Introduced alongside the SB-900 Flash was the SD-9 high performance battery pack. The SD9 Battery pack was designed specifically for use with the speedlight SD900 and works to drastically shorten flash recycling time while also vastly improving flash capacity. It contains a few improvements when compared to the older Nikon SD8A pack, most notably now taking both 4AA or 8AA size batteries in two seperate loads (whereas Nikon SD-8A only took 6 batteries) of the following types:
- 1.5V LR6 (alkaline)
- 1.2V KR-AA (NiCd)
- 1.5V FR6 (lithium)
- 1.2v (Ni-MH)
The Nikon SD-9 power bracket follows up on the popular SD-8A battery pack, and has some considerable improvements, below are some of the differences between the SD9 and SD8A
Compare Nikon SD-9 vs SD-8A battery packs:
Major Difference:
Nikon's SD-9 High performance battery pack
Other Differences:
Most of the other changes revolve around better ease of use and physical design tweaks, such as the SB-9 Casing can now be inserted both cord-end and battery end first, allowing access to battery compartment quickly without need to remove the pack completely from holder. Battery container now slides eliminating possibility of snapping door off. There are many more smaller differences, but the above were the most noticeable, stayed tuned for more differences between the two or ask a question from the comments form below.
Price: The other major difference is the huge price of the Nikon SD-9 Accessory… This thing isn’t cheap and if you are looking to buy it, make sure you really need and can take advantage of it before you drop all that money for it, check out today’s prices to buy the SD9 & SD-8A below:
Hi! can the SD-8A be used on the SB-900? Many thanks
Yes, you can use the SD-8A with the SB900
@jabrane, Yes.
@jabrane,
Yes, Nikon battery pack SD-8A can be used with Nikon flash SB-900.
@jabrane, YES
Yes.
The less expensive SD8A can be supplemental power for the SB900 but, as the review points out, it’s not as powerful as the older model.
But is it worth the $200 street price when the SD8A is $140?
That beauty is left to the eye of the beholder … who’s got to have some extra cash to make that leap, I think.
@jabrane, yes
@jabrane, Absolutely yes!!
The comment under the picture is wrong. There isn’t any picture of the SD-9 here… that’s a SD-8a.
can I use the SD-9 on the SB800???
and can i use the SD-8 on the SB 900???
YES!
Yes, Nikon list the SD-8A as an accessory for the SB-900. The reverse is not true, you cannot use an SD-9 on an SB-800 (or any other flash which isn’t an SB-900).
The Sd9 looks like a better unit than the Sd8a but I don’t like the SB900 flash and have two SB800 units. If I shaved off the extra piece of plastic on the connector cord of the SD9 so it fits into my SB800 flash unit, will it still work?
I have an SB-800 & 600 on a D300.
I was looking to speed things up with my SB800 to keep up with tha camera.
Sporting events in both high contrast daylight and after dark…..?
The connectors appear the same. Will the SD-9 work like or in place of an SD-8 for a SB-800 flash?
I could not find the responce to the above question. “Hi! can the SD-8A be used on the SB-900? Many thanks”
Can anybody answer this question because I will be buying the SB-900 and don’t want to buy another battery pack. It would be great if the answer came from Nikon.
than you
Clark