Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The SB-400 gives photographers the opportunity to enjoy brighter and more natural lighting for images taken using a flash. It is designed to suit entry-level digital SLR users while also suitable for more experienced users. Those who have a camera within the D2 series will also benefit from the convenient portable flash unit. The SB-400 offers a guide number of 30 (ISO 200, m), and effortless bounce flash function and is controlled in i-TTL and the D40's M (manual) mode. Flash shooting distance range from 2 and up to 66 feet Electronic construction - Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry Guide number - (at 18mm zoom-head position, 20 degrees C/68 degrees F) 30m per 98.4 feet Angle of coverage - Light distribution covers an 18mm lens when mounted on a Nikon DX format digital SLR camera (27mm lens when mounted on an F6 35mm SLR) Flash shooting distance range - 2 to 66 feet (Varies depending on the ISO sensitivity, zoom-head position, and lens aperture in use) Flash mode - i-TTL, M (manual with the D40 only) Flash exposure control set on the camera - Slow-sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction in slow sync, rear-curtain sync flash, FV lock flash, manual flash (with Nikon Creative Lighting System digital and 35mm SLR cameras) Bounce capability - Flash head tilts up to 90 degrees with click-stops at 0, 60, 75, 90 degrees Power Source - Two AA batteries (1.5V or lower) Flashes/Recycling time at full output - Alkaline-manganese (1.5V) 140/3.9 sec, Lithium (1.5V) 250/4.2 sec, Oxyride (1.5V) 150/3.1 sec, Ni-MH rechargeable (1.5V, 2600 mAh) 210/2.5 sec Lights up when the SB-400 is recharged and ready to fire. Blinks to indicate insufficient light, insufficient battery power and incompatibility of camera with SB-400 Flash duration - Approximately 1/1300th second at full output Mounting foot lever lock - Provides secure attachment to the camera accessory
Customer Review: awesome flash
What a great flash for the money for an amateur enthusiast. The bounce feature allows for much more natural skin tones for people, and color tones for objects. Also, faces are less shiny (oily) looking, so as to reduce or eliminate your post photo processing. Next on the list is a flash bracket.
Customer Review: D60 user
I'm an amateur, as you may read from my other reviews. I purchased this speedlight as something I can use in cases where my built-in flash just isn't enough. I also hate the glare and the harsh shadows built-in flash creates. I wanted something in a decent price range that would perform well. I attended a wedding recently and used this speedlight at the reception. The results were 100 times better than I had expected. The reception was in a converted barn/banquet hall with white walls and high arched ceilings. Some of the reviews said that you can't expect this light to bounce off walls or ceilings more than 10' away, but I found that I was able to bounce the light off the ceilings and the walls and still come out with a very well-lit exposure. I bounced the flash at 45 degrees off the ceiling from 50' feet away and had a very good picture of the cake cutting. Some reviews said that the flash didn't go very far either, so I tried it outside at night. With a direct flash, I was able to illuminate (albeit no well) an object about 80' away. For each of these tests, I had the camera on full-auto mode. The flash adjusts itself according the camera's settings (which I find very convenient). It feels sturdy when its attached and clips in without a problem. Its also very lightweight. The only thing that I can find wrong is this: I have a fisheye attachment for my 18-55mm kit lens that I like to use for macro photos--this flash unit doesn't have enough clearance to use with that attachment. There is a huge barrel shadow in the bottom of each frame, even at the longer end of the zoom. For the money, its a very good little addition to my system. I'm sure that I'll spring for the SB 600 or 800 eventually, but this will be useful for a long time.


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