Nikon announces SB-910 Speedlight
posted Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 8:11 PM EDT
Nikon Inc. has today announced a new flagship for its Speedlight flash strobe lineup, in the form of the Nikon SB-910 Speedlight.
An update to the earlier SB-900 model, the Nikon SB-910 is just a little smaller--but a little heaver--than its predecessor, and has an identical guide number of 34 meters (111.5 feet) at ISO 100 with the zoom head in the 35mm position. Most other features, including illumination patterns, zoom range, wireless functionality, battery life, recycle times and flash durations are also identical, with but a few key differences. Compared to the earlier strobe, the thermal cut-out function has been improved, and now simply lengthens the flash recycling time as required to protect the flash panel and body from overheating, where the SB-900 would cease operation altogether when the temperature threshold was reached.
Another change likewise intended to improve durability and heat-resistance is a switch to hard color compensation filters that clip onto the top of the flash head. The SB-910 will automatically detect the presence of the new, bundled SZ-2FL Fluorescent or SZ-2TN Incandescent filters, and adjust white balance appropriately on the attached Nikon DSLR. These new hard filters can also be used and detected automatically with the SB-900, while the SB-910 is likewise compatible with the earlier gel-type SJ-3 Color Filter Set, which included not only fluorescent and incandescent filters, but also six other filter colors for special effects. The SJ-3 gel filters are clipped to the flash head with the SZ-2 Color Filter Holder.
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The Nikon SB-910 Speedlight is the company's new flagship flash strobe. |
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Compared to its predecessor, the SB-910 also has a subtly tweaked user interface which replaces the Zoom button with a dedicated Menu button, making for quicker access to the menu system for settings changes. The on-screen interface of the SB-910 has also been adjusted slightly, while the rear-panel controls now include backlighting and are a bit larger than those of the SB-900.
The Nikon SB-910 Speedlight ships in the US market from mid-December 2011, priced at around US$550.
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A closeup of the SB-910 Speedlight's rear-panel layout. Photo provided by Nikon Inc. |
Press Release
The New Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Harnesses Powerful Flexibility And Control For The Revolutionary Creative Lighting System
New Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Offers Advanced Flash Technology and Intelligent Features
MELVILLE, N.Y. (November 29, 2011) – Today, Nikon Inc. announced the addition of a new flagship Speedlight, the powerful and capable SB-910 Speedlight. Building on the versatility of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS), the SB-910 incorporates an enhanced intuitive operating system and graphic user interface (GUI). The SB-910 Speedlight comes equipped with a wide zoom range covering the most popular focal lengths as well as FX/DX-format identification that optimizes zoom settings based on the camera body. This new Speedlight also provides more efficient battery usage as well as an enhanced Thermal Cut-Out function.
“As Nikon’s new flagship Speedlight, the SB-910 provides exceptional high performance and versatility that users have come to value in Nikon’s Creative Lighting System,” said Lisa Osorio, general manager of marketing at Nikon Inc. “By addressing the needs of photographers that work in challenging lighting scenarios, the SB-910 delivers a new level of portable lighting functionality, with performance and intelligent features that adapt to a wide range of lighting challenges.”
The SB-910 Speedlight is designed to provide easy operation and menu navigation, with its enhanced operating system featuring illuminated function buttons, a dedicated Menu button with quick access to custom settings and an improved LCD screen graphic user interface. Whether the unit is used as an on-camera flash, wireless commander or remote, the SB-910 Speedlight will provide dependable and consistent flash exposure. Engineered to address the creative lighting challenges faced by today’s photographers, the SB-910 Speedlight includes quick on-demand performance and the ability to adapt seamlessly to nearly any possible lighting scenario.
Additionally, the new SB-910 incorporates a new Thermal Cut-Out function, which offers protection against damage to the flash panel and body from overheating during continuous flash use. Now, the flash recycling time is automatically delayed if a significant rise in temperature is detected, rather than ceasing operation to protect the unit. For additional durability, heat-resistance and ease-of-use, the SB-910 uses new hard-type color compensation filters for fluorescent and incandescent color temperature balancing. When using these filters, the flash automatically recognizes which filter is being used and adjusts white balance accordingly on the connected Nikon D-SLR camera. Additionally, the AF-assist illuminator of the SB-910 is compatible with the complete line of AF systems used in Nikon D-SLR cameras.
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Nikon's SB-910 Speedlight, front and rear quarter views. |
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The SB-910 Speedlight features three illumination patterns (standard, center-weighted and even) which are designed to match almost any shooting situation when utilizing the Speedlight. The “standard” pattern will cover all conventional, standard flash coverage. The “center-weighted” pattern provides larger guide numbers than other light distribution types at the same focal lengths. This illumination pattern is ideal for subjects such as portraits, in which the light falloff at the image edges can be disregarded. When “even” is selected, the light from the flash will cover a subject from the center to the edges without light falloff. This pattern is applicable for shooting group photographs indoors. For coverage with a variety of lenses, the SB-910 Speedlight incorporates a multi-step power zoom range that covers a wide 17-200mm angle of view, and can automatically detect Nikon FX and Nikon DX formats to help select suitable light distribution.
The SB-910 Speedlight includes support for Nikon’s advanced wireless TTL operation and can function as a wireless commander with control over three separate groups of Speedlights or as a remote Speedlight triggered by other SB-910 Speedlights, SB-700 Speedlights, SU-800 Wireless Commander or the built-in Speedlight set to Commander Mode on compatible Nikon D-SLR cameras. The SB-910 incorporates a high-speed recycling time of approximately 2.5 seconds for full power with NiMH batteries, and approximately 3.0 seconds with AA Alkaline batteries.
Optional water guards will be available for select cameras to protect the connection between the flash and camera, allowing users to utilize the flash when weather conditions are less than ideal. The SJ-4 Color Filter set provides a Warming, Red, Yellow or Blue filter for adding color to the background, foreground or just to accent the scene. The SB-910 will come equipped with the AS-21 Speedlight Stand, SW-13H Diffusion Dome, SZ-2FL and SZ-2TN hard type Color Compensation Filters and SS-910 soft case.
Price and Availability
Nikon’s new flagship Speedlight, the SB-910, will be available in mid-December 2011 for a SRP*of $549.95. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
*SRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics as well as the new Nikon 1 advanced camera with interchangeable lens system. In 2011, production of NIKKOR lenses surpassed 65 million, creating a new milestone in Nikon’s heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web's most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon and other photographers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nikon and get the latest news and information from Twitter by following @Nikon_USA.