Sb 600 flash advice

jordanogrady · 16 Apr 2011

Hi all, I'm looking at buying an SB 600 flash for my D40, now I've got a jessops flash, but I just can't get on with it, it's over exposing the images... I know its probably me and not the flash, but I just thought if I get a nikon flash, it will work better with my camera.

I have chance to get one from a guy on eBay, it's about 8 years old, claims to be rarely used, and he only wants £100 for it.... Now is this the going rate for a 8 year old flash? Or should I snap his hand off? Are there a few different sb600 models at all?

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated!

fixedimage · 17 Apr 2011

Sounds like a decent price.
Sure I got a fair whack more than that when I sold mine.
Sold mine as I had an SB800 too and the 600 annoyed the hell out of me, the whine while it recycles will cut right through you!
There will be a way to work with the flash you have, work at it and practice and the experience will do you good.

sep9001 · 17 Apr 2011

They normally go for between 125 and 140. Make sure it has all the bits that come with the flash when new.

Sent from my HTC Hero using TP Forums

jordanogrady · 17 Apr 2011

fixedimage said:
Sounds like a decent price.
Sure I got a fair whack more than that when I sold mine.
Sold mine as I had an SB800 too and the 600 annoyed the hell out of me, the whine while it recycles will cut right through you!
There will be a way to work with the flash you have, work at it and practice and the experience will do you good.

The 600 annoyed you because of the noise? I really can't get to grips with this one, I'm still learning how to use the camera propperly, I just thought if it was cheap enough, I could re sell and not lose too much cash if I don't like it... The 600 has good reviews tho...

I've read through loads of pages on how to make the flash work, but I'm just getting confused with it all...

ukglyn · 17 Apr 2011

Cant you just turn the flash exposure componsation down on your camera body, this should take some of the power out of the flash, or use it on manual & in time you will get used to how much power you need in certain situations.

jordanogrady · 17 Apr 2011

sep9001 said:
They normally go for between 125 and 140. Make sure it has all the bits that come with the flash when new.

Sent from my HTC Hero using TP Forums

I've been watching about 10 on eBay over the last few weeks, and not 1 has gone for under £140.... :thinking:

ronnus · 17 Apr 2011

If I came across a good condition, fully working sb600 for a ton, I'd snap it up whether I needed it or not! Going rate is around £160 without fees etc..

Buy it!

jordanogrady · 17 Apr 2011

ukglyn said:
Cant you just turn the flash exposure componsation down on your camera body, this should take some of the power out of the flash, or use it on manual & in time you will get used to how much power you need in certain situations.

Its only some times that it does this... When the flash is pointing towards the subject and you zoom in and out, you can hear the flash adjusting, now when you tilt the flash up, nothing happens when you zoom in and out, it just stays on one setting.... No idea why, or if this is what it's supposed todo!

jordanogrady · 17 Apr 2011

ronnus said:
If I came across a good condition, fully working sb600 for a ton, I'd snap it up whether I needed it or not! Going rate is around £160 without fees etc..

Buy it!

That's what I thought! I just thought it may be too good to be true! But as long as it's in full working order... Should be ok!

fixedimage · 17 Apr 2011

Yeah the rechrge whine on mine at least was very loud and seemed to be a tone that just ripped my head in two.
A mate has one and he hates the noise it makes too.
If you've never used a quiet flash you'll probably not notice but like I say, I had the 800 which was much quieter and my mate was a Canon user before so is used to the silence of the 430 ii.
As far as I know, tilting the head disables the zoom on any gun, same as pulling the diffuser or bounce card out or on the SB800, fitting the diffuser cover thing.

jordanogrady · 17 Apr 2011

fixedimage said:
Yeah the rechrge whine on mine at least was very loud and seemed to be a tone that just ripped my head in two.
A mate has one and he hates the noise it makes too.
If you've never used a quiet flash you'll probably not notice but like I say, I had the 800 which was much quieter and my mate was a Canon user before so is used to the silence of the 430 ii.
As far as I know, tilting the head disables the zoom on any gun, same as pulling the diffuser or bounce card out or on the SB800, fitting the diffuser cover thing.

Ah, that answers it then... So maybe I just need to learn how to tone the flash down a little... I need a defuser thing to put over the end, maybe this will tone the flash down a bit too!

I'll prob end up upgrading to an 800 once I get used to the jessops one, or this 600...

As ive only got a D40... I'll prob upgrade the camera too....

Sarg0r · 20 Apr 2011

I've got an SB600 and I'd bite his hand off at that price, either that or give me HHS details and I'll buy it, could use a spare!

terryt · 20 Apr 2011

Can barely hear the recharge on mine, only in a very quiet room and its only for a second or less, wonder if some are louder than others?