Customer Reviews

The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Amidst all the hype about megapixels and flicker, a new technology seemed to slip in under the radar. The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) arrived and gave users of the brand an unprecedented way to control large numbers of lights with an ease that would help to make better images (whatever better means). Lots of Nikon flash guns, or speedlights as they are now called, could be spread around a subject and fired again and again, while the photographer looked at resulting images on the camera monitor and adjusted the speedlights without ever leaving the shooting place until the photograper got just the lighting desired. Unfortunately, with this increase in versatility came an increase in complexity. It's this complexity that Mike Hagen is attempting to deal with.

The book includes chapters on the CLS system and flash theory in general; the buttons, modes and operations of each of the speedlights in the system, including the SB600, SB800, SB900, the SU800, the SB200, and the R1C1; the capabilities of the Nikon cameras that are integrated into the CLS system; batteries; and technique, including some examples of the use of the system.

The author aims primarily at the functions of the equipment rather than applications about which there is little discussion. For example, multiple flashes are quite useful in lighting interiors but there is no mention of this in the book. Nikon actually provides a pamphlet with their speedlights that does a better job of showing applications.

Unfortunately, the author often shows a lack of precision in discussing topics. For example, he indicates that the flash will tell you that it was not powerful enough to illuminate a scene by placing a minus sign in the upper right hand corner of the speedlight screen when a scene is underexposed. One might assume that this is some form of pre-metering but actually one must first take a picture, using the flash, to get this indicator. He also doesn't mention that the flash indicator on the flash will blink and that on some Nikon cameras, an indicator will blink in the viewfinder. For another example, Hagen tells you that you can press the zoom button to change the dispersion pattern of the SB800, but doesn't show you an image of the zoom button. That's because there is no separate button for zoom on the SB800; you have to use the multifunction dial for this purpose.

Some important subjects are omitted completely, like the integration of the speedlight with the camera. For example, there is no mention of the difference in shooting in aperture mode, shutter mode or manual mode. Similarly Hagen fails to provide important information that would allow one to figure out how to handle unique situations, like the fact that the flash tube only lights with one brightness and that it varies its illumination effects by the length of time it is on, or that in high speed mode the flash fires more than once, meaning that it will put out less illumination for each burst.

Users are hungry for information about the CLS system, and this book is the best available on CLS. Let's hope a better one comes along.

The detail in the book on how to operate the functions of each flash unit is explained well and there were several useful tables of information. I liked the author's writing style and sense of humor yet even though he obviously knows his material, I feel like i need to get another reference for more info on how CLS works and how to set up multiple flash arrangements.

Of the 16 chapters only one covers case studies and examples on how to set up and use multiple flashes using CLS. The author didn't follow a standard format for each case study so the level of detail provided for each example is different. The most annoying part was that this chapter doesn't show clearly how the flashes are positioned to create the example photo (and that makes a big difference in being able to get the result shown). I've seen other books and web tutorials use diagrams and drawings to show where flash units would be positioned to create the image but those are absent from this book. The final photo is shown and a long list of settings is provided but positioning is critical in a book about lighting and here the author chose to describe it in words instead of using illustrations. For example "The SB-800 key light on the left side was set for CH2..." The term , 'key light' is not defined and 'left side' is a relative term and I couldn't tell if it was left side from the reader's perspective or left side of the model in the photo. In a different chapter, the author actually shows a photo of the lighting equipment with the subject posing in the photo but again the figure is not adequately labeled and in his explanation "Group A is on the left, Group B is on the right, and Group C is behind the subject" I was only able to identify the Group C set of flashes. My point is that the illustrations could have been more explicit and there was too much ambiguity for a beginner like me.

Ironically I found many of the photos used for the illustrations to be very mediocre (dark, washed out/low contrast) and somewhat confusing. I'm not sure if that had to do with the photo itself or the publishing. In one chapter describing various flash modes and comparing bounce flash to direct flash there are 4 photos of a subject meant to illustrate the difference between the methods but they all look relatively the same, when in reality these methods should produce noticeably different results. Throughout the book there were several examples of photos intended to show a side by side comparison of varying settings, but the comparison photos look too subtle to highlight the point being made. There could have been greater attention made to the types of photos selected to illustrate certain points.

I liked the book for showing how to operate the flashes but I was hoping for more on multiple flash technique and more explicit detail showing how the lighting was arranged in the case studies photos.

I was fortunate to purchase the first copy of Mike's new book and have taken his Nikonian Class on the Nikon CLS system. The class was great as you would expect from the Director of the Nikonians School and his knowledge of the system is impressive to say the least. Mike has done a really great with the book going into detail with pictures and screen shots of how to use and improve your pictures using Nikon flash and digital cameras. The numerous screen shots show step by step how to access, control and set the menus on the SB600, SB800 and SB900 and the SB-R200 and SU800. You see all the menus so there is no confusion. Things like the Commander modes on D300, D700 and D3, etc., become no brainers with his easy to follow book as he references the flash and the camera settings. It's easy to understand the improvement in your pictures when you know how to control the flash on and off the camera, using diffusers and umbrellas and other techniques. If you shoot Nikon and don't really understand the flash system, or even if you think you do, you will be pleasantly surprised. I shoot with an D700, D300 and have a SB400, SB800 and SB900.

This is a book dedicated to explaining the setup and use of the Nikon Creative Lighting System. Its primary focus is on the equipment, explaining how the flash units interface with the sensors in the camera. There are helpful tables that show which flash units can be used with which camera, and which don't.

The book appears to be primarily an extension of the user manual. There is a section on the theory of using flash, and a few examples, but the main focus of the book is on getting the flash (single or multiple) and the camera to work together, and understanding what the various settings and messages mean. Those wishing to focus on creative setups and techniques for flash photography may wish to look elsewhere.

I've read a number of articles on line and the manual over and over so I had some vague ideas of the concepts already. Let me emphasize vague. This book takes seemingly complicated concepts and explains them in language and examples that made me wonder --"oh that's what the other articles were referring to". Honestly I am still reading the book but so far it's been very easy to read and understand. I'm so excited to finally understand how and why to use different functions. I am a beginner so perhaps you more experienced shooters will not find it as thrilling as me. Very very glad I bought this book!! It's frustrating to buy an expensive piece of equipment and not know how to use it! .....Was Blind but now I see!! How sweet is that!

I had great expectations for this book based on the hype, but found myself extremely disappointed. The vast majority of this book covers in extensive and minute detail the button by button operation of these flashes, which IMHO is already covered in the owners manual. I was looking for some "creative" out of a book dedicated to a creative lighting system, and that was sorely lacking. Some lame "setup" hints included in the last chapter don't even rate three stars. Learn to operate your strobes from the manual and get Scott Kelby's excellent Digital Photographer series and Joe McNally's Hot Shoe Diaries. I learned a lot in those books.

This book offers plenty of step-by-step instructions for using the various flashes in the current Nikon lineup. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive understanding of flash in general and Nikon's CLS in particular, you should go elsewhere.

The introductory chapters, "CLS Background" and "Flash Theory," are imprecise and confused, if not outright garbled. It starts right out with this definition:

'iTTL stands for "Intelligent Through the Lens." The "i" does not mean intelligent in the sense that the flash system is really thinking...'

What's that? If the author believes that the flash system isn't really thinking (in the computational sense of the word) as it communicates over IR with multiple flash groups, fires a preflash sequence, measures the preflash, controls the groups' final flash output, and (optionally) attempts to balance the flash with the ambient exposure, then I don't know what "thinking" is.

Then, in the next paragraph:

'The term "Through The Lens" indicates that the camera body is integral to the operation of the flash system because it meters flash output through the lens. In fact, unless you have an iTTL-compatible camera, you can't shoot in wireless mode with CLS flashes.'

True, but a non-sequitur. I haven't gotten to the second page yet, and I'm already utterly baffled.

Then there are glaring mistakes. In the section about the old D-TTL system, for example:

'D-TTL flash systems do not perform the pre-flash function...'

That is incorrect. There are several difference between the old D-TTL and the newer iTTL, but the older system did use preflashes. Or this definition of the inverse square law:

'Light Intensity = 1 / D^2'

No. You don't have to include an equation to describe the inverse square law, but if you do, you should get it right. The relationship is one of proportionality (usually indicated by an alpha symbol), or equality if you include a constant K that represents the source strength.

If you think I'm nitpicking, I'll remind you that this is a $34.95 book about nothing except the Nikon CLS. Is a coherent system overview with concise, accurate definitions too much to ask for? I think not.

The writing gets somewhat better in the chapters about the individual flash units, so if you intend to use this book as a reference or are seeking some step-by-step instructions, it might be useful to you.

If you happen to own a D700, I can recommend a much better introduction to the Nikon flash system: Thom Hogan's "Complete Guide to the Nikon D700." Its flash section is just one chapter in a very large book, but the chapter is clear and comprehensive, and it reflects Thom's deep understanding of the CLS as well as the entire Nikon system. Some might find his level of detail to be overwhelming, but you can always skim through the sections you're not interested in. (He might also include a flash chapter in his other Nikon DSLR books, but I don't own them and so I can't say.)

One more note about the Rocky Nook book (I just had to use that phrase at least once): The photographs of people are almost all badly lit and unpleasant to look at, an irony if there ever was one. I don't think it's the publisher's fault, because the many photos of cameras and flashes are alright; it's just that whoever took the portraits didn't seem to know how to use flash effectively. I had to laugh on page 184, where a list of "common flash mistakes" includes "highlights on the subject's forehead," and leading off the very next chapter is a particularly ugly photo of a man with a badly overexposed forehead.

This book is a simple overview and only does a barely reasonable job of providing dedicated flash operation. Additionally, it glosses over explaining buttons, modes, controls, and operation. The book does help to clarify certain aspects of the overly technical information contained in the owners' manual that Nikon provides with its flash units. However, in-depth samples and illustrations pertaining to the myriad of settings are sorely lacking. If your aim is to understand and set up a remote lighting system you'll likely find this book useful. If you are looking for a lot of dedicated information for your specific flash unit, look elsewhere. There's no reason why you should purchase a book, read it, and still be left guessing as to how to operate a flash, beyond its basic functions.

Just what I needed to help simplify the use of my SB 600 flashes. The user guides are not written with eye toward a rookie user. I now have more knowledge and confidence in my set ups. Perfect for my needs.

THE NIKON CREATIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM USING THE SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, AND R1C1 FLASHES is for photographers already seasoned in basics but who need lessons on flash photography and advanced light systems. Step-by-step methods for using the latest Nikon flash units teach all the steps needed to achieve amazing flash photos. Any library strong in photography basics needs this.