Nikon SB-28 or SB-27 for F100?

Naples · Dec 13, 2015

Hi,

I recently bought a used Nikon F100 and right now it is at Nikon Service in New York for a "clean and inspection". I do not use flash much, but am looking at a flash for this camera. The F100 manual recommends the Nikon SB-28 or SB-27 speedlights. Based on my research, it appears the SB-28 is the more popular. Any thoughts? What advantages does the SB-28 have over the SB-27 for an infrequent flash user?

Thanks.

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2015

I like the more powerful, more useful SB800. It can zoom with the lenses and more.

ic-racer · Dec 13, 2015

I have F100 and SB28. I got the SB28 because my understanding is the SB800 has no benefit on the F100, maybe Sirus Glass can elaborate. My SB28 is well-used, may be time for an upgrade.

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2015

I bought the SB800 before I bought the F-100. I have not tried the zoom feature with the F-100 but it works well with the N-75 and the Hasselblads. Also the SB00 has the usual diffusion screen, the bounce flash capability and the ability to fire remote flashes. I so rarely shoot flash that I have to check the manual sometimes before I use it, so I am not the best judge detailed features of these things.

trythis · Dec 13, 2015

Sb 28
Zooms to fit afd lenses or can be manually zoomed . The zooming is motorized and internal. Bounce flash with built in diffusion lens and bounce card.

Never seen a sb800, assuming it also works with didg.

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leicarfcam · Dec 13, 2015

trythis said:
Sb 28
Zooms to fit afd lenses or can be manually zoomed . The zooming is motorized and internal. Bounce flash with built in diffusion lens and bounce card.

I agree.. The SB-28 works perfectly with AF-D lens.

I've never missed a flash shot with the SB-28..

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2015

trythis said:
Sb 28
Zooms to fit afd lenses or can be manually zoomed . The zooming is motorized and internal. Bounce flash with built in diffusion lens and bounce card.

Never seen a sb800, assuming it also works with didg.

Sent with typotalk

Most of the features are only available to digital cameras.

Ap507b · Dec 13, 2015

Had the SB-27 & upgraded to the SB-28. Much nicer flash to shoot with, especially when bouncing off ceiling.

trythis · Dec 13, 2015

Sb 28 is also great with the FG and FA but less automatic

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benveniste · Dec 13, 2015

I use two SB-800's with my F100. It works fine except unlike the SB-28 it doesn't offer High Speed FP Sync on that body. However, unless you also own a Nikon F6 or a digital body, you're paying for capabilities that you can't use. For pure analog use I'd probably buy an SB-80DX instead of either; it's slightly more powerful, should come with a "tupperware" diffuser, has a functional modeling light, has a built-in SU-4, and since it's not compatible with iTTL, sells for only about $5 more than an SB-28 or SB-28DX.

I can't really speak to the SB-27; it always felt like a "neither fish nor fowl" size to me. I am, however a fan of the SB-30, which I not only use as a "pop-up" flash for my FA and F100, but also as an optical trigger for quick-and-dirty studio lighting setups.

ic-racer · Dec 13, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I bought the SB800 before I bought the F-100. I have not tried the zoom feature with the F-100 but it works well with the N-75 and the Hasselblads. Also the SB00 has the usual diffusion screen, the bounce flash capability and the ability to fire remote flashes. I so rarely shoot flash that I have to check the manual sometimes before I use it, so I am not the best judge detailed features of these things.

Thanks, I may have to keep my eyes open for a SB800

leicarfcam · Dec 13, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Most of the features are only available to digital cameras.

Not according to Nikon charts....

I think you are mistaking the SB-28 and SB-28DX. The SB-28 shines with newer film cameras such as the N80, F100, and F5. Not so much with digital cameras. The SB-28DX was designed with digital cameras in mind..

Naples · Dec 13, 2015

Thanks for all the responses. Very informative! I'll take a look at some of the other flashes you all recommended in addition to the SB-28.

benveniste · Dec 13, 2015

leicarfcam said:
The SB-28DX was designed with digital cameras in mind..

While the SB-28DX was designed with digital cameras in mind, Nikon changed their TTL system for digital fairly early on. As a result, the SB-28DX, SB-50DX and SB-80DX only provide TTL with early digital SLR's. (D1 series, D2 series and the D100). However, they work very well with film cameras. Because their digital "lifetime" was so short, they are often available inexpensively and in excellent condition.

flash26c · Dec 13, 2015

I have an SB600 that works great on the F100.

MartinCrabtree · Dec 14, 2015

TTL and iTTL has let me down so often I consider them non features.

Ricardo Miranda · Dec 14, 2015

I don't know if iTTL is better or not as I don't have an F6, much less any D-idiotic.
But, I know my F4 and F90X are brilliant with the flashes that were made for them.

Nikon has some very good literature on the subject of flash in the form of very thick flash manuals.
The one for my SB-26 has very detailed information about what the flash meter is doing with what camera.
Manuals are freely available at the usual places.

Nikon SB-28 or SB-27 for F100?

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