---
product_id: 1160339
title: "SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras"
brand: "nikon"
price: "$U38290"
currency: UYU
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
category: "Nikon"
url: https://www.desertcart.uy/products/1160339-sb-900-af-speedlight-flash-for-nikon-digital-slr-cameras
store_origin: UY
region: Uruguay
---

# Guide number 34m @ ISO100 Wireless control up to 3 groups + unlimited remotes Zoom coverage 17-200mm FX / 12-200mm DX SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

**Brand:** nikon
**Price:** $U38290
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> ⚡ Illuminate Like a Pro, Command Like a Boss

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras by nikon
- **How much does it cost?** $U38290 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.uy](https://www.desertcart.uy/products/1160339-sb-900-af-speedlight-flash-for-nikon-digital-slr-cameras)

## Best For

- nikon enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted nikon brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Precision Zoom Coverage:** Auto power zoom adapts instantly from wide-angle 17mm to telephoto 200mm lenses, ensuring flawless illumination every shot.
- • **Versatile Light Patterns:** Choose from Standard, Center-weighted, or Even light distribution to craft the perfect mood for portraits, groups, or interiors.
- • **Master Your Lighting Setup:** Control up to 3 wireless Speedlight groups and unlimited remotes with 4 channel options—perfect for dynamic multi-light shoots.
- • **Rapid Recycle & Reliable Power:** Recycles in as fast as 2.3 seconds with Ni-MH batteries, delivering consistent bursts without missing a beat during critical moments.
- • **Built for Professionals on the Move:** Compact yet powerful at just 14.6 oz, with a drip-proof mount and thermal cut-off safety to keep your gear safe and shooting longer.

## Overview

The Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight is a flagship, high-performance flash designed for Nikon DSLR users seeking ultimate creative control. It features advanced wireless commander mode managing multiple flash groups, rapid auto zoom from 17 to 200mm, and three selectable light patterns. Built with professional-grade durability, fast recycle times, and intelligent thermal protection, the SB-900 empowers photographers to master complex lighting setups with precision and reliability.

## Description

Product description The Nikon SB-900 Speedlight, the advanced flagship of Nikon's flash units, builds upon the SB-800 with innovative enhancements. Its automated zoom head now covers 17mm to 200mm lenses (in 35mm/FX format) in just 1.2 seconds. You can choose from three light distribution patterns: Standard, Center-weighted, and Even. It automatically adjusts for DX or FX format cameras. The SB-900 can function independently or in wireless groups, either as a commander or slave. Its i-TTL system supports Advanced Wireless Lighting, controlling up to four groups of Speedlights with 3 remote i-TTL Speedlight groups. i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash control uses Nikon's Advanced Data Communication system, improving monitor pre-flash and wireless operation for higher precision, forming the core of the Creative Lighting System. desertcart.com The SB-900 i-TTL Speedlight leads the Nikon Creative Lighting System by delivering the portability, power, and versatility to support any photographer's creative lighting imagination. The SB-900 works as a wireless standalone flash, or you can use it as a commander or wireless remote light source. In commander mode, the SB-900 controls up to three remote Speedlight groups and an unlimited number of compatible Speedlights, with four wireless channel options helping you manage wireless conflicts in multiple photographer environments. The flash also offers streamlined controls and menus, including a rotary select dial that sets key flash functions quickly, along with a prominent master and remote control switch to simplify wireless operation. Photographers working on zoom photos will appreciate the SB-900's expanded auto power zoom coverage, which ranges from 17 to 200mm in the FX format to 12 to 200mm in the DX format. Photographers also have the choice of three light distribution patterns: standard (for general illumination), center-weighted (for portraits), and even (for groups or interiors). Finally, the SB-900 automatically identifies mounted color gel filters and adjusts the camera's auto white balance setting (available with select Nikon digital SLR cameras). Other details include automatic FX/DX format identification; user-friendly firmware updating; flash tube overheat protection; and a drip-proof mounting foot cover. Technical Specifications Guide number: 34 meters/111.5 feet (ISO 100), 48 meters/157.5 feet (ISO 200)Electronic construction: Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitryFlash exposure control: Slow sync; red-eye reduction in slow sync; front curtain sync; rear curtain sync; rear-curtain slow sync; auto FP high-speed sync; FV lock flashLens coverage: 17 to 200mm (FX format, automatic mode); 12 to 200mm (DX format, automatic mode); 12 to 17mm (FX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed); 8 to 11mm (DX format, automatic mode with built-in wide-angle panel deployed)Bounce function (tilt): Flash head tilts down to -7 degrees or up to 90 degrees, with click stops at -7, 0, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degreesBounce function (rotate): Flash head rotates horizontally 180 degrees to the left and right, with click stops at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 degreesMinimum recycling time: 4 seconds with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 4.5 seconds with lithium (1.5 volts); 3 seconds with Oxyride (1.5 volts); 2.3 seconds with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)Flash duration: 1/880 second at M1/1 (full) output; 1/1,000 second at M1/2 output; 1/2,550 second at M1/4 output; 1/5,000 second at M1/8 output; 1/10,000 second at M1/16 output; 1/20,000 second at M1/32 output; 1/35,700 second at M1/64 output; 1/38,500 second at M1/128 outputRequired power source: 4 AA-type batteries in the following types: alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts), lithium (1.5 volts), or Ni-MH (1.2 volts)ISO range: 100 to 6,400Optional power supply: SD-9 high-performance battery pack, SD-8A high-performance battery pack, or SK-6 power bracket unitReady light: YesMinimum number of flashes: 110 with alkaline-manganese (1.5 volts); 230 with lithium (1.5 volts); 190 with Ni-MH (2,600 mAh)Wireless flash modes: Off, master, master (repeating), remote, and SU-4Wireless communication channels: 4Wireless groups: 3Dimensions: 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D)Weight: 14.6 ouncesSupplied accessories: AS-21 Speedlight stand, SW-13H diffusion dome, SJ-900 color filter set, SZ-2 color filter holder, SS-900 soft case

