pistnbroke
Banned
Thats fine Brisvagas ( lived in Noosa for 10 years) if you got time to pi$$ about bouncing and checking shadows etc but with 1430 shots at last weeks wedding I aint got the time ...hit it head on ..flash flipper and move on
SB-400...useless?
- Thread starter SeaPea
- Start date
Yep, your right too many shots, too little time 
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
If you really never plan on doing multiple flash setups like portraits the SB-400 would probably do good for you. It will give you a little extra reach over the built in popup. The SB-400 does have some limitations in bounce that you might want to think about.
If you can afford it the SB-700 will give you more power for the martial arts tournaments where you might not be close enough to get a great shot. If you can't then get the SB-400.
The question is.....Is the SB400 useless. Well of course it's not useless, it's just different. It's light, it's portable, unobtrusive on the camera, and so on. It just does things differently than it's bigger and more powerful cousins. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I don't believe there are any settings on the SB400 to change the power of the flash, are there? I honestly can't remember. The SB700 can be set at 1/4 power, 1/2 power, full power, and so on. It comes with 3 diffusers, a stand for off camera flash, has a built in diffuser and bounce card. Adjustable in all directions. Comes with its own case. Biggest benefit of all......it is SO easy to use!
pistnbroke
Banned
well you can get a YN 458 II for half the money(of an SB400) and lots more power or even go for a YN 565 ex which is equal to Nikon 910
Dude, you put shit on me earlier in this thread when I said I didn't like the 400.
Now in the same thread your basically sayin don't buy the "SB400 best flash gun in the world" and buy "some great thing sticking up to get knocked off". Geezus mate, way to confuse people or are you just confused??
pistnbroke
Banned
if the guy wants to go along with photojack and get a more conventional flash then I am just making him aware of the cheaper alternatives...personally if you could turn a hamerhead flash upside down to get the flash head nearer the lens it would be great but the makers insist on these great tall things that cast terrible shadows ...
I am off today to a wedding with me SB400s and flash flippers ..its raining so all inside and that means hundreds of photos with the SB 400 and minimal shadows ...now on the sigma 10-20 I will have a YN 465 because the SB 400 hits the lens hood and throws a shadow...but I dont like it sticking out like a huge prick..you buy what you want having considered the problems in use.
I am off today to a wedding with me SB400s and flash flippers ..its raining so all inside and that means hundreds of photos with the SB 400 and minimal shadows ...now on the sigma 10-20 I will have a YN 465 because the SB 400 hits the lens hood and throws a shadow...but I dont like it sticking out like a huge prick..you buy what you want having considered the problems in use.
The internal flash menu in the recent camera models sees the SB-400 too, and also becomes the SB-400 menu then, so you set flash mode or manual power in that camera menu. This is ONLY true of the SB-400. What that means is, the SB-400 cannot even work as a flash if not connected to the hot shoe, it needs control from the camera.
Usefulness depends on how you will use the flash. If all you're going to use is direct flash, it is more power than the internal flash (about 1.3 stops more - at ten feet, maximum power could use f/6.9 instead of f/4.1. A larger flash easily does another stop more).
If you are going to use bounce flash, then SB-400 certainly has limitations, not really enough power (ten foot ceiling probably needs ISO 800 for maybe f/5). And the head does not swivel for portrait orientation or wall bounce.
But if you want off camera use, then it's simply not a choice, SB-400 cannot even work if not connected to the hot shoe.
So... if you want your flash skills to grow, there does seem better choices.
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