SB-920 - Is A new Nikon Flash coming?

Ade

Rule #1 on Craigslist is always deal locally with folks you can meet in person:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

I've had good luck buying & selling various items on Craigslist, following the above rules.

Photobug

Ade, I have sold over 100 items via Craig's List and never had a problem; selling cameras, plants, cars, furniture, lights, etc. This was the first one I ever encountered from out of state. The good news is I was smrt enough to recognize that it was a scam.

I did not mean to imply that Craig's List is not a good place to buy and sell merchandize.

TaoTeJared

Bump...
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As I'm building my flashs up, I have standard ebay searches set up to pull up the new items every day. Started seeing refurb SB-910s selling at $395! (They go fast!) Not scams either.

I would have thought if one were dumped out, it would have been last week, but maybe something else is coming next week with the Df announcement. Don't know.

On a side note, I picked up a Phottix Mitros for Nikon and it is equal with my SB-900s. I actually like it a bit more in it's handling. Work great with the Odin system as well. At $235 a pop I'm going to pick a couple more up and skip the Nikons.

spraynpray

"On a side note, I picked up a Phottix Mitros for Nikon and it is equal with my SB-900s. I actually like it a bit more in it's handling. Work great with the Odin system as well. At $235 a pop I'm going to pick a couple more up and skip the Nikons."

I've been looking at extending my flash system too Tao so this is good news - they really are equal to the SB900 in all ways?

John

I use the SB-910.
It's a very good flash. I don't really see what they would improve with a 920 version.
More power? Always useful but I seldom find the 910 lacking in power for my uses.
Better heat dissipation? Useful but hard.

Ironheart

Built in radios?

TaoTeJared

I haven't had misfires, Full TTL has been working, with Odins attached work just the same. The flash pattern is slightly different, but not noticeable in photos. (I shoot in boxes/mods 90% of the time anyway.) Solid feeling. I will be doing some tests soon, but it has been matching my 900s just perfect. I'm sure there is something missing, as they are not exact copies, but I haven't run into it. (shooting manual or TTL.) All high speed sync works! That is really the only spec that I look for.

Not radios yet - those will be out next year (January I believe.) I have a Odin with 3 receivers and and a Strato II so far it have been working fine with 2SB-900s, Mitro flash, and a SB-600. The Odin will fire the Strato II in but it is just a manual trigger. (HSS on everything but the Strato IIs) The radio one's are said to be priced around/just above $400. Still cheaper to go the Odin route.

I have been looking at getting a Godox Witstro AD360 (different brandings) which is about 3 sb-900s and they have a different triggering system that is exclusive to them. Need to figure out how to have 2 different triggering systems working at the same time so I can change everything from the camera.

When I get some time to do a full test I was thinking about submitting an article on them for everyone.

This was my basement a few nights ago. Just about have my home studio all set up. I'm hopping that will be done this weekend.

John

Built in radios?

Ok, that would indeed be useful.

adamz

the photix gear is nice, I wish they were on the market when I was buying PW

TaoTeJared

Alright I'm starting to see a bunch of SB-900s hit ebay, and SB-910s being listed in the $400-435 (purchase) mark. Anyone hear anything?

DaveO

I'm still using my old SB 22s that works on my digital cameras. This can't be true, it can't work on my D 300s or my D 80.

Photobug

I did a search on eBay. OMG, lots of new SB 910s for sale at under $450 and a bunch of SB-900s. Looks like a great time to pick up that second flash. There must be a new flash coming down the pipe line.

JohnMc

Why Nikon cannot produce their flash system with radio trigger like Canon?

Photobug

Great suggestion JhnMc. Just not sure how easy this is to do and the price implication.

JohnMc

Canon released their flash system with radio trigger quite few years already?
Why Nikon cannot keep up with their main competitor?
It looked like Nikon thought that Canon won't be able to do so?
Too bad that we have to stick with Nikon flashes....

spraynpray

If Canon can....

Photobug

Nikon can.

I'll finish that for you. ]

Bokeh_Hunter

Over a year since I started this thread and still no new flash. Other than wireless RF, and a better/longer continual use (i.e. better overheating control) I'm not sure what more they could really add.

Personally I would like to see them add a unit like the multi-branded Wistro 180 & 360 that has a lot more power. At the same time as that thought, I don't see them charging in a realm where one would "want" to afford them.

