I’ve owned quite a few flashes and am not one of these who buys into the whole ‘it has to be OEM’ people. I use what I consider to be the best product for the job. There’s no doubt in my mind Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras is good flash. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s powerful, recharges quickly and is fairly quiet in operation. I like the locking mechanism which I think is superior to most other flashes which use the more traditional screw down locking mechanism.
Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
I also like the fact that the SB-910 can be a master controller for other flashes. I’ve used this for my strobist work in conjunction with my Yongnuo YN622’s and it works well.
I find the interface a bit complicated and non-intuitive. It’s not BAD…just could be improved a bit. Times when you think pressing OK is enough, it isn’t and you have to press another button. It’s just niggly but given the cost of the flash it’s something I think they can and should improve upon.
However….and this is the catch really. The price. I’m sorry but for the cost of the SB-910 you can get nearly 3x non-OEM flashes. And is it 3x as good. In a word….no.
So….if you need a flash that will also double up as a master controller. Get the SB-700. Well….unless you NEED to control 3 other external flashes.
Otherwise I am struggling to find a compelling reason to recommend spending > £300 on a single flash when you can get many alternatives for a fraction of the price. Sure you may argue that the Nikon may well last longer….but 3x longer? If you are a professional then chances are you will probably drop one before it dies from natural causes so in my mind keeping the cost down is probably a good idea. If you are not a professional then go save yourself the cash, get a cheaper non-OEM flash and use the savings elsewhere!
I’ve compared it alongside a Yongnuo 568 and in terms of power output there doesn’t seem to be much in it. Maybe the SB-910 is slightly more powerful but in practice I doubt you’d notice.
In short I think the SB-910 is only really suitable for high end professionals that simply MUST have the best for no other reasons than…they must. For most other people the SB-700 is a much more logical choice and if you aren’t averse to non-OEM brands then there are plenty of alternatives out there who will give you more bang for buck.
We gave the Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Flash Unit Review
