation in slave mode (Slave). Slave mode supports 3 groups and 4 channels. IN command mode SB-910 can control two groups of flashes via protocol Nikon CLS. This is a very important function for me, as the creative lighting system Nikon CLS will allow you to take interesting pictures with light sources located in different directions from the camera itself. Well and SB-910 has SU-4 mode, which allows you to control the flash on cameras without the flash command mode.
9.SB-910 supports fast FP synchronization with exposures up to 1/8000, this is an indispensable thing, when shooting in the afternoon with flash... The flash has special connectors for external power supply and control via a cable - for studio and serious professional photography - these are very important details. The connectors are covered with rubber bands, an ordinary user is unaware of their existence.
10. Nikon SB-910 has three different light fill modes - standard, flat, center-weighted. The type of illumination of the front and back objects, as well as their intensity, depends on the choice of the template. All other characteristics and features of the flash can be easily found on the manufacturer's official website, for example here.
Nikon Sb-910 illuminated with an umbrella on the clearance from the top left
Disadvantages of Nikon SB-910:
1. The kit does not include instructions. The case that comes with the kit is not designed to carry the flash on your belt or photo bag. For example, in Nikon SB-900 In the kit came a cover that is comfortable to wear on the belt, and when the flash is not used on the camera, quickly put the flash in the holster case. For me personally, it’s important to have such a cowboy flash holster.
2 IN Nikon SB-910 no battery indicator.
3. The overheating indicator turns on after 20 shots of the Nikon SB-910 at full power 1/1 - not enough for a professional flash. Also, the overheating indicator cannot be turned off.
Personal impressions:
The flash is very similar to Nikon SB-900... Perfectly assembled, you really feel professionalism. The Made in Japan lettering is pleasing to the eye. The menu is really, very convenient, button illumination is not particularly needed. As always, recharge rates are highly dependent on batteries - don't believe in all these races of recharge rates of 2.3 seconds, better stock up on a good set of rechargeable batteries. The Nikon SB-910 is a photographer's tool that you want to use all the time.
Nikon SB-910 and Nikon SB-900 Flash Comparison
Comparison of SB-910 and SB-900
The most important difference in the SB-910 and Nikon SB-900 is the implementation of thermal protection control. When working with Nikon SB-900 with the overheating mode on, the flash after a series of firing simply goes into cooling mode, the overheating image appears on the display. At the same time, neither switching on, nor off, or any other dances with a tambourine will bring the SB-900 to life. It's a disaster for dynamic shooting. Try to explain to the young at the weddingthat you need to wait a couple of minutes for the flash to cool down ... It's even worse that the SB-900 starts beeping terribly when it overheats, this is also not acceptable, especially when shooting in the temple, weddings etc. When using the SB-910, the flash overheats at the same rate as the SB-900, but does not turn off, but simply blocks the flash. This is also very bad, especially when shooting important - imagine - the flash works, but does not give a light pulse. Overheating greatly affects the nerves of the photographer and the subjects - in my opinion, this the biggest flaw SB-910. Of course, the SB-910 seems to be better than the SB-900, but very serious advantage of the SB-900 above the SB-910 is the fact that the SB-900 can turn off thermal protection and sound. I have been shooting for two years on the SB-900 with the thermal protection turned off, sometimes I shoot very intensely, and there is nothing for the flash, it gives impulses even when the temperature goes off scale - after all, for a real professional, a successful shot is much more important than saving on equipment (I managed to melt to smithereens Metz-48) The thermal protection on SB-910, alas, cannot be disabled.
Also, in the SB-910, the sound control function in the slave mode is more conveniently implemented - you no longer need to go into the menu and turn the sound on or off (as is done in the SB-900), but just press one sound control button. An audible alert in slave mode tells you when the flash has recharged - an indispensable thing for creative lighting, strobe lovers will understand me.
Button changes - one button on the SB-910 was reprogrammed, and it now launches the flash menu, in the SB-900 it was necessary to press and hold the OK button for this. Also, the very control of the buttons has been slightly changed, but on the SB-900 and on the SB-910 the control is very, very intuitive. Everything incomprehensible must be looked for in the instructions.
The zoom (zoom) of the SB-910 is noticeably quieter than that of the SB-900. The 900-tka is generally very noisy when it is turned on and initialized.
Another positive aspect of the SB-910 is color plastic filterswhich are very easy to install on the SB-900 were gelatin filterswhich are rather inconvenient to install on a plastic diffuser. True, it’s easier to buy other filters for the SB-900 than for the SB-910.
Nikon Sb-910 illuminated with an umbrella to the clearance from the top right
Here are the prices for the Nikon SB-910:
All Nikon SB-910 Prices
Hack and predictor Aviator
The Nikon Speedlight SB-910 is an excellent professional flash, a slightly improved version of the SB-900. To all lovers, I highly recommend SB-700, and for professionals I do not particularly recommend getting an SB-910 if you have an SB-900.
