SB400 or SB600? And other equipment....

Cocohoney

Cocohoney

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Alexandra
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So, I have asked this question before, but I didn't actually go and buy at that time, and now I just can't decide.

I am like the idea of getting the SB600, but the only thing I can see that I am paying the extra £75 for is being able to bounce flash in portrait. And can't I get a hood for the SB400 to enable me to do that? Is there huge stuff I am missing that an amateur like me will benefit from? What extr stuf can it do? The desciptions I have found mostly focus on it's slave ability, and I can't see that I will make much use out of that, but perhaps I am missing the point?

If I go for the SB400, I have found it at a bargain price herehttp://www.phonescorporation.com/ukstore/ anyone bought from here? Any good?

Another thing is if I do get the SB400, I could then get a basic tripod, a spare battery, a remote etc, so any recommendations on good bits/brands/places to buy? I have a D60, two lenses, a few filters and will have a shiny new flash to house- I don't mind it being large.


Last thing! I need a new larger camera bag, to house D60, 2 lenses, some filters and of course my shiny new flash!
 
a flash is important as any other bit of kit and as the saying goes, buy the best you can afford, i would definitely get the sb 600 without a doubt. have you considered the jessops 360afd? its just as good as the sb 600 but £75 cheaper but even better is that there is a winter sale at jessops and the 360afd flash is now £70, i'd get one quick if i was you.
 
There's a huge difference between an SB-400 and an SB-600. The 400 is about as basic as they come,but if all you are looking for is a step up from your camera's onboard flash it will do the job.
 
Mastertrinity, I had considered that one, but almost everyone said stick with Nikon.

Is the quality as good?
 
flash in the pan, what extra am I getting? I am not very technological, and I just don't get it!
 
I have looked at the SB400 for my D300 and TBH I think I would be wasting £99 on a flash that is not that versitile - and does not lend itself well to progress the craft with it -

The SB600 from KERSO is £169 including del - I am not sure about the obscure website you have found with the SB400 for 85 ish I would buy from Jessops - so the deal from Kerso is :thumbs: for an extra £70 - If you hate it and can't get on with it - then SB600's often sell in the classifieds here for £150 inc RMSD - So you are not going to loose much............Go for the SB600;)

I have never tryed 3rd party flash guns - so can't comment on the Jessops offering above.........

Just to muddy the waters:| though - If you are a street syle snapper and want a pocket flash - the 400 is way better than the onboard you may have - its an improvement on the D300's onboard flash!

;)
 
Flash In The Pan said:
There's a huge difference between an SB-400 and an SB-600. The 400 is about as basic as they come,but if all you are looking for is a step up from your camera's onboard flash it will do the job.
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coco .. this is true ...and if you are budget minded ...like me !!

SB400...........
mounted on a Konig lightstand from Amazon at £10
you'll need a cold shoe[?] to attach flash to lightstand
using a SB400 copy diffuser from GoMemory.co.uk at £10
an off-camera TTL flash cord from FITP ....£23?

works well for me
 
The 360AFD has a slave mode as well and can bounce flash, swivel etc. There are a few complaints on the website about it missing exposures or being unreliable at times but it can be had for £39.99 delivered from Jessops at the moment - might be a suitable stopgap until you're sure that either of the expensive Nikon models are what you're looking for.
 
Cocohoney said:
Mastertrinity, I had considered that one, but almost everyone said stick with Nikon.

Is the quality as good?
Click to expand...

i can understand sticking with nikon due to the gain of nikons creative lighting system, but apart from that its not much different. i found the jessops flash quite sturdy and robust, build quality werent at best but you cant expect it at that price point, it has a GN of 36 which is average and it can be used as in manual, ttl and slave.
 
Urgh! See, this is the trouble I had last time- I have to make a decision this time!

I use my camera mostly for snapping family and friends, and the thing I find most annoying is how much the on board flash can slow this down, along with the harsh light it creates. So- I guess the SB600 is going to be better all round for versatility and speed, but the SB400 is more compact. And then I have to decide whether Jessops is ok!

I can't do it, I've never been much of a decision maker- especially where there's money involved!

I'm tempted by the Jessops, I have to say. But I'm being pulled towards the SB600.
Are these very big and awkward to manage?
 
Cocohoney - You are in a pickle:shrug: -

Go get the SB400 from Jessops at £99 and have a go with it - If its not suitable You can sell it on here for £85 -

remember to pay with cash! - so you can pass on the invoice to a new owner and do not put a name on the invoice - say its a gift! and you want to pass on the invoice to the recipient - that way the new owner IF you think its not for you can enjoy a warranty with a ten month old or so unit I assume it will take a couple of months to test out and see if its for you!

Read this also http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb400.htm He calls it a Jewel;)

There you go!:thumbs:
 
Astraeus said:
The 360AFD has a slave mode as well and can bounce flash, swivel etc. There are a few complaints on the website about it missing exposures or being unreliable at times but it can be had for £39.99 delivered from Jessops at the moment - might be a suitable stopgap until you're sure that either of the expensive Nikon models are what you're looking for.
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The £39.99 deal ended a while ago so it is £69.99 now. I bought 2 when they were £39.99 though, one for Mrs_C and one for my youngest to go with his first DSLR.

The 360AFD is clearly of a lower quality level than the Nikons (I have the SB600 & SB800), it has a less secure attachment, the SB600's screen is better and the SB600 works wirelessly via Nikon's own wireless system.

