Speedlight is the
brand name
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...
used by
Nikon Corporation
(, ; ), also known just as Nikon, is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging products. The companies held by Nikon form the Nikon Group.
Nikon's products include cameras, cam ...
for their
photographic flash
A flash is a device used in photography that produces a brief burst of light (typically lasting 1/1000 to 1/200 of a second) at a color temperature of about 5500 K to help illuminate a scene. A major purpose of a flash is to illuminate a ...
units, used since the company's introduction of
strobe flashes in the 1960s. Nikon's standalone Speedlights (those not built into the company's cameras) have the ''SB-'' prefix as part of their model designation. Current Speedlights and other Nikon accessories make up part of Nikon's ''Creative Lighting System'' (CLS), which includes the ''Advanced Wireless Lighting'', that enables various Nikon cameras to control multiple Nikon flash units in up to three separate controlled groups by sending encoded pre-flash signals to slave units.
Nikon's competitors like
Canon
Canon or Canons may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base
* Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture
** Western ca ...
and
Ricoh
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational imaging and electronics company (law), company. It was founded by the now-defunct commercial division of the Riken, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (Riken) known as the ''Riken ...
use the similar name
Speedlite for their flashes. Both names indicate that strobe flashes produce much shorter and more intense bursts of light than earlier photographic lighting systems, such as flashbulbs, or continuous lamps used in some studio situations.
Models
Nikon's Speedlight units are:
(Update September 15, 2014)
* SB-1 (discontinued)
* SB-2 (discontinued, c. 1970)
* SB-3 (discontinued, c. 1970)
* SB-4 (discontinued, c. 1971)
* SB-6 (discontinued, c. 1965)
* SB-7E (discontinued, c. 1974)
* SB-8E (discontinued, c. 1975)
* SB-9 (discontinued, c. 1978)
* SB-10 (discontinued, c. 1978)
* SB-E (discontinued, c. 1979)
* SB-11 (discontinued, c. 1980)
* SB-12 (discontinued)
* SB-14 (discontinued)
![Nikon SB-23 speedlight flash](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Nikon_SB-23_speedlight_flash.JPG)
* SB-15 (discontinued)
* SB-16 (discontinued)
* SB-17 (discontinued, c. 1983)
* SB-20 (discontinued)
* SB-22 (discontinued)
* SB-22s (discontinued)
* SB-23 (discontinued)
* SB-24 (discontinued)
* SB-25 (discontinued)
* SB-26 (discontinued)
* SB-27 (discontinued)
* SB-28 (discontinued)
* SB-29 (discontinued)
* SB-30 (discontinued)
D-TTL Units
* SB-28DX (discontinued)
* SB-50DX (discontinued)
* SB-80DX (discontinued)
I-TTL Units
* SB-300 (2013)
* SB-400 (discontinued)
* SB-500 (2014)
* SB-600 (28 January 2004)(discontinued)
* SB-700 (15 September 2010)
* SB-800 (22 July 2003)(discontinued)
* SB-900 (01 July 2008)(discontinued)
* SB-910 (30 November 2011)
* SB-N5 (2011)
* SB-N7 (2012)
* SB-R200
* SB-5000 (First Model with Radio Transmission)
Models compatible with the latest I-TTL System
Current models (
guide number
When setting photoflash exposures, the guide number (GN) of photoflash devices (flashbulbs and electronic devices known as "studio strobes", "on-camera flashes", "electronic flashes", "flashes", and "speedlights")The Nikon brand name for its came ...
s -
ISO
ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance
* Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007
* Iso ...
100,
35FF):
SB-300 and SB-N7
(GN 59 ft, 18 m @ 27 mm) Nikon's latest smaller shoe mount flash unit which replaces SB-400. It is less powerful than SB-400 and uses AAA-size batteries. SB-300 is derived from the SB-N7, the same flash unit previously released for the
Nikon 1
The Nikon 1 series is a discontinued camera line from Nikon, originally announced on 21 September 2011. The cameras utilized Nikon 1-mount lenses, and featured 1" CX format sensors.
The series included the Nikon 1 V1, J1, J2, and S1 with a ...
"multi-accessory port," instead of the ISO 518:2006 hot shoe. Both SB-300 and SB-N7 have a variable angle 'bounce' head up to 120 degrees but has no horizontal swiveling.
SB-400 (discontinued)
![Nikon SB-400 Flash](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Nikon_SB-400_Flash.JPG)
(
GN 69 ft, 21 m @ 27 mm)
The SB-400 is a lightweight and very compact shoe-mount flash unit, powered by only two AA-size batteries. It uses a 40 mm xenon tube. Despite its small size, SB-400 is a very capable flash with a variable angle 'bounce' head (up to 90 deg.). The head lacks tilt movement which is common to larger flashes. SB-400 cannot be used in slave or master mode in Nikon's CLS system. It weighs 127 g (without batteries) and is mostly made in China.
