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

• Does exactly what it's supposed to, and is very easy to use ...

  
  By AQ9GVQAH3ZU0 on 2007-03-01
  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.
  
  

• A wonderful little accessory for Nikon DSLRs!

  
  By A2XRMQA6PJ5ZJ8 on 2006-12-24
  I really like this flash unit. The reason is simple: it is small and unobtrusive. Most flashes add weight and bulk to a camera, and I often find myself deciding not to attach the outboard flash to my DSLR. This flash, by contrast, is small and barely noticeable on my D80 or D200.
  
  This is a no-frills flash that simply does its job and does it quite well. It supports Nikon's excellent iTTL flash system. Granted, if you are shooting a wedding or some other professional engagement, this would not be the flash of choice; the SB600 or SB800 would do better. But for casual shooting where more than the built-in flash is needed, this unit is extremely nice to have. And of course by using this unit instead of the built-in flash of one's camera, the user can get more shots from the camera since the flash does not drain the camera batteries.
  
  The unit uses convenient AA batteries, which of course are readily available. I'll take this over those sometimes hard-to-find exotic batteries that some flashes use. It is well-constructed and with a guide number of 21, does a good job. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Great substitute for the built-in flash.... but

  
  By A2NOIWPJDD7WIQ on 2007-07-25
  PROS: Amazingly compact, great substitute for my D80's subpar built-in flash, when used in conjunction with a diffuser or an omnibounce cap - the performance is terrific, sure beats lugging around my SB-600 to casual events.
  
  CONS: NOT, and I repeat, NOT compatible with the D200's or D80's wireless lighting system. Once the SB-400 is attached to the hot shoe - the wireless commander mode is rendered useless and you can't fire off another SB-600 or SB-800 wirelessly at the same time. I was hoping to use the SB-400 as a 2nd flash to go with the SB-600 to fire off wirelessly with my D80, NOT the case with the SB-400 - major disappointment. So the SB-400 is a "no-frills and just slap it on and shoot" flash. No swivel capabilities which may be a problem for portrait/vertical shots (unless you have a diffuser on it).
  
  My reasons for only 3 stars are mainly because you get what you pay for. My D80's built-in flash is pathetic and not very strong at all. I don't mind carrying the SB-600 along but it's quite bulky. If I'm going to a small event to shoot leisurely, the SB-400 comes in handy. If you have a D40 or D40x, this flash definitely works well with those bodies. But if you want more capabilities (mostly in the wireless lighting department), save a little more dough for the SB-600.
  
  

• A No Brainer for the $$$

  
  By A1TUW6DN5NHP2I on 2007-06-03
  You wouldn't, or shouldn't, be reading this if you do not have a Nikon with iTTL. It is compact and works flawlessly if you do not want to eat up your camera's battery when using flash. Advantages of bounce over the direct flash on whichever Nikon body you own, is overwhelming. Do not expect a flash unit of this size to bounce off of a high ceiling, but a large index card overcomes that problem. There is not enough offset from the lens for fill flash with a large lens hood, but you can't expect everything from such a compact unit. Although I have many compact non-Nikon flashes, the proprietary electronics of the present day Nikons almost requires using their flash systems to get optimum metering.
  
  

• Great flash for a great price.

  
  By AOVB6SRLJ3KY7 on 2007-06-05
  Just got this flash for my Nikon D80 and I couldn't be happier. It's a lot of flash in a small package for just over 100 bucks. It's easy to use, easy to store, arrived in a matter of days, and has literally transformed my indoor images. Sure, I could have spent a lot more for the 600 or the 800 and gotten more pro-level capabilities but I just couldn't justify the price. My logic: get this flash and see if it meets your needs. At this price, one can always upgrade later. So far, it's completely exceeded my expectations.
  
  
• Very small sizi but useful functionality
  By A1B6UMP0ADMQEF on 2006-12-28
  What impressed me most when I opened package from amazon was size of the flash unit. Very small and light. I used to have regular size flash unit which was too bulky to carry around. This one I plan to carry around just in case if I need something more powerfull than build-in flash or bounce the light. In combination with wide apperture Nikon promised up to 20m usefull range. The head of the unit moves 90 degree so you can use bounced light to make portraits. Overall, I like the unit. Doesn't take space or weight.
  Plus price is right.
  
