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Author
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VikingPhotography
Forum Regular
Registered: July 2006
Location: Just south of Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 807
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Review Date: Wed September 13, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £289.99
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Consistently good resutls when used in iTTL mode
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Cons:
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Manual and flash menu system is confusing and not friendly to beginners!
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With the SB-800 flashgun, Nikon have almost created a masterpiece... albeit one which just falls short of such acclaim.
Paired with an iTTL capable camera set to meter in Nikon's 3D Matrix mode, you should get perfect results every time. Whether it's adding catchlights to a subject's eyes, filling in harsh shadows on a backlit/sidelit subject, or the raw power need to light a dark scene, I get consistently good results with this strobe.
The downfall of the unit is that the manual for the flash - and the flash's own menu system - is not the most intuitive ever designed. Once you want to get out of the comfort zone of fully automatic operation (iTTL) and especially if you want to explore Nikon's wireless Creative Lighting System, you'll need a fair bit of patience and time for trial and error before you start nailing the results you need.
The one thing that I feel is missing the most from this flashgun is probably a very simple thing: a battery power indicator of some sorts. This, along with a better manual and menu system, is what I'd like to see in Nikon's SB-900 flashgun... if they ever release one.
Still, when all is said and done, this dedicated flash is definitely worth the money and a worthwhile - if expensive - addition to your Nikon or Fuji dSLR.
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VinnyP
Forum Regular
Registered: February 2006
Location: Surbiton Surrey
Posts: 700
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Review Date: Sun January 28, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £190.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Features, exposure, build quality, battery life and recycle time.
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Cons:
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No battery indicator, step learning curve.
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I have 2 of these and they are real gems. Flash guns are one area where there is no competition between Canon and Nikon. Battery life is great, they seem to put out hundreds of shots betwen battery changes (I use 2650 NIMHs). The 5th battery makes a huge difference to recycle times don't know exact figures but even with bounce flash at ISO100 I never have to wait between shots. Exposures are spot on and I can't imagine a shooting situation not catered for. But the jewel is the wireless TTL mode. The possibilities for an ad-hoc studio set up are too numerous to mention and Just being able to stick a flash anywhere and have the whole process automated can be very useful. Even down to on camera control of individual Flash compensation for each of up to 4 guns in 3 groups! It has a few nice touches and not to be overlooked is the built in bounce card, nice for catchlights
Output is enough for most situations and a few years ago you'd have needed a hammerhead and battery pack to come close.
Downsides: well the sync with any shutter speed is difficult to access and reduces the usefulness of the gun but none the less it is there. But yes the lack of a battery meter is a real gripe rechargeables do run down when unused.
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JMitchell
Feet under the table
Registered: January 2007
Location: London, England
Posts: 3839
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Review Date: Thu April 12, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £219.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Very versatile, some nice perks
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Cons:
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No battery meter, confusing!
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In terms of 'creative lighting' this flash is certainly right on the money, with as many different 'ways of doing it' as you could possibly want. Unfortunately with an aspect such as this, it drags along with it some very confusing menus, and some serious time needs to be taken to read the instruction manual; which is - unlike many - actually very useful.
Also, the fact that it comes with a stand and can be used off camera either on the floor or on a tripod (very useful), is a big plus, with it being triggered by the on board flash.
It's accessories aren't bad either:
- Green-ish and orange-ish filters, look nice when used together
- Diffuser, useful of course
- Stand, very useful as mentioned
- Extra battery slot for faster re-generation times (of flash_
- Built in wide-angle flash thing, and bounce card.
Overall, a very useful and detailed piece of kit, almost essentially (eventually), in your kit bag, but can be very confusing at the start, but what isn't?
A good buy! And they're constantly getting cheaper.
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Dave
Pixalo Crew
Registered: July 2005
Posts: 16036
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Review Date: Mon May 28, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £199.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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iTTL provides consistent results,
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Cons:
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Having never been a fan of flashes (& knowing bugger all about them ), I wasn't expecting much from the SB-800. How wrong you can be 
Reading through the manual it seemes the iTTL auto mode catered for most scenarios, so I followed this route for some test shots indoors. 1st shots with direct flash left the expected harsh shadows. Then I tried boucing the flash off the ceiling & voila .... great lighting that brought the shot alive. Excellent stuff 
Playing further shows the versatility of this flash. With the D200 I did get to a point where I couldn't drop the flash exposure, without underexposing the shot. Soon found this to be a setting somewhere on the D200 causing the problem & once sorted the Flash was performing as expected 
Just need to arrange some "friends & family" shoots to try it out properly
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j sotelo
Feet under the table
Registered: November 2006
Location: San Diego, Ca. Where the Surf meets the Turf
Posts: 2038
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Review Date: Sat July 12, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £160.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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It can be adjusted to 1/128
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Cons:
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Expensive
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Nikon SB-800 can be adjusted down to 1/128 which is good because that way you can open up to larger apertures than f8 inside.
You have smart TTL metering system, eliminating the need for a light meter,The SB-800 is a powerful flash. It has a guide number of 125 at 35mm, ranging up to 184 at 105mm.
This is truly one of the greatest flashes I've seen, I really agree with what has already been said, also one of the best things about it is that it has enough power to be used with a softbox or umbrella, which I already ordered and will be coming back to report the results I get with them.
It's a lot easier to carry a couple of SB-800 instead of a couple of strobes, plus you don't need power outlets just batteries or the optional power pack.
It can be used as a commander if your camera doesn't go into commander mode, includes colored filters to match tungsten and fluorescent light, a Diffusion Dome, a Quick Recycling Battery Pack, Speedlight Stand, Soft Case.
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