Nikon SB-400 TTL AF Shoe Mount Speedlight USA Warranty, - Deluxe Outfit with 4 NiMH Batteries, Charger, Flashpoint Flash Diffuser. Flashpoint Quick Flip Flash Bracket,& Off-Camera TTL2 3' Coiled Cord for Nikon

2022-04-24T18:28:56

This flash is always in my bag. I've had it for 7 or 8 years and it's never let me down. I don't use flash often but when I do in the field this little guy has never let me down. It sits under my filters taking very little space in my three lens bag, two slots for lenses and one for a tiny flash and filters. The most useful gear is the gear you have with you. DG

David G.

Originally posted at

2022-02-23T13:21:48

Don't buy this flash it work once for about 3 flashes on my Df. I don't use a flash vary often so I delayed researching why until it was out of warranty you error.

RAYMOND R.

Originally posted at

2015-12-25T19:00:00

I have an SB-700 which I've been using on my Nikon Df, which doesn't have a built-in flash. But the SB-700 seems too big for a relatively small DSLR, especially when carried around on the street for fill or at an indoor party. When I stumbled upon an old review of the SB-400 by Ken Rockwell, it appeared that I had discovered a solution to my search for a more compact alternative to the SB-700. Unfortunately I also discovered that Nikon had discontinued the SB-400 about 2 years ago. Not to be deterred, I started searching for a "previously owned" unit at the usual places, and found a wide variety listed on eBay. I received my lightly used SB-400 a few weeks ago and have started using it on a fairly regular basis. This Speedlight is very compact and only adds about 2.25 inches to the height of the Df. The unit is exceptionally "cute" and we'll-constructed. It doesn't have any bells and whistles, and basically only has a lock for the foot, an on / off switch and a choice of four vertical tilt positions (45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees). If you know how to install 2 AA batteries, you're good to go. It's simple to use and does a fine job of adding fill or lighting up dark scenes. Recycle time seems almost as fast as my SB-700 (2-3 seconds per shot) and results are pleasing. Two AA envelop pro batteries seem to last forever, and one freshly charged set should be all you need for a full day (or more) of casual shooting. But the best features of the SB-400 are its compact size and attractive design, which complement the Df instead of "overpowering" it. I really like my new "used" SB-400 and hope that Nikon either brings it back to the market or develop a "new and improved" replacement offering the same compactness and utility. The biggest

russinmanhattan

Originally posted at

2015-01-10T19:00:00

Excellent little flash. Bought it for my P5000 which had a fairly weak internal flash. It really changed flash photography for me. Bouncing, fill, everything, was easy, simple and created great results - almost every time. It is now in use with my D-3200 and its quick cycling is really great - faster than the internal flash. Yes swivel and more features would be nice but the price is so good its hard to say you are not getting your moneys worth.

FreddyT

Originally posted at

2014-06-16T21:00:00

If you don't own a higher end Nikon DSLR you probably have no reason to go beyond this very inexpensive Speedlight. It is up to most tasks until serious/complex lighting is required. The unit lacks the internal code that Nikon's higher end Speedlights provide. That code syncs all sorts of things with your camera: zoom, ISO, aperture etc. For point and shoot/casual photography that's surely overkill. The SB-400 is a basic, bare bones flash to give clarity to faces, though serious portraiture is not even a consideration. IMPORTANT: I bought it thinking it was part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System. It does NOT work as any sort of CLS unit. It's the lightest weight shoe mounted flash that Nikon sells, good news there; it is, however, strictly a stand alone adjunct to built in flashes used on Nikon point and shoot cameras as well as lower end DSLRs. If you're a casual user, this is an excellent buy. If you are serious about interior lighting you'll want something stronger, though a good deal more expensive. I'd also look at the SB-600, SB-800 or SB-900. These are out of production, but were top of the line just a year or two ago. The current SB-700 is a good compromise in the mid-$300 dollar range. Finally, I'd be careful with the Gray Market. It has to do with the warranty - so caveat emptor!

Dawnshooter

2014-06-09T21:00:00

Small, lightweight, effective fill-in flash. No frills, but it does the job - just as Ken Rockwell described it in his review.

RICHARD M.

2014-06-08T21:00:00

I love everything about this flash!

