SB-400 Speedlight Unit
A compact, lightweight Speedlight with intuitive controls and bounce capabilities. Put it on, turn it on, shoot!
$119.95*SRPSRP (Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
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Supplied Accessories
- SS-400 Soft case
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.
SB-400 Speedlight Unit
28
28
$100 and no Swivel Head
Could be a great compact flash if not for the lack of a swivel head. Too bad Nikon engineers don't have the forethought to realize that sometimes we need to change the direction of our flash, not just up to the ceiling, to improve bounce lighting. I doubt that a swivel head would increase the cost of this flash buy even $5 or $10 dollars in total. Oh well!
March 26, 2012
Exactly what I needed
Nikon makes a decent camera flash, but I needed to bounce it off the ceiling more. I did use the inexpensive reccomended lightscoop, but it was a quick fix. This flash has made a world of difference on all my inside photos.
It does only move in an up down dimension and sometimes it'd be nice if I could turn it sideways as well. Now that I have used this so much, I'd consider spending more for that extra function which I didn't think was important when I was first shopping for it. This was my first flash I have bought for my DSLR, so I didn't know what I would find important or not. Price factored in this time....next time I will make sure I get one that has the full rotation since I do find that a bit lacking. I knew that before I bought it however, so it doesn't minimize how great this flash is :D
If you are just wanting something better than the on board flash, but trying not to spend alot, you cannot go wrong with this lens. If you have some money to upgrade it to one that rotates both directions, then I'd go for that one instead.
December 28, 2011
Disappointing
When I first purchased the Speedlight SB-400 I was anxious to see how it would work on my D700 and D50. It's small size was very interesting. Unfortunately after very little use, it just died. It was not damaged, I changed batteries, and still would not come back to life. Basically I was very disappointed.
November 3, 2011
Sweet!
I got this little flash to finally replace the built-in flash on my D70. Because of the built-in flashes limitations, I barely have any indoor photos of my dog who has one blue eye and one brown eye. (I don't have any photo manipulation software.) As you might imagine, the red eye/green eye situation is a nightmare. For the money, this little flash is perfect. Powerful, fast, and bounce capability. And! It's great to fill in when the subject is back lit. Huzzah! I finally have an affordable alternative to the semi-professional flashes out on the market.
August 16, 2011
I bought this flash because the built in flash on the D3000 had a few limitations. First, it vignetted pictures by being too close to the lens. Second, the color balance wasn't quite right.
Adding this little flash solved both problems and it added very little weight or bulk to my camera. While I still try to use available light, the SB-400 is very useful as a fill-flash and the recycle time is quick.
The small size is very handy as it fits in a small pocket of my camera bag.
August 3, 2011
SB-400 is most excellent!!
I love this flash! I got it because the built in flash on my D80 would leave a shadow across the bottom of the picture when using the 18-135mm lens. Nikon says the SB-400 will cover an 18mm lens, but this one never leaves a shadow even when used with my Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm. Fill flash is excellent and I rarely have to do any after-the-fact Photoshop color adjustments.
It's so simple, the wife can use it on her D40 without an 'instruction session' every time. On my recommendation, my daughter got one too, and loves it.
May 15, 2011
All you'll ever need
While it is generally true that the built in flip flashes supplied on higher end Nikon DSLR's have matured from being toys to being actual tools worth using, the battery drain of a day's worth of fill flash shooting could potentially leave one high and dry. Add to that the ability to adjust the SB 400's flash head vertically for bounce and you now have more flash than the average advanced amateur ever needs in a small, easy to carry package. Now, if it would only adjust horizontally somehow it would be just about perfect.
April 18, 2011
A lot packed in this small flash
Using this flash with the new series of small Nikon DSLRs is very much a treat. It is extremely easy to use but still allows full manual operation. I use it for my multiple stobe set up in studio to trigger the flash banks and add in a key light fill. Outside, it gives me perfect fill light light for nature close ups and portraits.
April 15, 2011
Too dark images
I bought this for use on my Nikon d300S. Set to automatic exposure the flash always produces images that are too dark. Every one requires image changes using Aperture.
