Great review on this “old” strobe. I bought mine when I got my first DSLR (D80) many years ago and now find it works perfectly with my Z6. BTW it did ship with a foot as well as a pouch, but no gels nor a diffuser dome.
Thank you for your very clear explanation. You've filled in many gaps of my hours of read. Are there any problems with z6ii and sb800/sb600 that you know. Im confused with the need for external radio transmitters.
2023 Update - Dear Christopher; prices are now lower - £37-50 GBP depending on condition from MBP with 6-month guarantees (they have more than 10 on sale today, 2nd October 2023), and so even less on eBay - which makes your video even more useful for cost concious photographers today. Yes, the SB-600 has 2/3 stop less maximum power than the SB800 (rated GN 98' at ISO 100 compared to the SB-800's GN 125) but that means advantages too - as you get - 220 flashes vs 150 flashes - ull-power recycle time 2.5 seconds vs 4 seconds And in addition - the 600 is smaller, and the SB-600 has a much clearer LCD compared to the fuzzy dot matrix of the more expensive SB-800. It may miss a white "bounce card" to kigh catchlights into the eyes when used for bouncing off the cieling - but just stick a business card in the diffuser slot and it'll do the job. Please Christopher, keep the reviews of older and better value kit coming - the price of new cameras and lenses will shut out creative photography to the next generation if we can't make the first steps more affordable! And for those frustrated by the complexity of the settings - put the camera on full auto and the flash on iTTL and the Nikon matric magic works 9/10 times for me.
Good video on the SB-600. As it happens I too have a SB-600 and a Nikon D300. I recently purchased a SB-5000 that I do like over the SB-600 as it has more settings. The SB-600 however is very good for my film cameras.
Hello and thanks for the tutorial. Is there anyway I can use this flash with another Sb-600 and a Sb-22 with my nikon Fm2n? My purpose would be to use them all together for different angles of lighting in skate photography, but I don't know how to set them to make them work together.
I honestly can't remember if the SB600 can be used as a standard slave flash. My assumption would be the FM2N wouldn't play ball with the Nikon CLS so you'd have to set any flashes up as 'dumb' slave flashes set to activate from the master flash. But in all honesty, it's not something I'm terribly on top of as I've always used CLS
Thanks for the review. I have found the SB600 to be a frustrating piece of kit. I only use it occasionally for family get togethers and I find myself needing a reeducation on its features after I have stuffed up all the shots. Would you mind doing an instructional video on how to use it properly in social settings? What I found really interesting about your video is that I also have a D300! So ... which exposure mode (matrix?)?, which program setting P,S,A or M - which ISO setting?, which focus mode? I am an amateur and occasional user - I like its fill flash capability, but never know whether to leave the SB600 in auto mode or Bal/fill mode. It's worth noting that when you flip the diffuser down it reverts to 14mm (its widest mode) and stops reacting to the focal length of the lens on the camera.
Hi there, interesting points you raise. A video on that might be in the works but not will next year realistically. However, I think a lot of it has to do with how you use the flash rather than settings. I would mostly use the camera in M or A mode - in social settings with changing light mostly A. Matrix metering and I'd make sure the flash was in auto mode. I tend to prefer slightly underexposed images for editing in post, so the exposure if using A would be pulled down by 1/3 of a stop. ISO depends on ambient lighting, but probably inside set to 400 or 640 in a fairly well lit room with a 2.8 lens - shot as wide open as possible. I would usually if there's a white ceiling, bounce the flash off the ceiling rather than use direct light, and use the bounce card to give me some direct indirect light. I wouldn't use the diffuser but i might use a diffuser dome on lower ceilings. Exposure mode would be centre weighted probably unless it's group shots. I'd really recommend Jared Polin's guide to flash photography, it's fairly cheap but his videos are very good and worth buying!
Nikon UK has them free to download.The document is called SB-600_EU(En)05. My tip is - erase page 2 of the PDF and set to print 2 pages to one A4 and you get a ready to go insruction book to send to your printer with all the 2-page tables lining up correctly. If you have great eyesight and a good printer - save paper and print 4-pages to each A4! @@dedclownsRfunny
Hi there, in terms of off camera use, you’d need the SU-800 to trigger it without another flash or the on camera flash. Equally you could trigger it with the flash button if you are doing a long exposure. The SU800 would probably be preferable.
Any flash can be used off camera with the right trigger. Some cheap triggers fire from a hot shoe, others (like Pocket Wizards) plug into the cable inputs. You won't get the TTL feature, but I prefer adjusting my settings manually. All you need to do at that point is simply adjust the power output.
Yep, completely agree. Even the SB800 can be found at the same price, which is a steal! If you haven't already, please do subscribe, it'd really help the channel and I do appreciate it 🙂
I have several of the sb 600s. I think they are wonderful.
I have a small in home studio and they are perfect for what I need.
Yep they are a fantastic value
I was gifted a Nikon D5100 with the SB-600, and the combo really works great with eachother. Awesome for the shots I usually take.
Enjoy!
Great review on this “old” strobe. I bought mine when I got my first DSLR (D80) many years ago and now find it works perfectly with my Z6. BTW it did ship with a foot as well as a pouch, but no gels nor a diffuser dome.
Yeah it didn't come with gels i do think it came with a dome at the time
Did it work great on D80? Im planning to get sb-600 right now
Thank you for your very clear explanation. You've filled in many gaps of my hours of read. Are there any problems with z6ii and sb800/sb600 that you know. Im confused with the need for external radio transmitters.
Short and sweet. Thanks for the review. Just what I needed.
Glad it was helpful! It's a great little flash! if you haven't already please consider subscribing as it really helps!
