SB-800 Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash user reviews

5.0 stars

"Great Flash!!" on December 10, 2007 by rkmacdonald

Pros: Versatile, rugged, powerful, feature packed

Cons: Expensive but worth it

Summary: This is the best flash I've ever owned. I use it mostly in iTTL or iTTL BL modes with my Nikon DSLRs. The Nikon automatic system works extremely well.

Like with any automatic flash system, light colored scenes (like the bride in her white dress) will cause the flash to underexpose and dark scenes (like the groom in his black suit) will cause the flash to overexpose. The photographer has to realize this and set the flash ev accordingly. The Nikon matrix metering reduces this problem a lot.

I use two of these flashes in reflective umbrellas to shoot the formals at weddings. They put out plenty of light to evenly expose groups of up to 50 people.

These flashes will also work as either a remote slave flash or the commander for several other slaves. There is also a built-in commander in many of the Nikon DSLRs that will control the SB800. This is an infrared optical wireless system that works well as long as you keep the small IR window in the flash pointed toward the commander. Since the head rotates 360 degrees, it's easy to turn it to keep the IR window pointed correctly. I have used these flashes up to 50 feet from the commander.

Lastly these flashes are rugged. Although I don't recommend it, I have dropped both of them several times from three feet or less onto concrete, and they have not been damaged yet!