How much are the Nikon SB-80DX and SB-50DX worth nowadays?
I have a Nikon D100, which uses Nikon's old D-TTL flash metering system. As such, I'm looking for a flash which supports this metering system. The new SB-600, 700, 800 and 900 do, but they are out of my price range.
My two considerations are the SB-50DX and the SB-80DX.
How much do you think it is worth paying for each of these flashes in 2011, given how old they are?
The first of these, as I understand it, would be of very little use when I eventually upgrade to an i-TTL camera, as it doesn't support manual operation (or i-TTL).
As for the SB-80DX, I'm not so sure. I know it doesn't support i-TTL, but what kind of performance can I expect from it as an off camera flash if I upgrade to an i-TTL camera. I imagine it won't work in it's D-TTL optical slave mode. What manual capabilities will it have? How would it have to be triggered? Would it work optically with an i-TTL flash or would I need to use radio triggers?
The strobist mania has cause the prices of these to go up, especially the SB-80. I've seen those go for 60-70% of the price of a new SB-600
The SB-50 fetches significantly less because it's a bit less powerful but mainly because it uses those pesky CR123 batteries
Get the manual to check (nikon support site) but I'm 99.9% these are two of the three flashes with a built in optical slave. I've shot the third flash, the sb-26 where it's just a matter of setting the output and setting it to optical slave. It will then fire as soon as it "sees" another flash go off. That's almost as good as the new CLS system
The SB-50 is a waste of time, not to mention money,
What you may also look for is SB-28DX. Not as much power as the 80, but still quite respectable. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles either. But it is a good flash on the D100.
Some of the newer Nikon bodies have the old flash control mode, "commander mode" I think it is called. That will work with the SB-80, even though iTTL won't.
All this is why I use auto thyristor flashes… They just work.