Nikon Speedlight SB-600

Good – Lets get one thing straight. The SB-600 is not a 'successor' to the SB-800 and was never meant to be. It's a cheaper, cut down version with less power and less features. Although, to be honest, if you get this over an 800 you're not missing a whole lot. The 600 is a great flash for an enthusiast. It can be used wirelessly as part of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), it has an automatically zooming head (only up to 85mm tho') and the head can tilt and swivel to your hearts content.

If you're really keen (to void your warranty that is) you can bush-mechanic the 600 into rotating its head a full 180 degrees in either direction, for full 360 degree coverage. The benefit here is not that you can point the flash head where ever you like, but that you can point the flash at your subject and still have the little CLS receiver window on the body pointing at your transmitter/camera.

The 600 has been around for a while though. The 900 is out and so is the 700. So the asking price (over $300 last time I checked) is a bit much for an out of date flash. However, if you don't want (or like) the extra features on the 900 and 700 you may be able to pick up a 600 at a bit of a discount online.

I wouldn't recommend this for a full time PJ, wedding shooter or studio shooter. The 800/900 are almost identical in size and weight, but have more power and an optical slave for working in full manual mode - David Hobby style. For a studio, a set of strobes isn't going to set you back 'significantly' more money, for what you get.

For a real amateur, Ken Rockwell's mum maybe, the 400 is a much better bet. It's light, takes up practically no room, and only needs two AAs instead of four. It tilts but doesn't swivel, so no ceiling bounce when shooting in portrait orientation.

Overall, the SB-600 was a great flash in it's day, but right now there's better options to be had. Plenty of power.

Good recycle time.

CLS compatible. No optical slave.

SB-800 doesn't cost much more.

Getting a bit long in the tooth.

Good – This is a speedlight that will do just about anything you could possibly want. It's powerful enough for smaller scale studio use and is ideal for location work. Had mine for about 5 years, never missed a beat and never wanted for more functionality. Come to think of it, I've never had a problem with any Nikon thing I've owned. These things are capable of doing so much that you need to use them constantly so you don't forget the subtleties. Bundles of power, infinitely adjustable head, Nikon quality, battery life for pro work, recycle time, flexibility with adjustment, accessories available, built-in diffusor. Menus can be a bit clunky to get around, battery polarity in the case is hard to see.

Good – Great flash works excellently with my D70, very powerful lights up a good sized area, very handy to be able to move the head around and bounce the flash of walls, roof so it does not come straight back into the camera and give you white spots. You do have to be careful and angle it just right so you don’t get huge shadows. Charge cycle very good can get a couple of shots off before needing a full recharge. Although it drains the batteries but what else do you expect from a flash. Overall very happy with it. quick charge, indicator lights average battery life