NIkon sc29 vs sc 28

A place for us to talk about Nikon related camera gear.

Moderator: Moderators

Forum rules
Please ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is. Please also check the portal page for more information on this.

NIkon sc29 vs sc 28

Postby Reschsmooth on Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:36 pm

Guys, can anyone describe the benefits (for all of $30 from Poon) of the 29 over the 28?

My understanding of either is that it provides full TTL flash off camera without worrying about wireless problems. Is that correct?

Cheers

P
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby the foto fanatic on Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:56 pm

SC-29 has an AF-assist lamp on the end that fixes to your camera. It supposedly (I haven't tested this) gives better low-light AF results than the lamp on the camera.
Last edited by the foto fanatic on Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
TFF (Trevor)
My History Blog: Your Brisbane: Past & Present
My Photo Blog: The Foto Fanatic
Nikon stuff!
User avatar
the foto fanatic
Moderator
 
Posts: 4212
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:53 pm
Location: Teneriffe, Brisbane

Postby PiroStitch on Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:56 pm

Yes and the additional $30 provides you the option of where you want the AF Assist light to be lit from - camera or from the flash unit. With the SC28, I believe you only have one option and that's the camera. In a low light environment, it helps to know where you're pointing the flash so having the AF assist lit from the flash unit helps out - but it takes some getting used to.

Trevor - the assist is from the flash unit, not the sc29 itself. at the flash end, there's a switch which lets you choose.
Hassy, Leica, Nikon, iPhone
Come follow the rabbit hole...
User avatar
PiroStitch
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4669
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:08 am
Location: Hong Kong

Re: NIkon sc29 vs sc 28

Postby radar on Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:01 pm

Patrick,

Reschsmooth wrote:Guys, can anyone describe the benefits (for all of $30 from Poon) of the 29 over the 28?


The SC-29 provides the exta feature of having an AF assist lamp (LED) that sits in the hot shoe of the camera, so depending on the type of lighting conditions you shoot in, you may or may not need this.

Reschsmooth wrote:My understanding of either is that it provides full TTL flash off camera without worrying about wireless problems. Is that correct?


Nikon wrote:The SC-28 TTL Remote Cord is comes with two multiple flash terminals, making off-camera TTL flash control easy


correct, that's my understanding as well, above also applies to SC-29

cheers,

André
Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution. Ansel Adams

(misc Nikon stuff)
User avatar
radar
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2823
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:18 am
Location: Lake Macquarie (Newcastle) - D700, D7000

Postby Reschsmooth on Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:06 pm

What took you guys so long :lol:

Seriously, thanks for the rapid response. I guess an extra $30 isn't that much for the AF assist. However, isn't the AF assist light obsolete with the SB800?

Cheers

P
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby Yi-P on Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:21 pm

Reschsmooth wrote:What took you guys so long :lol:

Seriously, thanks for the rapid response. I guess an extra $30 isn't that much for the AF assist.

Cheers

P


Dont overlook the extra AF Assist. When you are under very dim lights, you usually get to work on with your SB800 on top of the camera, the SB800 has its own AF Assist light and is deadly accurate with that.

Without the SC29's AF assist, your SB800 will fire off the AF assist light from itself and your actual light is off centred and from an angle, making focus inaccurate or not happening at all.

If you dont really shoot much under dim light, then the SC-29 will not be much an advantage, but it is great to just have it there.
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Postby Greg B on Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:29 pm

Yi-P wrote:If you dont really shoot much under dim light, then the SC-29 will not be much an advantage, but it is great to just have it there.


Although dim light is a great time to use your flash

:D

I have the SC-29, very handy bit of gear. Agree with everything above.

Plus it looks really cool.
Greg - - - - D200 etc

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
- Arthur Schopenhauer
User avatar
Greg B
Moderator
 
Posts: 5938
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:14 pm
Location: Surrey Hills, Melbourne

Postby Reschsmooth on Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:31 pm

Greg B wrote:Plus it looks really cool.


And, it has been about 3 weeks since I bought any new gear! :lol:
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby Oz_Beachside on Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:26 pm

I havent read the tech specs, but the SC29, "should" also measure distance to subject (with reference to the camera) and adjust the flash accordingly. For TTL, metering through the lens, would be out of line, if you hand hold the flash an arms length in from of the lens.

