External flashes

[Suburbanmom]

Congratulations on the new toy/tool! I have a D50 also, but the SB-800. Although I'm very happy with it, I think I would have been just as happy with the one you bought. Start clicking and post some pictures.

 

[donnab2005]

I am not real familiar with diffusers. Can you explain a little about what a diffuser does and how to use it. I am really trying to educate myself with all the great toys.

Excellent purchase. The SB-600 is a great flash. I've had mine for about 18 months now with my D50. Not long after I got the SB-600 I went and bought a Gary Fong Lightsphere II diffuser and I've found it makes the images even better.

I still don't use manual that much. Mostly aperture priority or program with the flash.

Another thing I've found is that when you combine the D50 with the 50mm f/1.8 lens and the SB-600 flash, you have yourself a GREAT portrait set up. Inexpensive with GREAT results.

 

[Miqee]

The diffuser is used to soften the light, make it more flattering when doing portraits. Direct harsh light makes for harsh pictures, not always that complimentory to your subject. If you don't have a diffuser on it, tilt the head up and bounce it off a ceiling, gives a similar result.

Now you've got a flash, the next thing is to get it off camera Check out http://strobist.blogspot.com/ for some cool ideas.

 

[handicap18]

I am not real familiar with diffusers. Can you explain a little about what a diffuser does and how to use it. I am really trying to educate myself with all the great toys.

Here is the link to the one that I bought:
http://store.garyfonginc.com/ls2-p.html

He also has other examples on how the diffuser works with your flash:
http://store.garyfonginc.com/licl.html

Watching his video's and seeing the few examples he has on these links will give you an excellent idea of how it works.

 

[Furgus]

So when are you getting your next one? I have both the 600 and the 800, and I want more.....

Congrats on the purchase.

 

[My2Girls66]

I just bought an SB600 for my D50 too. So far so good
I bought a diffuser for it- Sto-fen something.

 

[JeffPoth]

Im planning on getting either a canon 30d or the xsi and I was wondering if a flash that fits on an older nikon film slr will fit on the 30d. Im fairly new to slr's. I was just wondering if a flash mount is universal.

EDIT-sorry didn't do my research. For some reason i thought that the 30d did not have a built in flash. As for my question, it would be great to know so I can get my parents flash that they used with their nikon.

 

[thomas998]

as a general rule... a canon flash only works correctly on a canon... a nikon only works on a nikon... and to make it worse film camera flashes don't function on digital cameras although digital camera flashes will work on film cameras... now to make it even more complicated, Nikon has two version of digital camera flashes that are not compatible nor are the first generation cameras compatible with the later generation flashes....

So in a word... Nope.

 

[pjacobi]

I was just wondering if a flash mount is universal.

It's actually dangerous to mount an old flash on a modern dSLR camera!

Older flash units have trigger voltages from manually activated shutters of hundreds of volts. This high voltage can fry all the low voltage CMOS components in your dSLR camera!

Some older units can be re-used, but you must measure trigger voltage and verify compatibility. When in doubt, DO NOT USE IT!

Save the old flash as a secondary off camera flash unit triggered via Wien Peanut.

It's time to buy a new flash unit!


-Paul

 

[jann1033]

won't help with your old flash but Metz makes a flash that can used for different camera brands by changing the mount,,,it costs a little more than the one made specifically for one brand but if you have a couple different systems or thing you might go that way, it could be useful.

 

[Delta Jane]

why does my lag time vary when using my flash ? I have a Canon Power Shot maybe 340, can't remember. I use rechargable batteries. Do they need to be replaced after time ? I want my camera operating a optimum level when we go to DW in Oct. My camera is two years old, approx.

 

[ukcatfan]

Lithiums might make it a little faster. One set would probably last an entire vacation, but I would feel safer with a backup. They run about $9-10 for four. If your camera is one of the two battery models, that could help explain the slow recharge of the flash.

 

[boBQuincy]

Flash recharge time can vary depending on the distance of the previous subject. For a distant subject the flash uses all the stored energy, for a close subject the flash uses only part of the stored energy so recharge is faster.

 

[GrillMouster]

As your batteries get weaker, the flash recycle time gets longer in between shots. I recommend that you bring a few extra sets of rechargable batteries, charge all of them the night before you leave to WDW, and charge all of them at the end of each day while you're at WDW. When you notice the flash recycle time getting unbearably long, pop a fresh set of batteries in the camera. I've heard on this board that you can leave your batteries & charger at select WDW park locations, and the CMs will plug it in behind the counter to recharge.

There are little things you can do to prevent the batteries from wearing down prematurely. Turn off the camera when you're not using it. Avoid using the LCD screen to review and delete picture (wait until you're done taking pictures for the day to review and delete pictures, then recharge the batteries). If your camera emits a light intended to reduce red-eye, turn it off (it doesn't really help). Turn the flash off if the subject is farther away than 10 - 15 feet (refer to your manual to determine the effective range of your camera's built-in flash). Be judicious with the shots you take.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

I'd like to get an external flash for my Nikon D50. I'm very much an amateur, so I don't want to spend a fortune - just get some better lighting in very low light areas. Can anyone recommend a flash?

Thanks!

 

[fitzperry]

The SB-600 is a great all-around choice. The SB-400 is a little less expensive and quite a bit smaller but has the drawback of not being capable of being bounced when you are shooting in vertical orientation.

IIRC, one of the primary differences between the SB-600 and the pricier SB-800 is that you can use the 800 to control other off-camera flashes wirelessly. Most people purchasing their first flash aren't going to need that capability right off the bat, and if you decide you do need it you can always get the 800 as your second flash. There is also a newer model that was introduced very recently but I haven't bothered to learn anything about it.

I'd also recommend some sort of diffuser like the Gary Fong Lightsphere or something similar to go with it. The Lightsphere is great, but a little bulky, so I have that and a diffuser that simply fits over the flash without taking much space. Results aren't quite as good, but it's much easier to travel with.

 

[Softrider]

I'd agree, the SB-600 is a great and economical flash for the D50. Cost is > $200. You will be suprised at how much of a difference that an external flash will make, it is an absolute necessity.

The SB-800 is a little more powerful, and gives a few more features, but is about $100 more.

 

[handicap18]

I am a D50 user with the SB-600 and haven't regretted the purchase one bit. Add to that the Gary Fong Lightsphere diffuser and your good to go for a good long time.

 

[Suburbanmom]

I have a D50 and bought the SB-800. It's a great flash, but I could have made due with the SB-600. You do want to be able to bounce the light and the SB-400 won't allow that...so I'm recommending the SB-600.

 

[My2Girls66]

I have the SB-600 for my D50. $180 from Beach. So far so good
I also bought this diffuser for it from Adorama.
http://www.adorama.com/Search-Results.tpl?page=searchresults&searchinfo=sto-fen om600