*I reviewed this product before but that link on Amazon shows it's not available and now its here so I copied my original review with a couple of extra comments.
**This review is for use with the Nikon D50 with an update for use with the D80 below.
I don't use a flash often so to spend a large amount on one is just a waste. Still, sometimes you go to an event indoors that allows for flash and the little one on the camera can't hack it. Also, some outdoor situations call for fill flash.
This flash is powerful and it swivels up, and side to side. It is much less expensive then the Nikon model with similar features. I does not do wireless flash like the Nikon SB-600 and SB-800 do however. It seems to work most of the time with occasional bad exposures (overexposures) on my D50. It has a fast recycle time and comes with a durable soft carrying case that has room for spare batteries. It also comes with a built-in slide down diffuser for use with wide angle shots.
One complaint I have is that the battery compartment is not well marked. It is just a raised diagram on the black plastic and you really have to look at it to see which way the batteries go. Also, this is a big, powerful flash and on my D50 feels very top heavy. But, that is the price you pay to have a flash that fills a big room with light.
This flash has a lot of features for the money such as zoom and power. There are few reviews on it, most reviews being on the more expensive and feature packed "Super" model. The reviews on the "Super" are for the most point positive. I have read where some Canon users think its better then, or as good as, Canon's own flash.
The only bad things I have read about the ST may be due to technique instead of the flash. You can't shoot a person directly with this monster flash at 3 feet and expect a perfect exposure, especially when they have dark clothes, dark hair, etc which will result in faces being washed out. In that situation you need to bounce it off the ceiling or wall. Conversely, bouncing off a tall ceiling in a large room doesn't do much.
One big draw back is that this model doesn't do wireless, the "Super" does.
Key Stats:
Charge time: 6 secs (with alkaline batteries); 4 secs (with Ni-Cd or NiMH)
Number of flashes: 220 (with alkaline batteries); 100 (with Ni-Cd or NiMH)
UPDATE: This flash seems to work much better with my D80. I have not had any under or over exposures. I shot a wedding outdoors at night, from 30 feet and my shots came out wonderful! The hired wedding photographer even commented on how well the photos looked when he saw them at a party the day after the wedding. The D80, with the
Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera
grip, also feels more balanced then the gripless D50 does with this flash. I also tried lithium disposable batteries and saw little increase in recycle time with a much lower amount of flashes so stick with alkaline.
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