Nikon SB-900 TTL AF Shoe Mount Speedlight, Guide Number 132 - Refurbished by Nikon U.S.A.

2014-08-11T21:00:00

I love this flash , it is very powerful with lots of different setting and out put if needed.The size is right for me I like a larger speedlight they look more like a pro light.I use for group shots and event photos I also have sb910 for wedding and sb700 for CLS remote and for backup but the sb900 is my use every day flash I use all Nikon gear I think they work or just talk better with each other than 3rd party products and have better resale plus they last longer so just get you a sb900 for your needs it's great.

Mack

2014-08-04T21:00:00

I am a pro photographer and use only Nikon products,this is a great flash to have .I also have the sb700,sb910 but use the sb900 most of the time when a flash is needed ,it equal my sb910 for power and have more power than sb 700. I have no over heat problem with my sb900 but I do not shoot full power back to back. I think Nikon flashes work best with Nikon cameras they just talk better with each other Don't worry just get one

MAC

2014-05-29T21:00:00

I have been looking for a second flash for a while and when I saw this one that was refurbished, I couldn't help but get it. I use these for portraits and the SB-900 was the workhorse of the Nikon flash until the 910 was introduced. I don't do a lot of rapid fire shots, so I'm not concerned about the overheating issue known to this flash. The output is great, the menu is easy to understand and it works great with my Yongnuo TTL triggers.

John Y.

2014-05-26T21:00:00

I use this flash professionally for group pictures, Weddings and Class Reunions. Works great with Nikon cameras. It's a little heavy, but for all the power it's ok.

ROBERT R.

2014-05-04T21:00:00

I read a lot of reviews before buying the two SB900's. I did read that a couple of people did complain about over heating but most said it was not a problem. Well it is. I bought them a few weeks ago and didn't get a chance to put them to the test until last weekend. I set up a shoot for a friend's son. The first thing I noticed was a 10 second recycle time, even with new batteries. So I plugged them in to a SB-9 battery pack. This dropped the recycle time to about 3 seconds. I fired off 10 shots and then the first one over heated. Fired off another shot and the second one over heated. It took about 5 minutes to reset themselves and once they were ready I shot 3 shots and both over heated again. I like everything else about them but I can't use them if they over heat like they do. I did try them again the next day and had the same results. I am sending them back for a refund.

JOEL C.

2014-04-27T21:00:00

I use this for off camera flash and works great it came with every thing that you would get if you bought it new. I have to say the first flash that Adorama sent me did not work as it should but Adorama replaced it with one that is working fine you guy's rock.

ED V.

2014-04-04T21:00:00

I"m a hobbiest, aspiring semi-pro. I have an SB 700 too. I couldn't pass up the Nikon Refurb SB 900. The unit i received is like new. No flaws, works great! It has a lot more more power than the 700. The menu system is pretty intuitive and easy to use. I prefer the TTL, manual switch on the 700, but the menu is still pretty fast. I also like how it came with a small selection of color gels. I would recommend the SB 900 in Refurb. A $500 flash for a little over $300. Can't beat that.

RONALD J.

2014-03-29T21:00:00

I bought a refurbished SB-900 a few months ago, and frankly I was a bit hesitant to buy an out-of-production, refurbished flash. After using the SB-900 along side of my SB-910, although there is not much difference, I actually like the SB-900 better. I'm not sure why Nikon discontinued the flash and I hope I can buy another before they disappear completely.

CARL M.

2014-03-24T21:00:00

Such a powerful, versatile flash for such a low price! I now have 2 SB900 refurbs. Both work perfectly as slaves to my D7000 commander mode. The most recent flash even came with the large set of color gels, which I bought previously for 20 or 25 bucks. If not pushed too hard, neither flash overheats. This is a great deal, as the SB900 does so much at such a reasonable cost. Use for everyday outdoor fill flash or with reflectors. Indoor possibilities are limitless; see some of Joe McNally's videos on You Tube. I highly recommend this flash for it's price, power, versatility.

Denny T.

