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Nikon D5000 and SB20 Speedlight(old flash)

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OLDLONELYWOLF1975

OLDLONELYWOLF1975

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Hi to everyone....

Since all of you know that I'm close to buy an SB400 as a flash Unit for my D5000, I would like to ask you one question before do buy anything...

I was setting up my house when It found a Brand New old flash SB20 that I think my used not more then 2 times in 20 year when he bought a Nikon AF501.

First of all: SB20 is it full compatible with my D5000 or can be any kind of trouble or problem?

If its compatible is it a good flash unit for D5000 or is it much better the SB400?

Do you think that its still a good idea to buy an SB400 (that's also smallest) or its better to use that brand new old unit flash (SB20) and save money for something else?
I hope that you can give me some good advice!!!!
Thanks a lot,
Alex
 
Looks like it should be just fine. I don't know how it compares power wise with the SB400, but you should be able to find that information. I use the SB24 and SB28 units with all my nikon dslr's and they perform perfectly. And I don't have to worry about closed eyes from the pre-flash used to set exposure in ITTL models.
 
If you want to use iTTL, then you'll need the SB-400 or better. The SB-400 does a great job as an on-camera flash, and the iTTL just works. Slip it on and take pictures.

The D5000 does not support flash commander, so if you want to use multiple flashes you'll need to either step up to the SB-800 as a master, or use another manual flash trigger for the remote flashes.
OLDLONELYWOLF1975 said:
First of all: SB20 is it full compatible with my D5000 or can be any kind of trouble or problem?
Click to expand...
Yes, but in manual only. No problem using it.
OLDLONELYWOLF1975 said:
If its compatible is it a good flash unit for D5000 or is it much better the SB400?
Click to expand...
It looks like the SB-20 does have both tilt and swivel, where as the SB-400 is only tilt.

http://stanfordphoto.blogspot.com/2007/05/review-nikon-sb-20.html
OLDLONELYWOLF1975 said:
Do you think that its still a good idea to buy an SB400 (that's also smallest) or its better to use that brand new old unit flash (SB20) and save money for something else?
Click to expand...
You can certainly start out with the SB-20 by setting your camera in manual mode, and then use the flash in either manual or auto mode (again no TTL).

Having said that, I think that the SB-400 is one of the best values out there, and I would get one.

--
Randy C.
D40
San Antonio, TX
 
Not sure why it wouldn't work in auto. All my older nikon flashes do. And the link provided above stated either auto or manual.
 
I looked at the SB-20 manual and it definitely should work in Auto Mode.

--
Richard R. Price
 
I read all your reply...

And it came out another question: SB20 has more flash power than the tiny SB400 or its opposite?

This is quite important ...even to make up my mind if it better or not o buy the SB400...
Thank to all of you so much!!!
Alex
 
...sorry but i forgot one thing:

some of you wrote that I have to set the camera in manual mode or the SB20 doesnt work!

That means I can't use P-A-S or even Scene Mode in my D5000 if I'm using the SB20?
Is it correct what I understood?

If it like I will be really limited when I use this "old" flash in the D5000...and then its better to use the Sb400; even if I still dont understand if the power of the SB400 is more , less or equal than the SB20...
...
What do you think?
Thanks a lot and sorry if Im a "little ball braker.."
Alex
OLDLONELYWOLF1975 said:
I read all your reply...

And it came out another question: SB20 has more flash power than the tiny SB400 or its opposite?

This is quite important ...even to make up my mind if it better or not o buy the SB400...
Thank to all of you so much!!!
Alex
Click to expand...
 
Apparently the SB400 has a guide number of 69 at iso 100 and the SB20 is 100 at iso 100. So the SB20 is more powerful and by how much depends on how you want to state the figures, 100 is 145% of 69, so the 20 has roughly 45% more power. The SB20 seems to have many features and controls also. But if you do not have the want or desire to learn how to use it, go with the 400 - 600 - 900. You must take some part in the operation with the SB20. It is very simple and just like your camera, they both will produce much greater image quality if you take control of its operation. There is no doubt which is the best flash between the two, it's just down to whether you want to use it or not.
 
