Nikon SB-800 Review:

The Nikon SB800 user review by Gadgester. I won’t repeat the wealth of information the other kind reviewers have already given. I’ll just focus on why I decided to cough up the extra $100 to get the Nikon SB-800 instead of the less powerful SB-600.

Compared to the SB-600, the Nikon SB-800 has the following extra features:

1) Much more powerful, as reflected in the GN.
2) Slightly faster recycle time with the standard four AA batteries. It also comes with a battery holder that holds a fifth battery which cuts down recycle time by 1/3 to 1/2.
3) The Nikon SB800 has non-TTL auto and auto aperture modes. (More on this later.)
4) In wireless remote mode, the Nikon SB-800 can act both as the master and slave, whereas the 600 can only be a slave.
5) It comes with a useful diffusion dome, which won’t even fit on the SB-600.
6) The Nikon SB800 package also includes two colored gel filters.
7) The Nikon SB-800 can do repeating flash (in the same exposure), for a strobe effect.

Basically, both the 600 and Nikon SB-800 support Nikon’s latest flash technologies, i-TTL (supported by the D70 and D2H only) and CLS (creative lighting system), in addition to all the TTL (through the lens) flash modes Nikon introduced in the past. The 600 is really a prosumer-level flash that’s either TTL or manual, whereas the Nikon SB-800 is pure pro-grade with a lot of modes and options. The manual, evidently written by a Japanese manual writer, attests to its sophistication; understanding the manual will really require a Ph.D. in yoga so you don’t stress yourself out.

The Nikon SB800’s auto modes are what won me over in the end. The auto modes can set the flash output automatically on Nikon bodies that do not support any TTL (through the lens) mode. On those bodies, with the 600 you’d have to resort to manual, which is simply a pain in the butt, not to mention prone to error. The two non-TTL auto modes on the 800 are auto aperture and auto. You’ll need to study the manual very carefully to figure out the difference; I still haven’t, but I’m already enjoying the auto aperture mode. The availability of auto modes also means the Nikon SB-800 can be used on a wide range of Nikon bodies than the simpler 600.

If you are deciding between the 600 and the Nikon SB-800 like I was, ask yourself the following questions:

1) Do you have an extra $100-$150 to spend? If yes, the Nikon SB-800.
2) Do you plan to use the external flash a lot? If yes, the Nikon SB-800.
3) Do you have Nikon bodies (usually older manual ones) that do not support TTL (you can find out in the camera’s user’s guide)? If yes, the Nikon SB800.
4) Do you plan to do a lot of wireless flash photography and take full advantage of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System? If yes, the Nikon SB800.
5) If you want to get a diffusion dome that fits the flash, get the Nikon SB-800.

In the end, I think the Nikon SB-800 is a better long-term investment than the SB-600, despite the higher price. It’s much more powerful and flexible, and even though it’s an overkill for me right now, I imagine when my flash photography improves (and I’m trying very hard right now), it’ll prove a very worthy investment.

—– By Gadgester

Nikon SB-800 Features

• Autofocus speedlight compatible with both digital andfilm SLR cameras
• Intelligent i-TTL system supports automatic balanced fill-flash
• Can automatically control light output according to distance and aperture
• Dot matrix LCD with easy to read graphics
• Ergonomic control with conveniently placed buttons and switches

Nikon SB-800 Specifications

Compare Prices Of Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight