|
|
 - Outstanding little performerThis diminutive little fellow is an outstanding performer. Not high-powered, but fully capable of meeting the needs of most amateur photographers -- much more power than built-in flashes with the very valuable bounce-flash that built-ins lack. When I bought it, I knew it was "compact" but I was still surprized at its very small profile. Very much easier to carry along than typical automatic flashes. I only wish it were available in a version (slave version)that could be used on other brand cameras. All-in-all, Ideal for me and many other amateurs. Rating: - Great Flash from a novice photographerHere's a review from an average guy...maybe below average in regard to photography. I have owned a Nikon D50 for about a year. I primarily shoot in Auto, but make small jumps into manual-land. My problem is that I do not have time to experiment with family, work, etc. At any rate, I just got the SB400. After reading Ken Rockwell rave about bouncing the old flash, I had to give it a try. Needless to say, he was spot on. Bounced flash gets rid of the shine and glare that direct flash can give you. It allows for a natural, evenly distributed amount of light in the picture--which hugely reduces shadows. Even a total novice like me (but an enthusiastic novice!) can appreciate this added dimension to my pics. I think, if I am reading the specs correctly, I am getting double the range of my D50's pop-up. You can also realize the potential of your fps...it is a "speedlight" and this flash can keep up with my camera. All in all, a superb purchase for the price. BUT...read all the specs on this little guy before buying. Make sure it does what you are looking for. I won't be "commanding" a bunch of these flashes, or rotating it to the side, or shooting from 150 feet away, so this was all I needed. Rating: - NIKON SB-400I purchased this flash unit mostly to supplement the built-in flash on my Nikon D50.The SB 400 is really a gem. Compact,beautifully designed.The flash head has three positions for bounce flash,which I feel produces far more natural photos than direct flash. An extensive instruction sheet & elegant zippered case are included.The flash uses two AA cells [not included]. Rating: - Very Compact and Does the Job!I have the sb-600 and just got this one! I like how this is compact and easy to lug around. Works great for the normal everyday stuff. Has the ability to tilt up, but not side to side... that's what the sb-600 is for. =0). Overall, the SB-400 is a nice little upgrade from the weak built-in flash, and fairly priced! Rating: - Great addition to the bagBought this flash 3 months ago, just after buying a D40. If you are just getting into DSLR, buy this before getting new lenses (but do buy the 50mm 1.8). The flash is awesome. Bounce it off the ceiling and just compare the results to the onboard flash. Very satisfying. It has enough grunt for the work that I have done and is so easy to use. If you are needing more power than the 400 can offer then you must be in a church. So far, high ceilings have been no issue. However, the best thing about this flash is taking indoor pics of kids or pets. You just will not regret it. It gives your pics a natural look, no red eye, no shadows, great colours etc. OK, it's only a vertical tilt but that has not bothered me at all. Make sure that you have decent spare batteries. I managed over 100 shots with 2 AAs but the recharge time does start to slow down. To be honest, I do not think that you can go wrong at this price. I take pics at work events, and with the bounce flash people are always impressed.
|
