"Alan Roberts" wrote:

>>I am a novice photographer but am very keen to learn to take good photos. I
>>am actually employed as a biologist and get to see quite a few interesting
>>
>>I currently have a Nikon F90x 35mm camera (thanks to an insurance claim!)
>>and am having a bit of trouble working out what sort of flash I should be
>>looking at. I have read about the Nikon Speedlight SB28 which seems amazing
>>(though it may take me several years to work out how to use it!) but I'm not
>>sure it's suitable for what I want. I'm sure it will work fine for
>>"portraits" and fill-in but would it work for close up or will I fry my
>>animals? It is also at the very top of my price range! It's been suggested
>>that other companies make cheaper versions (Sunpaks 4000AF was suggested)
>>but are these as good and what are the major differences between them and
>>the SB28? Should I be looking at something else alltogether?

For close-up work, I think the "D" flash feature does not operate, so
any good TTL flash with sufficient power (it can take a lot at small
stops with converters and tubes added...) on the SC-17 remote
cord and mounted near the end of the lens should work well.
BTW, the flash source, being relatively large compared with
the subject in macro work, gives a nice, soft light when the flash
is mounted close to the subject. Also BTW, you can find samples
of flash-illuminated insects on my web page, under "Phun Fotoz -
photographs - Bugs"... I suggest looking for a used SB-24/5/6/7/8,
since any of these would work well for most purposes (as would, I
guess, the earlier Nikon flashes, though the non-AF flashes may
have longer recycle times and "colder" color balance).