Best Flash For D200?

[carney2]

I am beginning to get my wish list together. I will probably be making the switch to digital this year and will get a Nikon D200. The SB-28 that I use with my F-100 will undoubtedly need to be replaced. What do you suggest as a top flight, high powered flash to match up with the D200? (Yes, I know that the D200 has a built in flash.)

[Franglais]

I am beginning to get my wish list together. I will probably be making the switch to digital this year and will get a Nikon D200. The SB-28 that I use with my F-100 will undoubtedly need to be replaced. What do you suggest as a top flight, high powered flash to match up with the D200? (Yes, I know that the D200 has a built in flash.)

That's easy. The Nikon SB800. Perfectly compatible with the camera and its i-TTL flash system, comes with a Stofen-type thing to soften the light, 5th battery for faster recycling..

DSLRs need a very sophisticated flash system because the Off-the-film-TTL measurement you have with the F100 doesn't work with the shiny sensor of a DSLR. The i-TTL system does a preflash with the mirror down to meter the flash with the regular meter.

Be warned - I find the i-TTL system (on my D70) to be less reliable than my SB28+F100+negative film. I think this is partly because the digital sensor is less tolerant to overexposure than negative film. Shooting RAW helped a lot.

Charles

[christos]

As Charles has stated the SB-800 hands down.

[carney2]

Mucho surprised. Thought I'd be hearing Quantum, Metz, etc.

[Franglais]

Mucho surprised. Thought I'd be hearing Quantum, Metz, etc.

Note the "perfectly compatible" bit.

To make i-TTL work you have a computer in the D200 talking to a computer in the flash using a protocol - which Nikon haven't published (and which apparently evolves over time). Nikon's own flashes know it. Independent manufacturers like Sigma and Metz have had to try to figure it out for themselves - more or less successfully. The tests I've seen show that the Nikon flashes are more consistent than the independents.

Charles

[deckcadet]

Note the "perfectly compatible" bit.

To make i-TTL work you have a computer in the D200 talking to a computer in the flash using a protocol - which Nikon haven't published (and which apparently evolves over time). Nikon's own flashes know it. Independent manufacturers like Sigma and Metz have had to try to figure it out for themselves - more or less successfully. The tests I've seen show that the Nikon flashes are more consistent than the independents.

Charles

Definitely. You won't see me with a Metz etc.
The functionality of the nikon flashes is absolutely wonderful. Plus visually they match the camera looks well.
Sigma NA I-TTL flashes are having some problems with the D200 evidently. Several reports of D200 compatibility issues with the 140 ringflash and I believe the other flashes as well.
The SB800 is the way to go- I've got the 600 but want the 800 badly. I'll be adding the 800 relatively soon. The 600 is nice and all but for me it is better suited to be on a backup body or as a remote slave mainly.
Quantum does make nice battery packs for the flashes of course, but Nikon also makes the SD-8A which is only $119 (vs. $400ish for a quantum pack and charger) and takes 6 AA's plus those in the flash (using 10 NiMH 2700 or higher rechargeable AA's, talk about battery life!).