RD

2014-05-19T21:00:00

I purchased one of these about 5 years ago. All of a sudden, the on/off switch would not engage. Liked the unit so much, I looked for a new one, but they had been discountinued in favor of the SB300....which I feel is a lesser unit. Adorama had a new unit, but gray market. Had not purchased "gray" before, but they provide their own 1 year warranty. The unit is small and sleek enough to keep on the camera all the time without getting in the way...and it looks good. Its power is more then the built in on my NikonD200, and is raised over the camera just enpugh to not produce shadows at 18mm range, nor red eye. Works on just 2 AA batteries, with fast recycle time. While it doesn't swivel, it does have bounce capabilities, up to 90 degrees. Its a great flash for most of your everyday needs.

THEODORE Z.

2014-03-24T21:00:00

The SB400 works perfectly on my D3200: easy to install and use. Recommend it highly.

Burt

2014-02-03T19:00:00

I keep this on my Nikon all the time so that when the opportunity arises, it's ready to go. It's compact and light, yet well built.

LARRY M.

2014-01-07T19:00:00

This is a great little flash. It produces good, even lighting for almost any situation. I love that it only requires 2 AA batteries and recycles very quickly given the size. The ability to bounce on such a small unit is great. Unfortunately, it does not swivel so the bounce feature is not viable in portrait mode. However, given the great price of this little guy we can't expect the world so I still say "5 Stars Nikon"!

AkronRobby

Originally posted at

2013-12-23T19:00:00

This product is poorly designed, mine stopped working with in few hundered flashes and i was very careful is using this product, i gave enough delay between shots still it failed in 1 and half year. I have heard from my friend that his also failed in 1 year or so. I dont recommend this product to anyone.

Raja

Originally posted at

2013-12-12T19:00:00

discreto y efectivo para uso diario en todo lugar.

EDÉN

Originally posted at

2013-08-05T21:00:00

if you need an occasional ability to do bounce flash and/or are not doing a lot of portrait style work, please buy this flash. it is small, uses AA batteries, and lasts a long time with good NiMH cells. I should also mention that you'll see a huge difference in picture quality. Spend your 100 bucks here and it'll be like a new camera. great product.

SCOTT P.

2013-06-20T20:00:00

Supports iTTL CLS, but it has no support for: No High-Speed Sync - it's too bad, because you could use this for daylight fill if it had HSS, unfortunately, with a top sync speed of ~1/250s, you're not likely to be able to use it in that manner. Diminished bouncing if shooting in Portrait mode.

Anonymous

Originally posted at

2013-06-04T20:00:00

I've used this for a few weeks now and it works great for indoor family shots, outdoor fill, any situation where you might need some extra illumination but don't want to carry a larger speedlight. Most of the time I like to keep it simple, pare down on equipment and rely on a fast prime. Usually, I prefer to shoot without flash but there are times when existing light just isn't enough and carrying a full sized speedlight adds weight. This device fills that space nicely. If you're looking for a pro or prosumer level speedlight, look to the larger Nikon devices but with some experimentation and imagination, this product will deliver inspiring and stunning results!

Photo M.

Originally posted at

2013-06-01T20:00:00

This flash is great especially for my Nikon Coolpix p7700. I can rotate the flash to full 90 straight up; or different angles. takes 2 AA batteries I use rechargeables, and has a small profile which suites the camera just right. I do own the Nikon SB-700 speedlight also, but I found the sb-400 crates a much better and softer light than the harsh on board flash. The SB-400 keeps a lower profile my travel camera the Nikon coolpix p7700. Another great product from Nikon. Here is some pic's showing the SB-400 on the Nikon Coolpix P7700 and you will notice the low profile of the flash

Faboo

Originally posted at

2013-05-24T20:00:00

Bought mine after reading Ken Rockwell's review and have not been disappointed. It was my only flash (except for pop-up) for quite a while. Four or five years later it still sees use. The ability to use as a bounce flash as well as the strength of it is what separates it from the pop-up flash, I carry it around with a D60 that stays in my truck, and being so small it fits easily into my small travel camera bag. Battery life is exceptional. I do have other Nikon flashes used on other cameras, but this one has really been a gem.

Dubyacee

Originally posted at

2013-04-01T21:00:00

This flash is perfect if you don't need a large, heavy flash. It does the job well for casual indoor photography. Also the price is half of those large cumbersome 4 aa battery flash.

bigal

2013-04-01T21:00:00

I bought this because it is compact and rotates 90 up for a nice bounce flash. It meets all my current needs without the bulk!

