Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hello

I am evaluating a used Nikon SB900 flash.

When it turns on, or when it zooms, it makes a sound similar to that of a moving inkjet printhead. (The humming part, not the clickety clack of a inklet printhead resetting.)

Is this normal? I don't recall hearing that sound at the camera stores. (Could be due to the ambient noise in the stores.)

Thanks in advance.

Yc

Its normal -- when you zoom your lens, the flash will zoom to match the focal length of field of view. If you put the diffusion dome on, it will stop. I have the SB800, and it does the same thing.

Thanks for the quick reply.

I know that the flash zooms to match my lens' focal length.

I am concerned about the noise it makes when it zooms. To me, the flash is as loud as my inkjet printer. And it feels louder because it is nearer my ears. The sound is normal?

Thanks.

Yc

well, from what I remember my SB800 can be pretty noisy.... I don't have direct experience with the 900, but I would assume its about the same.

my SB-600s do the same thing. sounds like a zoom adjusting but it's not too loud. Hard to compare without hearing the sound. But mine is fairly quick and smooth. Does that one sound like it's grinding or scraping?

I have all three SB600, 800 & 900 and they all do this. Nothing to worry about it's normal.

Thanks all for the inputs.

Further "research" via Google dug up few other references to this sound. Inkjet or bubblejet seems to be way most describe it. At least it is a common complaint.

It still seems too loud to me, but I guess that's subjective. (I did change a few sets of batteries, but that didn't change the loudness of the sound.)

Time to go play with this unit in real life to see if I can live with the sound. Chances are I will get used to it.

Thanks again.

Yc

just to be clear -- the flash is only making this noise when you zoom your lens? correct? If it is constantly making the noise without you touching the camera, then there might be a problem. My SB800 only makes sound when zooming, although I use it mostly with the diffusion dome on, so it defaults to the 14mm setting.

Yes, only at startup (when I initially turn the flash on) or when I zoom the camera's lens or when I manually zoom the flash head. In other words, it makes the inkjet-like sound only when the flash head zooms. And the flash head zooms only when it is supposed to. The sound is smooth with no clicks or chatter at any time.

The loudness concerned me. But from the replies I got here, and from other posts on the internet, it seems "normal".

But just to be safe, I will get my Nikon dealer to check it out.

Thanks again.

Yc

ok great, thanks for that. Its normal then..... as I suspected, but wanted to be absolutely clear on when the flash makes the noise.

The company that makes the flashes for Nikon may outsource components from different companies.

A friend of mine had the exact same printer I did, but the motors had totally different sounds...I bought mine early in the model release, while she bought hers a year and a half later. Same printer, but with different motor.

This is entirely possible.... I hear what you are saying.