Review: If you want to know the truth please read - Okay, here's the (long winded) truth about the flash and it's "thermal shutdown problem". First off, let me say that I have much experience in using different camera flashes and studio strobes as well as some repairing of them. I will start of by saying that this flash is the best portable camera flash in it's class that I have EVER used. Nikon knows what they are doing. They have an extremely high standard of quality and reliability. When they see a quality improvement / guarantee need, they will apply it. In the case of the SB-800 to the SB-900 one of the biggest and least appreciated quality assurance guarantees is the thermal cut off feature. Which, by the way, can be turned off or on. So all of those who are b****ing about it, just read your manual and turn it off! Okay, time for a cheesy quote: "With great power comes great responsibility". Nikon knew this. (speculation) They also knew the general public would not really understand the limitations of the flash in hand. So they incorporated a safety mechanism: "Thermal cut off", to prevent overheating due to extended maximum flash output. This sort of "circuit breaker" is also found in some pro studio strobes. Studio strobes usually use AC power and provide a much greater power output and are more likely to overheat and sometimes "blow out", so it is common to see some kind of safety mech built in to them. Portable camera flashes run off batteries and do not produce any where near the kind of power output than said strobes; so there is usually no critical need for such a safety. With the SB-900 however (and SB-800), Nikon has managed to build a very compact flash (yes, I mean compact if you consider it's power capability) that recharges very quickly and sustains a consistent powerful output. To do this, it requires a huge demand on the IGBT (like a capacitor) and sustained overheating would result in failure and eventually even damage to the flash. Of course they could have "pushed it" and programmed it to trigger at a much higher temp threshold or even eliminated the option all together. But it is good to have that feature. It's not that the flash overheats "easily", it's that the flash is offering more than maybe it should. With that much more power, comes that much more heat. (Especially from a compact unit without any cooling fans) Now for my silly analogy: "It's like the difference between driving a car that only goes 65mph (other flashes) and driving car that goes 100mph (SB-900 / 800). With the 65mph car, you can't get a speeding ticket (overheat / failure) on the freeway with the speed limit of 65mph. With the 100mph car you won't get a ticket either, until you start driving 100mph for an extended period of time on the same freeway. Then you will likely be stopped for speeding. Then, having a radar detector (thermal cut off feature) will warn you when a cop is around the corner and that you should slow down from 100mph to 65mph. You may ask yourself: why that speed limit? Of course, safety: limitations of the car and driver. Then you may ask: why make a car that goes 100mph if it is not safe to go that fast? (here is where my analogy doesn't follow exactly, but you get my point) You may have a need to go 100mph and it is good to have the ability. Often it may be fine to do so. Just know you are running the risks." If you really need to turn off the thermal feature and shoot at max output consistently, chances are it will function just fine. Yes, it will get hot, yes your batteries will drain faster, and yes you will wait longer for each subsequent recharge but nothing major will happen: because it's designed to do that and it's a Nikon made in Japan. Just know this: Nikon or not, all electronics still have to follow the basic laws of physics. It's not ultimately good for the IGBT and circuitry to sustain such powerful flash firing as some do. You run the risk of degradation and failure. I've seen it happen, albeit rare. Basically, you should feel confident about the performance and reliability of this flash. It doesn't get any better...yet.
