The Nikon SB-600 is a budget version of the SB-800, for the reduced price, you loose power, some accessories, and the Master/commander function. Other then that the SB-600 shares allot of features from its big brother the SB-800. One of the most important features is the wireless I-TTL capabilities. Altough at reduced power, the SB-600 is still usable in multiple flash set-ups. If you do allot of small product shots, the SB-600 might be the flash for you.
Specifications
Type: Shoe mount flash
Guide No: 98' (30 m) at 35mm Position
Angle of Coverage:73° to 23° (24 to 85mm in 35mm format)114° (14mm) with included wide angle adapter
Bounce Head: Yes
Swivel Head: Yes
Recycle Time: 3.5 Seconds with fresh alkaline batteries & full power.
Power Source: Four 1.5-Volt "AA" batteries; alkaline, lithium, NiCad or NiMh.
Included accessories:Soft Case SS-600,Speedlight Stand AS-19.
Dimensions : 2.7 x 4.8 x 3.5" (68 x 123.5 x 90mm)
Weight (without batteries): 10.6 oz (300 g)
Price from: $219.95 USD
Manufacturers web site: www.nikon.com
Key Features
Multiple Flash Exposure Modes
- i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash with Nikon D2 series
- D-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash with Nikon D1 series or D100
- TTL Auto Flash with many film SLR's, including the Nikon F5, F100, F80, F75, F65 and FM3A
- Manual Flash
Bounce Capability
- Flash head tilts up to 90 degree
- Flash head rotates horizontally 180 degree to the left or 90 degree to the right
I-TTL
- Intelligent i-TTL system supports Advanced Wireless Lighting and versatile functions for up to 3 remote i-TTL speedlight groups, either controlled through a master SB-800 or with the "Commander" function of the D70, D200, D300 and D700
Modeling Flash
- Allows photographer to preview lighting effects
FV Lock
- Flash Value Lock allows photographers to change the composition or zoom for the shot while maintaining desired lighting of the subject
Improved Safety
- Safety lock on flash shoe
Positives
- Wireless flash. The wireless possibilities that you get with the new Nikon flashes is great.
- Flash have never been easier.
- Lock on the flash shoe.
- Build quality.
Drawbacks
- Manual, The manual is less helpful at times, and you will find that you get ordered around in the manual quite a bit when you are looking for stuff.
- Low battery. There should be a low battery/remaining battery meter on the flash.
- External connections. No external battery or flash connections.
- LCD illumination. can be hard to see.
- Steel base on the flash shoe, I would rather damage the flash shoe on the flash, then the shoe on the camera, something that would be allot more expensive to fix. Trust me on this one, I bent the shoe on my D3 badly after geting hit by a snowboarder.
Verdict
The SB-600 is a lightweight SB-800, to decide in between the two flashes, it pretty much comes down to your needs.If you need a Master/commander flash, you will need a SB-800, SU-800 or a Dslr with a commander mode on it.. If your work is mostly small product shots, the SB-600 will be sufficient enough for you. I currently have 2 SB-800`s and 1 SB-600 that I use regularly. One thing you realize pretty fast is, that you need more flashes, it seems Nikon have created an addiction here. Only major drawback is figuring out the manual, which has more information than you need. I have written a quick-start guide on how to set up wireless flash, so you don't have to read thru the 90 page long manual. Setting up wirless flash using Nikon CLS equipment
  Features
Performance
Build
Value
Purchasing items through these links helps me adding more content to this website. The links takes you to B&H's website, which is my recommended store to get equipment from. I've used B&H personally since 2005, and I get all my equipment from them these days(including the lenses used for these reviews). Thanks for your support, Fredrik.
Nikon SB-600 Price: $219.95 USD
Alternatives
Nikon SB-800 Price From: Discontinued
Nikon SB-900 Price From: $449.95 USD
Nikon SU-800 Price From: $249.95 USD
*Prices and rebates are subject to change. Listed price is from March 8, 2010
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