Speedlight help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

JKM

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2012
114
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Shoulder deep in a tank
I've been looking for a speedlight for a Nikon D90, the choices right now are:-

a) Nikon SB-910 ($450 local price)

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-4809-Sp...&ie=UTF8&qid=1366648140&sr=1-1&keywords=SB910

b) Yongnuo YN565EX + Phottix Strato II transmitter reciever ($300 local price)

http://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-565EX-Speedlite-Flash-Canon/dp/B005HYMUX4
http://www.phottix.com/en/phottix-strato-ii-multi.html

I'm still a beginner in photography but I want to invest in a speedlight so I can take better pics of my fish (wireless flash above the tank).
What do you guys think?

I'm also kind of torn between whether I want to invest in a decent flash setup first or if I want to put the extra $$ down now and buy a macro lens (Sigma 105mm f2.8 $750).
 
look on Craig's list in your area, some great deals to be had.
I just bought an almost brand new flash (580EX2) for about half price from my local CL
 
I have the Sigma 105mm DG EX f2.8 and I really like it. Awesome image quality and amazing small aperture performance. I shoot with it at f11-22 pretty regularly and the diffraction isnt that noticable.

I use two Neewer TT560's and a set of Cowboy studio trigger/receivers. The flashes are completely manual with no ETTL functions, but for fish and macro stuff it works great. The cowboy studios trigger setup in like $33 and the Neewer TT560 is like $45. Can't beat that price for flashes and triggers imo.
 
Macro has VERY thin depth of field and shooting at f2.8 at the closest focusing range gives a razor thin depth of field. Because of that, you need to close the aperture to widen it (and use a flash or two), or take a focus stack for all your macro images (and this sucks lol)
 
Using a flash system allows you you use a lower ISO (less grain, clearer shots), wider aperture (No image stacking for most macro work), and also allows you to use a faster shutter speed (to 'freeze' you subjects). Trying to focus stack a live bug is damn near impossible for me.
 
If you buy anything higher than a SB-600 you're D90 has a built in TTL flash commander to talk to the Speedlight. In use a SU-800 commander because my D3 doesn't have a built in commander. I use the 105mm VR f2.8, but have used the 60mm f2.8 and have had great results!


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