Nikon sb 900 ( master and slave)

[shutterfire]

If what I am reading is correct, I will not need to use a pocket wizard with this flash because it has the ability to fire the strobes.

Just want to clarify before I spend $500 on a flash, if anyone has experience with this flash let me know what you think.

Does it function the way you want it to.

Any other alternative speed lites that are just as effective for less?

[billbunton]

Fire what strobes? The SB-900 can act as master for other Nikon flashes (SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, maybe 400?). For any kind of studio strobe you'll still need some kind of trigger.

[sparkyjr]

i believe some, if not most strobes can be triggered optically. mine can. so, in theory, it should work.

if you're referring to "speedlights" rather than strobes, the answer is yes.

[ggeen]

What Bill and Robert said.

The SB-800 and SB-900 may both be used as a speed light AND be used to control other speed lights. Just because one uses it as a master does not mean you are short one speed light. No, the SB-800/900 may fire other speed lights AND act as a flash itself.

If I remember correctly, the SB-800/900 may control up to three groups at the same time. One uses groups to adjust output on sets of speed lights. Thus, if you have five items in Group A and three in Group B, you may adjust all of Group A with a single setting.

[danchez]

it's a line of sight issue and there is a limited distance. You just have to make sure all your optics are lined up so they can see each other. Radio triggers typically give you a longer range and are more versatile.

[hhscr]

As others have posted, most studio strobes can be triggered optically. The problem you have with doing this using a camera mounted flash, is that the flash on the camera when set to manual mode will also add light to the image and change the exposure as well as the lighting results.

If you try to us a speedlight in the master mode, and with it set for no light added to the image, the preflashes that are sent out to determine the correct exposure will fire the studio strobes early and the exposure is messed up again.

If you use the SB900 with other SB900, SB800, or SB 600 then you can set the system up to fire one speedlight or all speedlights with the proper timing for a correct exposure.

This is why a PW is needed to fire studio strobes, and if your studio strobes do fire optically, then two PW is all you need [one on camera to Transmit and One on a strobe to Receive] no matter how many studio strobes you are using. All you need is to fire one strobe and the others will fire automatically using their optical sensors.

Hope this is helpful.

[RKDauph]

You can use the studio strobes, fired with a trigger, to optically trip the Speedlights (SB8&900s in SU4 mode - SB600s do not have an optical sensor) but you cannot use the Speedlights to fire the studio strobes because of the preflash used by the Speedlights.

[zebulus]

Originally Posted by danchez

it's a line of sight issue and there is a limited distance. You just have to make sure all your optics are lined up so they can see each other. Radio triggers typically give you a longer range and are more versatile.

I think their more flexible than you give them credit. Ive never had a misfire when using CLS or Sony's wireless optical system. NEVER. ONCE.

And yes, I have used them outside. And yes, I have fired them when they werent EXACTLY line-of-sight.

This is the kinda stuff the store clerks tell you to sell you more expensive equipment.

[lukehng]

I learned this from the workshop with Joe McNally: the new Quadra from Elinchrom can be integrated with small flash as it has a learning mode to deal with preflash signal.


http://www.elinchrom.com/data/press/...dra-review.pdf

"There are a host of advanced features such as a number of Pre Flash Learning modes that enable the pack to be used in conjunction with a flashgun or Speedlite."


Hope this helps.

lukehng added 0 Minutes and 52 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

oh yeah and SB900 signal is radial not line of sight like the SU800... saw it in action

[mrdepew]

Be sure that your Nikon camera has the CLS, some models do not.

[The Loft Studios]

An On-Camera Flash can properly trigger Studio Strobes if......

1.) The On-Camera Flash is set to "Manual Mode" so as to not send out a Pre-Flash signal
2.) Your Studios Strobes have an Optical Trigger

[danchez]

Originally Posted by zebulus

I think their more flexible than you give them credit. Ive never had a misfire when using CLS or Sony's wireless optical system. NEVER. ONCE.

And yes, I have used them outside. And yes, I have fired them when they werent EXACTLY line-of-sight.

This is the kinda stuff the store clerks tell you to sell you more expensive equipment.

I must push the limits further than you because I have had several instances where the slave hasn't fired.