AFTER A.

2013-03-07T19:00:00

Plus : small, light, just 2 batteries, variable angle flash (light itself tilts up/down), relatively inexpensive Minus : Kind of an "incomplete" rather than "conclusive" negative because... Mine was kind of broken on first receipt...at first I thought bad batteries caused the flash to not work...so I just put it aside for a loooong time...when I finally got around to using it, my testing seemed to indicate it had a loose connection to my camera shoe, and that's why it was not working...but of course now it's out of warranty... Maybe purchase of a better flash would have meant better construction...I don't know...but I'm just an occassional "mounted flash" user, so this price/size/convenience would have been ideal, but I just can't give it a conclusive review unless it worked properly...

vickun

Originally posted at

2013-01-16T19:00:00

I really like SB400 for my D3100 but recently it stop working. Put new batteries but nothing happen. So disappointed.

SAR

Originally posted at

2012-12-29T19:00:00

Strong little guy, the recycle is pretty fast, need new or freshly recharged batteries though. the ability to bounce makes it infinitely better than the in body unit, it cannot swivel however. This is all you need if you are not doing weddings!

Carioca

Originally posted at

2012-08-11T20:00:00

I bought this back before Christmas to try on my D5000 as the built in flash just wasn't enough a lot of time. I expected it to be better than the built in but for the price I didn't expect much more. I was amazed! The flash is fantastic. Indoors I just angle it up and it gives a great fill. It cycles fast and isn't anywhere near the battery hog I expected. If this thing were to break tomorrow, I'd buy another one instantly to replace it. My daughter needed a flash on short notice for her D40, and I looked for another one of these but they were sold out everywhere in the week I needed it quickly, and had to settle for another brand, which I won't mention. This thing blows it away!

Mikey

Originally posted at

2012-07-12T20:00:00

Let's start by saying I am a hobbyist not a professionnal photographer by any means. I recently received the SB-400 as a father's day gift to complement a growing camera equipment list. I did a lot of film photography back in the college day. Now after 25+ years of other activities (marriage, kids, career, life in general) I have started back into it with Digital products and the fun is all coming back to me. :) Upon opening the box, I was amazed at the size and weight of the Nikon SB-400. it is really compact which is great to carry around. It is well built and the metal shoe and lock are a great feature. matched with my D5100 (a Christmas gift) it's a great way to get back into photography. True it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the higher end models. But if it's simplicity and compact size you're after or are just looking to compliment your on camera flash with something a little more powerful and versatile (with the tilting head for bounce function) this is the flash for you. Sure there are other brands, but nothing works with Nikon like Nikon. Right from the box, with 2 AA batteries I was shooting with fill flash to control shadows in a couple of minutes. and the pictures were fantastic. Better that comparison shots I took with the on-board flash all due to the control available by tilting the head. I can't speak to durability yet as I have just started using it less than a month ago, as long as it doesn't fail I guess I won't be adding to this review. Nothing in life is perfect and the SB-400 is no exception. The one drawback I found disappointing with the SB-400 is the "manual", if you can even call it that. It is a large folded map type of arrangement in 3 languages (English, French and Spanish). A good quality product should not have one of these map like fliers for a manual. As for the content of the flier, apart from the legal mumbo jumbo Nikon has to put into these instructions to protect itself, there is some nice information and tips to be had from it and a little booklet would suit it better. Overall a very nice product. Simple, fast, light and compact. A booklet type users manual would make it perfect.

Lone O.

Originally posted at

2012-05-16T20:00:00

Como estou começando na fotografia é um flash rápido especial, irá me ajudar muito em ambientes escuros e assim aperfeiçoando as minhas técnicas no ramo da fotografia. Eu lhe digo, esse flash vale ouro.

