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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
This flash is simply AMAZING! It is well worth the price and the best flash on the market in my opinion. I use this unit with both my D2X and D80. I just set to TTL-BL and it will balance fill flash the exposure perfectly every time. If I need a faster shutter speed, I just put it in shutter priority and set it and forget it. The flash will adjust the output according to the shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focal length and the results from 3D matrix metering to make a perfectly balanced exposure every time with CPU lenses. With the quick recycling adapter which is included, it recycles very quickly (I use NiMH batteries). This flash works just as flawlessly in wireless mode as well. If I could give 10 stars I would. Don't hesitate and get this flash, you won't be disappointed.
from Schertz, TX on 8/2/2007
This is a great strobe. I can't compare it to the 400 or 600 as I have not used them. I use to be a pro photojournalist about 15 years ago. MAn has equipment come a long way. This strobe is easy to use. Slide it on and go. Yes, it can get technical if you want to do a lot of different things. It is great for the average photographer or the pro. I did not find the manual to be all that bad like other reviewers. I read every manual cover to cover. Once you figure out the symbols that will make navigation much quicker. Play around with it and see what happens. I almost always leave the diffuser on to help soften the light. It is pricey but ggod things cost $$$$s. I always buy one or two steps up from what I think I will need and I am glad I did with this. It has features I may never use, but the one time I need it I am going to be glad I have it. Prior to this, my favorite strobe was the Vivitar 283 (liked it better than the SB-16)
from Nassau, The Bahamas on 7/15/2007
This flash has very fast recycling especially with the fifth battery attachment.
from New York, NY on 7/11/2007
While the Nikon higher end cameras do come with an adequate flash, once you are in the field and taking photographs, nothing can compare with using the SB-800. Its fast cycle time and its ability to automatically detect the camera settings makes this an invaluable addition to any photographers equipment. These flashes can be used on a wide range of settings and it will take time to master but is well worth the time. As a matter of fact, experimenting with flash settings as you learn the flash is an excellent excuse to get out and take more pictures with your digital camera.
The SB-800 really is one of the best, if not the best flash available on the market today. I highly recommend this unit for anyone who seriously needs a high quality flash unit to complete their camera setup.
from Binghamton, NY on 7/11/2007
Another GREAT product from Nikon, I have 4 SB-800 units. I use them as remotes at weddings with the 175f clamp. Check out Nikon's speed of light DVD. Units are very simple to use & setup, only downside is no battery indicator.
from Houma, LA on 7/10/2007
I've had mine for only two months, but I'm out using every chance I get. I was torn between the cost of the 800 and the slightly cheaper 600, but now I'm grateful for the purchase. The greater flexibility and features is worthwhile, even if you're a first-time user.
from Illinois on 7/10/2007
Easy to use, quick recycle, consistent light output, and enough flexability to cover any on camera situation I have run into.
from North Jersey on 7/10/2007
I love the TTL use of this flash.
Nothing can match it so far for me.
It is like you have an assistant that make manual flash faster than you can press the shutter.
from Auckland New Zealand on 7/10/2007
I have used The Nikon SB600 for a number of years achieving good results but with new camera purchase upgraded to the SB800. Current shoot results are proof of a good decision.
from Orlando Florida....home of the Mouse! on 5/15/2007
Have had Nikon Equipment for 30 years. With my recent purchase of a D70s my flash equipment, slaves etc. are almost worthless. REad the reviews of this Flash, and could not honestly believe how happy everyone seemed to be with the performance. It truly is that good and with the added fifth battery is even better and faster. Took 300 shots Friday at a late afternoon/evening outdoor weddng and was quite pleased how the combination worked to provide outstanding coverage edge to edge. Now will have to consider a 600 for a remote slave.
from Ingleside, Texas on 5/13/2007
When I checked "Professional" I consider myself a novice professional. That's someone who is getting paid for some work while doing and learning with each shoot. The SB800 on my D80 has made this jump from serious amateur to "novice" professional a rewarding experience. The frustration of having to wait for my previous camera's built-in flash to recycle is now gone. The drain on battery is very low. I would highly recomment this product to compliment any of the Nikon DSLR's that are compatible for auto use.
from Pinnacle, NC on 5/9/2007
Great flash with massive amounts of flexiblity. I use it with the fifth battery option and get super fast recycling times and long life between battery charges. Excellent flash for fill and directional lighting with my D200
from MN on 5/9/2007
I have used much bigger and more expensive lighting for years. The SB 800 is a great sorce of lighting for most situations. I use it most often for event and wedding candids. I prefer it to my expensive and heavy Quantom Q Flash. I also recommend the Gary Fong Cloud Lightsphere (love it)!!! It is a great addition to this flash.
from Miami, FL on 5/9/2007
Provide better lighting effects than the SB-600 that I perviously used. It has a more powerfiul flash and mor special effects to improve your pictures.
from New Orleans,LA on 5/8/2007
Overall Rating
Features
Ease of use
Value for your money
Design
Meets expectations
Excellent Speedlight,
Review:
The SB-800 is an excellent flash. I've used it for portrait
work and it gives me great results. I've used the 800 with
two 600's (I wouldn't buy another SB-600 since spending the
extra money for the SB-800 is well worth it) shooting through
umbrellas in wireless mode and have been delighted with the
results. Wireless is fantastic since you can move the
umbrellas around the subject and have total freedom.
