Nikon’s SB700 flash, an upgrade to the aging SB600 Speedlight is a slightly less powerful but definitely more afffordable alternative to the flagship SB-900 Flash… So how does the SB-700 compare and stack up against its bigt brother? Below is a compilation of some of the key differences, changes and additions to consider when you compare the SB700 vs SB900 and SB600 speelights:
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- Speedlight 900
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- Speedlight 700
Nikon SB700 versus SB900
Nikon first stared shipping the SB700 Speedlight at the end of 2010, and the goal was to offer the market an alternative to the aging SB-900 and to reduce costs to make it more affordable for mid-range enthusiasts and professionals. The Nikon SB900 does have its advantages, and pure professional work would be wise to work with the upgraded model.
Some pros when you compare Nikon SB900 vs SB700:
- 900 has a PC syncronization port
- 900 has a power pack connector that the 700 lacks
- It is more powerful with a GN of 34 compared to 28 on the SB 700
- SB900 has an auto exposure model, multi flash and stroboscopic mode
- wider zoom ranges on the SB900 (17-200mm)
Some cons when you compare Nikon SB-900 vs SB-700:
- larger and heavier
- more expensive (duh)
- thermal shutdown feature seems to be better on the SB-700
Nikon SB600 vs SB700
The SB600 was a powerhouse in its day, but being released some 6-7 years ago needed some upgrades. In many ways the 900 models was a great alternative, but was expensive and many users didn’t need all the features, thus the SB-700 fills a void that existed in the market for several years.
Some of the important changes to SB700 Flash:
- A new master mode in (SB600 works as slave unit exclusively )
- much improved interface and ergonomics for controlling the SB700
- optical trigger mode SU-4 (SB-600 doesnt contain an optical slave mode)
- More accessories included with diffusion dome, bouncer SW-14H, incandescent filter SZ 3TN, fluorescent filter SZ 3FL, soft case SS 700, flash stand AS-22
- A full 360 degree swivel head
- includes 2 color correction filters with integrated reflector card
- 3 unique light distribution pattern settings
- improved zoom ranges(tele end 120mm vs 85mm)
- 14mm coverage with wide-panel (at standard illumination, down to 12mm at center-weighted illumination)
- 8 stop manual power range down to 1/128 (vs 1/64)
