Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Bought this unit after reading up on [...] just how well it worked for such a little investment. I use it all the time to angle upward and use "bounce flash" on my Nikon D40. Makes for much better light for indoor than a direct flash. Generally, I angle it up one notch for shooting across the room (12-15 feet) or all the way up for a fairly close-range shot. For those that don't understand the concept, bounce flash basically uses the ceiling as a giant reflector and diffuser for a more natural look. For $120, you wouldn't believe the difference in your photos.

I've also toyed around with using my hand as a reflector, and even an inflated white grocery bag as a diffuser/reflector with some interesting results. It also works great on outdoor shots for a fill flash, so no more shadowed faces on bright sunny days.

The SB-400 is a small unit that works really well. Recharging is fast and does not use up batteries too quickly.

Use of an external flash unit is a good way to improve your photography. The built-in flash on the average camera is okay, but it only points forward and you can't rotate it. With an external flash unit, you have a more powerful flash and you can change the position of the flash in order to bounce the light off a wall or off the ceiling.

This small size of this external flash makes it easier to carry around and also doesn't make the camera itself significantly heavier. While you may want a larger flash for a studio shoot, this is perfect if you want an external flash unit when you're on the go.

The easiest to use flash unit ever!!! Put batteries in, insert on the hotshoe, lock and turn on. That's it, the rest is automatic!

Love the bounce flash for nice indoor fill and which does not produce the red eyes.

However, what's also great is you can set the camera on red-eye reduction mode for situations that bounce does not work well such as when the ceiling is over 10 feet high or night time outdoors, where the use of direct flash may be necessary. I tested this out inside the house at night using SB400 by pointing it directly at my subjects at eye level about 5 feet away which I believe happens often in family gatherings - my willing wife holding our reluctant cat. I set the D90 on red eye reduction auto, take the picture and viola! all eyes appear completely natural and pretty :-) Wife is impressed. I can't praise this flash enough for such great (perfect?) results.

As other reviews have pointed out, it is speedy, tiny, weighs nothing, and inexpensive yet sturdy. Within its design & feature-set limitations, I cannot come up with any cons. One day I may want the big fancy brothers, but for casual photography, I'm very pleased.

I bought this flash to go along with my D40x. After struggling with poor quality photos, I took the D40 back to the shop where I bought it from, and they agreed that the camera needed servicing. So out the camera body went to Nikon for a few weeks. Nikon agreed the camera was defective, repaired it, and it came back working normally. The flash then worked fine for 3 months, but it too has stopped working. Now I have to go through the hassle of shipping my flash off to Nikon for repairs again. My camera is used primarily for taking family and baby photos, and I handle the camera very gently. I am very, very disappointed in Nikon quality. Either I am particularly unlucky, or Nikon makes cheap junk nowadays.