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Nikon Flashes Compared

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August 2016     Nikon Reviews   Nikon Flash   Nikon Lenses   All Reviews

See also the Comparison sections of each flash's review. Click any link for a the full review and details.

 
Anni
2013-
2006-2014
2014-
2004-2012
2010-
2003-2008
2008-2012
2012-2016
2016-

 

POWER

 

                 
Rated GN @ 35mm @ISO 100, m/ft
18/59
21/69
24/79
30/98
28/92
38/125
40/131
34/112
34/112
Batteries
2 AAA
2 AA
2 AA
4 AA
4 AA
4 AA
4 AA
4 AA
4 AA
Recycle Alk/NiMH
6/4s
3.6/2.5s
3/4s
3.5/?
2.5/2.5s
6/4s
4/2.3s
4/2.3s
2.8/1.8s
Full-power pops, Alk/eneloop
70/110
140/?
100/140
200/?
160/230
130/?
110/145
110/165
140/140

 

COMPATIBILITY

 

                 
 
AWL (2016+ DSLRs + WR-R10)
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Yes
i-TTL CLS (DSLRs since 2003 and the F6)
yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
D-TTL (1999-2002 DSLRs: D1 series and D100)
no
no
no
Yes
no
Yes
no
no
Regular TTL** (1984-2003 35mm film cameras)
no
no
no
Yes
no
Yes
no
no
no

 

REMOTE CONTROL

 

                 
 
Optical Commander?
no
no
Yes*
no
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Optical Slave?
no
no
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Radio Commander?
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Radio Slave?
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Yes

 

ERGONOMICS

 

                 
 
Weight, w/bttys
120g
180g
279g
390g
450g
440g
529g
522g
526g
LCD
None needed
None needed
None needed
sharp, dedicated LCD with real icons and numbers
ugly, fuzzy generic dot-matrix
ugly, fuzzy generic dot-matrix
ugly, fuzzy generic dot-matrix
ugly, fuzzy generic dot-matrix
generic dot-matrix
Power Switch
Rotary switch: fast
Slide switch: fast
Rotary switch with lock: fast
Hold button: slow
Flip switch: fast
Hold button: slow
Flip switch: fast
Flip switch: fast
Flip switch: fast

 

PRICE

 

                 
 
Price, 2/2012
n/a
n/a

$220 used

(was $200 new)

$400 used

(was $460 new)

n/a
Price, 9/2013
n/a
n/a
Price, 5/2015

$275 new

$150 used

n/a
Price, 8/2016

$100 used

$400 used

* Onlty with D750 and D810 and newer.

** They all work with today's F6, which also uses the same i-TTL CLS system as the DSLRs; this line refers to the traditional TTL mode of all other Nikon TTL flash cameras made since the 1980s.

 

Recommendations         top

As of 2016, the SB-500 is Nikon's best all around flash if your built-in isn't cutting it.

I use the discontinued SB-400 for fill-flash all the time in all of my DSLRs. I don't need or want to carry anything bigger.

I use my discontinued SB-600 in the very, very few occasions I need more power, or if I'm shooting a 35mm camera or any vintage. As of 2016, the SB-700 is its replacement, and the best flash if you need a big, powerful flash

When I need more than one flash for serious lighting, I don't bother with these battery-powered things and use real studio strobes, which cost less and work so much better.

If I was a full-time news or event pro, I'd have two SB-5000 because they can belt out the most power and recycle the fastest for heavy use. The SB-5000 also offers a radio slave.

 

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April 2016