The SB-800 recycles quickly as well and lasts a long time on
the five AA batteries.
Problems I encountered with this item:
none
from edinburgh scotland on 5/8/2007
i find it overall to be inconsistent especially using fast re cycle. it needs an external battery pack. i-ttl with the d200 built in flash is a pain for quick shots unless youve got a lot of time on your hands. for a new user, the instruction book is torture.
it is built well and lasts and using 2-3 of them on location can solve some lighting needs with the right amount of patience. Metz and Quantum may be good options.
from Cape Cod, MA on 5/8/2007
This is my second one. I use it off camera wihn Nikons advanced lighting. Works great!
from Cleveland, MS on 5/8/2007
Took it out of the box, put in batteries, put it on my new Nikon D200, and used the automatic TTL settings to bounce off the ceiling and also the 90 degree bounce off the attached bounce card. After only a few tries, the shots of my children were so beautiful that my wife didn't mind how much I'd spent on the equipment. The weight is not bothersome. Recycling speed is impressive compared to my older equipment. I'm just a hobbyist but it is giving me what I'd hoped for. I'm looking forward to really wringing it out.
This product is junk. If you use an external battery, it gets hot and melts and is not covered by warranty.
from Hawaii on 5/8/2007
I have been mostly a natural light sports photographer, but adding the SB-800 has added to my bag of tricks. I wish I did it earlier.
from Chesapeake, VA on 4/8/2007
The additional features and included accessories made this flash worth the cost difference over the SB-600 (for me anyway).
I use the included diffuser on a regular basis, and the included tungsten/flourescent filters have helped me to get an accurate color rendition in some challenging lighting situations.
Nikon's flash metering system is great, and the SB-800 works extremely well with my D50. If you can afford it, you won't be disappointed.
from Columbus Georgia USA on 3/26/2007
I am enjoying these. Much better than SB-600, spend the extra $ You will want more than one of these, then you'll want an SU-800, so start budgeting for that now, and get it over with.
from Fayetteville, AR on 3/26/2007
Used primarily in Commander mode with an SB600 remote, and for off-camera fill flash using a cord. The unit works just fine in every application so far, and while it's not totally intuitive, it's not difficult to set up and use.
from Oceanside CA on 3/26/2007
The flash is great; but if you wish to use off camera (wireless), do your research on the Internet for Instructions. The default values for the flash do not coincide with the default values of Nikon cameras when useing as a wireless remote. I was going to return flash unit until I found help on the Internet. Have not had long enough to fully evaluate, but seem to be excellent flash unit.
from Denton, TX on 3/26/2007
This is a great flash. It's pretty powerful, though not like a studio strobe, and has loads of features. I think its way more useful than an SB-600 and its worth the extra bucks. I have two of these and i love them! The myth that the SB-800 recycles slower isn't true when you use the same amount of flash. The SB-800 CAN take longer to recycle only when it cranks out MORE power than the SB-600 can. Yeah its heavier but what do you expect when you've got four batteries in there? As fill flash, it recycles instantly. I really like these flashes and I'm glad to have them. They work very well when used with Nikon's Creative Lighting System. I only wish that they didn't preflash as much as they do with the D70 but thats the fault of the camera, not the flashes, because they can operate without when using the SU-800 speedlight commander, which also works very nicely.
from Jackson Hole, WY on 3/26/2007
This is my 2nd SB800 which I use with my other 800, SB28, and SB 25. Using the creative llighting system w/ SU4's allows for all 4 flashes to be used as a portable studio set-up. Not as powerful as real studio strobes but very light and easy to transport: great for location setups. With Photoflex light modifiers very flexile system.