Not sure if it does this, but it "should".
User avatar
Oz_Beachside
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2227
Joined: Thu May 25, 2006 11:31 pm
Location: Black Rock, Victoria. D200

Postby the foto fanatic on Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:33 pm

PiroStitch wrote:Trevor - the assist is from the flash unit, not the sc29 itself. at the flash end, there's a switch which lets you choose.


Not the way it is explained here:
The SC-29 Off Camera AF TTL Cord, which mounts to the camera's hot shoe, enables an attached SB-800 flash to accurately autofocus in low light when placed on a flash bracket, for beautiful shadowless lighting.
The cord in corporates a new AF Illuminator at the mounting point that overrides the SB-800's AF Illuminator, completely eliminating any possibility of autofocus discrepancies when using the SB-800 off camera.
In addition, the SC-29 Off-Camera AF TTL Cord and the SB-800 Quick Recycling Battery Pack can be used as an off camera master controller in a Multi-Flash Set-up
TFF (Trevor)
My History Blog: Your Brisbane: Past & Present
My Photo Blog: The Foto Fanatic
Nikon stuff!
User avatar
the foto fanatic
Moderator
 
Posts: 4212
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:53 pm
Location: Teneriffe, Brisbane

Postby Laurie on Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:35 pm

does anyone have an nice high res photos of the sc29?
from different angels.
not the one from the Nikon site

you'd think a camera manufacturer would have nice photos of their own equipment on their site!
User avatar
Laurie
Senior Member
 
Posts: 679
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:46 pm
Location: Mortdale.Sydney/NSW.AU

Postby PiroStitch on Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:56 pm

Trevor, the mounting point it mentions means at the camera end not the flash end - obviously a bit of ambiguity there. ;) The sc-29 is probably one of the most valuable items in my kit bag ;)
Hassy, Leica, Nikon, iPhone
Come follow the rabbit hole...
User avatar
PiroStitch
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4669
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:08 am
Location: Hong Kong

Postby Reschsmooth on Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:27 pm

PiroStitch wrote: The sc-29 is probably one of the most valuable items in my kit bag ;)


You obviously haven't got any of those bungee balls yet :lol: :lol:
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby PiroStitch on Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:58 pm

i don't have an extra sb800 to trigger it wirelessly ;) no the D2 doesn't have an onboard flash :P
Hassy, Leica, Nikon, iPhone
Come follow the rabbit hole...
User avatar
PiroStitch
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4669
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:08 am
Location: Hong Kong

Postby Manta on Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:40 pm

Don't forget also that the AF capabilities of the SC29 only work when the camera AF system is set to AF-S, NOT AF-C.
Simon
D300 l MB-D10 l D70 l SB-800 l 70-200 VR l TC 17-E l 18-70 f3.5-4.5 l 70-300 f4-5.6 l 50 f1.4 l 90 Macro f2.8 l 12-24 f4
http://www.redbubble.com/people/manta
User avatar
Manta
Former Outstanding Member Of The Year
 
Posts: 3815
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:49 pm
Location: Hamilton Qld

Postby the foto fanatic on Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:51 pm

PiroStitch wrote:Trevor, the mounting point it mentions means at the camera end not the flash end


Wasn't that what I said?

PiroStitch wrote: The sc-29 is probably one of the most valuable items in my kit bag


Me too. In fact I'm looking at mine now. It's mounted on the camera. The AF-assist lamp is on the end of the cord that attaches to the camera's hot shoe.

PiroStitch wrote: Trevor - the assist is from the flash unit, not the sc29 itself. at the flash end, there's a switch which lets you choose.


The assist is NOT from the flash. The AF-assist lamp there is disabled by the SC-29. The assist is actually from the SC-29!

What am I missing here?

if anything!
TFF (Trevor)
My History Blog: Your Brisbane: Past & Present
My Photo Blog: The Foto Fanatic
Nikon stuff!
User avatar
the foto fanatic
Moderator
 
Posts: 4212
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:53 pm
Location: Teneriffe, Brisbane

Postby Yi-P on Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:28 pm

Laurie wrote:does anyone have an nice high res photos of the sc29?
from different angels.
not the one from the Nikon site


Here is one quick snapshot of what it looks like when attached to a camera:

Image
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Postby Laurie on Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:50 pm

Thanks Yi-P thats a great image and exactly what i was after.
i am thinking of getting one of these and am stupid i didnt add it to the recent order i just made.
User avatar
Laurie
Senior Member
 
Posts: 679
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:46 pm
Location: Mortdale.Sydney/NSW.AU

Postby Reschsmooth on Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:57 pm

Thanks guys - looks like it is something I should add to the wish list (saving for a baby means that a $110 item is still a luxury!).

