I have an SB-20 and SB-28 and am wondering if I can use them on my D3200 without damaging the camera? I don't use flash very often (mostly for fill or interior shots). If I am unable to use either of these units, would you recommend the SB-400?
Thanks in advance.
Lee

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I have the SB-28 and it works fine on the D3200.

However the D3200 will have to be in M mode so you can set the shutter sync speed. I use 1/125. You will need to set the aperture in A mode and then go back to M to take your flash photo.

The SB-28 will need to be in A mode. When you first turn the flash on the ISO display on the flash LCD will blink. Use the + or - button to set your ISO. It can only be set immediately after turning on the flash and while the ISO is blinking.

Now you can use the zoom button to set the lens focal length and the SEL button to set the lens aperture to match what you set the D3200 aperture to.

After you set the ISO, lens FL and aperture you will see a line of black squares directly above the distance scale in feet. The f stop you chose will be fine as long as your distance from camera to subject falls under the black squares. If they fall outside of your distance simply change the f stop on the flash and then the D3200 until they do.

You should get a perfectly exposed photo automatically as long as your f stop and ISO is set correctly and the distance falls anywhere under the black squares.

As a starting point and with a 50mm lens, ISO 400 and f5.6 set on both the D3200 and the SB-28, you should get good flash photos Automatically at any distance between 5 and 40 feet.

I don't have the SB-20 so I can't help you there. But the SB-28 is the newer flash and should be preferred.

edit: If you don't have the manual for the SB-28 you can down load it from the NikonUSA site.

Good Luck,
Len

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Thank you so much for the information. I have a bid in for a SB-400 on Ebay, but I would still use the SB-28 if I needed extra "oomp". My real concern was that the SB-28 would damage the camera.
Again thank you so much for your time and help.
Good shooting,
Lee

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You can use Photo Strobe Trigger Voltages for older flashes other than Nikon flashes. Some flashes actually used the HV circuit and that could eventually damage the shutter release contacts.

George
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Thanks so much, Len. I copied your post to a Word Pad document and did as you suggested. The test shots turned out great.

I do have a "newbie" question. Will the built-in flash on the D3200 always pop up, or is there a way of using the SB-28 without that happening?

Thanks again,
Lee

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Hi Lee,

If you use P, S, A, or M exposure modes, the built in Speedlight won't pop up until you manually press the flash button to turn it on.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

>Hi Lee,
>
>If you use P, S, A, or M exposure modes, the built in
>Speedlight won't pop up until you manually press the flash
>button to turn it on.
>Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!
Thanks for the info. I feel really dumb, after I posted, I started experimenting and found out the answer. I'm still a newbie, even though I'm an "old guy".

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Hi Lee,

>I feel really dumb, after I posted, I
>started experimenting and found out the answer.

Don't!
Remember: The only dumb question is the one that was never asked!
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty