Bali Photographer / Thoughts and Portfolio

After introducing D3, the first camera with full frame sensor in its DSLR family, along with introduction of its second full frame DSLR D700, Nikon introduced the brand new D900 speedlight. Introduced in Amsterdam on July 1st 2008, among new and improved features over D800 is its full compatibility to FX sensor, Nikon’s name for its full frame digital sensor.

July 1st 2008 Nikon Europe introduced the latest state of the art lighting flagship, the Nikon SB-900. The new SB900 offers exceptional high-speed, high-power operation combined with an extended zoom range. The SB900 also incorporates a moving diffuser and light source that can zoom from 17mm to 200mm in just 1.2 seconds while maintaining an even light distribution. The versatile new flash provides a choice of three illumination patterns (center-weighted/standard/even) that can be selected to suit a particular subject.

Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) which includes speed-lights are widely regarded to be the best in the business, and the new SB-900 propels flash lighting into the future with really exciting creative opportunities available at the touch of a button, said Robert Cristina, Manager Professional Products and NPS, Nikon Europe.

The SB900 is perfectly adapted to both DX and FX formats, and will automatically select the appropriate light distribution pattern according to the sensor format of the camera to which it is attached. The SB900 also automatically detects the fitting of fluorescent or incandescent color filters, instructing the camera to switch to the appropriate white balance setting. Designed for today’s high speed digital image capture, the SB900 handles repeated firing at high power with an improved booster circuit for high-speed recycling and includes a built-in thermal sensing system that protects the unit against overheating.

It is fully compatible with the other speed-lights and accessories of the acclaimed Nikon Creative Lighting System and can be easily incorporated into multiple-flash lighting set-ups. Bounce flash capability is provided through a head that can be tilted up by 90º and down by 11º and rotated horizontally through 180º, making the SB-900 an essential accessory that opens up many creative opportunities to the photographer.

The SB-900 will be available as of 25th July 2008.

New Features

• Multi-step auto zoom covers wide 17-200mm zoom range (24-105mm?SB-800).
• Three illumination patterns (standard, center-weighted and even) are available to match each shooting environment.
• Automatically detects Nikon FX and Nikon DX formats and selects suitable light distribution.
• Improved booster circuit for high-speed recycle time: Recycle time using four AA-size batteries is almost equal to the SB-800 with five AA-size batteries.
• New AF-Assist illumination covers a wide 20-105 mm focal range compatible with the new Multi-CAM3500 FX/DX AF sensor.
• Firmware update via Nikon D3 and D700 is possible. The world”s first flash unit firmware update function via a digital SLR camera as of July 1, 2008 (according to Nikon’s own research).
• Thermal Cut-out function limits the number of flashes to avoid deterioration of light emitting parts caused by continuous flash firing.
• Automatically detects color filters (fluorescent or incandescent), enabling camera to control color temperature according to filter information from SB900.
• Improved switch panel for enhanced usability.
• Improved GUI using a large-size LCD dot panel.
• Bounce capability: tilts up to 90º, down to -7º, rotates horizontally 180º to right and left.
• Advanced Wireless Lighting and versatile functions for up to three remote groups of SB-900s or other compatible Speedlight controlled through the master SB900.
• Optional Water Guard WG-AS1 (for D3), WG-AS2 (for D300), and WG-AS3 (for D700) is useful for protecting the camera’s hot shoe contact when the SB900 is mounted on these Nikon digital SLR cameras.