I use high capacity rechargable NiMH batteries which allow for very fast recycle times. The biggest draw back to this flash (as with most high tech flashes) is the owners manual is not easy to follow, has no actual multi-flash examples, and gives just a tech review of flash functions and setup. The only way to learn all the possible uses and setings is to experiment.
from Salt Lake City, Utah on 3/26/2007
It really can make the difference between getting the shot or missing it, especially in low light situations.
from Chicago, IL on 3/26/2007
I have had great results with this flash in both iTTL mode and manual. It is a bit bigger than the SB-600, but not by much. So this is still a pretty small flash, but I like that. It is super versatile and works great with the CLS.
from MN on 3/26/2007
I had been using the SB-600 for the past 2 years as a professional, and have just upgraded to the 800. It is WAY better, the higher power alone is worth the extra price. I was finding my 600 not strong enough for group portraits, but I just finished my first on-location family session with the 800, and I couldn't be happier. Recycle time isn't too bad; could be better (could always be better, no matter what flash), but I take LOTS of shots, one right after another, so occasionally I take some when the flash isn't ready yet. The 800 is also MUCH easier to read and decipher than the old 600, I never knew what the heck my 600 was doing.
If you're comparing the two, but price is holding you back, you won't regret getting the 800, it's worth every penny... if you get the 600 you'll be getting the 800 eventually anyway ;)
from Vega Baja, PR on 3/26/2007
Highly recomended to any amateur and profesional photographer for its simplicity and high efficiency. Very recomended to be used with the Nikon D-80 Digital Camera.
from Memphis, TN on 3/26/2007
Can't believe I waited so long to purchase one.
from Austin, TX on 3/26/2007
I mostly use the SB-800 for fill flash outdoors in sunshine and for bounce flash indoors. The diffuser, which is supplied with the unit and fits over the flash's head, works as well as the Sto-Fen diffuser I bought for my old SB-600. On the whole, the SB-800 works very well and reliably. Because I often photograph little kids who, I swear, can move like lightening, I really like the extra battery attachment that makes the unit recycle very fast. My main complaint is that the user's manual is not easy to decipher. However, if I sit down with the manual, my D-200 and its manual, and the SB-800 all fired up and ready to go, I can usually make a particular function work. Granted, it's much like trying to get straight answers from a politician, but eventually I can figure it out. So, hey Nikon, hire somebody who knows how to write a technical manual in language normal people can understand!
from Rochester, NY on 3/26/2007
I have used Nikon products over the years for one reason: dependability. Like other Nikon products, this flash is durable and reliable, performing its job consistently. The multiple flash capability is great, and requires no extra-cost triggers.
from Chicago, IL on 3/26/2007
I initially bought one SB-800 with my Nikon D200 and was impressed with the results (recognizing the inherent limitation of single point flash). But as a serious amatuer without professional facilities (roomy studio and storage space) I opted to expand my lighting capabilities with two more SB-800s, as well as an SU-800, so I can run all three flash units off-camera in three channels. You don't NEED the SU-800 with the D200, but it adds range and flexibilty beyond the excellent capabilitis of the camera. Initially the manual looks a little daunting but setting time aside to quietly reading it with an SB-800 and the camera and it fell into place fairly quickly. I spent the following weekend experimenting and found the results surprisingly good for my first foray into multi-flash since migrating from an OM2 based 35mm film rig to a Nikon D200 based digital outfit. Once you grasp the basics the Creative Lighting System (CLS) is an astonishingly easy system to use considering the complexity of what is actually going on inside these very well thought-out devices. Of course you still have to invest time to understand the effects of light and shadow, but that's part of the journey called photography, not flash units per se.
i just switched from canon to nikon, and i choose the sb-800 for my d200, this is an awsome flash. recycle time is amazing. and i also use it with "Gary Fong's Light Sphere II" i get nothing but amazing results.
from Florida on 3/13/2007
This is an excellent tool. Its weight is reasonable (not heavy nor light) Easy to use and something important is that it has the option to add an extra battery (with an external holder) in order to increase the recycling time and then shooting faster. Used with an extender arm, it provides to the camera a professional good looking.
Excellent flash
from Sugar Land, TX on 3/7/2007
Powerful product. Use more than one SB-800 wirelessly and you can still get TTL metering of output.
from Cincinnati on 2/19/2007
Always consistent lighting whether used by itself or with other SB-800s.
from Syracuse, New York on 2/18/2007
The first time I used it for a wedding the battery module didn't sit in the compartment correctly and it wouldn't let the shutter click, so I missed the ring bearer and the bride coming down the walkway. I modified the door for the module wire leading to the battery pak to stick out, but now I can't get the door open to get module after each use.
from Washington DC on 2/15/2007
This is the top of the line flash from Nikon. It's filled with features, and there is nothing better on the market. People usually use a flash when the lighting is poor. However, using a flash for everyday pictures makes the colors "pop". However, like any flash, there are many, many settings to adjust unless you just use the fully automatic mode.
from Cedar Hill, Missouri on 2/14/2007
This flash is an excellent value for the money. It does everything Nikon says it will, and does them all pretty well. The only problem I have had with it is the design of the battery cover. I broke mine while attempting to reinstall it. Probably my own fault. Fortunately I choose to keep the add on for the 5th battery in place all of the time, so this isn't a really big issue for me. Speaking of batteries, the SB-800 is a real power hog. Definitely use 2500 mah or better rechargable batteries, or a remote power supply with this flash. I would recommend it to anyone, and plan to purchase several more for use as remotely fired backlighting for weddings. They are much lighter and easy to work with than some other lighting options.