April 15, 2011
Built-in flash was too weak for my needs as an illustrator using a Nikon D5000 with 18-200mm or 35mm DX lenses. SB-400 speedlight has proven to be a perfect fit for my work.
April 14, 2011
Cheap but unreliable
It just quit after six months with infrequent use. Not worth the postage and hassle to fix. Replaced it with a sunpack 2000 which I can't wear out. It cost less too.
April 14, 2011
Excellent flash for the money
I purchased this flash today, and I'm already in love with it. It produces excellent images, beyond anything I could ever expect from such an inexpensive product. This is definitely worth the money, and anyone interested in the Nikon family should pick this up. I use a Nikon D3100 with a very, very wide variety of lenses varying from wide-angles, to fisheyes, etc and this flash works perfectly with all of them. The recycling time has no lag at all, which is a plus. All in all, this is a great product and a must have for your photography arsenal.
March 3, 2011
Good small compact flash!
Would recommend this flash to anyone, small, light, and takes a quick flash.
February 28, 2011
Great little flash
I knew it was small when I ordered it, but was surprised to see how tiny it really is. The flash is well built, has a metal shoe, locks on the hotshoe, and can bounce off the ceiling. I use it with both the 10-24mm and 28-300mm with excellent results. It is simple to use, easy to carry, and provides vastly improved illumination compared to the built in flash. Only wished it worked on my older film cameras as well, but for the price, can't beat it.
February 1, 2011
A step up from built in flashes.
I got this flash after discovering the wonders of bouncing the flash off the ceiling and using diffusers. It is much better than any built in flash and provides softer light when bounced. Additionally, it is more powerful than the built in flash. My only regret is now that I'm planning on moving up to an sb-700, the sb-400 cannot be used as a commander for remote flashes.
January 1, 2011
Perfect!
This is the perfect flash for me and my D300. I'm so pleased my parents choose to gift this to me for Christmas. Although the built in flash on my camera is fine, it is too harsh. This flash lit up the room and was easy to install. Also, it's small enough to lug to school for yearbook purposes.
January 1, 2011
Just Do It.
Stop wasting time with built in flashes. This has bounce features and is just perfect for a room full of family and friends. Excellent on fast moving kids and dogs in the dark as it allows shots that VR is frankly not going to help with. Not a strobist plaything - just an average persons way to make much much better indoor shots and a steal at this price.
December 8, 2010
Worth Every Penny
Excellent low-cost, high quality product that does exactly what it says it will. Roughly 25% more throw than the built-in flash on my D90 and the ability to bounce flash make it invaluable. Not to mention saving your camera's batteries for just taking pictures. This is ideal for the prosumer that is looking to take the next step in flash photography.
December 8, 2010
SB400
The flash is not any more powerful than the built in camera flash. This flash is worth the extra money at all. Keep this money and add it to the cost of the SB600 or SB900.
October 29, 2010
SB-400 SPEEDLIGHT
Great price and easy to use flash. Fast recycle.
Had a generic flash and took to long to recyle. It also was difficult to put on the camers. The SB-400 was a snap to attach.
October 11, 2010
very convenient flash
I carry this flash at the bottom of my camera case. It is so light that I often forget that I have it with me. But, when I do remember it works great. It is much lighter than my SB800 so I can use it for hours. The other day I shot with it for several hours at a memorial service. It was outdoors, so it acted as a fill light and the two rechargeable batteries lasted for the entire shoot.
November 20, 2010
WOW!
I originally bought this lens for my wife's D90, then, I decided to take my kids to MET and took the D90+SB400 instead of my usual D700+SB800. When taking wide angle shots of the two kids in the armory room, the whole room was lit up by this tiny devil. I repeated the same set up in the American Museum of Natural History's main lobby, again with stunning results. Then my colleague challenged me to a shootout at a wedding reception. Him with his room lights, me with just the SB400 on my D3. This little flash wiped the smile of his face real fast.
August 21, 2010
Just Enough
I love this little devil. It's extremely small, ultimately simple and bounces. What more can you want. The on-camera flash in my D90 produces light that is just too harsh for my taste. Top your camera with the SB-400, angle it to bounce off the ceiling and voila - better light. Not for paparazzi, but perfect for your next party.
