New flash Nikon D90

[iijm]

Appreciate bit of advice for this site newcomer. D90 purchase and like to photograph dances indoor/at night (am amateur/social ballroom dancer as well as amateur photographer). Up till now have used high iso/no flash and want advice to justify new flash purchase. Have looked at Nissin Di866 ($499) and 2nd hand SB800 at $400 plus on ebay.
Comments appreciated. Ian

[I @ M]

S/H SB 800s should be w-a-y under $400.00 by now unless they are mint condition.

If that is the price you are looking around then an SB 600 should do the job for less dollars again brand new.

What sort of distances are you typically shooting at?

Combined with the good high ISO abilities ( 800 with a flash) of the D90 and a well matched speed light your problems should be solvered. :)

[iijm]

Thanks Andrew,
The 2nd hand Sb 800s are expensive then on ebay...one sold $400 few wks back and "new one" now listed start price $495.
Most of these indoors shots within 3-8m range with low to moderate artificial light.
I suppose I am looking at the better units to "grow my skill level into"

[I @ M]

Ian, I don't think that there would be any "new" SB 800s left, they sold very quickly when the 900 was released.
The SB 600 only misses out on a few features compared to the 800, a little less power and it won't work as a commander ( still works as a slave with full TTL metering ) with Nikon's CLS and realistically should be able to be bought at around the $300.00 mark just about anywhere.
As for growing your skill level into a flash, the 600 is a very good place to start and certainly is not any lesser of a well made flash than the others.

In fact, I reckon the 600 is easier to navigate around the menus than the 800 :D

Can't help you with an opinion on the Nissin though.

[iijm]

Thanks for your help Andrew

[Bill44]

Go for the SB600, I have. Your D90 will work as a commander so you don't need that feature, and the Sb600 is only about 3/4 of a stop less powerful than the bigger Nikon units.

[maccaroneski]

And if you are going to grow out of an SB-600 - and I haven't yet - you will probably grow out of a one flash setup too, then you can get an 800 or 900 to use as a commander with the 600 as a slave. That was my theory anyway.

[rogklee]

yah get the sb 600 or 800
you'll end up wanting another one later down the track anywas
Then you can buy the other. Keeping the nikon will allow you to use CLS where yes, might not be as good as manual, but still is a pretty good start. If you want proof about how good CLS is, just check out joe mcnally's blog, he uses it and he is an absolute star

[campo]

I started with a sb600 and find it great. I did however purchase a sb900, but not because the sb600 was bad! Here were my reasons:

a) I shoot weddings/events and the recycle time is better. I can also use an external power supply (not that i have needed this yet)
b) I can have a flash mounted on both of my 'wedding/event' cameras at all times
c) I can now use 2 remote flashes (my d80 or d300s can act as commander)
d) The sb900 has a bigger 'zoom' range and can modify the shape of the light - i'm yet to play with this.

I used to think the sb600 was big, but it looks tiny next to the 800 and even tinier next to the 900!!

I'd go the 600 and then upgrade in the future if you require.

[random]

I recently picked up an import SB600 for $275 plus delivery fees (split with a mate who got the same flash). There are a few Aussie price comparison sites that will let you look around for bargains - search through a couple of those & you'll find some good pricing.

Very happy with it, and had considered the Nissin as well, but at $275 I thought it was better to stick with the Nikon brand.

[tanalasta]

Just out of curiosity, where did you get the SB600 from?

Let us know how you go with the flash, I'm considering the SB600 as my next purchase as well.

[The Stig]

Hi Ian

I have found this place very reasonable in price, cant comment on stats as I'm a newbie at this myself, however I do know the places to get good gear at a cheap price.

http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/browse.asp?idCategory=10&brand=4

Chris ;p

[pollen]

I do some Dance Sports, it really depends on the situation, sometimes available light is better because at most pro gigs they have good floodlights set up, but at crappier venues and events sometimes you have no choice but to use flash because it's awful fluorescent lighting or something

In the times when you absolutely need flash, you need power, so imo the SB-900 X 2 are the ones to go with

[maccaroneski]

I got mine here: http://www.citiwideonline.com/au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=274&category_id=118&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1.

Currently $260 and postage for me was $30.

[zollo]

i use and find very good the sb600. the sb900 is b-loody huge in comparison and a pita on a d90. only downfall to an sb600 is that its not quite powerful enough to cope with full daylight sun situations like the sb900, and some quite advanced modes like aperture manual settings etc

[tanalasta]

Thanks. I'll look into the SB600 and Citiwide.

[iijm]

Thanks for the info. Purchased a SB600 from citiwide. Paid for it Sun nite arrived at work Friday lunchtime. Getting to know it now. Cheers