james_gager Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 As a relative beginner to using an external speedlight, what is a good choice for use with my Nikon D40x? I would prefer something I can grow with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtlawyer Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 SB-800. It will do anything you want it to do with any existing Nikon camera. Including operating as a wireless remote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 At a minimum, I would get an SB-600. The SB-800 is better with more features that you probably don't need immediately. Nikon's best flash is the SB-900 which has a much better menu system than the 600 or 800, but at $450 or so, it is expensive. The one I would avoid is the SB-400; it is very popular among casual photographers for good reasons, but it is primitive and you'll likely out-grow it in no time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bms Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Is money an issue? The SB-600 is pretty good bang for the buck, and when you need more, you can get an SB-800 or 900 and then you already have a slave! I would NOT get offbrand, but it is an option. You'll use some function..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elliot1 Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 If weight is an issue, the SB-400 is a perfect match for your camera. It works really, really well (when it comes to exposure/even lighting) with the D40x although it cannot be rotated for portrait use (you can bounce it). Both the SB-600 and SB-800 are heavy and can make the D40x seem out of balance and hard to hold/handle if you don't have a battery grip on it. If you afford the 600/800/900 and don't mind the weight, that is the obviously way to go. You won't be unhappy with any of the four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arun_seetharam Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 I think SB-600 is the best if you are not heavily into flash photography. Hey FOlks, Does any one know if you can remote Trigger SB400 as you do the 600 or 800? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShunCheung Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 No, while the SB-400 is an iTTL flash, it is not part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System. That is, it cannot be a remote slave in a wireless flash set up in a way the SB-600, SB-800, and SB-900 can. (And only the SB-800, SB-900 and the dedicated SU-800 plus some pop-up flashes can be the master. The SB-600 and SB-400 cannot be the master.) But you can connect it with a flash "extension cord" such as the SC-17, SC-28 or SC-29. That plus the fact that the SB-400 cannot rotate in the vertical orientation for bounce flash makes it pretty much useless for serious photographers. That was why I explicitely pointed out that James should avoid the SB-400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arun_seetharam Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Thanks Shun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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