Nikon TTL flash recommendation?

[gryffinwings]

I'm trying to find a flash for my Nikon F-801S, the SB24 and up models are more than I want to spend on an old flash. Does anyone have some recommendations for a third party TTL flash that can also do fill flash.

 

[rolleiman]

Try the earlier SB15 Nikon flash, they're not expensive, and they're light and compact..ideal for fill-in.

 

[Selidor]

I Used the F-801s and SB-15 and was quite happy with it.

See here:
http://flic.kr/p/auyVuj
http://flic.kr/p/auPvXH
http://flic.kr/p/av7tNH
http://flic.kr/p/avxjXM
(NB: those photos are adjusted in CS5 to my liking).

Ive also used the SB-24 briefly (sorry no photos on flickr) and while it definitely was more capable/useable (I also had the hove-fountain SB-24 book which was written with the F-801(s) almost specifically in mind), it threw the balance of the camera out making it very top heavy when a small, light prime lens was attached.

With a heavier lens this is less of an issue but the whole package is heavier still. A battery grip would have solved the problem, but sadly there was none for the F-801(s). The SB-15 is lighter and sits squat ontop, so handling is OK even if you dont get all the features.

Its a great camera, btw. Get the most out of it.

 

[2bits]

I also use the SB-15, lotta bang for the buck!

 

[dynachrome]

I have two SB-15s and an SB-20 to go with my N2020s, N8008S, N90S and F90X. I also have a connecting cord for off-camera TTL use.

 

[gryffinwings]

I have two SB-15s and an SB-20 to go with my N2020s, N8008S, N90S and F90X. I also have a connecting cord for off-camera TTL use.

How about the the SB20 or the SB22, how do those compare?

 

[John_Nikon_F]

The SB-20 is a decent flash. Owned one for a while. Only issue I came across, is that since the bounce head was enclosed in the film canister shaped lens at the top, you couldn't easily attach a diffuser to the flash. The 22 is similar, a little more modern, with an exposed bounce head, but still not compatible with standard diffusers. There is also the SB-16B, which is a workhorse with almost the same power output as an SB-24. Does have the secondary flash tube. The 20 and 22 usually seem to go for $30-$50. SB-16B's, $20-$40. SB-15's, $15-$30, depending on condition. I have seen some SB-24's in the $50 range recently, so they aren't terribly expensive. Also, if you have an off-topic Nikon body with an SB-600 or 800, one of those flashes will work nicely on your N8008s.

-J

 

[gryffinwings]

The SB-20 is a decent flash. Owned one for a while. Only issue I came across, is that since the bounce head was enclosed in the film canister shaped lens at the top, you couldn't easily attach a diffuser to the flash. The 22 is similar, a little more modern, with an exposed bounce head, but still not compatible with standard diffusers. There is also the SB-16B, which is a workhorse with almost the same power output as an SB-24. Does have the secondary flash tube. The 20 and 22 usually seem to go for $30-$50. SB-16B's, $20-$40. SB-15's, $15-$30, depending on condition. I have seen some SB-24's in the $50 range recently, so they aren't terribly expensive. Also, if you have an off-topic Nikon body with an SB-600 or 800, one of those flashes will work nicely on your N8008s.

-J

I thought an I-TTL flash wouldn't work on an older camera. Could you please explain how that would work?

 

[John_Nikon_F]

The only i-TTL flashes that don't have the necessary circuitry to do regular TTL or the D-TTL mode used on the early Nikon D series bocies are the SB-400, SB-700, SB-900, and SB-910. The other two will emulate either an SB-28 or an SB-80DX, depending on which camera they're used on. The only feature you won't have access to that you will on an SB-24 is the rear curtain flash. The N8008/8008s and the F4 require the switch on the flash to do it. I think the N90/90s were the same. That's one reason why the 600 and 800 seem to hold their value well. They support more cameras than the newer flashes. You can put an SB-800 on an FG and still have all modes that you would with an SB-16B. The SB-900 can do non-TTL auto, whereas the others that are i-TTL only can't even do that.

-J