Thursday, March 29, 2012
Landing
Well, if you've landed here then you'll see that this blog has been unattended for years. I do have a Wordpress blog and will likely be using a self-hosted one in the future. Sorry for the dead end.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Open Sesame
Yo!
You'll find some of my tips here on photography, design, stock, speedlight shooting, Nikon and myriad thoughts. It's the musings of observation. Maybe a mild rant or pet peeve. Shoots and discussion too. I apologize in advance for lack of photos. I'm presently figuring out how Blogger works. In no stretch of the imagination will I attempt to reverse engineer hardware. I think that Russ Macdonald does a much better job than I could ever dream about.
SB900 Firmware update
Nikon has released a firmware update for the SB900 speedlight. This particular speedlight is very different in that it allows for firmware upgrades to the hardware. It's the first of its kind. Firmware upgrades are made through the camera body. D3, D700, D300 and D90 is needed along with a CF card. A card reader is also required.
I believe that Nikon has improved their auto white balance and suggested that it be used with the newer bodies. Speedlights in particular. Looks like color temperatures have been tweaked.
I switch off between using the SU800 commander and SB900 to control multiple speedlights. Using the SB900 is nice because it allows you 4 groups (Master is in use as a 4th). I like using a Master as fill off camera. I'm still getting used to the interface buttons of SB900 and was faster on SB800's since I use 4 of them. Still, easier to use Remote and Master functions as a button. Double pushes of buttons for adjustments OR option to use the spin dial is nice. Menu set easier to get to without double pressing and holding (as on SB800s). I've not had time to play with the supplied gels. The cover to set them in place is more clever than a rubber band. Maybe it will prolong their shelf life.
The SB900 is larger than an SB800. If you're used to using a Lightsphere on your SB800's, you'll need to get a new one to fit the SB900. The Guide Numbers are close, so I wouldn't say that an SB900 is dishing out more light than an SB800. Ah, but you have the ability for coverage to 200mm! The SB800 was limited to 105mm. Bring on the beams with your tele! The prices have come down on the original MSRP of SB900's by a lot. Best Buy actually had a 1 day fire sale on the SB800's when they wanted to clear out inventory to make room for the newer SB900. I'm not so sure that Nikon isn't missing the boat here if they plan on retiring the SB800. It had a very long technological life span since it's original release in 2003. They need something in the mid range price point beyond the SB600.
Depending on need, when I only want to take one speedlight out with me, it's the SB900. If space or weight is a concern, I pop an SB800 into the bag. So... is the SB900 better? Not in terms of more light. Use and control of the light is the improvement.
New Book on Nikon's Creative Lighting System
A new book on Nikon's CLS is available for preorder through Amazon! Nikonians Press.
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagan. This is great news. There hasn't been much in documentation for Nikon speedlight shooting. It remains a mystery to many.
Nikon D700 books
It's all about documentation. Nikon previously had some very difficult to understand manuals. Obtuse with a dozen cross references that sent you to the cross references. No wonder people were recalcitrant to read the manuals. Forum posters everywhere were constantly shouting RTFM! Nikon's latest releases of manuals are much better. I had the feeling that the original manuals were translated from Japanese to English/other languages. The latest manuals appear to have been written from scratch in English. Kudos.
Still though, it's wise to dig into the other materials available. There's secrets to be learned. Not like the Easter Eggs in software, but sheer usability things that Nikon built right into their equipment.
Thom Hogan has a new eBook (CD release) out on the Nikon D700. You'll get a printed handy reference guide with it. It's very comprehensive.
J. Dennis Thomas also has a Nikon D700 Digital Field Guide coming. I'm supposed to get a prerelease copy to review. Thanks, Dennis! Great guy that you are. Preorder it on Amazon.
You'll find some of my tips here on photography, design, stock, speedlight shooting, Nikon and myriad thoughts. It's the musings of observation. Maybe a mild rant or pet peeve. Shoots and discussion too. I apologize in advance for lack of photos. I'm presently figuring out how Blogger works. In no stretch of the imagination will I attempt to reverse engineer hardware. I think that Russ Macdonald does a much better job than I could ever dream about.
SB900 Firmware update
Nikon has released a firmware update for the SB900 speedlight. This particular speedlight is very different in that it allows for firmware upgrades to the hardware. It's the first of its kind. Firmware upgrades are made through the camera body. D3, D700, D300 and D90 is needed along with a CF card. A card reader is also required.
I believe that Nikon has improved their auto white balance and suggested that it be used with the newer bodies. Speedlights in particular. Looks like color temperatures have been tweaked.
I switch off between using the SU800 commander and SB900 to control multiple speedlights. Using the SB900 is nice because it allows you 4 groups (Master is in use as a 4th). I like using a Master as fill off camera. I'm still getting used to the interface buttons of SB900 and was faster on SB800's since I use 4 of them. Still, easier to use Remote and Master functions as a button. Double pushes of buttons for adjustments OR option to use the spin dial is nice. Menu set easier to get to without double pressing and holding (as on SB800s). I've not had time to play with the supplied gels. The cover to set them in place is more clever than a rubber band. Maybe it will prolong their shelf life.
The SB900 is larger than an SB800. If you're used to using a Lightsphere on your SB800's, you'll need to get a new one to fit the SB900. The Guide Numbers are close, so I wouldn't say that an SB900 is dishing out more light than an SB800. Ah, but you have the ability for coverage to 200mm! The SB800 was limited to 105mm. Bring on the beams with your tele! The prices have come down on the original MSRP of SB900's by a lot. Best Buy actually had a 1 day fire sale on the SB800's when they wanted to clear out inventory to make room for the newer SB900. I'm not so sure that Nikon isn't missing the boat here if they plan on retiring the SB800. It had a very long technological life span since it's original release in 2003. They need something in the mid range price point beyond the SB600.
Depending on need, when I only want to take one speedlight out with me, it's the SB900. If space or weight is a concern, I pop an SB800 into the bag. So... is the SB900 better? Not in terms of more light. Use and control of the light is the improvement.
New Book on Nikon's Creative Lighting System
A new book on Nikon's CLS is available for preorder through Amazon! Nikonians Press.
The Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mike Hagan. This is great news. There hasn't been much in documentation for Nikon speedlight shooting. It remains a mystery to many.
Nikon D700 books
It's all about documentation. Nikon previously had some very difficult to understand manuals. Obtuse with a dozen cross references that sent you to the cross references. No wonder people were recalcitrant to read the manuals. Forum posters everywhere were constantly shouting RTFM! Nikon's latest releases of manuals are much better. I had the feeling that the original manuals were translated from Japanese to English/other languages. The latest manuals appear to have been written from scratch in English. Kudos.
Still though, it's wise to dig into the other materials available. There's secrets to be learned. Not like the Easter Eggs in software, but sheer usability things that Nikon built right into their equipment.
Thom Hogan has a new eBook (CD release) out on the Nikon D700. You'll get a printed handy reference guide with it. It's very comprehensive.
J. Dennis Thomas also has a Nikon D700 Digital Field Guide coming. I'm supposed to get a prerelease copy to review. Thanks, Dennis! Great guy that you are. Preorder it on Amazon.
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