Hi,

I know the flash power is determined by GN, but this special flash can cover until focal length 200 mm !!

Just want to hear your opinion after viewing this flash's Guide Number. ;)

Hi Jeff,

Usually, a flash gun has a motorized focusing lens to help narrow down the beam of light created by the flash gun to suit the angle of view of the camera's lens. So for example, if you are using the lens at 105mm, the flash gun, with the internal focusing mechanism, narrows the light to cover the angle of view expected of a 105mm focal length.

As the power is focused into a tighter point, this focusing helps to extend the range of your flash too. This helps if you want to do long range flashing - it would work when you want to light up very far away objects with your flash gun.

For flash guns that doesn't have the ability to focus to long ranges - there are these things called: "Flash extenders" basically, they are fixtures that you can use to focus the light beam from the flash gun down to a narrower beam, and also a further throw of light.

Though this measure alone - is not a definite measure of the quality of a flash gun - power alone, and the ability to focus flash light down for a very long focal lengths' use, isn't a full measure of the quality of a flash gun. There are more factors out there that determine the overall quality of your flash gun.

Here are some of the things that all add up to a flash gun's quality:
Cycle Speed,
Battery Life
Focusing Aid,
Wireless ability
TTL etc...
Colour temperature
Longevity
Availability of service parts
Price

(and more)

Cheers,
CA

Well I think this flash has advantage comparing with any other flash nowdays :

- can cover until focal length 200 mm (double the distance by narrowing its light without additional flash extender).
- with manual flash still can get GN56 at M1/1 by set the zoom position to 200 mm and keep lens focal length max 105 mm.

What do you think about this ?

Yes, indeed it looks good, there it comes to the price issue really, and how well it integrates into your system. Is it a nikon?

Currently, if you want good automatic flashes, it's always good to get one that is of your brand so you have good automatic mode integration, it would make your life much easier while shooting. :)

The table is from Speedlight SB900 GN, so it comes from the original brand.

I wonder how can SB900 compete with Speedlite 580 EX II if release a new product like that :unsure:

Equipment with better specs help you do your work more easily, but power without control comes a greater chance of messing things up badly.

I think it's time for you to grab a couple of SB-800s, since SB-900 is newly released and the latter's being phased out, I think you can see if there are any cheap new SB-800s to grab. ;)

I think you should get over the equipment. I think the SB-800 is quite a safe choice, I think you can go ahead with one or two units, they function great as wireless units, and shouldn't be too expensive as compared to SB-900 to purchase, with that, you can start practicing immediately.

Cameras to photographers is like paint brushes to painters.

I could have as easily started off with a canon, a nikon, pentax, olympus etc. What we can do is make do with what we have.

Expensive equipment comes easily when you got jobs. ;)