WPaiva

Originally posted at

2012-05-08T20:00:00

There's a lot to like about the Nikon SB-400. It may be small and compact, but that's where the beauty of this small wonder starts. It's the beginning, entry-level unit of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), and though limited in many functions that the larger Nikon Speedlights offer, such as the SB-700 or flagship SB-910, this unit make up for it in size and surprisingly good results for an on-camera accessory flash unit. I've personally used it with my P7100 and D5000, along with my aging D200, and the performance has been excellent with each of these, primarily because of the i-TTL mode. The SB-400 was made to work with contemporary Nikon DSLRs made since 2004. It's small and it's not cheap, but its performance is surprising. Pros: • Excellent construction quality; the SB-400 has a metal hot shoe • Uses just two AA cells; excellent battery life • Fast recycling, about 2 ½ seconds • Shooting range 2 ft. up to 66 ft. • i-TTL fill-flash with CLS-compatible cameras • Bounce capabilities: 4 steps, to 90 degrees Cons: • No sideward head tilt In Use: The first thing that you'll note about the SB-400 when unboxed is the precision feel to the unit. I was surprised to see that it had a metal hot shoe, as so many flashes today have gone to plastic. There's also a lock lever on the rear, and it has indicators so that you'll know if you forgot to lock it. There's an excellent little zippered soft case that will store your flash and keep it from getting dinged up in your camera bag. The flash uses only two AA batteries that can be purchased almost anywhere, and though I'm not carefully measuring it, I get about 200 flashes per pair of batteries. I'm getting a recycle time of just over 2 ½ seconds with a pair of Sanyo eneloop Ni-MH 2000 mAH rechargeable batteries. The tilt head is excellent, and if you're using your Nikon in horizontal (landscape) mode, it offers four vertical positions of 0, 60, 75 and 90 degrees. But if you're holding your camera in the vertical (portrait) mode, then you'll have to shoot with the flash straight on or bounced off of a wall. It's a tilt head, and doesn't have a swivel head like the more costly Nikon SB-700 offers. The angle of coverage on the SB-400 is 18mm (DX-format) and 27mm (FX-format). For reference, this is the equivalent of about a 28mm lens on 35mm film camera. The flash coverage is excellent and generally well distributed. Tinting the head for a bounce effect will give you a softer effect, but if you need more, using a bounce card or any number of third-party diffusers for Nikon SB-400 will work. Suggestion: For many, the SB-400 may be all that's needed as an excellent step upwards for Nikon DSLR owners who need more than their built-in flash offers, but some may be perhaps looking for more. As stated earlier, this flash is the beginning, entry-level unit of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). It supplements my aged Nikon SB-600 in that respect, but in truth I use the SB-400 far more on a day-in, day-out basis. Summary: The Nikon SB-400 is an unpretentious, high-quality flash with all the features that many will actually use. But do you actually need one of these, considering that the built-in flash on contemporary Nikon DSLRs (and the P7100) are so good? Maybe not, but consider the SB-400 if you want an easy-to-use bounce flash, if you want faster recycle times than your camera may offer, and excellent coverage with your ultra-wide lenses. You'll also get more shots per camera battery charge, since your camera's built-in flash uses 2-4 times as much power; using the SB-400 means you don't use the built-in flash. Other flash features can be gimmicks that may even interfere with taking pictures, and will slow you down rather than get the job done. Considering all that this small wonder does, it's highly recommended.

JargonTalk

Originally posted at

2012-04-29T21:00:00

I don't use flash a lot, but when I need to, this does the trick. This is just enough flash for my needs.

RANDOLPH H.

2012-03-31T20:00:00

I bought this flash from Best Buy in 2010 for my wife to go with D5000 camera. She is a very careful and light user. Mostly uses for our kids birthdays, any school shows etc. We haven't used it much outdoors in too much sun or even in cold. Two weeks ago, it just stopped working. Very disappointing. After spending $130 for a simple flash, I would expect that to last for a few years. Nikon should be ashamed of the accessories quality, especially when they charge such a premium. I might as well buy a 3rd party flash for less than third the price and toss it after a few years. We are planning to go to NewYork this week for spring break and stuck without a flash. Now I have to shell out more money to get a poor-quality flash.

D5000-owner

Originally posted at

2012-03-28T20:00:00

Leve e eficiente para a maioria das situacoes no dia-a-dia como entusiasta nao-profissional. Evita o aspecto algo agressivo de flashs maiores quando usados por um amador como eu. Direcionado para o teto,o efeito fica muito simples e agradavel, mas existem muitas outras situacoes onde o flash traz gratas surpresas. A inclinacao se da somente para cima, o que representa um ponto negativo, mas no geral estou bastante satisfeito. Para profissionais existem flash mais eficientes; como amador gosto deste SB-400 que uso na minha D5100.

Maragogi

Originally posted at