Question - how far does the coiled lead stretch without causing too much tension on the flash unit (assuming it is free standing as per Yi-P's pic)?

P
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby the foto fanatic on Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:20 am

Reschsmooth wrote:
Question - how far does the coiled lead stretch without causing too much tension on the flash unit (assuming it is free standing as per Yi-P's pic)?

P


About 1.2 metres.
TFF (Trevor)
My History Blog: Your Brisbane: Past & Present
My Photo Blog: The Foto Fanatic
Nikon stuff!
User avatar
the foto fanatic
Moderator
 
Posts: 4212
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:53 pm
Location: Teneriffe, Brisbane

Postby Heath Bennett on Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:22 am

Manta wrote:Don't forget also that the AF capabilities of the SC29 only work when the camera AF system is set to AF-S, NOT AF-C.


That is simply bloody useful information which I feel a little silly that I didn't know. But when you think about it, it is obvious!
HB
User avatar
Heath Bennett
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1351
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:49 pm
Location: Morisset/Bonnells Bay

Postby Yi-P on Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:18 am

Let me add a little side note.

The power for the Flash Assist LED on the SC29 comes from the SB800. If you look close to your SB800 mount, right in the front above the mount are 2 small electronic contacts, that is the power source for the SC29 AF-ILL.

No, you cannot simply buy a SC29 and have benefit of superb AF-ILL, Nikon's own marketing game... :(
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Postby PiroStitch on Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:18 pm

Sorry Trev didn't mean to cause you too much grief - what I meant to say was the SC29 allows you to pick whether you want the assist from the IR at the camera end, or from the flash end using the SB800's assist.
Hassy, Leica, Nikon, iPhone
Come follow the rabbit hole...
User avatar
PiroStitch
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4669
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:08 am
Location: Hong Kong

Postby the foto fanatic on Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:52 am

PiroStitch wrote:Sorry Trev didn't mean to cause you too much grief - what I meant to say was the SC29 allows you to pick whether you want the assist from the IR at the camera end, or from the flash end using the SB800's assist.


No probs :D

I leave mine on, but some people say that it drains the batteries in the flash too quickly. I guess I haven't had shooting sessions that are too long because I haven't noticed that.
TFF (Trevor)
My History Blog: Your Brisbane: Past & Present
My Photo Blog: The Foto Fanatic
Nikon stuff!
User avatar
the foto fanatic
Moderator
 
Posts: 4212
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:53 pm
Location: Teneriffe, Brisbane

Postby Reschsmooth on Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:45 am

Well, after playing around with the SB800 off camera (in remote mode) and the Metz triggered by a very cheap slave, I can safely say that I will be needing the SC29 very soon.

One question (with explanation first): I can currently fire the SB800 from the hot-shoe and plug the Metz into the pc synch socket of the camera, firing both simultaneously. If I have the SB800 off camera via the SC29, can I still plug the Metz into the pc synch socket? (Use of the on-board flash to fire the SB800 remotely seems to disable the pc-synch socket).

Cheers

P
User avatar
Reschsmooth
Senior Member
 
Posts: 4164
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Just next to S'nives.

Postby Yi-P on Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:21 am

I believe that the camera detects the SB800 on top of the camera when the SC28/29 is attached. It will not detect that a syn cable is in place.
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Re: NIkon sc29 vs sc 28

Postby Bluey on Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:14 pm

Thanks for the photo 'Yi-P'.
It really does shows the physical difference between it and the SC-28.
I bought the SC-28 a while ago and whilst it works well, I'm now thinking of getting an SC- 29.
:cheers:
Bluey
Newbie
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:06 pm

Re: NIkon sc29 vs sc 28

Postby Mr Darcy on Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:26 am

I have both an SC28 and a 29. I sometimes use both for that extra reach. Of course, you lose any benefit from the assist lamp on the SC29 when you do that.
Greg
It's easy to be good... when there is nothing else to do
User avatar
Mr Darcy
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3414
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:35 pm
Location: The somewhat singed and blackened Blue Mountains


Return to Nikon

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests

cron