Nikon Speedlight SB-900 Shoe Mount Flash

Reliable Creativity

Nikon's Creative Lighting System allows for some very creative off camera, multiple flash lighting setups. with the same ease as popping a flashgun on top of the camera. The TTL, particularly TTL BL (Balanced) metering is superb and provides excellent and consistent coverage. It will work as a standard shoe mount gun, or with an remote cord, it can still be mounted off camera. For CLS use it has 3 groups and 4 channels. As a remote, ensure it's set to the correct group and channel as specified by the Master and you're away. As a Master gun, you can control all 3 groups. If you have this shoe mounted, you can quell the actual flash output, so beyond the pre-flash communication with the other guns, the actual exposure won't be affected.
The SB 900 was the top of the Nikon Speedlight range, before being succeeded by the slightly enhanced SB 910. Both of these have been discontinued by Nikon in favour of the radio controls SB 5000. The means that these excellent guns will start appearing on eBay at equally excellent prices.
The SB 900 comes as standard with a two part case - the lower section holds the diffuser dome and the filter holder. A set of correction filters are included - tungsten and fluorescent. These fit into the filter holder and snap on to the flash head - some clever switches and a barcode reader inform the flash which filter is applied.
A nice little flash foot is included, which, as a tiny but nice feature, has little non-slip pads at the corners - it's these little details that make Nikon such a standout brand.
If you find an outfit without a user guide, these are readily available from the Nikon website.
The SB 900 uses 4 AA batteries - alkaline, NiMH or NiCd. There is an external power socket on the front of the gun for an extended power pack, to give you longer shooting times and fast recycle.
I had originally bought a Chinese clone from another site, hoping that it might be a cheap substitute. It went back and my money went toward this - if you want to use Nikon CLS, then certainly for the important lights, don't skimp and get a Nikon gun.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: takenuki-spa

Ronald O’Neill

Very impressed at the condition of the Flash unit. I have already use the flash and it performed perfectly. Really impressed.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: nevermindnev

SB 900

Easy to use, intuitive if you have a basic knowledge of how flashguns work. TTL metering sorts out exposure. It zooms to give good coverage. I'm now looking for another one!

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: jamesandersonxx

Speed light

Bought to replace one I dropped and all is ok
Just what I wanted.
Delivered on time, no complaints.

Great flash but famous for overheating during heavy use.

In itself it's an excellent powerful flash, top of the Nikon range in its day. Unfortunately it has a design flaw which causes overheating. There's plenty of YouTube videos about it. It was quickly replaced by the almost identical SB-910. If you're not a pro this flash, that want on 10fps at full power at sports or other event, it's absolutely fine, and cheaper than its replacement. I'm completely happy with mine.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: adriandent3

Nikon SB 900

I purchased it too compliment my other two speed lights. My problem now is to understand the SU800 (also just purchased) when operating the three units.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: belklin

Mutch efevt in a smal pacage!

Smal, compact and powerful.
Use wisely due to overheating when runig on high output on photoshot.
Recargebale batterys charges the flash faster, and saves you from expensive battery purtuse.

Used SB-900 flash the best value of all

Priced at around £100, a pristine second hand SB-900 is far better value than the SB-910 (overheats a little slower) or SB-5000 (so expensive to have a radio trigger). I have several SB-800s, 900s and 910s. Only the 800 was new. None has ever failed, even when using together.Read full review

Great value Workhorse

The first of the rand to get the Nikon Commander mode, not a great range but you can buy these so cheap now I use two off-camera in commander mode when I need the extra coverage.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: jeremyrh8bjj

SB900

Although it has now been replaced as the foremost flash in Nikon's line up, the SB900 is still an excellent flash gun. An excellent to mint condition example, from Ebay is still less than half the price of the current top model. It is powerful and versatile for most jobs, especially, when used with other SB900s. To get the best from this flash, read the manual carefully.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: sergiocy85