Flash for the D200

[MrIconoclast]

I posted this on another forum, but perhaps this digital camera forum is the best place for it.

I am finally going to join the glorious digital SLR revolution.  I have a D200 on order and hope to get it within it a month.    I have my N90s on permanent loan to a friend.  I will keep the F100 as my backup body for now since I can't afford to buy another D200 at this time.  An F100 with ISO 400 color negative film is still an awesome combination.

My SB26 speed light will not work with the D200, as I understand it.

What speedlight should I get for use with the D200?

I will mostly use it for daylight fill-flash, to put some extra light in animal fur, to temper the harsh light of mid-day, and to put that wonderful 'catch-light' in the eyes of various critters.  And, yes, I may use it to photograph indoor family events (mundane but necessary).  

I would appreciate the thoughts of those people who have used the various speedlights with Nikon digital bodies.

Thanks

[Richard Marcellus]

I use the SB-800 with my D200 and D70. It is a very nice flash and comes with a diffusion dome, coloured gels for balancing light, a simple plastic mount to attach the flash to a tripod, and a extra battery attachment to allow the flash to use 5 batteries instead of 4 (for faster recycle times).

The SB-600 is quite similar with a bit less power and lacking the accessories, but it cannot be used as the master commander for wireless flash. Since the D200 pop-up flash can be used as the wireless commander with 3 banks of flashes (the D70 can only control one bank with the pop-up flash) you could save a bit of money by going with the SB-600.

I normally use the SB-800 on a sync cord to get the light up a bit higher and over to one side as I prefer the light to come at a bit of an angle. I also have a small softbox (12"x16") that I often attach to my flash to soften the light. I don't use wireless flash with people because the preflashes tend to make most people blink (hence the sync cord).

Richard

[bart alexander]

You can use your SB 26 at A and adjust the lighting on your flash. Ideally you'd use an SB-800, but that one you'll have to adjust also . It's a matter od taste how much fill you want, and you cannot program taste into your SB800. So, try your SB26 first and see if it works for you or. With the SB 800 you'll enjoy wireless flash control obviously.

[jliechty]

Normally I'd just recommend using the D200's built-in flash for fill outdoors, but I purchased an SB-800 because I needed something more for macro and the occasional unfortunate family events that I am required to photograph. If you're on a budget, there's nothing wrong with the SB-600 - indeed, it would have been enough flash for me - but I knew that if I didn't get the SB-800, I'd encounter situations in the future where I would wish that I had done so.

[MrIconoclast]

You can use your SB 26 at A and adjust the lighting on your flash. I
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Thanks for the help and tips.  I will check out the SB26 and see how it works on the D200.  It is a great flash and has saved many photos for me when nature's light was not optimum.

[Raw shooter]

At least look into the R1C1 -the (Creative Lighting System) new flash that has wireless external flashes (TTL, of course).  It comes with 2 wireless fleahes (SB-R200 units), but you can add lots more.  It is sold as a macro flash, but it is so much more.  You will find so many ways to use it - like for special directional lighting in portrait photography.  It was developed for the D200.  Nikon resellers will try to sell the less expensive R1 kit to D200 owners - but definitely get the whole R1C1 kit (comes with the commander unit which wirelessly controls the muliple flash units)
Best of luck.