2014-03-10T21:00:00

This is my 5th SB-900 unit. I also have several SB-600's. I use them in full size studio style modifiers much like others might use studio strobe units. In the larger modifiers I may use two or three flash units, usually paired with Pocketwizard Flex TT5's. This gives great control, no wires, no need for AC power, no limits on location,and no need to make adjustments on the flash unit. The SB-900 I received for subject review was a refurbished unit. It appeared brand new, although packed in a plain cardboard box. It was missing the auxiliary power cover but a call to Nikon got one on the way to me. Also my flash was missing the standard pack of correction gels. Instead included was the full SJ-3 set of gels (a new unopened package), a significant upgrade over the standard gels. All the other accessories were included (foot, diffuser, gel attachment, English manual), except no Spanish manual. I much prefer the SB-900 because of the better menus and controls over the SB-600. I rarely have use for the commander mode of the SB-900 (after setting up with Pocketwizards) but it is nice to know it is there should I ever need it. While I have no direct experience with SB-800's, my research indicates they have cumbersome controls. I cannot speak to the SB-700 in comparison. My understanding is the SB-910 is merely a modest upgrade of the SB-900 and see no need to change something that is already working for me. The SB-900 works well on recycle times in my usage. This is in part to my use of multiple flashes reducing the output requirements on all. On occasion I will add SD-9 battery packs to the SB-900's. FULL POWER recycle time is less than 2 seconds with Sanyo Eneloop batteries in the auxiliary battery pack. The availability to use external battery packs is another reason I prefer the SB-900, although they are also available for the SB-800 and SB-910. The flexibility of having TTL and manual controls is a necessity to my mind. I often run a mixture TTL (moving subject?) and manual (background). The cost of the Nikon unit is high compared to the some aftermarket units. However genuine Nikon units all will play well together with Nikon's Creative Lighting System and Pocketwizard's TT units. The aftermarkets might accomplish some simple TTL functions but I have doubts about them pairing up with radio TTL. I have never had an issue with the SB-900 shutting down due to overheating. Again, I use multiple flashes and rarely on full manual power. But I have had occasion to shoot many shots in rapid succession and not had a problem with overheating. My suspicion is those that have this experience are shooting in high ambient temperatures. I have seen damage to my gels wrinkling from heat. I recommend buying gels in 8"x10" sheets and cutting out your own. They are consumable items. On gels, the SB-900 has the capability of detecting and making adjustments for Nikon gels. This may be nice for some. I find this feature of little use as I do make my own gels and use either TTL or metered shots for the most part. The SB-900 has the capability of firmware upgrades. It requires use of later and higher end Nikon cameras. The firmware upgrade is downloaded onto a memory card and the connection is made via the camera. Since the SB-900 has been around for a while it is likely all the kinks have been discovered and there may be no need for further firmware upgrades. The firmware version on subject unit was verified to be the latest available. This was the best flash unit made by Nikon until supplanted (barely) by the SB-910. If all one does is mount a flash on a camera (nearly the worst place to have a flash) and shoot snapshots, it probably is overpriced. A used SB-600 or maybe SB-400 would do as well. But if the power and features come into play, the cost of the SB-900 is worthwhile, especially when available as a factory refurbished unit at a substantially lower cost.

KERRY S.

2014-03-04T19:00:00

Will use with my profoto speed lite adaptor ring and rfi octabox. It will allow me to shoot TTL in studio or on location. Haven't found any problems so far.

AL K.

2014-03-04T19:00:00

I have and SB900 and wanted another for CLS. This refurb looks new, functions like new and all at a great savings.

MATTHEW G.

2014-02-06T19:00:00

Received two refurbished SB-900s today. They appear to work just fine, both remotely and via the camera hot shoe. Instructions manuals, stands and filters all came neatly packaged with each unit. The cases, however, appear to be cheap knockoffs, not Nikon branded cases, which was a bit disappointing, but otherwise everything else appears to be in good order.

gvojtko

2014-02-04T19:00:00

Use on my Nikon D 7000. Has a great many features, but easy to use. Better than using the attached flash unit.

Mike

2014-02-03T19:00:00

I use it off camera

Randy R.

