RSS FeedNissin Di866 First Look
I have a wind of the news of the to be released Flagship Flashgun from Nissin, specially made for Nikon users. The All new Nissin Di866. At around 300USD and maybe adjusted lower in the future this is a to be waited on Flashgun from Nissin.
The Di866 Professional Speedlight features an external auto-exposure sensor with eight f-stops from f/2 to f/22 with compensation potential. It has additional features specially designed for professional dSLR users. The recycling time is around 3.5s and supposed to offer up to 150 full-power flashes per set of batteries.
The flash is supposed to synchronize to sync speeds higher than 1/250s. Additional features of a fill in sub-flash, activated by the main flash while bounced. It has self-changeable TTL light level feature and can be allegedly fired wireless by Nikon DSLR’s cameras. Nissin Di866 firmware can be updated via a built-in USB port, finally a flash with a USB port.
Nissin Di866
Supposed Features:
- Exclusive for Nikon Digital SLR’s Cameras
- The Di866 Professional Speedlight features an external auto-exposure sensor with eight f-stops from f/2 to f/22 with compensation potential
- Self changeable TTL light production level feature and can be fired by wireless means from Nikon DSLR’s cameras
- The unit is designed for use with DSLRs and boasts many features particularly designed for professional and advanced photographers
- It has recycling time of 3.5s and be able to offer up to 150 full-power flashes per set of batteries.
- It features a fill in sub-flash, which is activated while the main flash is bounced
- The flash synchronizes to high board up speeds of above 1/250s
- Its firmware can be updated via an incorporated USB port
Specifications:
| G.No | - Main flash 60(ISO 100, m) or 84(ISO 200, m) at 105mm lens angle coverage - Sub flash 12(ISO 100, m) or 17(ISO 200, m) for 35mm lens angle coverage |
| Compatibility | Nikon digital SLR cameras and Coolpix hotshoe cameras |
| Power Source | - Battery magazine - 4 x LR6, (Lithium, NiMH and Oxiride are usable) - Power Pack - Nissin Power Pack Pro 300 (NiMH exclusive battery cluster) |
| Recycling time | - 3.5 sec. by Battery Magazine with 4 x NiMH - 0.5 sec. by Nissin Power Pack Pro 300 |
| Number of flashes | - 150 full power flashes per set of NiMH batteries - 300 full power flashes by Nissin Power Pack Pro 300 |
| Camera Synch. | - TTL hotshoe (on camera flash) - PC cord service connector (off camera flash) - Wireless TTL, and Slave synchronization (off camera flash) |
Tay Hua Trading Review
I have been scouring the web for some new light stands as the ones I have are rusty and old. Those set I decided, is ready to retire as they have served two owners already; My Cousin who used it to light up his artwork, then me whom he decided to sell it to.
Anyway, I was assuming that I would easily find affordable yet quality light stands online. For a month I was trying to find those light stands I wanted, but most of what I found are included on studio sets or packaged as a kit with some of the things I did not need.
For a while I was almost fixed on getting these strobist sets/kit which included a soft box, or an umbrella. Then one day, I was reading through the archives of a strobist topic that mentioned a reliable shop in Manila who was established long before I can say my A-B-C’s.
It was Tay Hua Trading Corporation. I asked around about them on some web forums I am in, then I figured that in this time and age, they must already have a website. I found out they did at www.tayhua.com. I then started to go thorough their listings, I tried to look for a search function on their website, but there was none. I resorted to build my own widget to scan through their site and look for, as you might have guessed, “light stands”.
Tay Hua Trading
I first found the “Kits”, they also have strobist kits which included a strobist softbox and a strobist umbrella kit with some options to upgrade, like adding radio triggers with the package or changing the size and types of stands or umbrella. After reading through these kits, I found out they also sell the items individually.
It took me a week to decide which one I would purchase. Then I decided to contact them through the e-mail address they provided on the site. At first I tried on Yahoo Messenger, waited for a while but it is constantly offline. So instead I e-mailed them. A few hours later, I got a response. Few more queries, and Tay Hua’s e-mail reply is fairly fast. I found out some of the kits are out of stock and then I finally knew who was responding to me. It was actually Sir Ackerly Chua of Tay Hua himself.
Mr. Chua is pretty responsive and amicable. He suggested some items to me and asked for my planned usage of the items. He suggest what he thinks is the best option and added some tips here and there. You can seldom find a merchant who is willing to discuss how your ordered items can be useful and suggest things to make the desired result of your purchase plan, a success.