BUT it is £70 whilst the SB400 is £90-100 and the SB600 is £160-180......

On that basis the 360AFD is a bargain against the SB600 (costing about half as much) and BASICALLY does the same things (other than wireless).

Comparing the SB400 against the 360AFD is more difficult as they are not really the same thing. The SB400 is a cheap add-on flash designed as a step up from the built in one and ideal to stick in your pocket if you have a pro model with no flash or you just want to travel light.

One of the reasons for having an extra flash is to move the bulb further away from the centre of the sensor thus reducing red eye - the SB400 is not as tall so not sure if it would be as good.

Another reason for having an extra flash is to increase the power you have, the SB400 is less powerful.

Personally I would go with the 360AFD for flexibility and either buy a diffuser from flash in the pan if he has sourced any yet or one of the £3 universal ones.
 
""I use my camera mostly for snapping family and friends, ""

SB400 . from Ken Rockwell (R)
..
showphoto.php
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Thanks Justinitus, hadn't spotted that.

Thanks for all the encouragement guys!

I think I might go for the SB600. I have the cash at the moment, and they do hold their price well if I don't like it.......I am very tempted by the Jessops one, but can't work out if I'm being stingy or sensible!!!!!

Yes, I read the Ken Rockwell stuff, he really seems to like the SB400. I am worried it will just annoy me not being able to bounce it in portrait though.
 
Thanks Cowasaki, that's a really helpful reply. See, now I want the 360AFD:bonk:
 
Every time I think I've decided, I read something else to swing me. I think probably there are things about all of them which would be useful, and all which I would dislike.
Sorry to drone on about this- your replies are helping!!!
 
Cocohoney said:
I am not very technological
Click to expand...

The user interface of the SB-600 isn't the best, though it's smaller than the more recent offerings from Nikon.

Have you seen the YongNuo flashes sold by Flash In The Pan and on eBay?
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1809826&postcount=9

I've not used one, but in operational terms you lose the exposure compensation setting of the SB-600 and other advanced features, but you get a catchlight card, which is more convenient than fixing one on with a rubber band, though isn't any use in portrait orientation.

I use similar discontinued flashes from Sunpak by setting the shutterspeed manually (appropriate to lens focal length), aperture and ISO according to how much ambient light I want to register, and then "suck it and see" with the manual setting on the flash. I also have an SB-600 and similar (better!) Pentax flashes, but regularly use the older, less techy flashes.
 
Sorry - I think it will drive you mad as it would me:thumbs:

Don't look at anything else now - SB600:love:

Get the sb600, you know it makes sense.
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Davec223 - was right all along :lol:
 
If you have the money though get the SB600 or if you can push to another few pounds there was an SB800 in the for sale section at £200 inc postage. If you bought that you would not lose a penny if you re-sold it later.
 
I've got the SB-400, SB-600 and the cheap Jessops 360 gun. My advice would be to go for a second hand SB-600. If you're patient you should find one for around the £125 mark. Once you factor in all the bits (slave shoe, diffuser, etc) for the SB-400 you're not that far away from SB-600 money...

I only use the SB-400 when I don't want to carry the extra weight around. The only reason I bought the Jessops was because it was very cheap, but I personally don't reckon it's worth 70 quid (that's my personal opinion btw ;))
 
The SB800 has gone.

I hadn't considered extras Naith, thanks for the reply, nice to know the SB600 is best from someone that has all 3.

Thanks Hoppy, that one looks good.
 
Hoppy, I am leaning towards the Nissin now, that has excellent reviews everywhere it seems?
It seems the disadvantage would be not being able to use it with CLS?
 
look simple as;

if youve got the cash then go for the sb 600, its a logical buy and if you dont get it you will regret it.

if i was a nikon user i wouldnt consider the sb 400 unless you only need it on the odd family event or something for fill flash.

the jessops and yongnuo flashes are budget options and are good for the average user or someone who doesnt have enough cash but wants to try strobist.
 
Cocohoney said:
Hoppy, I am leaning towards the Nissin now, that has excellent reviews everywhere it seems?
It seems the disadvantage would be not being able to use it with CLS?
Click to expand...

It's fully CLS compatible, but you can't use it as a commander unit, you need the Di866 model for that. But then the SB600 isn't a commander flash either, that's the SB800. Both are much more expensive.
 
Go on, you know you want the real McCoy ;)

Start looking for that SB-600 now...
 
Cocohoney said:
T
I think I might go for the SB600.
Yes, I read the Ken Rockwell stuff, he really seems to like the SB400. I am worried it will just annoy me not being able to bounce it in portrait though.
Click to expand...

probably agree on the SB600

BUT BUT in case anyone else wonders

the SB400 head WILL tilt upwards to 90deg ,,,,,,,:thumbs:
 
Daysleeper40 said:
I have a question - on the list of Nikon DSLR's that the AFD 360 is compatible with, why is the D60 not on the list?

guess..............:thinking:
could it be something to do with the flash sync ?

Ken Rockwell (C)
""The D60 is actually a D40 body with a few more card-clogging pixels, a VR lens and adaptive dynamic range, but a slower maximum shutter speed with flash. ""
Click to expand...
 
Ok, I'm keeping my eye out for a second hand SB 600, but there is lots of other stuff I would like to buy with my Christmas money. So, if one doesn't come up soonish, I am going for the Nissin.

I had to write it down, maybe that way I won't change my mind.......:)

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I have a new question now, about bags. I'm off to start a new thread ;)
 
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