July 25, 2010
35 Questions | 40 Answers
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All8 months ago
by
Sherry
San Antonio, Texas
Location :
San Antonio, Texas
Age: 55-65
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
3 Answers
Answers
Answer:
No, one of the dumbest things on the V1 is that Nikon has decided to used a completely different flash system. One of the reasons I won't be buying one.Answer:
No.Answer:
No, you need the SB-N5 design exclusively for the new Nikon 1.11 months ago
by
Anonymous
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Works fine on my D3000.Answer:
Yes it will.
SB-400 Speedlight Unit
2 Answers
Will this flash work with my FM10 and is it a good flash for my particular camera?
5 months, 2 weeks ago
by
Rob
Virginia
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
The SB-400 is a very simple flash that depends on an i-TTL compatible camera body to control it. But any other Nikon SB Speedlight will work on "M" mode on our beloved FM10; some will even provide non-TTL automatic metering (SB-28DX, SB-800, SB-900, SB-910).Products related to my answer
Feb 1, 2012 by
by
PauloFeitosa
Curitiba - Paraná, Brazil
Location :
Curitiba - Paraná, Brazil
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Semi-professional photographer
Answer:
Any Nikon speedlight will work in non TTL mode. I would look into Metz flashes, they are excellant and not high priced. I don't know what type of photography you are planning to do, so a specific recco is difficult
1 year, 2 months ago
by
Anonymous
Age: 35-44
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
2 Answers
Answers
Answer:
Yes it will but its basic, I would at least get a SB-600 of you are going to buy a flash, price difference is not that much anyway and you will get a lot more flash for your money.Answer:
Yes, you can use the SB-400 on the D80, just make sure to turn on the flash first before is mount it on the camera. If the SB-400 is turned off while mounted on the camera and the camera’s “Auto flash” function is on, the camera’s built-in flash will automatically pop up when shooting in poor light, coming into contact with the SB-400. It is recommended that the SB-400 be detached from the camera when flash is not required.Has staff answer
SB-400 Speedlight Unit
1 answer
Can I use the fx format with this flash on my D700?
If so what lens mm would work best
1 year, 3 months ago
by
Fitz
Long Island New York USA
Location :
Long Island New York USA
Age: 45-54
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 11-20 years
Experience: More than a year
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
Yes, you can use the SB-400 with the D700. No sensor size restrictions with flash.1 year, 3 months ago
by
Jeana
Age: 25-34
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 2-5 years
Experience: Less than a month
Role: Just getting started with photography
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
Yes.1 year, 2 months ago
by
Anonymous
Age: Over 65
Favorite Subject: Travel
Nikon Family: 21+ years
Role: Semi-professional photographer
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
Please click on the link below and select Authorized Dealers, by placing your ZIP code it will give you the name and address of those who have the flash available. Also, it will give the option for online dealers.http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Produ...
Can I reduce or increase the Flash level from my D80, since the SB400 does not have Manual controls?
and would it work with Rear curtain, and Slow with D80
Thanks
and would it work with Rear curtain, and Slow with D80
Thanks
1 year, 2 months ago
by
Anonymous
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
Each mode should be set on the camera body, since it cannot be set through the SB-400. For details, see your camera instruction manual. Flash modes available: Slow-sync flash, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow-sync flash, Rear curtain sync, FV (Flash Value) Lock and Exposure compensation and flash output level compensation.1 year, 2 months ago
by
Malith
Sri Lanka
Location :
Sri Lanka
Age: 18-24
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 11-20 years
Experience: 6-12 months
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
No, it won’t work. This camera model doesn’t have a hot shoe to attach a speedlight. Only D-SLR and some COOLPIX from the “P” series.1 year, 2 months ago
by
Malith
Sri Lanka
Location :
Sri Lanka
Age: 18-24
Favorite Subject: Family & Friends
Nikon Family: 11-20 years
Experience: 6-12 months
Role: Serious passion, hobbyist
1 answer
Answers
Answer:
You are out of luck with using a separate flash on the S8000 as it has no hot shoe to mount a flash on.
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