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Ok here is a complete beginers question for you guys.... What is the idea of a speed light. How are they different from the built in flsh on my D50. If someone could explain it that would be great thanks.

More power... more control... but the basic idea is the same...

You can also use some of the speedlights in remote off-camera mode allowing more creative lighting of your subject. In this case, you usually trigger the remote flash with the onboard flash.

This should give you the basic idea, but a search here on SB-800 will probably provide you with more data...

The difference is in the spelling of the words.

"Speed" is spelled ...

Seriously, no difference. A speedlight is a flash is a strobe is a .....

thanks for the help so your basicly saying there is no great advantage of a sb600 or sb800 compared to the onboard flash. Is that correct

apart from the points that leek mentioned. and they are a very brief description.

And another Mount Gambier Member! we'll be able to have our own mini meet soon!!!!!!

deaw wrote:thanks for the help so your basicly saying there is no great advantage of a sb600 or sb800 compared to the onboard flash. Is that correct

I'd say there is a huge advantage with the SB600 or SB800 for all that points mentioned by Leek

Depends on your photography usage though.

Paul

deaw, i think the point is that on board flash is ok but still not as good as an sb600 or 800. More power etc.. still work in much the same way although you can use like the SB800 off camera and use the D50 with flash to trigger the SB800 off camera. I think you are getting at are they better than the onboard flash,would this be right?

You wont be able to flick the onboard flash up or down, left or right... I said, you cant... dont try to force your way, Nikon cannot guarantee it will still work after you done that...

I have just clicked on who you are!! Dan i think 1 of these would want to be on you list at some stage as they are a must at some stage of your learning.

Dan as time goes by mate you will need that extra power, but it's all a learning curve.
Cheers
John

On Canon Speedlite's they offer the AF assist beam as well, basically lets you photograph in pitch black and lock focus without funky E-TTL II strobes going off to confuse your subject.

Apart from that, they recharge quicker, offer more power and don't drain the batteries for your camera.

Ok thanks for all your help guys. Yep its me Dan thanks for your help John very helpfull as always thanks mate.

deaw wrote:thanks for the help so your basicly saying there is no great advantage of a sb600 or sb800 compared to the onboard flash. Is that correct

Not at all. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Your first question - from what I could discern - simply asked about the nomenclature - speedlight vs built-in flash. In those terms, there is no difference.

But when you're comparing specific units - as you are now - you're asking a whole different question. And specific units might be, for instance, an SB600, and SB800, a Metz 60CT-Whatever .... or the onboard flash on your D50.

They all might correctly be referred to as either a speedlight, or a flash, but in terms of specifics, you're comparing a Vespa to a V6 Holden.

The 600 and 800 both have a whole lot more power than your onboard unit, and they also offer the advantage of being used off your camera.

Ronza wrote:On Canon Speedlite's they offer the AF assist beam as well, basically lets you photograph in pitch black and lock focus without funky E-TTL II strobes going off to confuse your subject.

The SB800 (not sure about the 600) also does this..throws out a funky looking red grid in front of you! Impresses all the relies at xmas!

Liam =]

beetleboy wrote:

Ronza wrote:On Canon Speedlite's they offer the AF assist beam as well, basically lets you photograph in pitch black and lock focus without funky E-TTL II strobes going off to confuse your subject.

The SB800 (not sure about the 600) also does this..throws out a funky looking red grid in front of you! Impresses all the relies at xmas!

Liam =]

Yep, it's handy but also means candids are out of the question, I've been sprung more then once

On the side streets drivers will think you're speed checking with powerful lasers...

Craig, that's why I keep mine to off

So if you turn of AF assist, the little light goes off, or if the SB-800 is mounted the red 'laser' grid is disabled ? Cool, hehe makes sense but I just hadn't thought to try it.