@@HamerReviews Liked and subbed mate
2023 Update - Dear Christopher; prices are now lower - £37-50 GBP depending on condition from MBP with 6-month guarantees (they have more than 10 on sale today, 2nd October 2023), and so even less on eBay - which makes your video even more useful for cost concious photographers today.
Yes, the SB-600 has 2/3 stop less maximum power than the SB800 (rated GN 98' at ISO 100 compared to the SB-800's GN 125) but that means advantages too - as you get
- 220 flashes vs 150 flashes
- ull-power recycle time 2.5 seconds vs 4 seconds
And in addition - the 600 is smaller, and the SB-600 has a much clearer LCD compared to the fuzzy dot matrix of the more expensive SB-800.
It may miss a white "bounce card" to kigh catchlights into the eyes when used for bouncing off the cieling - but just stick a business card in the diffuser slot and it'll do the job.
Please Christopher, keep the reviews of older and better value kit coming - the price of new cameras and lenses will shut out creative photography to the next generation if we can't make the first steps more affordable!
And for those frustrated by the complexity of the settings - put the camera on full auto and the flash on iTTL and the Nikon matric magic works 9/10 times for me.
Good video on the SB-600. As it happens I too have a SB-600 and a Nikon D300. I recently purchased a SB-5000 that I do like over the SB-600 as it has more settings. The SB-600 however is very good for my film cameras.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for this 2020 review, I appreciate it!
My pleasure, are you looking to buy one at the moment?
Hello and thanks for the tutorial. Is there anyway I can use this flash with another Sb-600 and a Sb-22 with my nikon Fm2n? My purpose would be to use them all together for different angles of lighting in skate photography, but I don't know how to set them to make them work together.
I honestly can't remember if the SB600 can be used as a standard slave flash. My assumption would be the FM2N wouldn't play ball with the Nikon CLS so you'd have to set any flashes up as 'dumb' slave flashes set to activate from the master flash. But in all honesty, it's not something I'm terribly on top of as I've always used CLS
What about a flash trigger and a receiver like the Yongnuo RF603N ? Would it make it easier to just set all flashes in manual mode? @@HamerReviews
works on my F100, F90S, F4s and my D700 only one flash needed!
Agreed, it's a great little flash and as you say works on so many different cameras!
Thanks for the review. I have found the SB600 to be a frustrating piece of kit. I only use it occasionally for family get togethers and I find myself needing a reeducation on its features after I have stuffed up all the shots. Would you mind doing an instructional video on how to use it properly in social settings? What I found really interesting about your video is that I also have a D300! So ... which exposure mode (matrix?)?, which program setting P,S,A or M - which ISO setting?, which focus mode? I am an amateur and occasional user - I like its fill flash capability, but never know whether to leave the SB600 in auto mode or Bal/fill mode. It's worth noting that when you flip the diffuser down it reverts to 14mm (its widest mode) and stops reacting to the focal length of the lens on the camera.
Hi there, interesting points you raise. A video on that might be in the works but not will next year realistically.
However, I think a lot of it has to do with how you use the flash rather than settings.
I would mostly use the camera in M or A mode - in social settings with changing light mostly A. Matrix metering and I'd make sure the flash was in auto mode. I tend to prefer slightly underexposed images for editing in post, so the exposure if using A would be pulled down by 1/3 of a stop.
ISO depends on ambient lighting, but probably inside set to 400 or 640 in a fairly well lit room with a 2.8 lens - shot as wide open as possible.
I would usually if there's a white ceiling, bounce the flash off the ceiling rather than use direct light, and use the bounce card to give me some direct indirect light.
I wouldn't use the diffuser but i might use a diffuser dome on lower ceilings.
Exposure mode would be centre weighted probably unless it's group shots.
I'd really recommend Jared Polin's guide to flash photography, it's fairly cheap but his videos are very good and worth buying!
I’m ready to throw this SB600 right out the window. I’m so frustrated and there are no direct instructions ANYWHERE
Nikon UK has them free to download.The document is called SB-600_EU(En)05.
My tip is - erase page 2 of the PDF and set to print 2 pages to one A4 and you get a ready to go insruction book to send to your printer with all the 2-page tables lining up correctly.
If you have great eyesight and a good printer - save paper and print 4-pages to each A4!
@@dedclownsRfunny
Great flash...if you know how to use it....just like everything else. Thanks for the video.
Like it better than the 800. Works perfectly with the D300.
Thanks for this video, does it work with the z cameras and does it work remote (off the camera)?
It does yes!
Only remote with a commander like another Sb800 or Sb700 or SU800
How does it work off camera? Can i for example trigger it without having to use the camera flash as a trigger? Thanks
Hi there, in terms of off camera use, you’d need the SU-800 to trigger it without another flash or the on camera flash. Equally you could trigger it with the flash button if you are doing a long exposure. The SU800 would probably be preferable.
Buy yongnuo trigger
Any flash can be used off camera with the right trigger. Some cheap triggers fire from a hot shoe, others (like Pocket Wizards) plug into the cable inputs. You won't get the TTL feature, but I prefer adjusting my settings manually. All you need to do at that point is simply adjust the power output.
Very informative,
Now I know I need to research;
Flash Zoom
ITTL
Remote Mode
Nikon batteries - better recycling
Thanks :)
Glad it was helpful! It's an interesting area, I hope you enjoy your flash.
Please consider subscribing to support the channel, it really helps.
Less than 100 dollars now. It’s a good buy compared to generic flash
Yep, completely agree. Even the SB800 can be found at the same price, which is a steal! If you haven't already, please do subscribe, it'd really help the channel and I do appreciate it 🙂
Can this flash work with X2t trigger
I'm not sure I'm afraid.