Thank you for attention. Arkady Shapoval.
Good review
Thanks. I am trying.
thanks for the review! question - there are D70s, after a while there will be an upgrade to D300 or D7000 - which flash would you advise to stop on so that you don't upgrade again in the future (pretty near)? I understand that the top is the top (I'm talking about the SB-910, my friend has it), but I'm not a pro; thanks in advance for the advice :)
910 is more expensive for 900t, because I recommend taking the SB-900, I don’t even know where else I can improve the flash.
I bought Sb-910 last summer and here's what is interesting, it cost less than Sb-900 (for example, in Foto.ru Sb-900 cost 17000, and Sb-910 cost 15000). I somehow did not understand why the old one, even though the pro was more expensive than the last model. Now the situation has changed in the opposite direction, but it still remains unclear to me why it was so….
Yes, after buying the SB-2011 in 900, I also saw this price play. By the way, with the Nikon cameras themselves, sometimes weird fluctuations (“+ -” $ 500 on one specific model) in prices also occur.
Thank you :) Another question has appeared - which SB series flash units support 1/8000 shutter sync?
SB-600, SB-700, SB-800, SB-900, SB-910, virtually everything except SB-400
I have a SB-910 flash, I don’t understand one thing why increasing (the level of flash output power from + 0.3EV to + 3.0EV) on the scale (effective flash range), the meters decrease, and when the power decreases, the meters increase on the contrary. ?
So it should be, with an increase in power, for example by + 2e.v., The flash informs that it will be able to illuminate with high power only objects that are closer to the camera. And when reduced, the flash reports that with a small power it can highlight objects that are far away from the camera.
thank you very much, although it would be more logical on the contrary, more light, more distance to the object, then it makes no sense to look at this scale, what will be more convenient to navigate ?, to the histogram of the image? to optimally select the flash output.
There is a sense in this, you just need to understand it and be able to use it. The histogram, and indeed, by eye, is a more reliable method. Power without TTL or without test shots is very difficult to choose the first time.
Hello Arkady. Could you tell me how to set up a wireless remote control between the D5300 and the SB-910 flash? I tried to set it up myself, but I didn’t find the settings necessary for this in the settings on the display. I will be very grateful if you tell me how to set it up !Thanks.
Arkady, please don't pay attention to the photo of the eagle, I uploaded it by mistake….
5xxx series does not know how to control flashes remotely.
Michael, thank you for your answer. It's a pity ... And through the connection of the speedlight wireless remote control unit, it will be possible to use it at a distance.?
If we mean a radio synchronizer, then yes, it will - it has nowhere to go.
Understood thanks.
you won't be able to control it, but you can set it on fire remotely with the built-in flash. Read Arkady's article https://radojuva.com/2011/11/photo-idea-set-1/
Thank you ...
But if I need to reflect the light from the ceiling and it’s 7m, I don’t want to direct the light into the forehead or is it scary with the diffuser? and lastly, on the street in bright sunlight to illuminate the face, where to direct the flash in the forehead with the diffuser or a little to the side? or in the forehead without a diffuser but to reduce power?
The diffuser will not have the same effect as reflections from the ceiling. Where to direct the light - you need to look from the composition, I cannot predict it.
Arkady, thank you very much for the answers.
Arkady, good time of the day. I plan to buy puff, but I can't stop choosing, I want to buy once and for a long time (fotik d5100, sometimes I regret not listening to you bought it together d90 ((() I don't want a similar story to come out with puff))) ... but and you don't really want to overpay the "extra" money. plans to buy 50mm 1,4g
sb-900 is enough for a long time
700 is much inferior?
The flashes have different levels - professional and advanced amateur.
I cannot understand the fundamental differences ... because I did not use an external flash ((couldn’t, in a nutshell
1. Different zoom
2. Different power
3. Different weight
4. Different reload speed
5. slightly different management
if you don’t earn a photo, 700 is enough or is it better to pay extra just in case?
Yes, that's enough. It was necessary to immediately ask me for what purpose a flash is needed.
I was going to buy a 910 flash, but after this article doubts began to torment. Now I have 900. Everything suits her except overheating. I saw a video where these flashes were compared: they put them side by side and “fired” simultaneously at the same power. So when the 900 bent over from overheating, the 910 continued to work and gave out pulses. There were no impulses only a few times during the entire test, and you say there is no difference ... At 900, of course, I turned off the sensor, but one photographer told me that in this mode the lamp exploded in a puff from overheating, that's somehow scary :)
1) there are many videos in the network, and judging by them, the SB-700 outperforms the 900t and 910, therefore, I consider this to be amateur tests.
