22 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
Not just a flash in the pan
Date of Review: Nov 1, 2007
The Bottom Line: In the Nikon professional flash line up, this is the one to go for.
The basics
The Nikon SB600 is a separate flash gun compatible with a range of Nikon cameras. These include every Nikon single lens reflex model (SLR) and its digital single lens reflex range (DSLR), including the D40, D50, D7070s, D100/200/300, D1/2/3. The flash will also work with some of Nikon's more advanced Coolpix models (8800/8400/P5000/5000/5400/8700/4500/995/990/950). For detailed information on the cameras supported and what features are disabled with certain cameras, visit the Nikon website.
The SB-600 is extremely robustly made from plastic and has a metal hotshoe connector for additional strength and stability when it is connected to a compatible camera. The hotshoe connector has an easily used lock device which when activated feels very secure and gives confidence the flash is not likely to disengage from the camera accidently.
The flash consists of a flash head, which can be adjusted to point between 0 degrees (straight ahead) and 90 degrees (straight up). The flash head can also be rotated 90 degrees in one direction and 180 degrees in the other, effectively meaning that the flash can be directed in just about any direction.
The rotation and tilting of the flash is very tactile and gives good positive feedback, with a rubber button which needs to be depressed to allow the head to turn. When tilting, there are two or three positions which the flash head will naturally drop into, at 45 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees. It is possibly to position the flash head between these attitudes if required.
Also built into the flash head is a pull out and flip down diffuser screen, designed to diffuse the flash for close up pictures.
The flash head has a built in auto-zoom function. This means, when mounted on a compatible camera, it takes notice of the lens length setting and adjusts how wide or narrow the flash coverage is accordingly – basically ensuring you don't get a load of wasted flash energy being fired into parts of the scene your lens isn't seeing.
On the rear of the flash unit is a LCD display showing settings and options very clearly. A simple arrangements of well thought out and intuitive buttons sit below the screen. Both buttons and screen are back lit for use in low light conditions. A power button also allows the flash to remain mounted on the camera, but not to fire if unneeded. If the flash is not switched off using the power button, it is tied in to the camera it is used on – so if you turn your camera on, it also switched on – and the same when you switch the camera off.
Other buttons allow you to set menu options – including user setting such as if the flash makes audible alert sounds or if "ready" lights illuminate or not. You can also manually change flash compensation/flash power via the flash menu buttons, manually adjust the flash zoom and switch the flash in and out of wireless mode.
Wireless mode allows you to use the flash "off camera" – either on a provided stand, or a lighting stand. Advanced DSLRs will have a flash commander mode which uses short pulses from the on-board flash to trigger the "slave" flash. To control the SB600 as a slave without a camera which offers this requires either a SB800 flash unit, which can act as a commander in its own right, or a special flash commander unit (SU-800).
The flash takes four AA batteries, loaded into a compartment on the side of the flash unit and secured with a hinged flap – which isn't lockable and does occasionally pop open while the flash is in a camera bag,
Supplied with the SB600 is a nylon, semi padded protective case and a plastic stand/tripod mounting plate – which can either be used to stand the flash up independently of the camera when being used in wireless mode, or if you want to attach the flash to a lighting tripod/stand for remote use.
Technical stuff
If you're interested in the tech specs check out the Nikon site for all the details.
Top line specs:
About three inches wide, almost five inches tall (when the head unit is pointing "forward" and three and a half inches deep.
Weight without batteries is around 300g.
The flash is listed as having a guide number (GN) of 98. This means that using ISO 100 film (or the digital equivalent) the flash is capable of pumping out enough light to correctly expose something 98 feet away. Naturally, this capacity is altered by all sorts of factors, including camera settings – but GN give you a rough guide as to the power of flash guns compared to each other.
In use
The size and shape of the flash make it relatively easy to tuck into a pocket, or a compartment in a camera bag – and it is not too bulky when mounted on the camera to get in the way when carrying over the shoulder or round the neck.
As with most Nikon equipment, it's been built with quality in mind and the flash unit feels solid and robust enough to last for ever. It's also intuitively easy to get to grips with, even without a read of the comprehensive manual.
Its clever iTTL (intelligent through the lens) system can seem magical when you use it with one of the advanced Nikon DSLR cameras. With the flash and the camera's CPUs in constant communication it means just about all the guesswork is taken out of using flash and you can concentrate on important things, like composition and framing.
Wireless capabilities are again simple to set up and the ability of the flash to calculate balanced flash fill and good exposure levels regardless of where the flash or the camera are positioned is sometimes scary.
The tilt and swivel ability of the flash is also a great plus. Not only is it easy to operate, but gives you the flexibility to bounce light off surfaces in almost any direction – helping achieve a more balanced and natural lighting look.
Plus, with the flash head so far away from the camera lens, the chances of red eye is much reduced.
Why the SB600?
Chances are if you're looking into buying a SB600, you're firstly keen to expand your flash capabilities on your Nikon and also secondly that you'll also be looking at the other options: the SB400 and the SB800.
SB600 vs SB400
The SB400 is the model down from the SB600. It is slightly cheaper (the SB600 can be found for #150 (UK pounds) , as of 2007, while the SB400 is around #100-#120 (Uk pounds).
The SB400 is much smaller and designed as a lightweight flash. As such, it is not as tall and can only tilt up and down, without the swivel function of the SB600.
It takes just the two AA batteries, but also has a slightly less powerful guide number of around 70ft.
It lacks other features of the SB600, such as a zoom function depending on what length lens you are using.
If you use your flash very infrequently, or are concerned about the bulkiness of a full size flash – the SB400 might be a better option.
SB600 vs SB800
The SB800 is the model up from the SB600.
It is slightly bigger, has a slightly longer range (bigger guide number) and can take an additional external AA battery compartment to allow you to use five rather than four AAs, to increase battery life and "recycle" time. Until the SB600, the SB800 also has a socket for external "belt batteries" for users who need lots of power and extremely fast recycle times.
It's argued by other reviewers that the SB600 is actually preferably to the SB800 as – other than a slightly reduced GN rating – it out performs it in many other ways, including battery life and recycle time.
It's also suggested that the LCD is easier to read on the SB600, compared to the SB800.
The SB800 does however come with a flip out bounce card and is supplied with a plastic diffusion dome. However, I use an elastic band and a white business card to create a (virtually) free built in bounce card for the SB600 and you can buy third party diffusion domes for the SB600 if you require for much less than the difference in price between the SB600 and SB800.
Conclusion
A fantastic flashgun with professional performance and build but a surprisingly reasonable price – which looks even more of a bargain compared to the much more expensive SB800, which frankly, unless you are a professional wedding photographer, you might not need (that said, I've now shot four weddings with the SB600 and not run into any limitations).
For those who don't do a lot of flash work, or want a very basic flash to extend their Nikon's use – certainly consider the SB400, but if you have a little bit extra, you'll not regret the SB600.
Adorama
