Nikon Speedlight SB-23 Flaş

Nikon AF SB-23 TTL Speedlight Introduced in 1988, Nikon SB-23 is a lovely, extraordinary compact TTL Speedlight unit. It is highly portable and despite its compactness and lightweight (weighs merely 140g), it has a great compatibility with many Nikon AF SLRs with its AF-assist illumination. It is also usable as an companion flash for Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash with the later Nikon AF cameras such as F5, F100, F90x, F85, PRONEA 600i or F70 etc. with any AF-Nikkor CPU lens*. With F4-series, F-801s, F-601, F50 or F-401x and a CPU lense **, it synchronizes well to be used as a dedicated Speedlight for Matrix Balanced Fill-Flash.

* "CPU" lenses refer to those AF Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor, IX-Nikkor or Ai-P Nikkor lenses which feature a built-in microcomputer and CPU contacts. ** With F4-series, Manual Focus Ai-S or Ai Nikkor lenses are also usable.

Credit: Images courtesy of Mr. Fred C. Adams® <[email protected]> from Fred C. Adams Fine West Photography. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

The SB-23 has been listed in Nikon product listing for quite a long time (even when the Nikon F5 was introduced, it was still available). The tiny flash is the most compact among all Nikon AF TTL speedlights prior to 3.2 oz Nikon ultra-compact Nikon AF-TTL SB-30 Speedlight that introduced in 2002/3. It is a very handy flash as secondary flash unit in a multiple flash setup and/or syncro-sunlight fill flash. Other than TTL auto, it can still be used in manual flash control.

Nikon SB-23 Flash / speedlight compatibility chart with various Nikon cameras. Source: Nikon Europe

Although the flash has not been equipped with many advanced features found in more sophisticated flash such as SB-24, SB-25 etc,. but this ultra-compact Nikon speedlight carries the advantage of being very economical and highly portable to be used as a small companion flash to fully supplement any Nikon AF SLR to explore TTL flash photography. The only apparent weakness you can pick on this flash is its rather weak guide number it offers but this is NOT essentially the main objective in its original intention to serve as a powerful TTL flash, so it is still all right if you can find its purpose in fill-flash in and around during location shooting.

Credit: far left Images courtesy of Mary <[email protected]> Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer. Credit: Image of SB-23 mounted on a display stand courtesy of Mr. Georges C. Couchepin® <[email protected]> from Switzerland. He also operates a popular Ebay Store selling many used photo equipment. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved.

Specifications for Nikon SB-23 TTL AF Speedlight

Electronic construction: Automatic silicon-controlled rectifier and series circuitry
Flash exposure control: TTL automatic control with Nikon F5, F100, F80 series, Nikon F4-series, F90x, F-801s, F70, F-601s, F501, F-401x with any AF-Nikkor CPU** lense. Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash with the later Nikon AF cameras such as Nikon F5, F100, F90x, F85, PRONEA 600i or F70 etc. with any AF-Nikkor CPU lense * NOTE: 3D Multi-sensors Matrix flash metering is not possible. * "CPU" lenses refer to those AF Nikkor, AF-I Nikkor, IX-Nikkor or Ai-P Nikkor lenses which feature a built-in microcomputer and CPU contacts. ** With F4-series, Manual Focus Ai-S or Ai Nikkor lenses are also usable.
Manual control: full output
Guide number (ISO 100, in): 20
Angle of coverage: 60° horizontal and 45° vertical
Film speed range in TTL auto flash mode: ISO 25 to 1000 with Nikon F4-series, F90x, F-801s, F70, F-601s, F50 or F-401x
Recycling time: Approx. 2 sec.
Number of flashes: Approx. 400
AF-Assist Illuminator: Automatically fires LED beam toward subject when performing autofocus with any Nikon AF SLRs which includes older series of Nikon SLRs such as Nikon F4-series, F90x, F-801s, F70, F-601s, F50 or F-401x in insufficient light
Power source: Four 1.5V AA-type alkaline or NiCd batteries
Dimensions (without mounting foot): Approx. 64mm (W) x 67mm (H) x 84mm (D)

Weight (without batteries): Approx. 140g Other features: Ready-light Accessory provided: Soft Case SS-23 Credit: far left Images courtesy of Mihail Adriana <[email protected]> Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Download a free instruction manual in PDF (3.1MB), courtesy of Mr. Jim/ lensinc.ltd. pls send a thank you note on my behalf as well.