Can the Nikon SB600 flash be triggered with the built-in flash of Nikon D3000?

Nikon D3000 does not have a commander which is necessary, as per my understanding, only for multiple remote flash set up. But if I were to use only the SB600 remotely, will I need a radio controlled device or can it be triggered with the built-in flash?

Nope. The SB600 has a wireless slave mode, but no optical slave mode. To say that another way it doesn't register or react to other flashes. So yeah, you'll need to buy a compatible trigger.

You will need a radio device. The D3000 does not support Nikon CLS, which it would have to in order to trigger the SB-600 with its popup flash (as e.g. The D90 can).

No you can't trigger the SB600 remotely because;

- as you recognise, the D3000 does not have the Nikon CLS commander function built into its pop-up flash
- the SB600 does not have an optical slave mode

You can fire it off camera using radio triggers like the RF602's (£27), but you'll have to set the power on the SB600 manually (just set it to manual & dial the power up/down).