Nikon SB 900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The SB-900 i-TTL Speedlight leads the Nikon Creative Lighting System by delivering the portability, power, and versatility to support any photographer’s creative lighting imagination. The SB-900 works as a wireless standalone flash, or you can use it as a commander or wireless remote light source. In commander mode, the SB-900 controls up to three remote Speedlight groups and an unlimited number of compatible Speedlights, with four wireless channel options helping you manage wireless conflicts in multiple photographer environments. The flash also offers streamlined controls and menus, including a rotary select dial that sets key flash functions quickly, along with a prominent master and remote control switch to simplify wireless operation.

Photographers working on zoom photos will appreciate the SB-900′s expanded auto power zoom coverage, which ranges from 17 to 200mm in the FX format to 12 to 200mm in the DX format. Photographers also have the choice of three light distribution patterns: standard (for general illumination), center-weighted (for portraits), and even (for groups or interiors). Finally, the SB-900 automatically identifies mounted color gel filters and adjusts the camera’s auto white balance setting (available with select Nikon digital SLR cameras). Other details include automatic FX/DX format identification; user-friendly firmware updating; flash tube overheat protection; and a drip-proof mounting foot cover.

Technical Specifications

• Guide number: 34 meters/111.5 feet (ISO 100), 48 meters/157.5 feet (ISO 200)
• Electronic construction: Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry
• Flash exposure control: Slow sync; red-eye reduction in slow sync; front curtain sync; rear curtain sync; rear-curtain slow sync; auto FP high-speed sync; FV lock flash
• Lens coverage: 17 to 200mm (FX format, automatic mode); 12 to 200mm (DX format, automatic mode); 12 to 17mm (FX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed); 8 to 11mm (DX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed)
• Bounce function (tilt): Flash head tilts down to -7 degrees or up to 90 degrees, with click stops at -7, 0, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees
• Bounce function (rotate): Flash head rotates horizontally 180 degrees to the left and right, with click stops at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 degrees
• Minimum recycling time: 4 seconds with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 4.5 seconds with lithium (1.5 volts); 3 seconds with Oxyride (1.5 volts); 2.3 seconds with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)
• Flash duration: 1/880 second at M1/1 (full) output; 1/1,000 second at M1/2 output; 1/2,550 second at M1/4 output; 1/5,000 second at M1/8 output; 1/10,000 second at M1/16 output; 1/20,000 second at M1/32 output; 1/35,700 second at M1/64 output; 1/38,500 second at M1/128 output
• Required power source: 4 AA-type batteries in the following types: alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts), lithium (1.5 volts), or Ni-MH (1.2 volts)
• ISO range: 100 to 6,400
• Optional power supply: SD-9 high-performance battery pack, SD-8A high-performance battery pack, or SK-6 power bracket unit
• Ready light: Yes
• Minimum number of flashes: 110 with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 230 with lithium (1.5 volts); 190 with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)
• Wireless flash modes: Off, master, master (repeating), remote, and SU-4
• Wireless communication channels: 4
• Wireless groups: 3
• Dimensions: 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Supplied accessories: AS-21 Speedlight stand, SW-13H diffusion dome, SJ-900 color filter set, SZ-2 color filter holder, SS-900 soft case

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars SB 900
First wedding I used it on The Flash died while the wedding party was coming down the aisle

Have used SB 800 and SB600 and never had this happen before

5 Stars Don’t overcomplicate things … This is a great flash
First, let’s focus on the most important. The flash has a lot of features, but nothing, let me repeat, nothing is more important than the raw power it can produce. If you were to ask a single question about a flash – ask about the guide number. The higher it is, the more options you have. You can reach objects far away, can bounce flash off the walls, put some filters – a lot of things you just can’t do at all if your flash is not powerful enough. So if you look at the Nikon line, the SB-900 has this advantage.

Second, if you look that the DSLR bodies, there is a lot of progress there and in a couple years you can get a much better body for the same price. The lenses and flashes on the other side are not changing that much and hold value over many years. So if you have a choice it’s a good idea to get the best lense and flash you can afford so they can last forever and upgrade the cheaper bodies time to time.

So these are two big reasons to buy SB-900.

Now let’s think why would you not buy this flash.

If you read the reviews below, there is a lot of arguing about which batteries to use and the thermal shut off. You know, yes, they all have their points but in most of the real life situations all those concerns a way beyond reasonable.

What else is not good about this flash? Well, the noise. If you have a zoom lense, every time you zoom in or out, the flash will adjust the mirrors to provide good coverage and that’s causing some noise. It’s ok outdoors or at a party, but if you try to take pictures at a concert, that could be distracting. (Yes, you can lock the mirrors in a wide position and give plenty of raw power you should get by without moving those mirrors in most case)

Well, the menu and the controls could be easier to operate but that’s not a deal breaker. And, of course, the price. It’s quite expensive.

So overall, this is really an amazing flash. Because it’s so powerful, it can light up a huge areas or using filters or bouncing it can create some very nice lighting effects which you just can’t do with a smaller flash, so if you can afford it – it’s not a bad flash at all.

4 Stars Bulky
The only real con of this flash is it’s sheer size, as it occupies what used to be two lens pockets in my Kata camera bag. The flexibility to use as a bounce flash and the overall operation of the flash is wonderful.

A diffusion dome, some colored filters/holder, a fabric case, and a flash base (for use when the flash is not directly mounted on the hot shoe) are all included.

5 Stars SB-900 Initial observations
I’ve been using my new SB-900 with a Nikon D3S and have great results. I previously used an SB-800 and liked that unit very much. I had not heard anything about the thermal cutoff until reading a couple of reviews on Amazon, so I gave my unit a test. I could not duplicate any cutoff problem. I use it as delivered and did not turn off any thermal protection. I fired it multiple times and it recycled very quickly and never hesitated. The recycle time is faster than my SB-800 with the extra battery add-on.

5 Stars THE benchmark in ease of use, expandability, and system integration!
Great flash, and my second entry into the Nikon CLS system.

I needed something to work wirelessly with my D200 using the commander mode (remember to also purchase the Nikon SG-31R IR Panel for Built-in Flash Repl – Nikon 4905 to mount over your built in flash so you can wirelessly trigger the remote flash), something with a bit reach, and FAST recharge time.

For a naive user, the SB900′s menus are a GOD sent – easy, quick, intuitive, the way it should’ve been.

There is some buzz on the web that early adopters had flashes that overheated and would shut down during events. . .how to combat the problem? Use Sanyo Eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargable Batteries w/ Charger, or get the battery pack for the SB900, which attaches with a wire and reduces recharge time and disperses heat better.

I personally have never had a problem with my SB900 recycling fast and overheating.

Looking forward to Nikon updating the SB600 with this user interface!

Worth buying.

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