I decided to make my own Kit. After a few exchanges and tips from Mr. Chua, I finalized my order and asked for the invoice. He gave me the invoice with some discounts on the items, then he gave me details on how to pay for the items, and informed me that If I could pay that day before three in the afternoon, he could ship the items immediately.
Before I finalized my order, Sir Chua had to be specific about the shipping expense which the buyer covers. He was open to any courier suggestions you may have and I opted for LBC. Although LBC is a bit expensive, at least they deliver quicker based on my experience.
Sir Chua had my proposed orders weighed and shipping was then calculated with LBC. He then e-mailed me the shipping charge. After I agreed with the total fees, he gave me his mobile number and banking details. After lunch I went to the bank and sent the payment to Sir Chua’s account. I then sms’ed him to confirm that payment was done, he readily replied an informed me that he will send the tracking number after he has shipped the items.
Later that afternoon, I received the e-mail of the tracking number and we thanked each other for the successful transaction. I mentioned that I’ll let him know when the package arrives. To my surprise, Sir Chua later mentioned that he changed my light stands to a better model as opposed to the ones I ordered for the same price. I bought a couple of other accessories for the light stands, aside from the light stands themselves. This item upgrade came as a surprise.
About three in the afternoon the next day, my package arrived from LBC. It was well-packed and all items are plastic wrapped individually, it was also boxed pretty tight. Packaging was superb and items quality is A-plus. It’s only been a week that I have been toying with the new stuff. I’m sure to order more things from Tay Hua in the future because of this positive experience. I hope they hire a better web developer for their website though, to make it more user-friendly. I was just wondering, where my Free Tripod is At? Lol!
So are you ready to order at Tay Hua? I highly recommend them; tell Sir Chua you found the info on this site.
Wait for my review of the individual items I ordered on future posts.
Congratulations Tay Hua Trading for achieving the Gee Please Gold Standard.
If you have any feedback for Tay Hua Trading, don’t hesitate to leave your comments below.
Nikon D5000 First Look
I have been fortunate enough to read a review of the latest Nikon Released dSLR, the Nikon D5000. I wish I was fortunate enough to get a hold of one too just to review it. Owning one would not hurt either. I already have a dSLR so in the mean time, I have to read through the comparison and first-hand tryouts of others of this new Nikon Camera. Don’t fret because this is the best source of First hand samples and review I can get a hold of.
Nikon D5000
Nikon dSLR’s Comparison Chart you can get here.
Reviews You can read Here at the PiPho Organization Forum. All of these Courtesy of Mr. Carlo Nasol.
ISO Test Images lifted from there:
Nikon D5000 ISO Test
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Camera Cleaning Essentials
Whether you are using a point and shoot or a high-end dSLR, these cleaning essentials must not be missed. Conventional Microfiber cloths are not really friendly to your lens and camera surface, because if a debris is trapped within it’s folds, then it would scratch any surface it comes in contact with. However I am not totally putting down any anti-static and micro fiber cloths in general, I just want to let you know of the fact that what I mentioned above could happen. So if you are using one now, be careful when using it.
What I would suggest however you use is the Lenspen, it is a fairly nifty little device. It uses carbon technology to clean glass surface, the way people before use newspapers to clean you windshield or window glass is the same principle. However, it is synthesized and combined to a new pen lookind device. An added bonus is at it tails end (the lenspens’) is a brush that could gently pull out any debris first before cleaning with it’s patented carbon tip. However before using the lenspen, the first thing you should do is blow up the dust and debris off your device, and the Lenspen can’t do that, nor your mouth could. So you need my next tip, The Rocket Air Blower.
Lenspen LP-1
Sounds like it came from NASA right? What I am pertaining to is the Giottos Rocket Air Blower. It’s rubber component and design including the air inlet is specifically engineered for supreme air blowing performance(pardon the pun). Yes it blows the hell out of dust and debris. It has an inlet valve at the bottom (one-way valve) that takes clean, filtered air in from the bottom so you can blow out a clean air at the tip. So no debris being accindentally blown in to your device. Just to be sfe, before use, try to blow it a couple of times before pointing to the surface to be blown. Aren’t you tired with all the blowing already?
So keep in mind, in your arsenal, you need a lenspen and a blower. No go clean your stuff!
Giottos Rocket Air Blower
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LumoPro, Yong Nuo and Cactus
Still Looking for the most affordable Flash/Strobe for your strobist setup, you already are familiar with the Nissin Di622 right? Since I already reviewed it here before. I’d like to review a couple more affordable alternatives, but I can’t get my hands on them yet. So this is just a primer of the new sets of flashes. They are all ranging below the USD150 price line and seems to be a good alternative for your flash needs. The review at The Strobist Blog is updated every time they get new info on these set of flashes, so I trust that there reviews should be the first hand look on these new set of flashes.