SB-500
(GN of 24 m at ISO 100)
The Nikon SB-500 is a lightweight and very compact shoe-mount flash unit with coverage for a 24 mm lens on an FX camera or a 16 mm lens on DX camera and combined with 100 lux LED for video light, powered by only two AA-size batteries. SB-500 is a very capable flash with a variable angle 'bounce' head (up to 90°) and rotates 180° for soft lighting effects. The flash is part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) with two-group/two-channel control and features the intelligent-TTL (i-TTL) exposure mode.
SB-600 (discontinued)
(GN 98 ft, 30 m @ 35 mm)
Mid-range model - weighs approximately 300 g without 4 AA batteries
The Nikon SB-600 is a flash made by
Nikon
(, ; ), also known just as Nikon, is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging products. The companies held by Nikon form the Nikon Group.
Nikon's products include cameras, camera ...
for their
digital and
film single-lens reflex cameras. The SB-600 can mount to any Nikon camera with a four-prong
hotshoe
Canon EOS 350D Hot shoe
Proprietary hot shoe used by Minolta and older Sony cameras (Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D">Sony.html" ;"title="Minolta and older Sony">Minolta and older Sony cameras (Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D)
A hot shoe is a mounting poin ...
. The SB-600 cannot control other flashes through a wireless connection; however, a flash commander can control it wirelessly. The SB-600 is part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) and features the intelligent-TTL (i-TTL) exposure mode. This model is the most compatible unit with older model film and earlier digital cameras like Nikon, F5, F6, and D100 as well as all recent cameras.
SB-700
(GN 92 ft, 29 m @ 35 mm)
![Nikon Speedlight SB-700 Flash shoe contacts](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Nikon_Speedlight_SB-700_Flash_shoe_contacts.JPG)
SB-700 is an upgrade to the older SB-600 with refined design in both electronics and mechanics. It is a more reliable and durable flash in many ways than the SB-600 except the weakly made plastic foot section. Professionals consider the unit as more like a compact version of SB-9XX line supporting both master and slave functions. It features a newly designed interior zoom head and locking shoe section which is identical to SB-900 and SB-910 models. SB-700 shares similar features and menu system of SB-900 and SB-910 as well. The SB-700 is part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) and features the intelligent-TTL (i-TTL) exposure mode. It weighs approximately 360 g without 4 AA batteries. It is mostly made in China. Announced September 2010 and available since October 2010.
SB-800 (discontinued)
![Nikon SB-800 Flash](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Nikon_SB-800_Flash.JPG)
(GN 125 ft, 38 m @ 35 mm)
![Nikon SB-800 Flash Shoe Macro](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Nikon_SB-800_Flash_Shoe_Macro.JPG)
SB-800 is a very high quality professional model which weighs approximately 350 g without 4 or 5 AA batteries (optional fifth battery for quicker recycling) The Nikon SB-800 is a flash made by Nikon based on the earlier SB-80DX model for their digital and film
single-lens reflex cameras. It has electronic interfaces for
through-the-lens In photography, through-the-lens metering (TTL metering) refers to a feature of cameras whereby the intensity of light reflected from the scene is measured through the lens; as opposed to using a separate metering window or external hand-held light ...
(TTL) automatic exposure and automatic zoom to match lens focal lengths from 24 to 105 mm (35 mm equivalent), plus 14 and 17 mm with the use of the built-in diffuser or 14 mm with the external Nikon Diffusion Dome, as well as
film speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system. A closely related ISO system is used to describe the relation ...
in the range from
ISO
ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization.
ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance
* Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007
* Iso ...
3 to 8000 (25 through 1000 in TTL mode with film cameras).
Its
guide number
When setting photoflash exposures, the guide number (GN) of photoflash devices (flashbulbs and electronic devices known as "studio strobes", "on-camera flashes", "electronic flashes", "flashes", and "speedlights")The Nikon brand name for its came ...
is 38 meters / 125 feet at ISO 100 and 35 mm, with a maximum range of 58 m when adjusted at 105 mm.
The SB-800 is part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) and features the intelligent-TTL (i-TTL) exposure mode. It is compatible with all SLR cameras (such as the
D2H
D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''.
History
Th ...
,
D2X,
D3,
D40,
D50,
D60,
D70,
D80,
D90,
D200,
D300/s and
F6), it can be used as master commander as well as remote flash unit within a CLS wireless lighting setup. It is one of the high-end units for Nikon which features metal joints and supports inside the body. It is sturdier than newer models like SB-700, SB-900, and SB-910 which are prone to impact breakage due to non-reinforced plastic shoe mount bases. All SB-800 units are made in Japan.