2) I have both of these flashes, and they behave identically until overheating, with 20 pulses at full power.
3) each flash has a number of operations, after which the lamp fails. A lamp also exploded on my 900t, which is exactly what I described in the SB-900 review, the replacement cost only 60 cu
First I wanted to take a second flash from a third-party manufacturer of high power (although I still need to look for one) to use it remotely with a softbox in the bright sun (900 power is not enough for this). But due to overheating, I decided to take 910 as an on-camera one, and 900 for a synchronizer - overheating is not critical there. And even if the 910 overheats at the wrong moment, you can always very quickly re-hook it to 900 with the same settings without bothering.
All the same, I'll take 910 for the assortment, since there is no difference in essence :) Yes, and I prefer plastic color filters - all 900 films are worn out.
You spoke in an article about an external power connector. What is that? Is it possible to use flash from the outlet? I’m just using it in the studio.
Not from the outlet, this is stupid. And from a special external power source. If there is a 900t, in front, there is an elastic band with the inscription Nikon, open it, you will see everything for yourself. It is strange that they did not notice this before.
Arkady, noticed. But they did not know what kind of source they were talking about.
Hello.
The SB-910 seems to have a regular LED backlight (illuminated in red), rather than infrared.
Or is it infrared?
Hello, Arkady!
I am a lover. I have a d90. I want to buy a flash. I thought about the SB-910. I went shopping, talked with sellers. In two places, Metz SB2 was very advised. Like, I, as an amateur, have enough of it, overheating, compared to the SB-910, etc. I have not found a detailed review of this flash. Maybe you can advise to go all the same on the SB-910 or can you try Metz? Thank you in advance!
Actually enough Metz 58, but I would recommend a little easier SB-700
Hello Arkady!
I am a lover! There is a D90 / I want to buy a flash. I thought about 910, they recently advised Metz SF2, like it is enough for an amateur, and it overheats less than 910. Maybe you can advise whether to choose Metz or still go to 910 ??
meant Metz 58 af2
For amateur photographers, I always recommend the SB-700
Hello! Please tell me which of the 900 or 910 flashes is suitable for prof. shooting? -, + available in two models. Sunpak flash handling
They are both professional. Just read this review from start to finish.
Arkady, please tell me which umbrella to buy to improve the lighting in photos taken on the street (camera d80 + 50 1,8 and sb-700.)
60-80cm will be enough.
Good night =) please tell me there is a battery on the flash nikon sb910 (not rechargeable batteries) if not, then give advice on which is better to buy rechargeable batteries and a charger !!)))
bought ufo "native" batteries are the same (power 2500) in ttl mode, about 150 photos are enough and it takes 25 hours to charge = (((
I took it here and I'm very pleased - la cross is the best charger! and although the batteries are Chinese - but really 2 sets are enough for the whole wedding - without recharging! I have 910th
rechargeable batteries flash
4 x AA HR6 3200mAh Ni-MH 1.2V 29.5g Rechargeable Battery AM3 LR06 UltraCell RED
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270974174864 -11 bucks
Charger La Cross 700
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crosse-Alpha-Power-AA-AAA-NiCad-NiMH-Rechargeable-Battery-Charger-BC-700-/390371085554 - 37 bucks
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crosse-Technology-BC-700-Battery-Charger-Tester-AA-/320696442526 - 37 bucks
Arkady faces a dilemma what to get for weddings 700 ku or 910 by 910 as if there is not enough money and I need to work already, after reading articles I understood that there are 2 flashes for normal shots even at weddings, one on a tripod and the other on a camera I can take 700 and then buy 910 what say
and what does not suit 900tka?
not enough money))))))
hello everyone! gave a flash 910 - and before that they gave a Nikon 7000 - I myself do not understand much in the photo - but after all, it was not the gods who made the pots - I'm learning ... a question for connoisseurs and personally for you, much respect Arkady - is it possible to achieve excellent pictures by stupidly putting the flash on TTL or one more ttl setting? and tell me how to do it on the d7000 camera so that the green square is always in the center and does not stray to the side and what does it mean?
The green square is the focus point. More details in the section - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/05/nikon-autofocus/
Yes, you can get good shots only in TTL, With the d7000 you can still use the Nikon CLS creative lighting system.
And on the D5100 in conjunction with sb 910 what are the minimum shutter speeds?
Like fp carcass mode D 5100 does not support!
Thanks in advance Arkady!
d5100 does not exactly support, at least 1 \ 200
Hello, Arkady. Help please determine the flash. Tossing between sb700 sb900 and sb910. I'm still an amateur, but progressive) That is, I do not plan to change flashes every year, I look to the future. Which flash should I take? I heard that the sb900 was discontinued, should this be taken into account?
Purpose - shooting weddings, photo shoots, etc.
Take 910, you will not be mistaken. The differences are described in the reviews.