Nikon SB-600

Nikon SB-600

Flash is one of the more difficult aspects of photography to learn how to use effectively. Once you start needing or wanting to use flash though, you quickly realize how useful a separate speedlight can be. Using the built-in flash on a camera is nothing like having a real speedlight. First of all there is the power, the camera body has other things to worry about. Then there is the fact that its relatively close to the lens, so its gives you more problems with eyes and lens hoods. The biggest reason though, is that it makes whatever you are taking a shot of look much worse as its just about the worse and most unflattering light possible. If you have the knowledge to use it properly, it can get you out of a difficult situation if used as fill, but its still no substitute.

Nikon has the SB-600 & SB-800 speedlights that are very similar. The SB-800 is more powerful of course and it comes with accessories that you don’t get in the SB-600 package. If none of the accessories are must haves (and even if they are you can buy them separately) and you don’t think you need the extra power, the SB-600 is a great buy as it does most of what the SB-800 does and for a lot less money. The other main benefit of having the SB-800 is that it can be used as a commander, whereas the SB-600 can only be used as a slave. If you have a body such as the D80/200/300 then you can use the built-in flash as the commander which is the only way I use the built-in flash on my bodies.

The SB-600 does have some aspects that are better than the SB-800 though. I like the control layout on the back of my SB-600’s better than the SB-800. I also like the screen better, its just easier to read somehow. One thing I’ve heard people say is that the 600 recycles faster than the 800, which is not true. It has less power, if used at the same power the SB-600 does not recycle faster, but regardless if you used high power rechargeable NIMH batteries which is in my book mandatory for their speed and power, not to mention cost advantage of disposable AA’s, then both recycle very quickly.

The build quality between the two speedlights is about even, so there isn’t much in it to decide between them using that aspect. Both let you bounce the light to make it much more flattering for whoever you are shooting, and both can be used off-camera with other speedlights or on their own wirelessly to creative effect which is fantastic. I’d be totally lost without my speedlights, either of them will be a world of difference over the built-in flash. No matter your situation, I’d say getting at least one speedlight is always a good decision no matter which one you decide upon. There in lies the rub though, once you get one you want another then another as it opens up more avenues for your creativity.