Nikon SB-26 Speedlight Flashes

Nikon SB-26 Speedlight Flashes 

DESCRIPTION

Out-of-production. This used to be Nikon's professional model flash.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 10  
[Aug 10, 2002]
brian0224
Expert

Strength:

High power flash. Pro

Weakness:

never

I bought this flash used I try to buy brand new but so difficult. I am so sorry about this Flash because Nikon already discontinue. I used this Flash over one year without any problem. I just buy new Nikon SB80X I used several time but I still like SB26.

Customer Service

Not yet.

Similar Products Used:

SB28, SB24, Metz CT60-4, METZ CT60-2, CT60-1, and SB80X

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 24, 2002]
resedaruss
Intermediate

Strength:

Does it all, excellent fire power.

Weakness:

Ever so slightly cool in temperature.

I updated recently to this later model flash from Photogon classifieds. It is a serious flash with a healthy guide number. Has all of the bells and whistles I need and automates nicely with the F-100. Everything is well laid out and understandable. It is moderately large, but not unwieldy. Color temperature is just a touch on the cool side but not enough to bother me.

Similar Products Used:

SB-23

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 25, 2000]
Rustom A. Havewalla
Professional

Strength:

Built in slave with delay setting.
Red-eye reduction lamp instead of pre-flashes.
Compact size and weight.
Less consumption of batteries.
Auto setting is very accurate.

Weakness:

TTL is inaccurate.
The height should have been smaller for less shadows and strength in the hot shoe.
The strong reflector causes very high contrasts with unpleasant highlights.
Auto zoom sometimes causes vignetting.
Colour temperature is not so accurate as METZ.

It is a good flash.
It has been replaced by SB 28. That's a tragedy.
With improvement in either the front glass or reflector for reducing the contrast, the flash would have been great.

Customer Service

Very expensive in Mumbai, India.
Too much time by the only repairers.
Thank God, I did not need them.

Similar Products Used:

METZ 32 MZ 3
METZ 40 MZ 1
SB 24 & 25

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Apr 20, 2000]
Dana Hess
Expert
Model Reviewed: SB-26 Speedlight

Strength:

Compact size, tilt & swivel head, red-eye reduction, slave, rear sync, etc.

Weakness:

None worth talking about

I bought this flash a few years ago for my N-90 and took it on a trip along the Oregon coast starting the next day. I read the manual in as much detail as I could and ended up with the best results I could have imagined! The fill-flash feature is incredible... doing much better than I could have managed. Just set it to -1ev and shoot away. I also use the rear-sync more than I thought I would. I don't believe you can buy this one new anymore, but if you can find a used one at a decent price, get it. You won't be sorry.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 283, SB-24

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 12, 2000]
Grant Dixon
Expert
Model Reviewed: SB-26 Speedlight

Strength:

Small size, lots of power ease of use.

Weakness:

To get the most from this unit requires a bit of learning

Simply the best flash unit I have ever used. You can make it as easy to use or as challenging as you need, the choice is yours

Similar Products Used:

Metz 402

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 24, 1999]
Suraphan Chiewpimolporn
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: SB-26 Speedlight

Strength:

Slave feature, Adjustable flash head.

Weakness:

Long time for recharge the battery.

With the battery pack, this flash is become the tool that you must have. I use its slave feature to do all kinds of marco and studio protrait work. However, this model is no longer in the line so it will be available in second hand market. I'm so glad that I have one.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 09, 2000]
Zeev Gutkin
Expert

Strength:

Guide No.
Cordless feature.
LCD diplay.
Light distribution

Weakness:

Buttons not ergonomicaly set.

Very good speedlight unit.
...if only the buttons where a litle more comfortable...

Customer Service

??? Hope I'll never need it.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EZ430

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 16, 2000]
RD Kenwood
Intermediate

Strength:

Spiffy slave feature - seldom useful, but when it's needed it's very, very handy.

Powerful.

Head automatically zooms to match lens focal length (with compatible lenses and bodies).

Tilts, swings, zooms -- if there's a surface to bounce from, you can bounce off it with this flash.

Incredibly flexible. It has all the tricks, including high-speed sync, compensation, strobe, and more.

Rear curtain sync switch on-flash, which is more-convenient than cycling through flash options on-camera.

Weakness:

It's flexible, but it's complicated. Read the manual, then read it again highlighting the important bits, then read it again and take notes that you can refer to in the field. Before you try using any of the advanced features, study beforehand. It's the only flash I've ever had to cram for.

The foot's a little weak. My Nikon-authorized repair shop says it's designed to break at the foot instead of somewhere more-expensive, and indeed the foot replacement was quick and fairly cheap (as Nikon repairs go). I think it was about $50.

Like most Nikon flashes, it has a very cool light. I use an A2 or Tiffen 812 filter on the lens as a matter of course with all Nikon flashes. (The color from the Vivitar 285HV feels more natural to me).

A relatively large, quite powerful, astonishingly flexible flash with complexity to match. Rewards thoughtful users, but punishes random button-pokers. Read the manual, read the manual, read the manual. If the manual isn't clear, buy a third-party book. It's worth it to know how to use this flash to the extent of its considerable capabilities.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

I used an SB-24 with my N8008s, but upgraded to the SB-26 for my N90s.

I've also used various other flashes, including the SB-20, SB-23, SB-16A/B, and a brace of Vivitar 285HVs.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 28, 2001]
Reto Preisig
Intermediate

Strength:

Very flexible head lets you point flash in any direction.

Flash zooms automatically to match focal length.

Built in scattering filter and reflector.

Cordless initiation of flash if you use several flashes.

Weakness:

As all Nikon products this is a pricy tool and the accessories are too.

Not useful for macro photography and other close-ups.

Light is very cool.

I bought this flash for my N-90 and now I use it with the F-100. I like its versatility but unfortunately you can't buy it new anymore. The new SB-28 replaced it, what a pitty.

Customer Service

Let's hope that I'll never need it.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax AF-280T

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Dec 07, 1999]
Gregory
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: SB-26 Speedlight

Strength:

Infra red focus assist, full TTL comp, easy to use, auto and manual modes, remote sensor for firing off camera, swivel head.

Weakness:

So many features I can't keep up! Lots to learn about this flash. TTL exp. comp flashes on back of flash but not in the camera viewfinder.

I'm glad I got this flash when I did, it doesn't seem to be listed on Nikon"s homepage as an available flash option anymore. This flash will do it all, Excellent for remote firing, low light focus adjust, lighted back. Very versatile.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 10  

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