SB400 or SB600?

[benners]

hi all

shooting an assignment last night (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=201608) I realised I think I need a flashgun... the main reason being I need some extra light (a very dark pub!), but the 'rawness' of the in-built flash on my D90 just made those pictures look horrible. I ended up using my left hand to act as a shield in front of the pop-up flash to try and soften the impact!

so I was thinking about the sb600 as it looks like it will do everything i need it to do (i'm not quite sure what that is, but there we go!), but i read a few good reports on the sb400... although it's got quite a few less features, it's a fair bit cheaper!

I don't really like using flash, i prefer to use fast lenses (like the 35mm f1.8), but sometimes i think you just gotta use flash!

so my question is really which if these 2 should i go for... i don't really know the benefits of either, so just wondering what people's experiences are!

 

[foggy4ever]

As a complete novice to flashes I chose the SB600 as the option to bounce in portrait mode makes it more versatile than the SB400.

 

[benners]

As a complete novice to flashes I chose the SB600 as the option to bounce in portrait mode makes it more versatile than the SB400.

i think the extra £££ may be worth it for that versatility foggy... the one thing that sticks in my mind is a comparison on Ken Rockwell (love him or hate him, probably the latter!), who said the 400 did pretty much everything he needed, so didn't have a lumber round the 600. but then he did sing the praises of the 600 beforehand!

 

[foggy4ever]

Try Kerso on here for prices he can be very competitive. As to having to lumber around with it compared to my longer lenses I carry it's small

 

[benners]

Try Kerso on here for prices he can be very competitive. As to having to lumer around with it compared to my longer lenses I carry it's small

will do... also keep an eye on the classifieds, seen a few go through recently for decent prices

 

[Davec223]

Get the 600, no comparison, other benefit you can use it off camera and in ttl

 

[Andysnap]

I have both and the 400 is a fantastic flash, its small and neat and you can bounce flash by tilting it up. Great bit of kit for the money, however, the 600, as Dave says can be used in commander mode off camera and is therefore much more versatile. I would probably look on here for a s/hand 600 as they can be had reasonably cheaply.

Andy