Right short of it; I want to buy a new flash unit! Nissin i866 / Nikon SB600 / SB700 / SB800 / SB900
The background! Taken photography back up after a long break, had to replace every little bit of my equipment! Normally I buy the item I need for my next booking. I started it back up with no investment apart from enough to get the camera - Nikon D90! I've got alot of entry level stuff now, and use the majority of income to invest in new stuff. But I've ticked most of the boxes, so I've now got to consider replace stuff with better.
The next item is to be a flash unit! But WHICH one. The choices are as above!
Do I go for the cheap options that are getting good reviews (like the Nissin), do I got for the name on the camera but the cheaper end to allow me to upgrade something else (like SB600/700/800) or do I go top end and get the beast of a unit (SB900). Utilising the CLS on the nikon is desired, easy to use is desired, a unit that reminds you that you've gone from indoors to outdoors and that you should now change some settings would be amazing!!! Work with other flashes but without having to buy a pocket wizard - great! Off camera is a must!
It's like going to the supermarket with it's branding levels! I've been no-frills shopping for a while to be able just to start - but now I can afford something more sexier than the no frills - So do I go up 1 level and get the supermarket brand band (nissin/SB600) or do I go for the premium brand band (SB900)?
I bought an SB900 to replace a metz 58Af-1, the difference in quality was amazing. Works so well off camera, I'm thinking about buying another one so I can have a two strobe set up. Spend the money!
I use the Metz 58-F and SB800. Both are great, compliment each other well and can be used off camera. The only difference being the cost of the Nikon being a third more than the Metz.
Depends on the type of photography you are after. I am a canon user , i would choose any day a 580 EX II but using a flash on the camera is like buying a very expensive car and having no license. A flash has to be, well, off camera. From what i have seen into your portfolio, you do mainly studio so spending over 150 pounds on a unit like SB600/SB800 you can buy a manual unit with lack of TTL (pretty much useless in studio ). After using all of them i will recommend :
YN-560 - Great construction , a manual flash , great power at 1/1, good recycle time , will accept most light modifiers and easy to mod.
Vivitar 285HV - Amazing durability , amazing full power, slow recycle, good with light modifiers.
Old SB Nikon flashes - SB-24 / 28 . i used them with pocket wizards they are better than 430ex or ex II especially with baterry pack.
Personally is use : YN-560 , home made battery pack out of 10 pounds toy car battery and spent more on light modifiers ( beauty dish , 61 inch umbrella , etc ). I personally would not use anything else.
