Nikon SB-27 Speedlight Flash

clarkmai

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5,
4 votes

Price Paid:  $90.00 from Henry's

Summary:
Who should buy this flash? Those who use flash frequently should NOT buy it. It's not designed for photojournalists, but for amateur photographers. People often complain about its diffuser's design, telling it's vulnerable. How many people had a broken SB-27 diffuser? I read lots of reviews and sent emails to the reviewers and found that many people complain about this but few people have the experience of a broken diffuser. A easy-to-break diffuser? However, I have to admit that it's an inconvenient design. It's not a professional flash but it, at a relatively low price, offers all of the functions that a pro flash offers except for the Repeating Flash.

Strengths:
Precise TTL exposure Compact Intelligent Inexpensive (if you can buy a 99% new one for $90 USD as I did)

Weaknesses:
Diffuser is not easy to use. But when you need it, it's there.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Superfoto

Summary:
I bought this flash 3 years ago, and it has delivered very good results. I'm very pleased with the built-in difuser that looks a bit fragile, but is steel working well and delivers fantastic results if used in portraits.
The red-eye reduction lamp and the auxiliary focus led are also very effective.
Maybe for a professional it isn't enough, but I'm very satisfied with it's results.

Strengths:
Compact
Built-in difuser
Fast recycling time
Very informative LCD with information about over/under exposure

Weaknesses:
No LCD back-light

Similar Products Used:
None

Customer Service:
Not needed yet

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $230.00 from CLR Electrical

Summary:
I was very happy with the flash and gave me excelent service. The shoe mount could be better build.

Strengths:
Good fill in under dificult surcumstances.

Weaknesses:
Shoe very weak. Got hairline cracks and broke of. I am extremly carefull when use my equipment as I am in Africa and service is poor.

Similar Products Used:
None

Customer Service:
no service. You have to buy a new one.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
2 votes

Summary:
Good as a second flash in multi-flash set-ups. Build quality does not inspire. Fiddly to operate and LCD is not illuminated.

Strengths:
Relatively small and compact
Good range of facilities

Weaknesses:
Awful build quality for diffuser
Feels cheap and plasticky compared to my SB-25
Non-intuitive buttons
Slave/Master switch inside battery compartment

Similar Products Used:
SB-25
SB-26

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Model Reviewed:
SB-27 Speedlight Flash

Summary:
I bought this flash from B&H as a grey market product (<$180). Given that there was over $80 between this and the SB-28, I could not justify the SB-28. However, I have been very pleasantly surprised by this flash. It is the Rodney Dangerfield of Nikon flashes. It does almost everything that the SB-28 does but for a lot less money. It is excellent value for the money; a great product for a reasonable price.

Strengths:
Light weight
Great value for the money
Zoom capabilities (24-70)
Very versatile in terms of features and capabilities
Relatively small

Weaknesses:
Cannot synch as high as the SB-28

Similar Products Used:
SB-22
SB-26

Customer Service:
No experience
Product has worked flawlessly