Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Custom Settings Explained

Jared Polin April 6, 2011 9

Wow there are a lot of custom settings in the Nikon SB-900 Flash! I go over all of them, what they mean and when to apply them. What is your favorite custom setting? Why? How do you use them? Let us know in the comments.

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TAGS » flash, Flash Photography, Nikon, nikon sb-900

POSTED IN » Flash Class, Flash Photography, Greg, Nikon Related

About the author: Jared Polin View all posts by Jared Polin

Jared's work has graced the pages of some of the most prestigious music publications, and his personal blog and online archive have become destinations for budding photographers and music fans around the world. Polin has also photographed professional and recreational sports teams, as well as politicians and international dignitaries.

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9 Comments »

Thegt April 6, 2011 at 3:15 pm -

Greg is the SB900 worth the extra about 150 over the SB700? I would be using it to bounce fill light, on camera, at events.
- Russ April 8, 2011 at 11:52 am -
  
  If you can afford the SB-900 then I would say yes it is worth it. After watching both Greg’s and Dom Bower’s videos regarding the SB-900 I wish I had bought it over the SB-700 and I probably will buy a SB-900 at some point in the future and use my SB-700 as a second flash. The SB-900 is a bigger falsh, it has more power and features then the SB-700. The SB-700 is a good flash but for the extra £50.00 the SB-900 would have cost me I wish I had gone for it.
Mike April 6, 2011 at 3:23 pm -

Rear-curtain sync is awesome on just about any flash.
Tore Hansen April 6, 2011 at 4:38 pm -

A couple of comments.

- FX/DX is for choosing if you use a FX or DX camera so the mtorized zoom will have the correct focal length. If you use a FX camera a 50mm lens will be a 50mm lens, if you use a DX camera you need to deal with the Crop factor which means that the 50mm in fact now is a 75mm due to 1.5 Crop factor.

- Thermal warning on/off when turned on will stop it from working when it the flashtube is too hot, not the speedlight itself. This will happen when it’s used on full power over some time, it will not work before its cooled down during 5-10 minutes period. If you search on internet you can find people who have destroyed the flashtube due to overheating.

My settings are:

A all
RPT off
M off
SU-4 off
Even
Flash
Flash 1/4
DX
M Zoom Off
AF on
STBY Auto
ISO 200
Ready Rear.Front
Light On
Termal On
Sound On
LCD middle
Meter
WP off
Mikko April 6, 2011 at 4:39 pm -

reeeally hope to see this type of video for the SB-800. It would be very usefull since the user interface for that flash is cryptic to say the least!!
Warren April 6, 2011 at 9:49 pm -

Hi Greg.. you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge and how you make flash be so easy to use.

Well I went and got the SB700.. a beast it is! I have read the manual back to front but was wondering.. think the custom settings on the 700 would be very close to the 900? In regards to that I am thinking of using your video as a quickquide (I have trouble with manuals)

Look forward to your reply
- Greg April 6, 2011 at 9:52 pm -
  
  Not sure, haven’t been able to get a SB-700 out of our regular channels yet…
  - Russ April 8, 2011 at 11:33 am -
    
    I have the SB700 and no, there is a lot more in the SB900′s menu then in the SB700′s menu. I am looking forward to the SB700 videos.
Aj April 7, 2011 at 11:37 pm -

I would love to see a similar vid for those of us that have the lower end flashes: SB-600/700! Please, Greg! Thanks!