Review: SB-900 - I have several SB-800s and SB-600 so my primary basis for comparison is against those. Basically this strobe is excellent but some of the whistles and bells are of questionable utility. The things I really like about the strobe are pretty much the things that make the SB-800 great. - Remote capability via CLS system - Su-4 slave mode - External high voltage battery pack compatibility (plug on front) - Nice guide numbers for a battery unit. - Zoom that can be controlled manually or by the camera. - Selectable beep for when unit has recycled. - Can be used as a three channel master for Nikon's CLS system The things this unit does that are improvements compared to the SB600 and SB800 that I like and what motivated me to purchase it are: - Zoom to 200mm and not just 85 mm (600) or 105 mm (sb800). - Different beam patterns - Head rotates a full 180 degrees in both directions (requires a little surgery on an SB800 to fix this stupid problem on them) - Manual thumb switch for on/off and selecting remote and master modes instead of the slow menu system. These are what I wanted/liked and why I went for this strobe unit. The things I don't like or question the value of them: - I don't like the size. It is bigger than the SB800 some of which admittedly is needed for the zoom optics for the lamp itself but the lower body is bigger too. I can open SB800/600s straight out and stand them upright in a Think Tank camera pack but the 900 has to be folded 90 degrees and/or laid down and it takes up much more space. - The colored gel thing to automatically set the white balance with the camera is something I don't care for. I suppose some folks that want idiot-proof will like this but it is simply added cost with no benefit for most photographers who know enough to use gels. Much of the time we specifically don't want the camera to change white balance to tungsten if we put a CTO gel on the strobe. And the green gel to match the strobe to fluorescent lights is of little use because most fluorescent lights any more need more than just a green gel on the strobe to obtain an acceptable match. Green alone is ok for old fluorescent lights but most lights now need a green, full CTO and often a bit of yellow as well to make a decent match. So this feature adds cost but no value. - I have a real grudge against the 900 because it allowed Nikon to discontinue the 800. Bad move. I'll probably buy more 600s since you can get two of those for the price of one 900 and have more light to boot. - I have mixed reaction to the modeling light. I like that when you push the button it stays on for a couple seconds, kind of handy to let you use both hands for a brief moment to adjust things. However, with the 800 there were dedicated buttons, one to operate the modelling feature (it strobes at a fast rate and lower output so you can see how the light hits your subjects) and one to just trip the flash. The 900 has only one button and you have to select in the setup memu which function it will provide, flash or modelling light. That kinds of sucks. - The new Radio Poppers Jr Studio verson wireless triggers have a function and accessory (cube) that can provide manual control of the power for many TTL strobes. A thing called a "cube" makes the connection but electrically the 900 is different so it doesn't interface with the Radiopopper Jrs. like the 600 or 800 do. Sure the RadioPopper PX or older P1 system can provide manual control, sort of (its actually provided by the Nikon CLS), but the Jrs are less than half the price. Probably not significant for most photographers, just something a few will miss. Interestingly, the price of used SB800s are often, and most all old stock new ones are going for more than the new price for an SB900 so clearly the 900s aren't meeting some of the needs for many photographers. That is probably mostly the size thing, but many Nikon photogs have a collection of 800s and there is value in having stuff be the same, expecially with assistants helping you.

