If you’ve moved up from a simple point-and-shoot camera to a digital SLR, there’s one more piece of gear you should always carry on the road—an external flash. Inside my travel bag on just about every trip is a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash, which has held up well through several years and thousands of miles.
The built-in flash on my Nikon D90 is handy. But the SB-600 can often produce far better results and really give your pictures a professional edge.
An external flash isn’t just for indoor use, either. Outdoors, when taking close-up or medium shots of people, using fill flash can really make your shots more colorful and balanced.
The SB-600 is easy to use and supports through-the-lens metering for automatic balancing of fill flash. It will automatically zoom with compatible Nikon cameras from 24 to 85 mm and weighs in at only half a pound.
Here’s an example, an outdoor picture of a bicycle rider taken with my D90 and the SB-600. Without the flash, the rider’s face would be dull and his riding shirt would be much less colorful.
This use of fill flash can really give your pictures that extra sparkle when shooting outdoors. It can really make a huge difference.
Using a bounce card or a flash diffuser that snaps on to the strobe will also help improve your pics in many situations, making the flash look less harsh. In fact, the best outdoor pictures taken with fill flash are those where you can’t tell any flash was used.
The Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash retails for $249.99, with a current street price of $219.99 at Amazon or $224 at Buy.com. In over 300 reviews on Amazon, it gets an average of five stars, the highest rating.
Not using a Nikon camera? Check out the other dedicated flashes for your camera or some of the third-party entries.
If you’re only taking pictures of faraway landscapes, an external flash won’t help. But for those great people shots, an external flash can take your photography to the next level.
#1 by Birch Photographers - April 9th, 2011 at 09:08
Never leave home without it — that’s what I always say about an external flash. They make such a significant difference int he quality of your photos. After all, you never know when a perfect photo opportunity might just pop up. :)
#2 by Greg - April 11th, 2011 at 13:54
I wish you posted comparative shots of the same subject with and without the SB-600. Just so your readers will have a clearer idea of just how advantageous investing in one is.
#3 by Paul - June 10th, 2011 at 00:12
Now I’m think of getting one, too. Thanks, John, for the invaluable input. I’m the doting dad to the prettiest little girl in the world! :) Needless to say, she is the subject of almost all of my photography adventures. This gadget looks like a good investment indeed.
#4 by Robert - July 13th, 2011 at 09:11
I’ve been an avid supporter of Nikon since my mid-20s when I got hooked on photography. I have this type of flash and I can vouch that it is instrumental to improving the quality of photos.