Nikon SB-900 Review-This week Nikon have announced the Nikon SB-900 Speedlight to go with the new Nikon D700 DSLR them.
Learn more about Flash Nikon SB-900 in promotional material from Nikon below.
Nikon SB-900 Speedlight News Releases
New Nikon SB-900 Flash advance Flash Technology at the speed of Light With expansive Zoom and Intelligent Features
Nikon's newest Flagship Speedlight offers a Powerful Addition to the versatile Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
Nikon, Inc. today introduced the SB-900 Speedlight to provide Nikon digital SLR photographers with a flash capable of a wide zoom, increase flexibility, faster recycling time, and a wealth of intelligent features to enhance the functionality of the that's been great from the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Build the success of Flash, the SB-800 popular SB-900 provides users with extensive creative lighting possibilities with a simplified interface and the ability to keep up to date with future technologies through firmware update user-applied. *
The SB-900 offers unprecedented zoom range previously ranged from 17 to 200 mm, to increase flexibility in a variety of shooting conditions, while automatically adapting to the Nikon FX or DX-format camera. In addition, the light output has been increased to a maximum Guide number of 48/157.5 (ISO 200, meters/feet at 35 mm FX-format and Standard). Photographers can now also choose from three patterns of light; "Center-weighted" provides the highest guide number and is suitable for images such as portraits, where light falloff at the edges of the image are less important. "Standard" provides a general pattern, similar to the SB-800, and is ideal for general photography and "Even" which provides coverage of edge-to-edge's most consistent, making it ideal for situations such as photography groups. In addition, the latest main Flash Nikon provides the photographer with the ability of advanced wireless i-TTL enables use of multiple Speedlights with ease and confidently at the location or in the studio.
"Nikon is proud that its innovative leadership in flash technology has been praised by photographers who have been aware of the flexibility and power that the Nikon Creative Lighting System contributes to their photography," said Edward Fasano, general Manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. "the SB-900 Speedlight now provides photographers with a new portable lighting levels of functionality, performance and intelligent features to adapt to even wider scope from the challenge of lighting. "
The SB-900 Speedlight is engineered to meet the challenges of creative lighting being faced by photographers at this time including the need for fast, on-demand performance, and the ability to adapt seamlessly to almost any lighting scenario. the innovative design of The SB-900 has a Xenon flash tube and reflector system moving independently – allowing for a wider zoom range from wide angle extreme 17 mm (FX) to achieve a 200 mm telephoto setting without the help of accessories or as wide as 12 mm in DX mode with built-in wide-angle panel engaged.
The SB-900 offers fast recycling time of 4.0 seconds (at full power) with four AA Alkaline batteries that are down to just 2.3 seconds (at full power) while using four rechargeable NiMH batteries-about 25 percent faster than the SB-800 with the the fifth battery attachment.
While ease of use has always been a defining feature of the Nikon CLS System, the user interface has been even more refined to simplify controls and offers faster operation. The control to assign the Master Remote and wireless has been moved to the outside of the unit for easier access and frequently used functions are easily adjusted with a new Rotary Select Dial. A larger LCD screen is easy to read, even in direct sunlight, and the photographer can set the "My Menu" hotkeys for quick access to commonly used functions. A new thermal cut-out protection system monitors conditions when flash might overheat due to excessive rapid bursts. Assist the operation temperature of the information that is given to the photographer with an innovative temperature gauge displayed on the LCD screen.
For the first time, Nikon SB-900 Speedlight users will have the ability to take advantage of future performance advancements, by means of user-uploadable firmware. Users will be able to download firmware to the flash media card and upload it to flash through select digital SLR cameras.
The SB-900 Speedlight is Nikon's most intelligent Speedlight ever, created in responding to the needs of the professional digital photography today. When using the included fluorescent or incandescent filters and adapter, the Flash automatically recognizes what filter that is being used and automatically adjust the white balance accordingly on the latest Nikon D-SLR. * in addition, SB-900 AIDS auto focus with AF assist broader beam that covers 20-105 mm range of matching all of the D3, D700 and D300 's 51 focus points. Mental ability and turn of the SB-900 has been expanded to include: a italics up 90 degrees, down minus 11 degrees, and turn 180 degrees full left or right, allowing more creativity or disable the use of camera, or as a light bulb Remote Flash.
SB-900 serves as the new core for the Nikon Creative Lighting System when used in combination with Nikon SLR, and supports Advanced Wireless Lighting as a master or a remote Speedlight, inviting photographers to find the possibility of Creative infinite. While using one or more Nikon Speedlights wirelessly, photographers can artistically use shadows, highlight details, elaborate light and angles with ease. Along with the SB-900, Nikon Creative Lighting System features a comprehensive range of personal lighting tools including the agile SB-600 and SB-400, and the R1C1 and R1 Wireless close-up Speedlight system.
Nikon SB-900 Software Download
Operating System (s) : Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XpNikon SB-900 Win 8 Firmware – Download (166KB)
Nikon SB-900 Win 7 Firmware – Download (165KB)
Nikon SB-900 Win Xp Firmware – Download (165KB)
Basic Download and Nikon SB-900 Installation instructions for Windows and Macintosh:
Right-click an empty area of the desktop and selectNew>Folderfrom the menuthat appears. Name the folder as desired.
Right-click theI agree – Begin downloadlink on the download site and selectSave Target As. Save the file to the folder created in Step 3-1.
Open the folder created in Step 3-1 anddouble-clickF-SB900-V502W.exe.
The following files will be extracted to a “SB900Update” folder in the new folder: -SB900502.BIN, -Firmware for the SB-900
Modifications/Note for Nikon SB-900 Firmware Version 5.02:
With uninterrupted shooting with the SB-900 set to i-TTL mode, images captured just before the flash ceased firing were sometimes overexposed.This issue has been resolved.By resolving this issue, metering precision has been further increased and the number of times the flash fires has also been increased.When the SB-900, set to TTL auto flash mode, is used with a camera supporting the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), flash mode automatically changes to A mode according to camera communication status.That flash mode was previously maintained, but it has been modified so that TTL auto flash mode is restored once the SB-900 again recognizes the camera as a CLS-compatible camera.
Cameras that can be used to upgrade the SB-900 firmware: Any Nikon DSLR camera that can recognize the “S:” firmware when the SB-900 is attached can be used to upgrade this Speedlight. Attach the Speedlight to the camera and switch to “ON”, then switch on the camera and press Menu then Firmware version. If you see S: 5.01, then that camera may be used.
Operating System (s) : Mac OS X 10.2.x, Mac OS X 10.3, Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.5, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.7, Mac OS X 10.8
Nikon SB-900 Mac Firmware – Download (166KB)
Download the software, firmware and drivers to keep your Nikon SB-900 Speedlight.