Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I actually paid almost double what it originally sold for before Nikon decided to pull the plug on it. And it is worth every penny of it. I take photos for both personal and professional purposes. I own more cameras and lenses that I care to admit publicly, including several "high end" flashes. Why this one? Two sets of reasons: First set (somewhat unique): One of my workhorses is a retro-style Nikon DSLR camera model called the Df. This camera has the look and all the knobs and levers that old SLRs did but the guts of the most modern (digital) DSLR. Built like a tank, it still has menus you can use if you are so inclined, but you can also look at it and or tweak all the dials and knobs. Like an older SLR it does NOT have a built-in flash. I do NOT want to go against this combination of simplicity and power by putting a gigantic high end flash on top of it that is 2X+ longer and heavier and much more complex than this one is. Second set of reasons: It has virtually all the features I look for in an separate flash unit: - great power (high number) - great battery life - highly reliable - very quick recycle time - batteries that are cheap, long lasting, readily available (easily found on on-a-pinch) - automatic control with complete camera interoperability - adjustable head !!! (up / down / etc) - includes a very attractive, compact and durable case to protect it when not in use. What it lacks, I can do without most of the time: and that is remote commander-style master/slave control of other flash units. Which I only use on special glamour shots. Nikon made a huge mistake discontinuing it, but you can fix that - however you'll have to either buy it used or if you want it new (like I did) you must order it from a merchant in Amazon or elsewhere that gets it from Japan where it is still for sale. The amazon seller I used, got it me in relatively short time and in perfect condition. Which for whatever reason included hand folded origami "thank you" notes. (a nice touch) Of course if you or someone you know will be traveling to Japan, have them get you a copy. The price is higher than original because in a Capitalist system, high demand drives the price up but in my mind it is still a value purchase. Everyone in the know wants this flash. It combines extreme functionality in a very very small package. The model Nikon put out to replace it has been neutered, so your real options for external flashes are still much more expensive. Larger too. Most of the time I shoot natural light with no flash. But when I do need a flash, this is the one I use. And it fits in just about every pocket of my clothes so all I have to do is pick it up and stash it. Even when I'm NOT carrying a bag. Now imagine all this at half the price (its original price). Nikon, wake up and smell the coffee. Bring this item back into regular markets.

This is a simple flash that just fills a need for somebody who wants better results than the built-in flash of a Nikon dSLR camera without extra complexity. It does what it does, and quite well. The only controls on the unit itself is a on/off switch and a bounce angle. The camera's iTTL function does the work, and I have no complaints about the results. Just a perfect solution to get a softer, more diffused lighting for indoor photography by allowing you to bounce the light rather than direct illumination. The body is quite compact, and when mounted to my D80 body does not throw off the balance in my hands. It even is compact enough to fit inside of some camera cases while still attached to the body. It is also versatile in that you can improvise a bounce-diffuser for low-cost. Just cut a piece of 4x6 inkjet photo print paper to the same width of the flash, fold it in a "L" shape and mount it to the flash with a rubber band above and just behind the strobe. When the flash is pointed up to bounce, some of the light gets reflected forward by the paper behind the light and fills the subject a little better. Does the same as $40+ aftermarket reflector/diffusers. The SB-400 by no means will do the same job as a SB-800, because that flash is made to give more options for the professional in more demanding situations. But for somebody wanting a flash for simple indoor photography (perhaps not a large public hall) where there is a desire to bounce the flash for better photos, or shoot from a little bit longer range, this does the job for not a great deal of money. It would be better if the light could swivel as well as be angled upward for more bounce options. If that's important to you, then the SB-600 or SB-800 might be the right choice.

If you need a small flash that is a lot more powerful than the on-camera flash on your compatible Nikon camera, this is a great flash. More than anything, it's a better than on-camera flash that also has bounce capability, which none of the on-camera flashes do. For me, it doesn't replace a full-featured flash like and SB-800 or SB-600, but is a lot smaller and lighter for many times when you don't need the big mama. It's not powerful enough for instance to bounce if the ceiling is higher than 10 or 11 feet with lower ISO settings, where the SB-800 can still reach. I have found I don't use it as often as I thought I would, but that's really because I've not gotten into the habit of using a fill-flash as much as I should. That's not the fault of the flash. It is fully automatic, which really means there's nothing to set or control on this unit. If your camera isn't compatible, basically this flash won't work for you. If it is compatible, it works great and seamlessly. I use it with a D200, D70 and CP8400, and it works great with all of them. One thing to keep in mind is if you were thinking of using it as a "better" main flash on for instance a D200 in wireless remote flash mode, think again. Only the actual in-camera flash can be used in the remote commander mode on a D200. And, this unit is NOT capable of being a remote flash in wireless flash, either. So basically, don't consider it as part of wireless remote flash operation. It's a better than in-camera flash, not a wireless flash. Also keep in mind as far as I know in the Coolpix line only the 8400 and 8800 are fully compatible with this. Most of the newer DSLRs are, though. If your camera isn't i-TTL, it's not the flash for you. Check the compatibility before you buy. If you want a small and fully integrated flash for your Nikon digital, it's a great unit.

