Electronic flash for modern film cameras

<p>If it is a digital camera you have to look at the SB-600 SB-800 (both work with film TTL) or the SB-700 or SB-900 (digital cameras only) For the record, the SB-600 flash is the only current Nikon unit that is still compatible with the film TTL used in the F4 and up.</p>

<p>Correction to SB-600 being current, I saw on another thread today that the SB-600 has been discontinued, best get a new one while you can.</p>

<p>I spent a half hour digging around the house and this is all I could come up with:</p>

<p>Books related to Nikon Flash<br /><br /> Nikon AF Speedlight Flash System 2007<br /> Simon Stafford Magic Lantern Guides 288 pages<br /> covers SB-28 to SB-800 very comprehensive theory of flash<br /><br /> Nikon Creative Lighting System Digital Field Guide 2007<br /> J. Dennis Thomas Wiley Publishing 202 pages<br /> covers SB-600 and SB-800<br /><br /> The Nikon Flash Guide 2001<br /> Thom Hogan Silver Pixel Press 376 pages<br /> covers SB-1 to SB-29 and cameras F3 to N80 and everything in between<br /> <br /> The Nikon Field Guide 1st Edition 1998<br /> Thom Hogan Silver Pixel Press 256 pages<br /> covers SB-25 to SB-28 and FN2n, F70, F90, F4, F5<br /><br /> The Nikon Field Guide 2nd Edition 2000<br /> Thom Hogan Silver Pixel Press 288 pages<br /> covers SB-25 to SB-28 and adds F90s, F100, F60 to above list<br /><br /> The Advanced Nikon System 1993<br /> Michael Huber Magic Lantern Guides 216 pages<br /> covers SB-11 to SB-25 and most in between and F3 to F90<br /><br /> Nikon F4 and F3 1994<br /> Moose Peterson Magic Lantern Guides 176 pages<br /> covers F3/SB-12 and F4/SB-24, 25, 26<br /><br /> Nikon SB-24 Flash System 1992<br /> John Clements Hove Foto Books 138 pages<br /> covers SB-11 to SB-24 and Nikon F to F4 and everything in between<br /><br /> Nikon System System Handbook 5th Edition 1998<br /> Moose Peterson Silver Pixel Press 184 pages<br /> covers SB-1 to SB-28 and Nikon F to F5</p>

<p>That's all you could come up with? What, no online tutorials by scantily clad female flash instructors?<br />Actually James I just spent the last two hours reading various websites on everything between the sb-24 and the sb-800. I'm more freaking confused now than I've ever been. I was fantasing I could pick up a flash that would be fully compatible with everything from a Nikkormat Ft2 to whatever Nikon will be building by the time we land men on Mars.<br />I think I'm down to picking up an sb-24 or 26 and either an sb-600 or 800 with the 800 ahead and stretching it out at the clubhouse turn.<br />Just so you can be assured that your evening foray into the dark reaches of your library weren't in vain, I'll probably be picking up a couple of the titles you suggested,....thanks.</p>

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<p><em>I think I'm down to picking up an sb-24 or 26 and either an sb-600 or 800 with the 800 ahead and stretching it out at the clubhouse turn.</em></p>

 

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<p>Bill, I would get a SB-600 while you still can. I have only used it with a Nikon D90 so far, but it proved to be fool proof in either direct or bounce flash mode and is compatible with quite a few film cameras. I wish I could access a few of the books I listed online, but the best I can do is if you list a few cameras you are interested in, and can show what flash guns are compatible, or conversely list what cameras are compatible with a few flashguns. I have every film Nikon that I want except the F6, and I personally would not pursue flash with the F, F2, or F3 mainly because they do bot have hot shoes, and the flash interface appears to me as Rube Goldburg.</p>

<p>The SBs that I own are the SB-20, SB-80 and the SB-600 and they cover most of the Nikons that I would use flash with.</p>

<p>@Bill If I were you, I would pick up the SB-24 or SB-26 and the SB-800. The SU-4 mode in the SB-800 makes it a good TTL controlled remote flash to use with the SB-24/26 on camera. I have to admit a bit of bias, I have the SB-26 for the F4 and a couple of SB-800 and some SB-28 flashes. I use SU-4 flash control units with the SB-28s to get remote TTL control with the F4, as well as using SU-4 mode on the SB-800s. The SB-600 does not have SU-4 mode so it is only useful as an on-camera flash or as a CLS controlled remote. I have a couple of SB-600 units that I use as CLS remotes.</p>

<p>I have a F80 Nikon with a SB 27 which quite frankly is more flash horsepower then what I need or intend to use it for (indoor family gathering snapshots). I'd like to get something more compact and less technically challenging. I like the size and simplicity of the SB 400 but I understand that it is not for use on film camersa. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>According to Thom Hogan, the preferred flash for the N80 are the SB-28 and 27, but you can use TTL with the SB-20 thru 29, plus the 15 and 16B.</p>

<p>Here's what I've learned about the Nikon film bodies and Nikon Speedlights I've recently acquired. <br>

Nikon film body set-up 1:<br>

Nikon F6 + SU-800 + SB-800 + SB-600:<br>

The Nikon F6 is the only film body to support Nikon's current i-TTL/CLS flash system. I recently bought a used F6 body because I couldn't figure out any easier way to shoot both film and digital, using the same multiple-Speedlight, CLS set-up.<br>

Nikon film body set-up 2:<br>

Nikon N90s + SB-27 + SB-23: Both Speedlights support film-TTL (OTF-TTL).<br>

Nikon Speedlights: additional notes.<br>

The Nikon SB-800 and SB-600 are the most forward- and backward-compatible Speedlights in Nikon's line-up, each supporting both film-TTL and i-TTL, in bodies which support these features. The newset Nikon Speedlights, the SB-900 and SB-700, do not support film-TTL (OTF TTL). However, the SB-700 does support "SU-4" mode (as does the SB-800), while the SB-600 does not. The SB-600 is likely soon to be discontinued, and can be currently found selling at a discount at certain retailers. Both the SB-800 and the SB-600 have higher output, and smaller form factors, than their newer counterparts, the SB-900 and SB-700. Corrections, addendums, and comments are most welcome. Looking forward to pushing a brick of Tri-X through my new F6, with full, wireless-CLS control over all of my Speedlights!</p><div></div>

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<p>I have a F80 Nikon with a SB 27 which quite frankly is more flash horsepower then what I need or intend to use it for (indoor family gathering snapshots). I'd like to get something more compact and less technically challenging. I like the size and simplicity of the SB 400 but I understand that it is not for use on film camersa. Any suggestions?</p>

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<p>I can only suggest the SB-600, which is compatible with Nikon film-TTL SLRs, such as the F80/N80 (I actually misread your post, and thought for a moment that you wanted a more powerful flash than the SB-400).</p>

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<p>I have a F80 Nikon with a SB 27 which quite frankly is more flash horsepower then what I need or intend to use it for (indoor family gathering snapshots). I'd like to get something more compact and less technically challenging. I like the size and simplicity of the SB 400 but I understand that it is not for use on film camersa. Any suggestions?</p>

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<p>I forgot . . . the SB-23 is the perfect little flash. It's film-TTL compatible with your F80. I bought mine for about $30, used, for my N90s. The only problem is that its flashhead doesn't tilt.</p>