Accessories Reviews

The Nikon SB-24 Speedlight Review

Keywords: older, speedlights, nikon, flash, lighting

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INTRODUCTION

The SB-24 Speedlight flash unit is the ancestor of the SB-25, SB-26, SB-28 and SB-80DX units and quite a number of photographers still use it. This article is devoted to all of you looking for more information regarding this specific flashlight.

The voluntary fire brigade of the City of Rottweil, southern Germany
Nikon F5, Nikkor AF 80-200/2.8D at some 80mm on Fuji Velvia
Flash filled with the SB-24

The SB-24 flashlight has not been available brand new at stores for much more than a couple of years now. It's an F4-generation flash, coming in a design equally square as the mothership. When new, it used to be sold for a price equaling that of the SB-28 today, i.e. around DM 680, USD340.

It's a solid friend with a zooming head (from 24 to 85mm), AF-illuminator, large backlit LCD and has TTL, Auto (using built-in sensor), Manual and Strobelight modes.

It has two sync-connectors; one for manual and one for TTL multi-flash setups.

It has sync modes for normal or rear and can do flash compensation. The guide number (GN) is 118 (Leitzahl 36) at 35mm with an ISO 100 film or a GN of 160 at 85mm (LZ 50).

The flash head can be tilted vertically from -7 to +90 deg and swiveled from 180 degrees CCW to 270 degrees CW horizontally.

It's generally easy to use, it has never failed me and the battery door plus its slide switches are easy to operate.

It only misses the red eye reduction function, FP high speed flash sync, 3D multisensor and the wider zoom (18/20mm) of the newer flashlights, such as the SB-26 or SB-28.

In comparison with the SB-26 and the SB-25, the SB-24 ain't bad at all. See for example Michael McLennan's comparison between the three.
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