Affordable Flashes
LumoPro 120 (around USD130), Yong Nuo YN460(USD50 below) and Cactus KF36 (USD100 below). The Complete Review and updated feedbacks from first-hand users are located at the Strobist Blog.
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Gary Fong Lightsphere 2
If you don’t know what it is, it is generally called a lighting modifier in photography. It is often called though as a Flash Diffuser.
The Gary Fong Lightsphere 2 is the newest version of Gary Fong’s Lightsphere series. It comes either in Clear and Cloud versions. The clear one for slight softness of light and the Cloud one which I recommend adds moderate softness to your flash light, making photos appear like it was taken using natural lighting not the harsh one a regular flash produces. It has a top attachment if you want to use those, it is actually a lid to close the dome to be able to point the Lightsphere directly on your subject . Imagine it looking like a Tupperware attached to your Flash. Most version fits the Nikon and Canon Flashes, so to make it fit a third-party flash like the Nissin Di622 reviewed before, slight modification and cutting required to fit.
When you buy one, it comes with the Cloud White dome lid, but other lids can be bought separately like the Amber Lid and the Reflective Silver Lid. The Generic version of the Gary Fong Lightsphere2 if you want to save some cash is called a Lambency Flash Diffuser. Some are named even crazier, but the best replicas are the Lambency ones.
Gary Fong Lightsphere 2 Clear
Gary Fong Lightsphere 2 Cloud
One downside when attaching it to a Nissin Di622 is that the weight added to the flash head makes it bow down to 90 degrees, so you either just point it up instead or rest it at 90 degrees, anywhere in between will drop down the head, unless you put in some fitter to the head to lock it tight.On Nikon and Canon Flash systems, it works pretty well as it is designed for those, the locking mechanism of those flash units are better. However, there is a Universal Lightsphere now available for all types of external Flashes.
The Gary Fong Lightsphere2 is really good to use on portrait photography, you need to practice a lot thought to get a hang of the proper settings to use when using an external flash and the Lightsphere 2. First thing I learned is to make sure you set a custom White Balance when bouncing the flash using the Lightshpere to achieve optimum results.
Gary Fong Lightsphere 2 Universal
Here are a couple of my observations:
- When there is insufficient light, the best distance would be around 6ft. from the subject bounced upward with the Lid at f11 and iso400 1/125. Flash power set at TTL. Bouncing at low light, it is best to set your White Balance to Tungsten.
- Pointing the Flash with the lid, you just need minor adjustments. For good all around flash strength, set at TTL and add +1 to the flash assist power.
I tried it on my SB-600 and it works like a charm, on the Nissin Di622 after slight modification, it works even better, I think it is because of the flash rating of the Nissin Di622 being higher than SB 600. Sample shots Below.
Regular Flash Left with Lightsphere 2 on the Right
Using the Amber Dome
If you have other observations on the Gary Fong Lighstphere 2, please suggest it by commenting and I will gladly test it and add the notes if confirmed.
Do you need to know more? Comment below and I’ll try to answer all your questions.
You can actually make a DIY (Do It Yourself) version of the Lightsphere.
Get one, I highly recommend it, tell Mr. Fong you read it here.
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Recent Comments
- Chris Administrator Gee, Please...: Hi Worried. Yes, most Nissin Di866 depending on where you bought it from has some...
- Chris Administrator Gee, Please...: Hi Ricky, Not unless your Metz Manual flash is set to trigger at TTL, then it...
- worried: i just bought mine last saturday, to shot for my brother’s wedding… it was very noisy...
- Ricky: Hi, firstly, good job on this informative review. I’m looking for a 2nd slave flash for my Pentax...
- Chris Administrator Gee, Please...: Hi Sorry for the long wait, as you can see we haven’t updated the site yet,...
- Migs: Sir! I have two questions. 1) I have a Canon 430EX II, planning to buy Di622 which will serve as my slave....
- Jack: Hi, I just bought a Nissin Di622. When I try yesterday the unit with my Canon 7d as slave the di622 work but...
- Chris Administrator Gee, Please...: @Michael: It will work off-camera via ttl triggering. @Long: The red glass...
- benting: hello newbie here. which do you think is a best buy? two nissin di622 or 1 nikon sb-600? and i really...
- long: my red glass have broken and scattered to pieces…do i need to buy a new flashlight or can change the red...
