Power Smooth variable zoom (not 24/35/50/80 ) Advanced features Shoe is solid

The battery door. I don't like stuff I will have to fix eventually. Still gave it 5/5, only because I couldn't knock a 1/2 off for the door.

I can remember avoiding flash because of all the hassle. That was the old days. Now, a SB-80DX on an F100 is such a simple way to improve your photos. Hook it up, turn it on, you get excellent pictures. You decide if you want bounce flash, diffused, or even remote. The pre flash monitor figures everything out (if you're using D or G lenses). Combined with flash bracketing if you second guess, hard not to get a usable shot. Of course, there is manual mode if you want to override the default. Honestly, with the TTL matrix metering, pretty tough to fool.....

Customer Service

Off the hook so far....

Similar Products Used:

SB-50DX SB-28

Integration with camera (F80). Power. Included diffusion dome. LCD with all information you need. Short recycle time.

I'm not sure if the battery compartment cap will not fell-off some day....

Great speedlight! Excellent integration with my F80. I used this combination for the first time (without testing it before, as I got the flash a day before) at my friend's wedding and nearly all photos look great or at least good :) I'm VERY pleased with this flash because it's has even more functions then I expected. Last week I tested it in wireless mode in cooperation with SB-30 and F80 built-in flash - in both situstions it worked well. I also tried SB-80 with Coolpix 5000 - results were OK (not excellent) probably due to not as advanced (as in F80) light mettering system in Coolpix.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

none

Power Metal shoe TTL Flash Remote capability Tilt/twist function Very nice wide angle coverage! Model Flash Monitor Pre-flash Accurate flash exposures Easy to read screen Takes AA batteries

Battery door held together by....thin piece of plastic/tape??!? Why Nikon? Why skimp out there?

This is a great flash that makes flash photography easy! Has enough power for almost any application. When combined with my F100, this combination has never failed me. Perfect exposures EVERY TIME! Finally, a metal shoe! No more cracked shoes like the SB-28. Love the modelling function. Worth every penny.

Customer Service

Haven't tried.

Similar Products Used:

SB-28, SB-27

Power - bounce with the white card out, fill the room with light and be happy. Same for remote TTL using the f65 pop-up flash. It just works great. I like the modelling light function - but it sucks batteries and the flicker is not too friendly on your human subjects. The AF assist beam is powerful and less annoying than the white one on the F65. Built in opto-remote ability is really useful but NOT in a crowd of other camera flashes.

None really, the comments below are mostly suggestion oriented. I really like using the unit. I'd really like a way to be able to use the AF assist light on the SB80 without having the flashtube pop. I know this would probably be fairly rare but sometimes it would be useful, e.g. long exposure where manual exposure is difficult (yes I know you can turn the speedlight off after focussing, but without focus lock on the body, its a pain). This is more the case when using a slow zoom lens than a prime lens, where the AF assist is used less anyway. Maybe I ought to carry a small penlight. Seems to be heavyish on battery use. Pulling out the whitecard but keeping in the wide angle diffuser is a little difficult to do quickly without being a little rough on the unit. It would be neat to have an ability to have a 6V DC out to power your camera body if it died, and vice-versa. Why on earth is there a red-eye reduction lamp on this thing? A waste. I have shot pictures of people with on-camera flash, dilated pupils in the dark and had no red-eye whatsoever. The flashtube is high enough not to need it. The bump/mound on the moulding that is used to accomodate the red-eye lamp just makes the thickness of the unit greater. This could perhaps be replaced with another flashtube for catchlights, like certain Metz units. Or at least give it a handy/gimmick function like as a subdued light that you could use like a penlight to see the LCD on your camera body in the dark. A sim

I use the SB-80DX with an F65. I am very happy with it. I have noticed a very dramatic improvement in quality of my photographs. This is the case for fill flash and flash-mostly exposure. Of course it also opens the way for remote TTL flash operation. This is code for really easy off camera flash but without dedicated control. For this you need a cord. It has the power for bounce flash photography with 100 ISO film, especially if you set a little tighter zoom when you bounce (after all, the bounce distance is greater than direct flash). It gives you the power to diffuse the flash output and that is what improves the results. Of indoor bounced shots, my wife has sometimes said "you can't even tell that a flash was used" which is actually very high praise. I find that it offers several system enhancements when used with the F65. It gives much more distance range for fill flash, which is otherwise measly using only the pop-up flash of the f65 combined with 1/90 sync speed. For on-camera or on-TTL cord it also offers the ability to go to TTL/auto/manual, (from matrix in P or A mode), as well as the ability to add flash + or - exposure, which the bare f65 lacks. You'd think it was an overkill for the F65, especially if you compare prices, but it improves the camera body greatly.