Any product that earns four or five stars in 70 of 73 reviews cannot be at all bad! I don't claim to be a great photographer, but the worst products are the ones you never bother to use. Most flashguns are nearly as big as the cameras they are fitted to and are often more practical when set up separately on a table. Generally these devices are technically excellent, but will only come out of their cases when used for well planned indoor shoots of 'subjects' who are happy to be objects of photographic art. The SB400 is a little gem (it is indeed small) and can be clipped on in seconds to enhance nearly all forms of indoor photography. It is practical to carry about outdoors as well: being small and straightforward in design ensures that it is robust yet unlikely to strain its mounting bracket. True, the SB400 can't be 'turned sideways', but you can bounce off of overhead surfaces. In my view if this is not powerful enough you are either a very sophisticated photographer, shooting in a coal mine or, quite probably, using the wrong lens. Frankly, in 'everyday' circumstances, I'd be embarrassed to use most flashguns because they are so pretentious ('look at me- I'm a great photographer with lots of expensive kit'). No such worries here: this one is lightweight and unobtrusive wherever you choose to use it. Even if you do already have a big flashgun, you can buy this one for well under £100 and I suspect the other one may soon be on E bay. In fact that E bay sale will both pay for it and leave you with useful cash in hand.

内蔵フラッシュと違い角度を変えられるので、自然な仕上がりになります。かつ、小型で大げさにならないので、町撮りでも使いやすい。

Zugegeben: Er ist schwach, verglichen mit seinen 'großen Brüdern' oder entsprechenden Fremdhersteller-Blitzen. Und er ist teuer. Anfangs hielt mich das vom Kauf ab, inzwischen sehe ich es aber anders. Er ist sein Geld wert, den Kauf habe ich noch keine Sekunde bereut. Allein schon die Größe: Er ist wirklich so winzig, daß er in die Hosen- oder Jackentasche passt und trotzdem noch deutlich stärker als der kamerainterne Miniblitz (bringt schätzungsweise ca. die doppelte Leistung). Nicht, daß das für mich kaufentscheidend war, denn ich habe keine Hemmungen, notfalls auch auf ISO 1600 zu gehen, was die Blitz-Reichweite drastisch erhöht. Aber er hat eine wesentlich schnellere Aufladezeit als der eingebaute Miniblitz - solange nicht Maximalleistung gefragt ist, schafft er auch durchaus mehrere Serienbilder mit schneller Blitzfolge. Ein sehr wichtiger Punkt, da ich die Kamera sowieso immer auf Serienbild geschaltet habe. Außerdem ermöglicht er indirektes Blitzen, im Gegensatz zum eingebauten Blitz. Diese drei Faktoren gaben den Ausschlag. Für meine Zwecke ist der SB-400 vollkommen ausreichend und ich habe ihn (im Gegensatz zu größeren Blitzen) auch wirklich immer dabei. Er belichtet übrigens ausgesprochen zuverlässig, was ich von den beiden größeren Fremdhersteller-Blitzen (Nissin und Bilora), die ich zuvor einige Zeit getestet hatte, nicht zu 100% behaupten kann. Die waren zwar nicht wirklich schlecht, aber deren Schwankungsquote bei den Bildergebnissen (leicht unterbelichtet, leicht überbelichtet) erwies sich als deutlich größer. Angenehmer Nebeneffekt: Ich komme weiterhin mit einer relativ kleinen Fototasche aus und brauche nicht aufzurüsten. Bei den anderen Modellen wäre das nötig gewesen, aber der SB-400 hat nur ca. 1/3 der Größe und paßt immer noch irgendwo rein, sogar in die Seitentaschen. Fazit: Sehr kompakt. Sehr empfehlenswert.

Get one of these while you can. Nikon does not make them anymore & it's replacement is not as good. Sure glad I spotted this one here, as I couldn't find one in the local photo stores. This little guy is so handy when I don't want to carry my big Nikon flash. It's also more powerful than the on-board flash, plus you can tilt it up for bounce flash. Go to kenrockwell.com for an in depth review. Cheers!

Ya no es posible comprarlos nuevos por que está descatalogado pero es de los mejores flash pequeños que existen. Mucho mejor de los que sacaron a porteriori.