## Features

- High-quality flash for standalone use or as part of a comprehensive lighting system
- Commander mode controls up to 3 Speedlight groups or unlimited individual Speedlights
- 4 wireless channel options; prominent master and remote control switch for wireless operation
- Auto power zoom coverage ranges from 17 to 200mm (FX format) to 12 to 200mm (DX format)
- 3 light distribution patterns; measures 3 x 5.7 x 4.7 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 14.6 ounces

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B001BTG3OQ |
| Batteries | 4 AA batteries required. |
| Best Sellers Rank | #295 in Shoe-Mount Flashes |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (385) |
| Date First Available | July 26, 2008 |
| Department | All Ages |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 14.6 ounces |
| Item model number | 4807 |
| Manufacturer | Nikon |
| Product Dimensions | 3.07 x 5.74 x 4.66 inches |

## Product Details

- **Battery Life:** 60 minutes
- **Brand:** Nikon
- **Camera Flash:** external
- **Compatible Mountings:** Nikon F
- **Flash Sync Speed:** 1/5 or lower

## Images

![SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HOL0VM0PL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: It it comparable for the D5300**
A: Yes it is compatible with the Nikon D5300 and all Nikon D series camera models.

**Q: Does the nikon speedlight sb-900 work well with the nikon d7100 and d750 cameras?**
A: Yes it works beautifully.

**Q: it works perfect with nikon d5200??**
A: Yes, it is compatible with all Nikon Digital SLRs, including the Nikon D5200.

**Q: Will this flash work with a D80 or aD7100?**
A: For the D7100 I haven't used that exact combination but it will work fine. If you want to use it on the camera, that's easy just put it in the hot shoe and it should be set in TTL (auto flash exposure) mode.

If you want to use it off camera, then you need to go into your menu and set your pop-up flash to Commander mode (Custom settings e3 in the menu under Flash/Bracketing) refer to pages 247 and 248 of your D7100's users manual. If you do not want fill light to come from your pop-up, make sure in those settings that you change the "Built-in Flash" setting from TTL to "-"

Then you need to set the SB-900 to wireless mode. It can be set to Group A or Group B (just make sure that whatever group you set the flash to is turned on in that commander settings in your camera's menu). The separate groups are useful if you have more than one flash, so you can set Group B to fire at less power than group A or things like that.

Keep in mind this is triggering the SB-900 with the pop-up flash. That mean the flash needs to be able to see the flash from your camera, so it won't work if it's too far away, or if you have it in another room. For that you may need a radio based flash trigger. Also if it's really bright out and too much sun is hitting the sensor on the SB-900, it might have more difficulty seeing the flash from the pop-up.

For the D80 it is mentioned in the SB-900 manual as 
a CLS compatible flash, but not as a firmware update compatible flash.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you want to know the truth please read
*by T***Y on September 1, 2009*

Okay, here's the (long winded) truth about the flash and it's "thermal shutdown problem". First off, let me say that I have much experience in using different camera flashes and studio strobes as well as some repairing of them. I will start of by saying that this flash is the best portable camera flash in it's class that I have EVER used. Nikon knows what they are doing. They have an extremely high standard of quality and reliability. When they see a quality improvement / guarantee need, they will apply it. In the case of the SB-800 to the SB-900 one of the biggest and least appreciated quality assurance guarantees is the thermal cut off feature. Which, by the way, can be turned off or on. So all of those who are b****ing about it, just read your manual and turn it off! Okay, time for a cheesy quote: "With great power comes great responsibility". Nikon knew this. (speculation) They also knew the general public would not really understand the limitations of the flash in hand. So they incorporated a safety mechanism: "Thermal cut off", to prevent overheating due to extended maximum flash output. This sort of "circuit breaker" is also found in some pro studio strobes. Studio strobes usually use AC power and provide a much greater power output and are more likely to overheat and sometimes "blow out", so it is common to see some kind of safety mech built in to them. Portable camera flashes run off batteries and do not produce any where near the kind of power output than said strobes; so there is usually no critical need for such a safety. With the SB-900 however (and SB-800), Nikon has managed to build a very compact flash (yes, I mean compact if you consider it's power capability) that recharges very quickly and sustains a consistent powerful output. To do this, it requires a huge demand on the IGBT (like a capacitor) and sustained overheating would result in failure and eventually even damage to the flash. Of course they could have "pushed it" and programmed it to trigger at a much higher temp threshold or even eliminated the option all together. But it is good to have that feature. It's not that the flash overheats "easily", it's that the flash is offering more than maybe it should. With that much more power, comes that much more heat. (Especially from a compact unit without any cooling fans) Now for my silly analogy: "It's like the difference between driving a car that only goes 65mph (other flashes) and driving car that goes 100mph (SB-900 / 800). With the 65mph car, you can't get a speeding ticket (overheat / failure) on the freeway with the speed limit of 65mph. With the 100mph car you won't get a ticket either, until you start driving 100mph for an extended period of time on the same freeway. Then you will likely be stopped for speeding. Then, having a radar detector (thermal cut off feature) will warn you when a cop is around the corner and that you should slow down from 100mph to 65mph. You may ask yourself: why that speed limit? Of course, safety: limitations of the car and driver. Then you may ask: why make a car that goes 100mph if it is not safe to go that fast? (here is where my analogy doesn't follow exactly, but you get my point) You may have a need to go 100mph and it is good to have the ability. Often it may be fine to do so. Just know you are running the risks." If you really need to turn off the thermal feature and shoot at max output consistently, chances are it will function just fine. Yes, it will get hot, yes your batteries will drain faster, and yes you will wait longer for each subsequent recharge but nothing major will happen: because it's designed to do that and it's a Nikon made in Japan. Just know this: Nikon or not, all electronics still have to follow the basic laws of physics. It's not ultimately good for the IGBT and circuitry to sustain such powerful flash firing as some do. You run the risk of degradation and failure. I've seen it happen, albeit rare. Basically, you should feel confident about the performance and reliability of this flash. It doesn't get any better...yet.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SB-900
*by B***B on April 6, 2010*