Customer Service

Not required.

Lighter & more compact than previous Nikon flashes. Audible slave flash monitor which can be cancelled amongst other less frequently used functions. Some features are customizable. Includes flash diffuser & featured laden for same price of sb-28 dx which it replaced. Higher guide # & focus assist beam, metal foot. Faster recycle time & lighted toggle button.

Rubber covered tilt/swivel head lock button is thin & may harden & crack with age & heavy use! Battery compartment cover is thin & is attached only with stringy plastic strap to flash body. Flash head will zoom irratically with noise due to exhausted batteries although Nikon notes this in their manual.

I purchased the SB-80DX flash to be used with my F100 & AF-d 80-200 f2.8 lens. This is a heavy set up/combination already, before I was using the SB-26 flash in that configuration. Size & weight has been pared down somewhat by 50-55 grams. The Sb-26 flash will be reserved to be used on a flash bracket. SB-80 dx is lighter for camera mounted flash use.

Customer Service

None to date thankfully but the true test is yet to come during the next 2 yrs. (length of Canadian Nikon warranty).

Similar Products Used:

Nikon SB-26 flash Vivitar 285 HV Metz CL-45

* All metal shoe mount is a plus * Removeable diffuser

None noted so far A little more than I wanted pay for a flash, but I'm very pleased I went for this one.

I was originally looking for the SB-28 but had to go with this newer version since the older one is out of production. I'm glad I did purchase the SB-80DX as it's of incredible quality and the performance is nothing but excellent. It's the same as the -28 but with many enhanced features. The hot shoe mount is now all metal! I was also looking to buy the SB-27 too as I liked the sleeker size, but after much research I had to go with this one and I'm glad I did. It is top time of the line. I'm using this on the N-80 and it is fully integraqted with the camera. I can't say enough about this flash. The auto power zoom changes based on the focal length with the N80 AF lenses.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

very old Honeywell flash

- Wireless TTL with film cameras. - Strong locking metal foot. - Fast recycle time. - Coverage range is wider and further (14-105mm)

- Small unit size - Small LCD - Small buttons - Do not take the same external HIGH power cord as the SB-24, 25, 26 and 28 series. ( Quantum Turbo, Jackrabbit,..SD-7...)

-I have 2 SB-26 lights, sold 1 to bought this SB-80DX. I get it for its 2 great features: wireless TTL slave capability with film, and D-TTL for the D100 which I am about to purchase in 2-3 months. It's well worth the $35 difference (sold mint SB-26 for $235, paid. $270 for this new SB-80DX). I got what I asked for and happy with it. But I wish Nikon did a better job. - Wireless TTL feature is great. The SB-26 and Sb-80dx are perfect for wireless TTL mutiple flash synchronization with my F-100 body. BE AWARE that wireless TTL will not function with DIGITAL SLR, only in MANUAL wireless mode. I learned this before I bought the 80 unit. But many people unware of this. - I love the metal locking foot and the ability to mount an remove it quickly. It is firm and strong. - At first I thought the flash recycle time in the SB-80dx brochure was a hype for marketing purposes. But it is actually true. It is noticable faster compare to my 26 using the same NiMH 1800mah batteries. - On the down side, the size is small and compact make it hard to navigate and making adjustments. (for me). The power output is strong, but its size will make it looks cheap and you will think it is a weak flash unit. - In my case and for my use and need, the SB-80dx is better than the SB-26 sometimes. Especially when team the 80 with one 26. I love my SB-26 and I think it has some other strong points over the 80dx. I would never want to trade my 2nd SB-26 for another 80dx, even if it is a + $$$ trade. I think a SB-26 + a SB-80dx is better than 2 SB-80dx. I wish I can write a longer reviews, but I only have a short time for it now. The above are few major pros and cons of this SB-80dx, other minor points might not worth to mention. If you have any question about the SB-80dx and how to compare it to the SB-26, feel free to drop me some lines.

Customer Service

- Very good if needed

Similar Products Used:

- Nikon SB-15, 20, 24, 26 - Vivitar 285HV

-ease of use -features -improved zoomhead and wideangle diffuser -metal foot -best LCD/easy to read/high res

-they could finally fix that piece of rubber to keep battery door in place, bit NO!!! -it has too many features :)

I purchaded this flash from the guy who imports them directly from Asia. I paid 200-300 less what they want in shops across New Zealand. So if anyone in NZ wants it, i can give you contact details of a person to get in touch with. This flash is wonderful, and certainly a great improvement over SB-24. Built quality is better, features, ease of use, etc. I used on several rolls already and the exposure is dead on. If you have n/f-65 and think that this flash is too advanced and you need something cheaper - DONT! N(f)-65 works very well with this flash, and after careful consideration of sb-27 and sb-28, i chose 80-DX. You wont feel guilty of spending all these money.

