Posted by athompson on 5/3/2009 2:12 AM Photography    commander mode, nikon, flash, d2h, d2xs, d300, d200, d70s

The ability to get the flash off the camera is, without question, absolutely essential. And for those of us who are not quite ready to purchase Pocket Wizards or RadioPoppers, the ability that Nikon gives us with commander mode is incredible. Certainly one of the reasons that I went down the Nikon road in the first place.

It is also something that I use all the time. It might be a quick portrait, a group shot, or at an event. I can’t imagine being without it after a college soccer game when the players are signing autographs for the kids. I couldn’t get decent shots (at 9:00pm) without being able to operate with camera in one hand, flash in the other, placing the flash where it will generate the best lighting.

It can also be a conversation starter at parties when you put it on the ground in the middle of a group of dancing kids and start taking pictures. Great effects.

So, to recap, I really enjoy being able to carry the flash on-camera, then take it off and shoot.

You’re not seeing a problem, are you?

Here is the problem… well, not really a problem but a decision made.

I have two bodies which have commander mode: a D70s and a D200 (which I use with two SB-600 flash units). I also have a D2H, which does not. I recently purchased a D2Xs, which does not. Knowing that, I managed to obtain a (now discontinued) SB-800 to act as a commander.

I plan to sell the D70s and D200 to help pay for the D2Xs. Of course, I have the SB-800, but now I have to worry about another set of batteries. It was awfully convenient to just pop the built-in flash up or down…

You might be asking, Why get a D2Xs rather than a D300 which has commander mode?

Battery life. High speed crop. Having two bodies with the same controls is a plus. I also have the WT-1 wireless transmitter which can be used on both. But, really, it was a very close call. I’m sure the better high ISO performance of the D300 would be very nice, but I’m not that unhappy with the images at 1600 on the aging D2H. And those D2 bodies are just classics.

If the D300 was a one piece body, including the battery grip, that might have swayed me. Certainly, if the right deal came along in the future I would consider retiring the D2H.

Bottom line, this was a really close decision. I’ll let you know how it goes.