First time using Speed Flash, SB600

[Biggs88]

Hello all. I have acted apon your advice and i bought myself a SB600 speedflash.

All I can say is WOW, What a difference!!!!

Here are a few for CC.
I know the backround and focus may be bad, but i was just playing with the flash for the first time, so bear with me!!




My Pup:

A door knob:
(I know, crazy. But I was buzzying pics like a mad man with the speed flash!!)

*** Also, I bought a pack of Duracell rechargeable hybrid AA batteries. Is it safe to leave them in the speed flash for a few days/a week?

Thanks all!!

 

[terilynne]

WHat is a speed flash and what is its purpose?? I want those CRYSTAL clear looking photos! Would the speed flash help with that? I use a D3000

 

[Biggs88]

WHat is a speed flash and what is its purpose?? I want those CRYSTAL clear looking photos! Would the speed flash help with that? I use a D3000

This is a speedflash:
Nikon SB-600 SB600

Lighting is the key to great photos. I have no idea how to use it yet, but getting the flash is the first step!!

A speed flash allows you to shoot the light up, to the side, in the rear, ect. . .
That allows you to have soft, defused light that wraps around the subject and you do not get the "deer is headlight" look when you shoot with a flash pointing straight ahead. I.E. a pop up flash on cameras.

I shot these with a D3100

 

[Vinny]

I'm getting one for Christmas - can't wait! Also got a good deal on ebay for a Lumiquest bouncer, I hope that lives up to my expectations as well.

As far as the batteries - safe to leave in for a week. I'm not familiar with the Duracells but if they are the old NiMH they will lose their charge fairly quickly. You said hybrid so if they are the low loss Nimh they will last a while on a charge. I like Powerex and Eneloop myself but duracell may be great as well.

 

[Biggs88]

I'm getting one for Christmas - can't wait! Also got a good deal on ebay for a Lumiquest bouncer, I hope that lives up to my expectations as well.

As far as the batteries - safe to leave in for a week. I'm not familiar with the Duracells but if they are the old NiMH they will lose their charge fairly quickly. You said hybrid so if they are the low loss Nimh they will last a while on a charge. I like Powerex and Eneloop myself but duracell may be great as well.

I want to order the Eneloops aswell. I hear they are they best made.

These new duracells come like the eneloops, there precharged. Tee pack says they will hold "a" charge for 365 days. My shutter finger wont be allowing that tho!!

 

[terilynne]

I want to get one! Where is the best deal on them?? Amazon?

 

[Biggs88]

I want to get one! Where is the best deal on them?? Amazon?

Best price I could find was at Best Buy.

$219

 

[flatflip]

I just got my SB600 a couple days ago. I love it so far but know so little about it. The guy I got it from said he never left the batteries in it. I am wondering about that too. I was shocked he said that. I have a new set of Apple batteries to try out. I ordered a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce Diffuser.

 

[kundalini]

Do yourself a favor and get a good recharger for your batteries. A slow charger will extend the life of your batteries. See here. Eneloop batteries retain their charge longer, but have a lower mAH rating than most rechargeables. I keep the eneloops in my grip, but use 2500-2700 mAH rechargeables in my flashes. Just my 2¢.

 

[Vinny]

+1 on the charger - get a Maha charger. I have an older 4 bay charger but hey now have a 8 bay charger. My charger has 2 charging speeds - 5 hour and 180 minute and have used both although I prefer the slow charging.

I bought the Powerex Imedions that are 2400 mAh, a little bit more power than the Eneloops but less than the 2700 mAh that are in traditional NiMH batteries. I bought 8 of them so I don't run out of power.

Do yourself a favor and get a good recharger for your batteries. A slow charger will extend the life of your batteries. See here. Eneloop batteries retain their charge longer, but have a lower mAH rating than most rechargeables. I keep the eneloops in my grip, but use 2500-2700 mAH rechargeables in my flashes. Just my 2¢.

 

[myfotoguy]

+1 more on the charger, I have the same model kundalini linked too (got it from Thomas Dist as well).

I have an SB-600 and SB-900. After trying a few different types of hybrid's I like eneloops the best. They seem to last longer in my flashes and in my camera grip. They have been around a long time and consistently score amonngs the highest in all hybrid battery tests that I have seen.

Have fun with your new flash! Once you get the basics down, experiement with Slow-Rear sync, off camera (if your camera is compatible), high speed auto FP, and TTL-BL for outside.

Flash does make a very big difference for a lot of shooting situations.

 

[Scotty Da Q]

Note...
If the diffuser is not pushed in all the way. It won't zoom. I thought mine was broke til I figured that out!:madmad: