[clevermax]

Originally Posted by mohang_j

Only Non IS version kit lens is available in India.

Nikon body, with a non-IS lens basically means you are deprived of Image stabilization right? And I assume that you need to pay more for the VR equivalent of any non-VR lens.

I'd rather go for cameras with sensor stabilization because I can use an old lens and still get benefits of Image stabilization.

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by janitha

But the cards shown in their site are Class 2

Scroll down, III series are shown at the bottom end of the SD card page

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by clevermax

Nikon body, with a non-IS lens basically means you are deprived of Image stabilization right? And I assume that you need to pay more for the VR equivalent of any non-VR lens.

I'd rather go for cameras with sensor stabilization because I can use an old lens and still get benefits of Image stabilization.

3k or so when it comes to Nikkon. Price based on JJmehta.

[janitha]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Scroll down, III series are shown at the bottom end of the SD card page

Sorry, didn't notice. But I think the prices are high. I had bought Verbatim 4GB Class 6 for Rs.450/- one year back from a dealer in one of the computer forums.

[Jaggu]

Saw SanDisc 4GB 2 for under 500 bucks @ ezone!! Comes in soft paper shell packing, ill pick it up?

[phamilyman]

Another canoner enters the fray. 500D + 18-55IS + 55-250IS

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Another canoner enters the fray. 500D + 18-55IS + 55-250IS

Congratz and share the details, from where and at what price to start with

[TOR]

What i understood from fiddling with my D60 for a month was how insufficient the on-board flash of the camera is. More than outright power its the 'directionability' of the light output that is restricted when it comes to on board flash.

So the hunt started for a Speedlite. There were two options the Nikon SB series and 3rd party flash units. Nikon right now has three speedlites, the SB400,SB600 and the pro SB900. Cost would range from 5K to 25K for the Nikon units.

The alternative is 3rd party flash units and there are dime a dozen! The main difference would be auto flash metering technology(i-TTL in Nikon speak).The Nikons are costly for a reason ie, CLS!(Creative Lighting system) and there are no brands that provide these on individual units(not considering the triggers).

I finally narrowed my options between the Nissin Di622 and the Nikon SB600. Nissin is also an old Japanese company and are relatively well known for teir Speedlite units.

Nikon SB600 Specs

Guide Number30/98 (ISO 100, m/ft), 42/138 (ISO 200, m/ft) (at 35mm zoom-head position, 20 C/68 F)

Electronic ConstructionAutomatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry

Flash Exposure Controli-TTL, D-TTL, TTL (film based), Balanced Fill-Flash, Manual

Lens CoverageAuto 24 to 85mm, Manual 14mm to 85mm (14mm provided with built-in wide-flash adapter set)

Minimum Recycling TimeApprox. 3.5 seconds (manual, w/R6 (AA), 4.0 seconds (Lithium Ion AA), 2.9 seconds (NiCd AA), 2.5 seconds (Ni-MH AA)


Required Power Source4 x AA-type: Alkaline, Lithium, Nickel, NiCd, Ni-MH (All four batteries must be the same type)

Dimensions(W x H x D): Approx. 2.7 x 4.9 x 3.5 in. (68 x 123.5 x 90mm)

Weight10.6 oz. (300g)

Minimum Number of FlashesApprox. 200 (Alkaline batteries)

Wireless Flash Modes
Off
Remote

Wireless Communication ChannelsFour: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Channels

Wireless GroupsThree: A, B and C

Supplied Accessories
Speedlight stand (AS-19)
Soft case (SS-600)


Nissin Di622 Specs

Usable camera CANON digital camera, NIKON digital camera

Guide Number 44m, 145ft. (ISO 100), 62m, 205ft. (ISO 200)

Variable power 6 levels : Full - 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 - 1/16 - 1/32 powers

Flash exposure control E-TTL and E-TTL II for Canon cameras
i-TTL for Nikon cameras

Power source 4X LR6 or equivalent Mi-MH, lithium, oxyride batteries

Recycling time 0.2 -4.7 sec., with fresh alkaline batteries
0.2 -4 sec., with Ni-MH batteries

Energy saving system 5 minutes to stand-by mode, 30 minutes to shut down

Number of flashes 200-1500 flashes by fresh alkaline batteries

Illumination angle Digital lens : 16mm (14mm with wide angle diffuser)
by zooming reflector to - 18 - 24 - 35 - 47 - 57 - 70mm

Turning head 90upward, 90to left, 180 to right

Slave mode Slave sync : with respect to the digital pre-flash system

AF Assist light Infrared LED for distance of 0.7 to 6 meter.

Color temperature 5,600K (same as daylight)

Flash duration 1/800sec. to 1/20,000sec.

Accessories included Shoe stand, pouch

Dimensions 77(W) x 130(D) x103(H) mm / 30(W) x 51(D) x 40(H) inches

Weight 315g (without battery) / 11oz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did a hands on comparison between the two, the Nikon unit definitely feels better made but the Nissin is not far behind.The SB600 has an LCD and has a full CLS function set.The Nissin has LED display works in full i-TTL but works only as an optical slave.

Costs

Nikon SB600-Rs.11,500/-(Without B/W)

Nissin Di622-Rs.7,000/-(without B/W)

The budget at hand made the decision easy!

What drew in favor of the Nissin is that its more powerful than the SB600 , has a longer zoom range(upto 105mm against the 85mm of the SB600)-which complemented my 18-105 lens and also that the Nissin sported a fill flash card which the Nikon unit was lacking.

The flash lives for about 350 shots in -TTL mode and i am much impressed by the flash. About in door photos-well dramatic is an understatement! A hot shoe flash is an essential accessory for any D-SLR user.

The results

With On-board flash


With the NIssin Di622 on hotshoe(flash head with fill card bounced to the ceiling)


Both images were shot in a room lighted with a 15W incandescent light(quite faint).

The Nissin is available for both Nikon and Canon mounts and i guess are very good VFM alternative for single flash photography.

[gd1418]

Congrats Hitanshu. Now for the first pics and a report of your experience.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Another canoner enters the fray. 500D + 18-55IS + 55-250IS

[janitha]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Saw SanDisc 4GB 2 for under 500 bucks @ ezone!! Comes in soft paper shell packing, ill pick it up?

This is the packing I got.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Congrats Hitanshu. Now for the first pics and a report of your experience.

Yet to come! Its reaching me on thursday night/Friday!

But in the line of my VDi - i'll click pics, but the 'report' will come after the first ten thousand is up!


Speaking of which, anyone on TBHP interested in a battery grip BG-E5? It fits the 450D and the 500D. Its coming because of a muddle with my friend, and they are not taking it back Its costing 7000-7200 (depending on the exchange rate). My budget's frankly a bit stretched so can't afford it. If anyone's interested, kindly let me know via a PM.

[Jaggu]

Not to hijack or to make it

Hope you dont mind me making your snap my experiment TOR. I took the jpeg above (darker shot)


and did some minor fiddling with the software (that came with my camera) and got this



So if one shoots raw, then can he/she manage better, with a good PP software and the camera settings itself, without investing on flash?

Yup it will be a time consuming affair.

Disclaimer: This aint professional work nor am i show casing any of my photography or processing skills here

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Another canoner enters the fray. 500D + 18-55IS + 55-250IS

Congrats and my, my Hitanshu! So finally you managed to take this plunge? Congrats once again.

[phamilyman]

Hi,

The plunge was long delayed till this month's salary credit by the 4th of September! I was ready, and the deal was too juicy to pass up

@Jaggu: Its from Japan. Roughly 42k (exact price I'll get to know on receipt on Thursday)

The body has Japan warranty and lenses international warranty. So my friend has told me!

[gendarmee]

@TOR- Can the very same Nissin flash be used with a Canon camera or is there a separate Canon version?