from San Diego, CA on 2/14/2007
Great flash!
from Anniston, AL on 2/13/2007
This unit works with the Nikon cameras and auto-lenses to automaticaly adjust for the lens and focal distance to give well exposed snapshots. It is easily adjusted for advanced lighting procedures.
from New Orleans on 2/12/2007
Excellent flash, easy to use, with more features than you'll ever need (but someone else will).
from Lake Charles, LA on 2/12/2007
Coming from a Vivitar 283 that's so very easy to use and a Quantum X-2 that is much more advanced but also easy to adjust to; this flash has a learning curve with it because of the number of different settings if not using TTL! The controls on the back are very hard to navigate unless you have very small fingers. Shooting on any of the TTL settings is usually the easiest when getting use to the flash. Leaves a harsh shadow shooting vertical if pointed straight at subjuct even on TTL. Extreme light fall off on ends of images when using attached diffuser. The light output to the center with or without is strong. I use my flash with the Gary Fong diffuser system to create soft even and wide coverage lighting.
from Chicago,IL on 2/12/2007
Love me use it remotely with my D200. I enjoy full remote control of the flash my camera. Amazing power during very bright days to fill flash.
from Palisade, Co on 2/12/2007
Nice zoom, but I wish it had an auto-zoom head that worked for the N-55.
from Ft. Lauderdale on 2/12/2007
This flash is easy to use, yet it is capable of so much.
from Minneapolis, MN on 2/12/2007
This flash works very well, and includes many of the 'extras' you might expect to have to buy separately. It works nicely with D series bodies and built in wireless remote. It isn't flawless so you do have to be careful under tricky lighting situations, or at least test first so you know what to expect!
from Melbourne Australia on 2/12/2007
I no longer use monolites on location ,I use 4 nikon flashes ,wirelessly ,at this stage I have not found a situation that I cant handle
from West Orange, N.J. on 2/12/2007
This is the best Nikon flash I've owned- I've had several previous models. If you just want to put it on your camera and shoot it is perfect and if you're advanced enough for the various intuitive features it's that also. You can even understand the manual, a Nikon first, it has a section for thos who just want to take pictures with a few easy few steps to follow. I have a D200 and DX lenses, I do not know how it reacts to other cameras and lenses.
from Merrimack, NH on 2/12/2007
Excellent flash. Very versatile. I use it in conjunction with my D70 in commander mode. I bought a second one to use as a fill-in. Very powerful. It is capable of reaching half way across a football field.
from Israel on 2/12/2007
The Nikon SB800 has met my expectations and more. It had suffered quite a fall but survived it well. For a photo burst of 3 frames in a row I would not recommend it since it has difficulty to keep up.
from Downingtown, Pa. on 2/12/2007
Photography just keeps getting better and Nikon leads the pack in producing winners. The SB800 is a perfect match for my D-80, with the two units communicating with each other for optimum results. With this combination, I am enjoying consistent, high quality photographs. It takes some of the pain out of retiring my beloved F5.
from hartford ct on 2/12/2007
Great flash works fine. takes a while to figure out all it can do.
from Lakeland, Fl on 2/12/2007
Works well. As long as you have batteries charged works very well. Rechargable batteries seem to last a long time
from Padre Island Tx. on 2/12/2007
It just goes so well with the d-series Nikons, it's like icing on the cake.
from Jacksonville, FL on 2/12/2007
This flash is very accurate in iTTL mode (indoor or outdoor)easy to use, has weak construction and is a litter weak in power when you need it
from San Diago, CA on 2/12/2007
An excelent Flash unit that can control other similar units (sb-800 and sb-600) to add dramatic remote lighting to a subject. Its heavy but its well constructed. Fill flash is second to none. The Nikon i-TTL flash system is the best out there.
Price is a great value considering all the functions it has. I would like to see a better difuser for the flash.
The fifth batery is a great thing to have if you need fast recycling time.
I recomend this unit to anybody who uses flash on a regular basis, or anybody that whants to learn to master flash photography. Its a great tool to start.
from Wisconsin on 2/12/2007
I've seven of them now with the SU-800 Commander to boot. I can control the light in almost any situation alone now where a lighting grip was a necessity before.
from Copenhagen, Denmark on 2/12/2007
Much better then the Sigma DG500ST - easier to control and more compact built.
A little noisy - produces a high pitch tone from time to time.
from Chelmsford, MA on 2/12/2007
This is the first speedlight that has done everything that I was looking for and it has done it well.
from Tampa, Fl on 2/12/2007