bit-tech Shopping: Nikon SB-600 Speedlight

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Nice compact flash that works seamlessly with Nikon cameras.

Weaknesses: Build quality may be questionable.

Summary: I will start that I love this flash. It performs well and has plenty of power for the non-pro user. If you have a nikon camera; stay with a nikon flash to take advantage of the compatability.The only downside to this flash is maybe the build quality. I had to return two units before I got one that worked properly. One didn't flash at all and other had a broken on/off switch. Maybe just bad luck?Overall I am very pleased with the flash.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1

Strengths: quality, wireless operation, zoom, automatic operation

Weaknesses: size, weight

Summary: This is a very good flash that works quite a bit better than the small flash on my D70. Everything works automatically with it without any problems, including wireless operation. The biggest problem is that its a bit too big in my opinion, but its still portable. It has definitely improved the quality of my pictures.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Quality & Features

Weaknesses: Weight & Size

Summary: This a great flash to have...it's a must have!!! The on board flash on the D70 is decent for fill flash and all but the SB600 does wonders. You can zoom from 24-85MM and has TTL, TTL, TTLBL and Manual modes. I personaly use manual mode because I like to crank up the power of the flash to 1/1...that's the brightest. I control the brightness of the flash to match my aperture settings It's also a wireless flash as well with up to 4 channels and 3 groups meaning you can add up to 10 wireless flashes going off at the same time. It's NOT the same as the SB800...SB800 is more powerfull and has more features such as an extra battery capartment on the side of the flash which gives faster recycle times. That's why it costs more money. Recommend buying a double AA battery charger though. One that holds 4 batteries.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: very quick start up and decent shot to shot, easy to use

Weaknesses: a little big and doesn't bend past straight ahead

Summary: this is my first external flash and so far i really like it. i bought it for my nikon 8800. it slips on easy and syncs automatically with the camera. it exposes very well and moves seamlessly with the zoom. the only problem is that its af light isn't compatible with the coolpix line, only the dslr, so it doesn't help improve low-light focusing in my camera. otherwise, it's a great powerful flash.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Days

Strengths: Autofocus, fast, can be used as slave flash, very smart in automatic mode works very well with Coolpix 8800. Offers a multitude of manual configurations for advanced users. Std. AA batteries.

Weaknesses: Cannot be set as master for advanced wireless lighting. A bit too big, but that's ok.

Summary: I own a Coolpix 8800 and found the build in flash not powerful enough on many occasions. I decided to purchase this flash based feedback from friends and review recommendations and it does what they say. It is very flexible yet simple to use. When set as i-TTL and the camera controls it, even a half brained photographer can't go wrong, unless you want to bounce the light in the sky for indirect lighting :-) Pictures come way better in dark environments when compared with the ones taken with the built in speedligh. The flash auto-focus based on the camera's zoom really works. This is a very sophisticated flash unit compared with some $70 units that claim to do be similar. The extra money you pay makes difference. I believe most of us won't go wrong by choosing it, unless you do really advanced lighting studio work.