2013-09-04T21:00:00

I use four SB900s in just about every combination & configuration you can think of. Mostly for enviro portraiture and outdoor sports. I use them off-camera with SC-29, wireless remotes, IR commander/remote for HS and/or CLS, the occasional on-camera flash (ick), in TTL, manual, etc., and with various modifiers, large and small. I push them pretty hard - often to overpower sunlight, which they do well – especially when doubled. Am buying refurbs now since they're no longer manufactured. Never a problem with any flash except for one I bought used where the rotation stay (click-stop) locked and I had to force it, which broke the stay, but it's still 100% functional. All are always reliable, fast recycle time (faster with battery pack), long burn time (longer with 2700 NiMH batteries and with battery pack), light-weight, and easy to use. I do wish the ISO setting wasn't nested so deeply in the menu. But my only real issue is that the thermal cut-off threshold is too low for my needs. Once the internal temp is raised, the flash shuts down completely to cool off. The alternative is to turn off that feature and risk melting the head, or change the setup. It cuts out faster the more power you dial in, the faster the burst rate, the farther the head is zoomed and faster if dome diffuser or other unvented modifier attached, and sometimes keeping it in direct sunlight will heat it up faster. I tend to set mine the exact opposite and drive them hard, so I can't and don't expect them to not heat up, but it'd be nice if Nikon did some porting or heat sink work to improve this on future models. Despite what you might read online, I've learned from testing and experience that the cut-off is NOT from the batteries getting hot. My solution for this issue is to use two speedlights in IR and use commander flash to switch from A to B and back as they heat up and cool off. I also try to shade them with breathable, white fabric, and/or double them up at reduced power. But I'm looking into having an electronics geek friend of mine install a port or heat sink. I hear the 910s have improved the overheating issue, but I haven't heard/seen enough praise to ditch these for 910s.

KAY B.

2012-03-02T19:00:00

great flash ,some say it too big, but the out put equal the size and that's what i want

Mcneil

2011-07-30T21:00:00

I have the SB 800 and 600 and wanted something with more user friendly interface. I just couldn't reconcile the price of the SB 900 with my limited usage. When I noticed a factory refurb unit at a substantually discounted price, I went for it immediately. It is as big and bulky as all the reviews indicate but it is also Nikons top of the line flash. IMHO performance in a hot shoe strobe just doesn't get any better.

RON C.

2011-05-14T21:00:00

I have an SB600 and an SB800 and I grew tired of re-reading the instruction book each time I used them. For that reason I opted to get the much more intuitive, easier to use SB900. I use it as my master and the other two as slaves. Controlling the master and setting the slaves remotely is now easy. It is a big, expensive, piece of gear but it really is an improvement over the SB800 in user interface

RON C.

2011-04-10T21:00:00

I'm not a frequent flash user so I wanted one with a simple user interface. When using my SB800/600, it was always back to the instruction book to make even basic adjustments. I was, however, unwilling to pay what Nikon was asking for the improved interface on the SB-900. Fortunately the less expensive "Nikon Refurbished" path opened up so I made the move. I have purchased several Nikon refurbished items (DSLR, lens & etc) with excellent results. To this point, it seems that the refurbed SB-900 will be another winner. As to the flash itself, I find the user interface much easier to use and easier to remember between uses. It is, as practically everyone points out, big. I don't use it enough to stress it thermally so I can't comment on the overheating issue other than to say that terms of my "non-wedding gig" type usage it works just fine. I think that the Nikon flash system is great and this flash (except for cost) is worthy of that reputation.

RON C.

2011-03-19T21:00:00

An overwhelmingly powerful tool. Can be used for almost any lighting purpose/need. My go to flash. Only issue--it's bulky, but how else would you get so much out of it?

CHAD S.

2011-03-05T19:00:00

This refurb was in excellent shape and no scratches anywhere! No issues at all. Does take some time to learn the Nikon CLS system for all the included features in this unit - hence my "Read the Book" comment.

Mack

2010-05-22T21:00:00

If you are using Nikon these are a must have for any kind of fill or key light. They work very will for me I was using 2 of them today and it was very easy to set them up.

DennyCayman

2010-01-09T19:00:00

I only use the SB900 when I am striving for the perfect shot at an event, or of the pets, or a portrait. I don't use it for everyday because it's heavy and takes up as much room in my sack as the camera and lens themselves.

sem