Customer Service

Not needed. But in NZ Sigmas customer service is the worst in the world. Thats why i didnt go for 500ST or Super flashguns. I had enough trouble do get my lense back from repairs (under warranty).

Similar Products Used:

SB-24, Supak 144D

This Flashes is Strong enough to use. 1. High Performance Speedlight 2. GN of 38/125 at 100mm (ISO 100) 3. Mostly I like its 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-flash. 4. Flash head tilts from -7 till 90 and swivelling from 180 to 90 5.Automatic power zoom reading simultaneously along with your zoom lens. 6.Nikon Diffusion Dome to diffuse your subject's shadow. 7.Wireless Multiple Flash for more than one unit flash--works well almost like Nikon SU-4 Wireless Slave unit (Like mini studio lighting). 8. Custom settings to customized and to set values,activate or disactivate functions and everything like I found on my own F80 camera. 9. Modelling Lights button enable you to see a shadow of a subject before you take a real snap. 10. AF Assist illuminator to read an exposure at completely dark or dim- light with its more than 30 feet distance! 11. See the Nikon website.... for more... (www.nikonusa.com)

1. Price 2. Heavier-- makes my F80 fall off whenever I hanging on my neck. 3. I don't find any complaint right now... but I still figuring out capturing some images (rxperimenting).

This Flash are great. I've been looking for it since SB28. After I'm playing around with my Sunpak 355AF,I'm thinking about a better GN number and a better performance and all it backs into its original brand, Nikon. I was interesting because mostly the Flash read the exposures through its 3D Balanced Fill-flash accurately; especially for whom whose using a Nikkor D or G type lenses. Although if you're using Non CPU lenses, this flash still have other Modes such as: Multi Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash,Matrix,Center Weighted, Spot Fill-Flash, etc. For me I bought this Flash after I consider for my further preferences. Honestly I donno about terms and its capaility that what most Professional demanding. I bought this flash because I'm interesting to learn more about Flash photography although in its manual book, they explain about using more than 1 flash (Multiple flash). That one maybe after I become more expert, he-he-he. For most Amateur, Serious Amateur, Casual, or even Intermediete photographers this should be their next option to get even though me my SLR camera are good enough to be handled (Nikon F80). When I fed up enough with Sunpak 355AF flash, I was thinking at that time about bouncing horizontally. That was 1st outcome reason to buy this flash till I confessed myself to challenge using this type of Dedicated flash. For me learning about Photography is never stop. Once you reach your satisfaction, for your above level, that thing that you just reach are nothing to be compared with them. Learning about Photography is something like a wheel-over and over again.... always relearn at the basic level and recalculate the idea findings out the better exposure (Creativity and Capability).

Customer Service

OK! (I forgot to asked them to capture me holding their F5 body as pertaining)..... and they gave me 1 year Nikon Worldwide Warranty...

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak Thrystor 355AF

Nice foot design; Simple controls for "important" functions; "Smart" Diffuser; Good power;

Hard to use controls for "secondary" functions; You have to hold the on/off switch down for a short moment to turn it on or off (could lose some prescious time.) The corner of the flash unit hits your nose when shooting in portrait format. (unlike with the old sb-25 hold up your camera in portrait style and look at yourself in the mirror - your nose fits perfeclty between the body and the flash - sorta like a cool pair of high-tech glasses. EXPENSIVE!!!...

This flash is great... The controls are easy to use for changing regular settings like zoom or f-stop... on the other hand though it can become a little difficult trying to change some of the other settings like ISO/EI ratings... pretty neat too how the zoom is automatically set to 14mm once the diffuser is attached and the flash automatically compensates for the diffuser and lets you know the new distance ranges to shoot at ( at least i think that''s what it''s doing...). The flash head can also be turned totally backwards which is great for shooting into an umbrella using auto mode. The previous reviewer mentioned the battery cover as a weakness since it is basically just teathered to the body by a little strip of plastic... the first thing i did to the flash though was snip that little piece of plastic so the cover could come off totally... This way i don''t have to deal with a swinging battery door or ugly self made notches for my Quantum Battery 1+ (modules for the sb-25, 28, etc. fit nicely on this model too)I just take off the battery cover... My D1 is getting serviced right now though so i havn''t been able to test the "DTTL" yet. Hopefully it will perform better than the sb-28dx on the original D1.