By many professionals, it is considered the most advanced flash unit when compared to its compact size. The Speedlights.net says that "for many professional photographers this flash is still the best hot shoe strobe out there today" with smaller size than the successor SB 900, but has bigger Guide Number 38 over 34.
It features the following unlike the newer units:
* Single piece metal foot (borrowed from SB-80DX)
* Compact body design
* 5th battery attachment option
* High GN power (the same as SB-80DX)
* Dedicated modeling light button
SB-900 (discontinued) and SB-910 (discontinued)
(GN 111 ft, 34 m @ 35 mm)
SB-900 is a larger professional model released 30 June 2008, weighs approximately 415 g. It is a flash made by Nikon for their digital and film
single-lens reflex cameras, released on June 30, 2008. It has electronic interfaces for
through-the-lens In photography, through-the-lens metering (TTL metering) refers to a feature of cameras whereby the intensity of light reflected from the scene is measured through the lens; as opposed to using a separate metering window or external hand-held light ...
(TTL) automatic exposure and automatic zoom to match lens focal lengths from 17 to 200 mm (35 mm equivalent) and 12 to 200 mm in
Nikon DX Format
The Nikon DX format is an alternative name used by Nikon corporation for APS-C image sensor format being approximately 24x16 mm. Its dimensions are about (29 mm vs 43 mm diagonal, approx.) those of the 35mm format. The format was ...
. Over SB-800, SB-900 features:
* Larger dot matrix LCD screen
* Silent charging with upgraded thin transformer and micro-controller ICs
* Dedicated power and master/slave selector button
* Jog dial menu navigation
* Newly designed and tighter shoe lock mechanism
* Larger Flash head with more sensors for various attachments
* Newly designed inner zoom head unit with larger distance
* Three element front AF focus assist LEDs
* Newly designed battery door (with push button lock addition on SB-910 similar to SB-700)
The SB-900 is part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS) and features the intelligent-TTL (i-TTL) exposure mode. With compatible SLR cameras (such as the
D40,
D40x,
D50,
D60,
D70,
D70s,
D80,
D5000,
D90,
D200,
D300,
D700,
D7000
The Nikon D7000 is a 16.2-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) model announced by Nikon on September 15, 2010. It replaced the D90 as the top end consumer camera, by using much of the technology and controls from the earlier D5000, ...
,
D2h
D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''.
History
Th ...
,
D2hs,
D2x,
D2xs,
D3,
D3x and
F6) can be used as master commander as well as remote flash unit within a CLS wireless lighting setup.
As of November 2011 the SB-900 was replaced by the SB-910 which is technically very similar to the older model. There only are minor changes like the push button on the battery lid, semi-transparent function buttons, redesigned soft case, different accessories and re-adjusted thermal cut off circuit to prevent premature shutdowns. Regarding power level, looks, inner mechanics and PCB design both units are identical. All SB-900 and SB-910 units are made in Japan.
SB-5000
(GN 113 ft, 34.5 m @ 35 mm)
Nikon Speedlight SB-5000 is the first model featuring 2.4 GHz radio communication for slave and master mode. It weighs 420 g, slightly heavier than the SB-9XX units. The menu system is similar to SB-700 and 9XX series. It uses a dot matrix display with led illumination unlike SB-700 and 9XX series' EL illuminator. The modeling button makes a return. It is slightly more powerful than the previous models however still less powerful than the SB-800. The head contains a fan activated after a short period of use to prevent overheating. This feature promotes more frequent and consecutive flashes without heat issues.
Wireless accessories
*R1C1 Wireless Close-Up System
*SB-R200 Wireless unit (GN 33 ft, 10m @ 24mm)
*SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander - no flash, controls other speedlight units
Gallery
Image:SB-R200 Profile.jpg, Nikon SB-R200 Wireless Speedlight
File:Nikon SB-400 Flash.JPG, Nikon SB-400 Flash
Image:SB-400 3.jpg, SB-400 - Nikon's simplest and most lightweight flash
Image:SB-400 2.jpg, SB-400 is restricted to vertical angling, no swiveling
Image:SB-400.jpg
References
External links
Wireless flash setup from momentcorp.comFlash products from Nikon USACreative Lighting System review*
ttp://photo-tips-online.com/review/nikon-speedlight-sb-600-vs-sb-700/ Comparison: Nikon Speedlight SB-700 vs. Nikon Speedlight SB-600 reviewbr>
Nikon Speedlight SB-700 vs. SB-900: overheating (thermal cut-out) test
{{Nikon DSLR cameras
*