I have several SB-800s and SB-600 so my primary basis for comparison is against those. Basically this strobe is excellent but some of the whistles and bells are of questionable utility. The things I really like about the strobe are pretty much the things that make the SB-800 great. - Remote capability via CLS system - Su-4 slave mode - External high voltage battery pack compatibility (plug on front) - Nice guide numbers for a battery unit. - Zoom that can be controlled manually or by the camera. - Selectable beep for when unit has recycled. - Can be used as a three channel master for Nikon's CLS system The things this unit does that are improvements compared to the SB600 and SB800 that I like and what motivated me to purchase it are: - Zoom to 200mm and not just 85 mm (600) or 105 mm (sb800). - Different beam patterns - Head rotates a full 180 degrees in both directions (requires a little surgery on an SB800 to fix this stupid problem on them) - Manual thumb switch for on/off and selecting remote and master modes instead of the slow menu system. These are what I wanted/liked and why I went for this strobe unit. The things I don't like or question the value of them: - I don't like the size. It is bigger than the SB800 some of which admittedly is needed for the zoom optics for the lamp itself but the lower body is bigger too. I can open SB800/600s straight out and stand them upright in a Think Tank camera pack but the 900 has to be folded 90 degrees and/or laid down and it takes up much more space. - The colored gel thing to automatically set the white balance with the camera is something I don't care for. I suppose some folks that want idiot-proof will like this but it is simply added cost with no benefit for most photographers who know enough to use gels. Much of the time we specifically don't want the camera to change white balance to tungsten if we put a CTO gel on the strobe. And the green gel to match the strobe to fluorescent lights is of little use because most fluorescent lights any more need more than just a green gel on the strobe to obtain an acceptable match. Green alone is ok for old fluorescent lights but most lights now need a green, full CTO and often a bit of yellow as well to make a decent match. So this feature adds cost but no value. - I have a real grudge against the 900 because it allowed Nikon to discontinue the 800. Bad move. I'll probably buy more 600s since you can get two of those for the price of one 900 and have more light to boot. - I have mixed reaction to the modeling light. I like that when you push the button it stays on for a couple seconds, kind of handy to let you use both hands for a brief moment to adjust things. However, with the 800 there were dedicated buttons, one to operate the modelling feature (it strobes at a fast rate and lower output so you can see how the light hits your subjects) and one to just trip the flash. The 900 has only one button and you have to select in the setup memu which function it will provide, flash or modelling light. That kinds of sucks. - The new Radio Poppers Jr Studio verson wireless triggers have a function and accessory (cube) that can provide manual control of the power for many TTL strobes. A thing called a "cube" makes the connection but electrically the 900 is different so it doesn't interface with the Radiopopper Jrs. like the 600 or 800 do. Sure the RadioPopper PX or older P1 system can provide manual control, sort of (its actually provided by the Nikon CLS), but the Jrs are less than half the price. Probably not significant for most photographers, just something a few will miss. Interestingly, the price of used SB800s are often, and most all old stock new ones are going for more than the new price for an SB900 so clearly the 900s aren't meeting some of the needs for many photographers. That is probably mostly the size thing, but many Nikon photogs have a collection of 800s and there is value in having stuff be the same, expecially with assistants helping you.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review
*by A***E on May 30, 2025*

Top gsehr ut

## Frequently Bought Together

- Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
- Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery for Compatible DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras (Genuine Accessory)
- BM Premium 2 Pack of EN-EL15B Batteries and Dual Battery Charger for Nikon Z6, Z7, D780, D850, D7500, 1 V1, D500, D600, D610, D750, D800, D800E, D810, D810A, D7000, D7100, D7200 Digital Cameras

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*Product available on Desertcart Uruguay*
*Store origin: UY*
*Last updated: 2026-03-16*