  
• Great product
  By A2D7LIMHRGGZGZ on 2007-05-12
  This is a great general flash for any newer Nikon. I used to be on a Canon system and had a huge assortment of accesories. I switched to Nikon when the D50 came out. So I had to start from scratch to get everything I needed. Well, I had a top of the line hot shoe flash for my Canon but hardly used any of the features. So I spent a huge chunk of money for a piece of unused technology.
  
  So when I finally got back into doing some photography I quickly found that I needed a new flash. I have been on a tight budget recently and found the SB400 in my price range. I bought it based on some of the reviews out on the net. Reviews elsewhere show that people may have a SB 600 or 800, but for a lot of their work, they use the SB 400 most frequently due to its size.
  
  I bought the SB 400 and used it for the first time for a job last weekend. I used it on a small senior portrait session. It works very well! I modified a Lumimax Proquest flash bounce to fit on the SB 400 because I didnt want to spend another $15 at the time when I knew I had this to at least to try to mod to work. You can tell a very huge difference in fill with this flash compared to no flash.
  
  **Biggie for me at least..does not work with the SC-29 focus assitance
  
  Pros: Small size; flash head only moves; uses only AA batteries (easy to find, cheap); fits perfectly in the included bag and fits into small compartments in your camera bag
  
  Cons: Flash head only moves, not whole flash body (some flash accesories need modified or dont work); no PC connections or battery pack connections; cannot control other flashes wirelessly; does not work with SC-29 focus assitant
  
  
• Smart Little Speedlight!
  By A2MCZOZ2X2ZQYK on 2007-04-20
  The Nikon SB400 is light, well-constructed, fully-automatic, very easy to use, runs on a cheap pair of readily available AA batteries, takes bulls-eye flash exposures and affordable to boot! I bought this to have a little more punch to my flash photography and to lessen the load on the camera's battery.
  
  At first I thought I would need a sophisticated speedlight, knowledge of manual flash calculations or whatever it is that other photographers seem to know that I don't to get great flash photos. I thought only the more expensive SB600 and SB800 can do this with current Nikon DSLRs as the builtin flash just doesn't cut it. Was I wrong!
  
  When I saw Nikon the SB400 and read reviews about it I knew I found an effective alternative. It delivered the goods with the finesse and the elegance of simplicity. It works like magic! It doesn't compete with the camera for weight. I can slip it in and out easily. Most of all it does not require elaborate setup to give WOW! results. With this speedlight I have shot portraits using bounce flash so natural my flattered friends thought it was only possible with ambient light. I have photographed small items up close without having a washed out image. I have used the excellent fill-in flash technique outdoors without worrying about over-expossure. I have easily used the SB400 as the main light at night without worrying of under-exposure. The results were just great! Unless you intentionally set out to mess it up it's hard to make a bad flash exposure with the SB400. Another feature I like is that, should I need more or less flash power than the default settings, I can easily adjust it on the camera. There are no other switches or buttons on the flash that I can possibly screw up. Perfect!
  
  When I need flash light I just slide in the SB400 on the hotshoe of my Nikon D40, switch the lock and switch it ON and I'm good to go! All I have to do is select my shooting mode and the SB400 takes care of the rest. The SB400 is sized and designed in such a way that I like having it around.
  
  Unless you are doing studio work or commercial location shooting (I am not), I couldn't think of any other situation that the SB400 will not fit nicely. But if you want more flash range, the facility to fine-tune the flash by hand or control flash remotely then you should consider the more expensive Nikon speedlights SB600 or SB800.
  
  The Nikon SB400 fully covers my needs and it saved me money besides. An ideal pair for the D40. Highly Recommended!
  
  
• Works well
  By A77GI34C4BZTK on 2006-12-25
  I've had mine for a week and I am pleased with the purchase. It seems to work very well. The main advantages are its small size, it doesn't drain the camera batteries, and it can be bounced vertically which reduces the harshness of the flash in some situations.
  
  It seems to recycle even faster than advertised with NiMh batteries.
  
