Nikon SB-600 or SB-800

G

Grumpwurst

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Staff member
OK.

Somehow the powers of Disney Magic were shining brightly upon us because we moved from 5th on the waiting list to the top for Victoria & Albert's Chef's Table.

Well, I want a Speed Flash for my Nikon D80 so I can take good photographs of the food for the blog review that is invariably going to be written.

I'm looking at the SB-600 and SB-800 but I really cannot decide if the extra $150 is worth the purchase of the SB-800. Any Nikonians here have an opinion on what I should do
 
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If you are taking pics of food I would go for the 800, it can angle downward.

Unless you just want to rent the dual macro speedlight thingy for it.
 
"Roger" said:
Unless you just want to rent the dual macro speedlight thingy for it.
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That sounds highly technical...LOL. What "thingy" would that be?
 
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Yes it does.

FWIW I am going through the same ?; however, my mind is basically already going to the 800.
 
Tim's advice was to just get the SB-800 if I could afford it, but at a price over $300, I really need to be sure that is an investment that'll be put to use. I'm trying to think where I'll use a flash besides my little dinner at Victoria & Alberts....LOL
 
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Ray I LOVE my sb400, but I didnt want to muddy your original question!

*edit- and fwiw, I have been playing with photographing food too. I've been practising at home getting ready to take food pics at the wave, and the sb400 is too powerul at that range!
I have been using 1/200th shutter speed at f11 and iso100 trying to get the flash not so bright! I dont want to bounce the flash too much with the camera pointed down at food because that could be very "not nice" for others at the table with a flash going off in their face.
However, I do know that the sb-400 is not at all powerful enough to close up on the food and bounce off ceiling at a restaurant!
 
"Roger" said:
I wouldn't want to bounce at V&A.
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Actually, when we ate in the main dining room in 2006, our waitress told us about bounce flashing because they had many customers who did it.

This meal is at the Chef's Table. That means we are in the kitchen. Different rules apply. For example, we'll be able to take our jacket off, talk in a normal tone of voice, and interact with the kitchen staff :)
 
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With either SB-600 or 800 you can put them in manual and lower the power. Not sure if you can do that with the SB-400. With the flash in the shoe or use the built in wireless or CLS (creative light system) mode to put it off camera. I have the SB-600 which works great but I miss the extra power of the SB-800 when I need it. In fact, I am renting an SB-800 for a wedding I am shooting next month.

If you can afford it, get the SB-800 if not the SB-600 is fine for what you want to do. BTW, bounce away or get a dome (the SB-800 comes with a dome attachment) to even out the light. Oh, and don't forget to check out Strobist.com for ideas on how to use the one you decide to get.
 
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not sure but that seems like a pretty standard feature.
 
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"WDWFigment" said:
^Does anyone know if you can manually dial down the flash on the SB-400?
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Not on the flash, but it would be from the camera. Apparently only the D40 can control this flash in manual mode.
 
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"WDWFigment" said:
^Does anyone know if you can manually dial down the flash on the SB-400?
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Not directly. It has no buttons on it . But, you can adjust it through the camera body just like the onboard flash. When it is on your camera and turned on, the camera only recognizes the sb400.
Basically, the 400 is nothing more than a "bigger" on board flash.
 
yep, that's true!
And again, this August it spent the entire trip a lot of time when it wasn't raining on the camera. Because it is so small, it is no problem to just leave it on.
 
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