Sb200/300/400/500???

[Rich87]

I have a D700 and would like to buy a used version of a small SB flash.

On my SB 900 I have +/- to override ttl power output chosen by the camera/flash.
Does anyone know if and how I am able to do this with the smaller nikon flashes and which one do you recommend?

 

[BF Hammer]

I can tell you about the SB-400. There is no display or controls on it. Just an on/off switch and the strobe rotates up in 1 axis only for bouncing off the ceiling. It does not work in the Nikon CLS as either commander or remote devices. It is a flash for around a home to be used in iTTL mode. A major step-up from a pop-up flash with the ability to bounce the light in landscape orientation. In portrait mode you are trying to use a wall to bounce the light and that is not that desirable. Good at what it can do but limited in what it does. If you just shoot snapshots of the kids pets, a fine flash for that without confusing a user.

Some cameras can manually control the flash power by the menu on camera, but I think the D700 could be too old for that feature. Not sure. I don't remember seeing that on my old D80.

 

[hark]

I had the SB910 and the SB700 both of which had the option to adjust the output. No clue about the others.

My SB910 needed to be sent in for repair. The cost was more than I wanted to pay but got the repair completed anyway. It wound up breaking again outside of the warranty period even though I had only used it for 2 events with a total of approximately 110 flash actuations.

That's what prompted me to switch to using Godox flashes (Westcott also has a good ecosystem). I wound up giving away my SB700 to someone local who uses Nikon.

Godox makes flashes that use their own dedicated rechargeable-but-replaceable battery as well as ones that use AA batteries. I have one of each. Moving forward my preference will be to use flashes that take AA batteries. The Godox flash that uses their own rechargeable battery with the battery swelling. So I had to order a replacement battery. The thing is I hadn't used it much at all and always kept the battery stored in its plastic bag that zip sealed.

As for the Nikon flashes, I'm pretty sure the lower numbered flash units have less power output than the SB700 and the SB910. The SB700 has less power than the SB910, too, in case you aren't aware.

 

[zenboy]

I can tell you about the SB-400. There is no display or controls on it. Just an on/off switch and the strobe rotates up in 1 axis only for bouncing off the ceiling. It does not work in the Nikon CLS as either commander or remote devices. It is a flash for around a home to be used in iTTL mode. A major step-up from a pop-up flash with the ability to bounce the light in landscape orientation. In portrait mode you are trying to use a wall to bounce the light and that is not that desirable. Good at what it can do but limited in what it does. If you just shoot snapshots of the kids pets, a fine flash for that without confusing a user.

Some cameras can manually control the flash power by the menu on camera, but I think the D700 could be too old for that feature. Not sure. I don't remember seeing that on my old D80.

I can control output of the SB400 very well through my D700

 

[benhasajeep]

For lower cost option the SB700 is best option that gives you full control including commander function. Right now they are $240 refurbished from Nikonusa. That's a very good price. Or new on sale for $300 again good price for capabilities. Besides guide number it can only control 2 groups vs 3 wit SB900 and 910.

I have 600's, 700's, 900's and 1 SB5000, and 4 light set sbr200's, in cls flash units. Bunch of older units too.

The 300, 400, and 500 never owned one. But low powered, small though. The r200s I got in R1 kit, and picked up 2 extra lights. Lenses can hold up to 4 of them on the ring. Though a ring can mount 8 if off lens.