The SB-700 AF Speedlight from Nikon is a moderately compact flash unit packed with features for high-performance on-camera lighting capabilities. The flash is compatible with the i-TTL system for automatic metering with both FX- and DX-format cameras and is optimized for use with Nikon's Creative Lighting System for complete control over your lighting setup. Complete bounce and swivel functionality is available for working in a variety of shooting situations. This allows users to tilt down to -7° and up to 90° as well as rotate left or right 180° for complete 360° coverage. Also, the SB-700 has three different illumination patterns, standard, even, and center-weighted, which help shape the light output for your specific needs. For wireless master TTL functionality, the speedlight utilizes a Commander Mode. In this mode, users can access Advanced Wireless Lighting settings for controlling multiple off-camera flashes that can be set up in two groups (A, B) and one of four channels. a stroboscopic repeating flash mode that can be set from 1-100 Hz. The SB-700 also has slow, Auto FP high-speed, first, and second curtain sync modes for achieving the desired creative look in your image. There are even red-eye reduction and red-eye reduction slow sync settings available.

The flash itself is mounted to the camera or stand via a locking hot shoe and is powered by four AA batteries. And, depending on the type of battery used and the power setting. First, built into the flash alongside the wide-angle diffusion panel is a white slide-out bounce card for bouncing some light directly to the subject and creating catch lights. Also, there is a diffusion dome for softening the output of the flash and fluorescent and incandescent color correction filters for balancing the flash to ambient light. Guide number at the 35mm zoom position measures 92' at ISO 100 and 128' at ISO 200. Manual power output from 1/1 full power to 1/128 power. Light distribution angle is automatically adjustable to the camera's image area in both FX and DX formats. Auto zoom head reaches from 24-120mm with FX format and 14-120mm with DX format. Coverage of 12-17mm in FX and 8-11mm in DX when using built-in wide-angle diffusion panel. Flash head tilts with click-stops at -7°, 0°, 45 °, 60°, 75°, and 90°. Flash exposure compensation from -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV steps. Backlit LCD panel with nine selectable contrast levels and a rotating dial assist in viewing flash status and changing settings. Flash-ready indicator lights. AF-assist light, modeling illuminator, monitor pre-flashes, and test firing settings. Automatic color filter detection for adjusting the camera's color temperature settings and an optional color filter pack is available.