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Nikon SB-400 Speedlight

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
1	2658	Mon June 9, 2008

Recommended By	Average Price	Average Rating
100% of reviewers	£120.00	8.0

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Find the lowest price for the Nikon SB-400 Speedlight

Description:

Nikon UK Press Release

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the Nikon SB-400, an external flash unit that boasts i-TTL flash operation in a compact, lightweight body at an affordable price. The SB-400 gives photographers the opportunity to enjoy brighter and more natural lighting for images taken using a flash. It is designed to suit entry-level digital SLR users yet it is also suitable for more experienced users. Those who have a camera within the D2 series will also benefit from the convenient portable flash unit. The Nikon SB-400 offers a guide number of 30 (ISO 200, m), and effortless bounce flash function and is controlled in i-TTL and the D40’s M (manual) mode.

Due to its compatibility with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System, entry level users are able to experience a sophisticated wireless lighting system that is easy to use. Its flash head can be tilted in 4 steps, horizontal, 60, 75 and 90 degrees, and has a flash shooting distance range from 0.6m to 20m (depending on the ISO setting). Slow Sync, Red-eye Reduction and other flash modes can also be set on the camera body.

Note:
Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories and release schedule may differ by country or area.

Nikon Speedlight SB-400 Major Features

• Compatible with i-TTL and D40’s M mode
• Flash head can be tilted in 4 steps; horizontal, 60, 75 and 90 degrees
• Flash shooting distance range: 0.6m - 20m (depends on the ISO setting)
Guide number: 30 [ISO 200, m, 20°C]
• Angle of coverage: 18mm (with Nikon-DX format cameras), 27mm (with Nikon F6)
• Depending on the camera in use, the following flash modes are available:
Slow Sync, Red-eye Reduction, Red-eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Rear-curtain Sync, FV Lock, exposure compensation, M (manual, only with D40 camera)
• Power source: two AA-size 1.5V batteries (also compatible with lower voltage batteries)

Note: SB-400 cannot be used with cameras not compatible with Nikon Creative Lighting System. SB-400 is not compatible with Advanced Wireless Lighting.

Speedlight SB-400 Specifications

Electronic construction
Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry

Guide number (20°C/68°F)
30/98.4 (ISO 200, m/ft), 21/69 (ISO 100, m/ft)

Angle of coverage
Light distribution covers an 18mm lens when mounted on a Nikon DX format camera and a 27mm lens when mounted on an F6

Flash shooting distance range
0.6m to 20m (2 to 66 ft.) (Varies depending on the ISO sensitivity, zoom-head position, and lens aperture in use)

Flash mode
i-TTL, M (manual, only with the D40)

Compatible cameras
All cameras compatible with Nikon Creative Lighting System

Flash exposure control set on the camera
Slow-sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction in slow sync, Rear-curtain sync flash, FV Lock flash, manual flash (with D40 camera)

Bounce capability
Flash head tilts up to 90° with click-stops at 0°, 60°, 75°, 90°

ON/OFF switch
The ON/OFF switch turns the SB-400 on and off

Power source / min. recycling time / no. of flashes (at full output)
With fresh batteries (These data may vary depending on battery condition)
Two AA-size penlight batteries (1.5V or lower) of the following types:
Batteries Min. recycling time (approx.) Min. number of flashes / interval between full flash output and ready light on*
Alkaline-manganese (1.5V) 3.9 sec. 140/3.9-30 sec.
Lithium (1.5V) 4.2 sec. 250/4.2-30 sec.
Oxyride (1.5V) 3.1 sec. 150/3.1-30 sec.
Ni-MH (2600 mAh) (rechargeable) (1.2V) 2.5 sec. 210/2.5-30 sec.
*When firing the Speedlight at full output once every 30 seconds (120 seconds with lithium batteries.)

Ready light
• Lights up when the SB-400 is recharged and ready to fire
• Blinks to indicate: insufficient light/insufficient battery power/incompatibility of camera with
SB-400/overheating

Flash duration
Approx. 1/1300 sec. at full output

Mounting foot lever lock
Provides secure attachment of SB-400 to the camera accessory shoe with a mount pin to prevent accidental detachment

Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx. 66 x 56.5 x 80mm (2.6 x 2.2 x 3.1 in.)

Weight (without batteries)
Approx. 127g (4.5 oz.)

Included accessory
SS-400 Soft Case

Keywords:

Nikon Flash Speedlight SB-400

Author

VinnyP
Forum Regular

Registered: February 2006
Location: Surbiton Surrey
Posts: 842

Review Date: Mon June 9, 2008

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: £120.00 | Rating: 8

Pros:	Compact, lightweight, cheap, bounce head.
Cons:	No CLS support no swivel head.

I have only had this flash for half a day but it is so simple it's easy to see what it's about in a very short time. It wasn't around when I had D2 cameras (So I carried a little Metz) but when I got the D3 I added one of these for "just in case" days. I am not a flash snob and have often used the built in flash for a touch of fill or even as a main light in an emergency. If you know you will need flash then there are better options but it doesn't always work out that way, this will slip in a gadget bag or pocket which is more than you can say for an SB800.

This is very small a neat with a compact little case and runs on 2 AA batteries. You could not get more simple all you get is an on off sliding switch and a ready light on the back together with the lock. The lens assembly tilts in 3 positions for bounce flash and thats it not even a test button. The camera flash controls give you most things you need Slow sync, Red eye, rear curtain, FV lock and flash compensation. It's TTL only but from what I have seen it gives nice balanced exposures. On camera it's a big improvement on a built in flash being slightly further from the lens axis and having the ability to bounce. It cycles fairly swiftly and has a respectable guide number of 30/98 at ISO 200. It covers out to 18mm on a DX or 27mm on an FX.

The big downside is unlike the built in flash it can't even control speedlights as part of the CLS system let alone be part of the system as a slave. If it could do this it would replace the SU800 and probably threaten the SB-R200 so I can see why they left it out.

Overall it's good value if you don't have a built in flash and even if you do it offers a noticeable improvement if you just need simple on camera bounce or wired off camera flash in a small easy to use package.

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