  Metering w. my recently purchased D80 is always perfect.
  
  
  
  
• Perfect exposure, plenty of lumens; light and small
  By A33BOG3FONGSEQ on 2007-06-10
  This is a great little flash unit, particularly for the low price and small size.
  
  I expected it to be a little underpowered, but I haven't noticed any lack. I use the unit mostly for bounce flash off ceilings and walls, and occasionally with a forward facing bounce card. The exposure is perfect every time with my Nikon D40, and it's so small I just leave it on the camera all the time.
  
  The extra battery power also means I can crank off several shots in a row without having to wait for the capacitor to recharge.
  
  Highly recommended, unless you need some of the higher-end features.
  
  Pros:
  Inexpensive
  Light
  Small
  Great exposures
  Uses AA batteries
  
  Cons:
  Head doesn't swivel left and right
  Lacks remote-triggering
  
  
  
• Great little flash at a great value
  By A3D1GEPWYLQSVA on 2007-05-25
  I own a Nikon D50 and this is the perfect flash for me. I was looking for a simple, compact flash unit that would integrate with the Nikon TTL system, and this is it. The bounce flash feature is great...it allows for beautiful, softly-lit indoor photos/portraits, etc. This flash could not be easier to use. Just turn it on and shoot. If you forget to turn it off, that's ok...it'll turn itself off for you. The unit's small size allows me to just leave the flash mounted on my camera 90% of the time while the camera is stored in its gear bag. Also, I checked pricing before purchasing and Amazon offered the best, lowest price...even cheaper than the local warehouse club store's website, which usually is pretty good. Overall, this is an excellent flash for the average-to-avid hobbiest photographer who does not need the extra features, size and price of a more expensive, professional flash unit.
  
  
• A great speedlight that fills a need for the non-professional
  By A2NKMYVUHTOSF9 on 2007-04-21
  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.
  
  
• Rockwell was right!
  By A2R8R2UOD0H8J3 on 2007-09-18
  I learned of the existence of this tiny Speedlight via Ken Rockwell's outstanding website; he gave it a glowing review, so I decided to get one for my outfit.
  
  Rockwell scores yet again!
  
  This little flash unit is a perfect match for the Nikon D40; it's efficient, light, compact, powerful, and digests AA batteries in a very miserly fashion (and also saves your camera's onboard battery while doing so).
  
  It's utility as a bounce flash is wonderful to behold; matched with the wondrous Nikon flash technology, it is capable of producing extremely pleasant, lifelike images devoid of that "death beam glare" of direct flash.
  
  Plus it easily triggers my slaved Vivitar 285s to produce truly professional results.
  
  If you have a D40 or similar digital Nikon SLR, I urge you to get one of these little cuties which slips easily into a corner of your gadget bag (and yes, it comes with a high-quality padded zip case to keep it looking brand new)...
  
  Highly and heartily recommended to one and all!
  
  
  
• Bounce Flash Feature Amazing
  By A2OLR9E1CJFKY9 on 2007-01-16
  I've shot a couple of hundred indoor photographs with the SB 400 so far, and what impresses me most is the "bounce flash" feature. You can tilt the light portion of the flash head at a number of angles, including straight up, so that the flash does not wash out the scene or create red eye. Instead the room is bathed in indirect light that creates natural shadows and no red eye. The results for even an amateur are amazing. Yes, its also small and well integrated into the camera, so that you wouldn't mind just leaving it on the hot shoe much of the time. But take just a few shots with the head tilted up and you'll be sold.
  
  
• Superb TTL flash, great price - get one!
  By A305XQJK7PW8AE on 2007-04-07
  This is a very well thought out product - you get all of the pro features you need in a very small and affordable package.
  
  It's a full TTL flash for Nikon cameras - meaning that the camera will meter the scene and adjust the flash timing and power to match what you are shooting, all automatically. As such, it is very hard to take one of those terrible, washed out flash pictures.
  
  The flash unit itself is mounted so that it can easily be tilted for flash bouncing to give a warmer lighting effect off the ceiling - and the way it is put together means it is still very compact. Very clever. In fact, the unit is so small that it is easy to carry with you just in case you need it.
  
