Product ReviewsNikon Speedlight SB-N7 Shoe Mount Flash ('Black')

An unfairly maligned product

I am a dinosaur; I was an active photographer when we used such quaint things as film. In those days, cropping was not done in-camera or on a digital device. Other than 2 1/4 square formats, cameras were turned to either a vertical or horizontal perspective, and the ideal flash could be tilted and swiveled to match the format of our intended composition. Of course, that was not true of my Vivitar 283s, but the point remains the same.
The SB-N7 is a very small unit. It is designed for use on Nikon 1 cameras. Digital images are manipulated, cropped, color and exposure optimized, and the vertical, horizontal, or square perspective created after the fact. So the SB-N7 doesn't swivel. There is no real need to turn a Nikon1to a vertical perspective in the first place.
The output of the unit is more than adequate given the lenses and ISO combinations inherent in the system. It can be used to fill, bounce, and even to soften available light. It is not perfect. No camera system, film, meter, or flash has been. If you prefer most of the features of the SB-N7 to those of the SB-N5, don't allow the lack of swivel affect your final decision. If the swivel remains important to you, the SB-N5 is just fine if less powerful; again, the lenses and ISO capabilities will cover ordinary shortfalls.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: normancameracom...

Nice basic speedlight.

This is a good basic flash unit that far exceeds the capability of the built in unit on my Nikon 1 V3. It has excellent tilt range for direct, ceiling bounce, and rear bounce. It would be worthy of five stars if the head swiveled, but it does not. This makes vertical shots problematic in most situations requiring flash, but not directly at the subject. I still recommend the SB-N7 if you have a compatible Nikon 1 camera, just be aware of its limitations. I have personally had very good results with it.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: pwschladen48lo

Powerful little flash

Some users complain that the SB-N7 flash can't swivel. But for my purposes, the power of this flash makes it more useful than the smaller SB-N5. Used it to photograph a rehearsal for a school concert in a church with a high white ceiling. The flash provided perfectly exposed photos with the Nikon V1 and 6.7-13.5mm ultrawide lens.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: gurugby

A little more power you may need

It’s a quality product. Works great. Looks good and does it’s job.

SB-N7

This SB-N& is new to me I tested and I am happy with the result

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: thecamerabox