But...In case I want to use the SB20 can I use the camera (D5000) in P-A-S (or even Scene Mode) or I CAn't and I have to use full Manual Mode only?

And furthermore...How can I set the flash (SB20) to be used in a proper way with D5000?
Thanks
Alex
RAL said:
Apparently the SB400 has a guide number of 69 at iso 100 and the SB20 is 100 at iso 100. So the SB20 is more powerful and by how much depends on how you want to state the figures, 100 is 145% of 69, so the 20 has roughly 45% more power. The SB20 seems to have many features and controls also. But if you do not have the want or desire to learn how to use it, go with the 400 - 600 - 900. You must take some part in the operation with the SB20. It is very simple and just like your camera, they both will produce much greater image quality if you take control of its operation. There is no doubt which is the best flash between the two, it's just down to whether you want to use it or not.
Click to expand...
 
If you want automatic exposure control with the SB20, you set the flash to auto, set camera to manual, match the f stop and iso setting on camera and flash and set shutter speed to whatever setting you want to balance ambient and flash light. You can start with 1/60 second or so and go up or down from there. This way you get to control what goes on and get much better results in many instances over just putting everything in auto and shooting. If this is what you want to do, as I said above, get the newer flash, but be prepared for some bad choices on the part of the camera and flash and people with their eyes closed in the images.

If you want the most out of your camera, please take the time to learn how to use it. Would you buy an airplane and just put it on autopilot and set back and relax? I almost hate to say this, but if you do not want to learn how to set your camera, you would likely be better off with a good point and shoot. It is not hard, nor is it rocket science.
 
Look at pages 24-25 of the SB-20 manual.

--
Richard R. Price
 
I'm sorry if I make you upset...

But I'm not pro photographer a guy that like photography and like to learn...and if you have a look to my website http://www.oldlonelywolfphotography.com I think that I'm quite able to set the camera....and take proper pitcure quite often....without use the autopilot.....as you said...

By the way I never used even with my D60 auto or scene mode, or whatever auto was there...and even with the outstanding bridge camera (Panasonic FZ28) I always use A or S or M and never Scene Mode...

I just need a little help to understand how to use a flash of 25 years ago...without become mad, insane, and without ruin the camera or the picture...
That'it....
It will be more easy to buy then an SB600 or SB900 and finish...

I just want to find out from this community what its better to do if its better to purchase something else (like the "cheap" and tiny SB400) and keep unused or for my AF501 the SB20...
Anyway sorry to make you pist-off...
I didnt mind to do that!
Alex
RAL said:
If you want automatic exposure control with the SB20, you set the flash to auto, set camera to manual, match the f stop and iso setting on camera and flash and set shutter speed to whatever setting you want to balance ambient and flash light. You can start with 1/60 second or so and go up or down from there. This way you get to control what goes on and get much better results in many instances over just putting everything in auto and shooting. If this is what you want to do, as I said above, get the newer flash, but be prepared for some bad choices on the part of the camera and flash and people with their eyes closed in the images.

If you want the most out of your camera, please take the time to learn how to use it. Would you buy an airplane and just put it on autopilot and set back and relax? I almost hate to say this, but if you do not want to learn how to set your camera, you would likely be better off with a good point and shoot. It is not hard, nor is it rocket science.
Click to expand...
 
I didn't mean to cause any added confusion, but in case I did....

What I was trying to make sure that you understood was that the flash does not support TTL and as such would have to be in either manual or auto mode.

Your camera can be set in any mode, but without TTL you will be limited.

If you use the flash in "auto" mode the flash will shut off the flash when it "sees" enough light, but this means that you'll need to set the aperture of the camera to match the settings on the flash (this would mean manual or aperture mode on the camera).

If you use the flash in "manual" mode, you can set the camera to whatever mode you want, and the camera will fire a flash at a power rating of full to 1/16 based on what you (not the camera) determine is the correct flash power.

The down side is that since the flash and camera are not talking to each other via TTL, then any exposure readings that your camera gets will be ignored by the flash.

If you want to be able to just stick the flash on and make full use of the camera / flash working together automatically, then you'll want to use TTL, and you'll be better off with the SB-400.

--
Randy C.
D40
San Antonio, TX
 
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