Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight

Nikon SB-700 Overview

With a rated guide number of 92′ at ISO 100 and 35mm, the SB-700 AF Speedlight from Nikon is a moderately compact flash unit packed with features for high-performance on-camera lighting capabilities. The flash is compatible with the i-TTL system for automatic metering with both FX- and DX-format cameras and is optimized for use with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System for complete control over your lighting setup. Additionally, the auto zoom head has a coverage range of 24-120mm with FX-format cameras which can be extended down to 12mm with the use of the built-in wide-angle diffusion panel.

Complete bounce and swivel functionality is available for working in a variety of shooting situations. This allows users to tilt down to -7° and up to 90° as well as rotate left or right 180° for complete 360° coverage. Also, the SB-700 has three different illumination patterns, standard, even, and center-weighted, which help shape the light output for your specific needs. For wireless master TTL functionality, the speedlight utilizes a Commander Mode. In this mode users can access Advanced Wireless Lighting settings for controlling multiple off-camera flashes that can be set up in two groups (A, B) and one of four channels. The SB-700 also has a quick wireless control A:B ratio setting for quickly setting up and controlling multiple remote flashes.

Many other abilities are packed into this unit, including a stroboscopic repeating flash mode that can be set from 1-100 Hz. The SB-700 also has slow, Auto FP high-speed, first, and second curtain sync modes for achieving the desired creative look in your image. There are even red-eye reduction and red-eye reduction slow sync settings available. The flash itself is mounted to the camera or stand via a locking hot shoe and is powered by four AA batteries. And, depending on the type of battery used and the power setting, users can expect a recycle time of 2.5-3.5 seconds.

Included with the SB-700 AF Speedlight are a variety of useful tools and accessories. First, built into the flash alongside the wide-angle diffusion panel is a white slide-out bounce card for bouncing some light directly to the subject and creating catch lights. Also, there is a diffusion dome for softening the output of the flash and fluorescent and incandescent color correction filters for balancing the flash to ambient light. All of this, along with a stand, is packaged in the SS-700 Soft Case, designed specifically for the flash and accessories.Guide number at the 35mm zoom position measures 92′ at ISO 100 and 128′ at ISO 200Manual power output from 1/1 full power to 1/128 powerLight distribution angle is automatically adjustable to the camera’s image area in both FX and DX formatsAuto zoom head reaches from 24-120mm with FX format and 14-120mm with DX formatCoverage of 12-17mm in FX and 8-11mm in DX when using built-in wide-angle diffusion panelThermal cut-out protection shuts off the flash to prevent damage from overheatingFlash head tilts with click-stops at -7°, 0°, 45 °, 60°, 75°, and 90°Flash head rotates left and right with click-stops at 0°, 30°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, 150°, and 180°Distance range of 2-66’Flash exposure compensation from -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV stepsBacklit LCD panel with nine selectable contrast levels and a rotating dial assist in viewing flash status and changing settingsEleven custom settingsFlash duration of 1/1,042 to 1/40,000 second depending on output settingFlash-ready indicator lightsAF-assist light, modeling illuminator, monitor pre-flashes, and test firing settingsAF-assist light, modeling illuminator, monitor pre-flashes, and test firing settingsAutomatic color filter detection for adjusting the camera’s color temperature settings and an optional color filter pack is availableFirmware can be updated through camera