One thing that maybe some don't foresee with Wireless RF is what people will want from Nikon that makes it very complicated. Not only will people want add-on receivers for existing flashes, but also the ability to fire other strobes and flashes. In essence turning them into another "Pocket Wizard" company or choosing not to ever support any other system. If they didn't support any other system, honestly you are better off going with third party systems.

Phottix has came out with a new Strato TTL Flash Trigger that does TTL and high speed sync for $130. Extra receivers go for $70. I would bet any RF Nikon flash would top $600 (at least at the beginning) and you can be sure it won't support any new systems. Honestly after shooting with the Phottix Mitros (non-RF) for 6 months I really like them. They retail at $300 but I have picked two of them up on ebay for $200 & $160. An SB-910 is $550 (around $450 used). Even at retail you can get a non-RF Mitros & trigger package $430 - still cheaper than a used Nikon. If you went with other 3rd party brands, you could get 4 flashes and triggers for under $500. (Although they have their limits.)
I'm really at mindset to stop wanting Nikon to do something, and say just use the 3rd party stuff out there. They are very good and really not that expensive.

[Deleted User]

I also gave up months ago, I have two Yongnuo's and there YN-622N (TC) I-TTL-HSS trigger system, mounts and stands for $ 436.-

The Cactus RF60 is now out with a wireless trigger build in (!!) and there programmable wireless trigger system.

Just announced the Godox VING V860N i-ttl (HSS). Li-ion batteries, more power and recycle time. A set of two, with a trigger set for the price of one SB-910.

Bokeh_Hunter

2 SB-900s, 2 Mitros, 1 SB-600 and Odin 4 triggers and Stratto II. The Phottix Stratos II (not the newest) has TTL pass through and only syncs to 1/250 but does fire with the Odin so I use is in the studio on the SB-600 in manual for background splash.

Other food for thought - Cactus Flash has a new(er) V6 that is just all manual settings but transmits those settings from the transmitter on body out to each flash. (Meaning you can change the settings without going to the flash.) Other great thing is that they allow working with muli brand flashes. So you can have a Canon, Nikon, etc. all working together and it will automatically account for the different power levels. The Cactus V6s are only $55 each - substantially cheaper. Read more here I'm really tempted to pick a set up to test. I could easily see myself dumping the Odins in favor of these if they worked well. I'm just not using TTL with a large set-up often.

The other Flashes I'm keeping my eye on are the multi-branded TT850/TT860 (branded as Godox, Neewer, Cheetah, etc.) that uses a LiOn rechargeable battery said to get 680 shots out of them. I haven't looked real close but there seems to be a question if they do HSS or not. They have a GN of 58 (@105mm, Iso 100) so they are about 1/3-1/2 the power of a SB-910 (GN 48 @35m iso 100) or about the same as a SB-600. That may not sound great, but actually for rim lighting, backgrounds, fill lighting on location, color casting, etc., you really don't need much power. Also if you just shoot at iso 200, you just effectively doubled the power. I have seen them around $180 so basically you could get 3 of these instead of 1 SB-910.

Mini Rant: I do hate there is not standardized posting for measuring flash power. You need to know Focal length, ISO, and F-stop, and or Distance to object. Most companies just give you only 2 of the numbers.

LumoPro LP180 - $200 Manual only flash, but build like tank. Lots of great reviews. I think Nikon could really hit one out of the park if they tried to do the same and just stripped down a SB-910 to raw power, drop TTL and build the sucker basically bullet proof. Make the layout super simple and it would be a great flash.

LED Light Cube $660 ($760 with accessories you would want.) - This is brand spanking new, went through a Kick Starter, had some set-backs but is now taking orders for shipping. If it really works, could be the beginning of a new Flash realm. It is both a nice powered flash and 5,000 Lumen continuous LED light in a small square package. The design allows one to easily stack, square, or mix as many as you need making it a native configurable source. I want to see the reviews and see the actual flash power, but having continuous and flash in one unit would be amazing at time. (Think baby photos where you don't know if the flash pops will distract them, scare them or make them cry. You could just change the setting to fit the kid!)

Bokeh_Hunter

Oh one other thought - a Nikon Ring Flash speedlight that is a good size (12" Dia) for portraits and a smaller one for Macro.