So I've made my college decisions this week and I decided that I'd go buy myself a little something at Wolf Camera. They didn't have the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 in stock (would have been much more painful on my wallet) so I decided on something smaller.

The answer: the SB-400 flash.

This is bound to be a bit of a long technical mumbo-jumbo section, so you can skip it if you don't feel like reading it. Cliff's notes version: Small, powerful, versatile, cheap, simple, generally very cool.

It's tiny. Very Very tiny. It's like two of my fast-acting inhalers side by side, but not quite as long. It has a cute little soft case and fits easily into my pocket. I can take it anywhere. It runs off 2 AA's instead of less common batteries like the SB-R200s from the R1 and R1C1 kits.

It's a very simple flash, manual so far only with the D40 series, but it's powerful and compact.

Without batteries it's just over 1/3 the weight of the SB-600 yet it manages to get a guide number of 98'/30M at 18mm on DSLRs (27mm equivalent), while the SB-600 gets that guide number at the 35mm position. It also recycles faster than the SB-600 by a full second

The SB-400 is i-TTL only so it is compatible with the D2 series, D200, D70 series, D50, D40 series, D80, and newer cameras including some coolpix cameras with shoe mount. It's a great entry level flash.

Despite its size, it does have not just power to its credit, but it is also quite well designed, and thus it has a 4-position flash head that can shoot straight ahead, and has click stops with the flash facing up at 60, 75, and 90 degrees for bounce flash. It is possible to secure a bounce card around it as well, as someone on another forum as shown.

It seems very solid despite its size and low cost, though it's not an SB-800 in this regard.
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you can stop skipping now :)

This thing was cheap. Dirt cheap... as in like $120 after tax.

So why did it interest me when I already have an SB-800?

Everything about it called out to me. I've been using the SB-800 for quite some time now, and it is huge. Powerful like you wouldn't believe, and fun, but huge. It's too cumbersome to use at some parties and events where I want to travel light or incognito. It's also a pretty big weight to have on the camera when using small, fast lenses to follow my nephews around and the like. I knew the SB-600 would still be overkill- I had that one before the SB-800. Then this came out and I had my answer.

Now I haven't used it yet because i'm at my father's house right now, and my cameras aren't here, but I'll be heading home in a few hours and I'll put it through its paces... and maybe get a few pics.

Yeah, its not easy to be discreet with that 800. I can see why you liked that 400.
New toys are so sweet!

So I had a chance to use it. Powerful little beast for its size, very quick on the recharge, locks on solidly and wow will it ever be useful. The ability to bounce this little thing makes it worth its weight in gold. No more having to lug around an SB-600 or SB-800 for bounce flash!

Here it is mounted on one of my D200s:
https://nikonmadness.smugmug.com/photos/140059929-M.jpg

https://nikonmadness.smugmug.com/photos/140060566-M.jpg

(sorry about the bad angles, I was in a rush and my SB-800 batteries were in dire need of recharging)

Here's a little shot taken with it with the 70-200 VR at 200mm f/4.5 ISO 200, bounced at 60 degrees from maybe 15, 20 feet away tops.
https://nikonmadness.smugmug.com/photos/140060667-M.jpg

It is totally unnoticeable with the 70-200 VR, barely if at all with the 17-55/2.8 DX, and just present enough to realize there's some little thing there with a light prime like my 40/2.0.

The photographic value of a tool, be it a camera, lens, flash, remote, or even a camera strap has as much to do with practicality as it does with sheer power and capability. Despite not being a wireless remote slave, and despite being less powerful than the SB-800, I feel that for everyday use this flash has a greater photographic value from a practical standpoint, just as I feel that at times my 200/2 or 70-200 can be more valuable than my 400mm, or my 40/2 versus the 17-55.

From now on, it goes with me everywhere. and I mean everywhere.

Here it is mounted on one of my D200s:



sigh *jealous* to have just one d200 would be nice!

Your time will come! Prices are dropping! I just had to be the first kid on the block with one. And two.

Your time will come! Prices are dropping! I just had to be the first kid on the block with one. And two.


ya, i hope so. :) It sure would be fun to take in your list of equipment to the store and say "here, get me this please" :)

well how much do you have saved up? It's getting easier and easier to afford them. I got my 2nd one new for 1300 shipped with a few extras. You might be able to get a lightly used one for less than that.