SB-400

Remember: the SB-400 cannot swivel its head for bounced use in portait orientation - you're stuck with landscape orientation of the camera. That strobe will also not let itself be used as a CLS slave. If you have any more money at all, you might want to consider the SB-600, which is a lot more powerful and versatile. Bigger, too, of course. It's always a tradeoff.

The spec. in the instruction book says that manual is only available on the D40. You need to use the menus on the D40 to get the flash out of i-TTL and into manual. I wouldn't risk it.

I have both the SB-400 and SB-800 and feel I can give a perspective, but not the perspective as there are many. I use them both. You really did not mention your use of the camera as to subject matter so this will be a shot in the dark.

I generally will use the 400 as it is an upgrade from my on camera flash. I used a FM2 for years as well and had several flash units for it. The 400 will work well per described with limitations by Matt, but it's very inexpensive and does great for walkabout and snapshot work. You can get a Stofen diffuser for it and angle the flash 90 degrees, so there is some flexibility with it and it fills very nicely. If you are looking for something light and easy, it's a good choice.

The SB-600 would be a nice upgrade if you are shooting at a more serious level or on the job for the reasons already stated.

However, rarely when out with a D200 just having fun off the job, I will throw the 400 in my day bag with diffuser and get excellent results. What can you expect for a hundred dollars?

Good luck.

As has been said above, the SB-400 is limited in scope & power but it is a useful little unit, I always carry it with me because of its size and it is much better than the on-board flash and less "threatening" to others, you start putting on a SB-600 or 800 and people will start to think paparazzo!

My mistake. The SB-400 will not work on any of Nikon's film cameras. My apologies.

Except the F6. . .in a hurry. Again, apologies.

If your budget is around the cost of an SB-400, which is just over US$100, there are much better non-Nikon flashes than the SB-400 for the FM2n. The SB-400 has a lot of limitations; its main advantage is that you can use it in the iTTL mode with the recent Nikon DSLRs.

The SB-400 may make sense if you are going to use it also with a DSLR. If not, you are better off considering something else.

David,

If Songtsen wants a flash just for an FM2 wouldn't a secondhand one with manual and non-TTL auto be more use? There are many around and not just Nikon ones. The SB-400 has i-TTL, which is no use at all on an FM2, and no non-TTL auto modes.

Thanks for the helpful info. Would the SB-600 work on the FM2n? How about FEC? I will use the camera for family pictures, perhaps travel, but mostly just for the experience of using a fully manual SLR. PS: Would a Sunpak unit (perhaps PZ42X) also work?