Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

3 reviews for Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – February 20, 2024 Kylie Goldner

   I have had my SB-600 for about 6 months now. It has taken my indoor photography to another level being able to bounce and control the light source for my shots. Bouncing the light allows for a softer, more natural look to your photographs. You can also place the flash unit off camera if you have a camera that can trigger the flash unit wirelessly like my Nikon D90. You can play with the different angles to get the “look” you were hoping to capture. I have used it for a couple weddings and I was very satisfied with the results. However, I recommend getting aSto-Fen Omni-Bounce OM-600 Flash Diffuser Unitand/or aGary Fong LS2P1 Lightsphere II Size 1 (Clear)for those instances where bouncing the flash simply will not work (i.e. against a dark wall, or the ceilings too high).Now I give it 4 stars because of a nagging issue. As early as 3 months into owning the flash unit, it would randomly trigger itself when it was on. The flash would trigger regardless of whether it was on the camera or off. The higher the power of the battery (Lithiums vs. Rechargeable) the higher the random trigger rate. It’s annoying and embarrasing when you’re supposed to be a professional photographer. It makes you look like you don’t know how to handle your equipment. I’ve read on forums that this is an issue for quite a few SB-600 owners. I found if I used rechargeable batteries the random trigger was less noticeable. The problem with rechargeables is that they don’t provide enough power for consistent exposures. Definitely takes longer for the flash to recharge. I finally had enough and sent it in for repair a week ago. It is being repaired under warranty as we speak. There was an issue with it but wouldn’t state specifically what it was, only that they would repair it.I will update this review when I get the repaired unit back. It’s a great alternative to the more expensive SB-900. If you’re a semi-pro or advanced amateur photographer you’ll will definitely be happy with your purchase. If you plan on going pro or want more studio like lighting, I would go with the SB-900. The SB-900 has a stronger flash output and can act like a commander unit that can trigger a slave unit such as another SB-600 wirelessly for creative lighting situations.Update (12/28/10)I got my SB-600 back and it works the perfectly now. I’ve only used it at two events so far but I haven’t had any random flashes. It took Nikon 2 weeks from them receiving to send the unit back to me. The only thing I paid was the shipping cost to send the unit to them for warranty repair.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – July 4, 2024 Maymie Schoen

   Though the price has inexplicably gone up $30 since I bought it two months ago (just in time for the holidays, I guess), the SB-600 is probably one of the best photography purchases I’ve made. Though there are some good off-brand flashes out there, to be sure, a dedicated Nikon speedlight is surely the best choice for a Nikon camera. After researching the available options, I chose the SB-600. The SB-800 is too expensive for the very few extra features it offers over the SB-600 (for like 95% of photographers). Similarly, the SB-900 is, for me, just complete overkill. (Landing a small airplane is easier than sorting out how to use that speedlight.) The SB-600 is a complex flash as far as its capabilities, but with only six buttons on the back, fairly straightforward in its use, especially for its basic functions. To me, the best points are its total compatibility with Nikon cameras, autofocus zoom capability, the ability to bounce the flash, and best of all, to use the flash in an off-camera wireless configuration for excellent creative lighting control. This last point isn’t true with all Nikon cameras, but for the upper range of digital SLRs, it is. For camera bodies which do not have built-in wireless commander control, you must purchase a small device to attach to the camera (this is for the consumer-level cameras, like the D3100 and D5100).Like most photographers, I would virtually never set up a lighting system using three SB-600s/800s/900s. I would use a pro-grade studio lighting system (at half the cost) that would give me much more flexibility and real-world applicability. For this reason, since I don’t need to use the strobe as a master, I opted for the 600 rather than the 800. For a professional, sure… I’d probably get the SB-900 and spend two weeks learning how to use it, but since I don’t make my living taking photos, there’s a cost/benefit analysis involved, and for me, the SB-600 is all the flash I need. Recycle time is good, and the lighting results are spot-on.If you don’t plan to use the wireless capabilities of the SB-600, you can probably get away with the SB-400 for half the price. However, I like the two-axis (bounce and rotate) adjustability of the flash head on the SB-600, while the SB-400 only offers one (bounce).

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   – December 2, 2024 Tyree Ortiz

   A great price, easy to use, and reasonably lightweight, this flash simply out guns the built-in flash of my Nikon D90. My camera already takes great pictures, but since getting the SB-600, I have been amazed at how much this improves my photos indoors. Although I have not yet used it outside (too much rain lately), it gives all of my indoor photos a very professional and lifelike glow (i.e. none of that ugly flash shadow or red eye).I highly recommend playing around with the angle of the flash in different circumstances (e.g. low or high ceilings) to get a feel for how it will affect your photos. That being said, I really like to use it as a bounce flash off of normal height ceilings, keeping it almost vertical (the first setting past vertical works very well for me).The interface is very easy to use, and a few minutes with the flash negates the need to even read the manual. Battery life seems good, as I still am on my first set of four AA batteries, but I will probably invest in some rechargeables when they wear out.The only thing this flash does not do (as compared with the high-end Nikon units) is act as a slave. Unless you need that functionality, this is a fantastic flash, and highly recommended.