  Finally, you get Nikon quality - build is very good, and it is supplied with a nice padded case.
  
  All of this for little more than the price of a generic flash unit from a camera store!
  
  
• Easy to carry flash for Nikon cameras
  By A3KP0LU9KDKFD7 on 2007-05-12
  Much better than built-in flash on my D70. Can direct upwards for even lighting. Compact and light. And a bargain.
  
  
• Not an SB-800
  By A1C3J2TK6JOHWD on 2007-06-07
  This is a nice, small flash for Nikon DSLR cameras, but it's output and lack of wireless-support make it only useful as a better replacement for the built-in pop-up flash. The good news is that it's better than the pop-up and portable too (not as bulky as the SB-600 & SB-800).
  
  
• Finally !!! A flash that doesn't require you to read the manual and have a PHD.
  By A35WUHB06DVN2T on 2007-06-13
  This is a gem of a unit. My previous flash was a 580 EX on a Canon Xti body. It had so many buttons that my head would spin and I could never get the settings quite right. The SB-400 is definitely plug and play. Snap it in, turn it on, and shoot. I use it with my D200 and it doesn't add much weight. Build quality is also top notch and it comes with a nice carrying case. The abiliy to bounce the flash is the frosting on the cake.
  
  
• Just what it looks like.
  By AG4WJLXLAPQXQ on 2007-09-06
  This is Nikon's baby flash. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the larger, heavier, more sophisticated (and much more expensive) SB-600 or SB-800 flashes.
  
  What it does have is:
  
  It's small and light and low profile (you won't be as paranoid about busting it off like the big ones that stick way up in the air) so you'll be more likely to just leave it on the camera all the time instead of having to dig it out of the bag whenever you want to use it. It only takes 2 AA batteries so it's a lot lighter than the bigger units which take 4. It's very easy to install and use.
  
  I originally bought it for my D-50 and it worked fine on that and now on the new D-80 that I upgraded to. It also works on my little Nikon Coolpix P5000 which is really handy when I don't want to lug all the heavy iron.
  
  Oh yeah...the pics are a lot better than when using the built-in flash too. And you are less likely to get shadows when using a big lens hood.
  
  
  
  
• Great little off Camera Light
  By A1NBY2UVT3T8ZP on 2007-02-02
  I purchased this light for my son to use with his D40. This little light works great. TTL is almost right on without using the exposure compensation. In my opinion, a shoe mount flash makes a huge difference in light quality. The actual light swivels up so that you can bounce the light off the ceiling. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the fact that it can not swivel side to side. Therefore you can not bounce off a side wall. For the price and the difference this light will make in your photos, I highly reccommend the sb-400. Karen
  
  
• Changed the way I shoot
  By A1NLUC7FSNNMWC on 2007-03-18
  Being fairly new to the DSLR world, I'm constantly learning how to get the best out of my D50. This flash has been the most important piece to the puzzle to get the results I want. I was very frustrated when I always got the washed out look when shooting indoor photos of my newborn son. Once I learned about flash bounce and purchased the SB-4oo, I really started to get the results I was looking for. The skin tones are much more natural and it really illuminates the background and provides great fill light. Excellent purchase, a must if shooting indoor shots.
  
  
• Does the job for its small size.
  By A303YO1B5DKTHT on 2007-04-30
  First thing that caught my attention of the SB-400 is its small size. When mounted on my Nikon D40x, the unit does not impose itself on the camera body. Aesthetics aside, the quality of the flash is super. The unit can be tilted at various angles upto 90 degrees for the "bounce" effect. Pictures come out clear and light is thrown evenly across the subject(s). It syncs very well with the camera and can use any type of AA sized batteries. With the SB-400 mounted, less power is consumed from the camera battery itself. Something to keep in mind.
  
  I am very happy with the purchase. For the casual photographer, the unit provides more than ample support. You can't go wrong.
  
  
• Perfect everyday flash
  By A15KL5ETAONIID on 2007-05-09
  I bought this for my D50. I can take studio quality photos in my basement without any other light source besides the normal table lamp. It's fully automatic and very powerful compared to the built in flash. It's size also makes it very portable. It stays on my camera all the time now.
  
  
• Excellent product . Amazingly small and light.
  By A1AUYEJD621EHQ on 2007-06-22
  Although it's only twice as powerful as the built-in flash on the D40, and even though I probably won't use it that much, the ability to bounce flash with this will be invaluable for indoor shots, especially family gatherings and kids (if I ever have any). It's so small and light that I just carry it everywhere, even if I most likely won't use it. This is a truly practical product. Great work Nikon!
  
  
• Awesome Bounce
  By A2I8IZ91JHQLEW on 2007-06-01
  This flash does everything the amateur photographer could want. While there are no operations on the external shell of the flash (you have to program it through your camera), its small size, versatility, and the swivel head for bouncing the light off the ceiling or wall are all great features worth buying. Great price and it even comes with a cute little case for it which actually serves a purpose!
  
  
• Fast and furious
  By A33XA1YVI4AZSO on 2007-06-11
  The SB-400 Speedlight offered by Nikon turns out to be an excellent accessory for "snapshot" photography on many of Nikons digital cameras. I use a D200 with an SB600 flash normally but finding the 400 series is far lighter and has enough power for relaxed shooting such as gatherings.
  
  While its not the most powerful flash nor has the SB600 and SB800's arsenol of features its a nice blend of minimal features and includes a built in bounce. - I use this quite often with pleasing results.
  
  The SB 400 does what the built in flash of my D200 should have done and failed. The built in flash not only is weak but does not clear my most used lenses (thus throws a shadow on the image where the lens blocked the flash POV). The SB 400 clears my most used lenses (ultra wide zoom and wide to tele zoom).
  
  A nice accessory to the flash would be a 1-2 inch spacer between the camera and the flash itself for even better shooting and minimalizing red eye when not shooting in red eye mode.
  
  All in all, very pleased with this purchase other than being a bit over priced.
  
  
• Took several hundred pictures in two weeks with the SB-400.
  By AIFFMWY7E0IYJ on 2007-08-06
  I visited Africa and got shots that others, with more expensive cameras, didn't get. Why? Because I had the compact SB-400 Speedlight to use with my Nikon D-40; and others didn't want to be bothered with carrying their big flash units. I took some great pictures of Leopards and Cheetahs in low light. If I need flash, I hardly ever use my built-in flash. It's so easy to just clamp on the SB-400. Often, I would just leave the flash on the camera, it takes up so little space. So....I really recommend the SB-400 Speedlight. I just keep it in a small nook in my camera bag; and I can get 60ft.+ coverage. Oh, be sure to angle the flash up for portraits. It gives you wonderful flesh tones.
  
  
• Put some bounce in your shots
  By A3MMJEMXBJOJ8H on 2007-11-30
  What a nice little flash. It is small, bright and works automatically with your digital Nikon DSLR. On my D40 (see my review) the results are terrific. The built-in flash is fine, but bouncing the flash off the ceiling gives is better. Soft and natural looking light, no red eye either. I was surprised at how nice the lighting is.
  
  It is capable of quick and repeated flashes, again up to a point. It does use common AA batteries which obviously have their limitations, but they are also cheap and available anywhere
  
  If you turn on the SB-400, the camera's built-in flash will not pop up. If you mount it on the camera, but don't turn it on, the the pop-up flash will hit it and will not flash. No damage or anything, it just happens. So, take it off if you aren't going to use it and turn it on if you are.
  
  The D40 does not have built-in remote flash control like the hold D70 did. And this little flash does not have the capability to trigger other flashes.
  
  This flash is inexpensive, small, super-easy to operate and works perfectly with the camera's exposure control. It is perfect for anything other than fancy remote flash control and Nikon's special macro flash system would be better for that use.
  
  If you have skipped additional flashes because of complication or cost, like I always have, give this a try.
  
  
• Quite Adequate
  By AV283AT9VIKTU on 2007-03-08
  Its small and works well, slightly better than the built in. Nothing amazing but seems to integrate nicely with the exposure/flash function
  
  
• huge difference in pictures
  By AVC3CYYO8926B on 2007-03-08
  Highly recommend. Huge difference in pictures. I was quite amazed and cannot live without it anymore.
  
  

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