Update: Nikon Speedlight SB-900 vs. SB-910 review

Nikon has just announced that a new flagship flash unit, Speedlight SB-910, would be available mid-December 2011. It replaces the current SB-900 model. Taking advantages of the newer technologies introduced with Nikon Speedlight SB-700 not long ago, SB-910 offers a number of important improvements.

One of the big improvements is the better handling of overheating issues. As we showed in our thermal cut-out test, SB-700 was very difficult to overheat, whereas SB-900 overheats fairly easily. Like SB-700, Speedlight SB-910 is designed to increase intervals between the flashes if the internal temperature starts to rise.

According to Nikon, the menu system is more intuitive and easier to use. The new Menu button takes you directly to Custom Settings, which should improve the workflow for people who use them a lot.

The illumination of the buttons is also made after the smaller SB-700 unit, which was superior in this regard compared to the now being discontinued Speedlight SB-900 (see SB-700 vs. SB-900 review).

Another improvement of SB-910 is the new hard-type filters that can better withstand the heat than the film-type filters of Nikon SB-900.

In terms of light output, Nikon Speedlight SB-910 is not better than SB-900 and is also rated at 34m/111.5ft (ISO 100, at 35mm), but it is more efficient in battery usage. (It is not clear, however, what Nikon means by that, since the specifications for both units state the exact same number of flashes per charge.)

To summarize, the new Nikon Speedlight SB-910 looks like a logical step forward and a good upgrade especially for the working professionals that are more likely to experience the overheating problems of the older model.

For the full product information and specs, please visit nikonusa.com.