To get the most out of your Nikon DSLR camera in low-light settings, you need the best flash from Nikon (or for Nikon). From high-end, full-featured flashes to more budget-friendly options, we’ve got you covered!
Whether you are a professional photographer or just starting out, there is an option here that is perfect for you. If price is no issue, we suggest the Nikon SB-5000. Its lightweight body, fast recycle speed, and excellent build quality put it in our number one spot.
What Is the Best Flash for Nikon?
The best flash for Nikon is the Nikon SB-5000, thanks to its radio-controlled off-camera flash, fast recycle time, and rugged build. Budget shooters do well with the Godox TT685II-N instead.
5 Best Flashes For Nikon DSLR Cameras
Here are the best flashes for Nikon cameras, including some third-party options. Before we get into each one, here is a glance at their specs and features.
1. Nikon SB-5000
| Brand |
Brand
Nikon
|
| Size |
Size
2.87 x 5.39 x 4.07 inches / 73 x 136 x 103 mm
|
| Weight |
Weight
14.9 oz / 422 g
|
| Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100 |
Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100
113 ft / 34 m
|
| Tilt / Swivel |
Tilt / Swivel
-7 to 90° / 180 to 180°
|
| Zoom Range |
Zoom Range
24-200mm
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professional photographers
|
Nikon’s most advanced flash, the SB-5000, has built-in radio control. This means you can use the flash with any newer Nikon body off-camera.
You’ll need the WR-A10 and WR-T10 accessories to use the flash off-camera. But you can use the flash even if the camera and flash can’t see each other. So it opens up a lot more flash techniques.
One thing to note is the radio control only works with Nikon’s DSLR cameras. These include the D5, D850, D500, and D7500. (It also works for Nikon mirrorless cameras—the Z7 and Z6.)
It has the fastest recycle time among Nikon’s speedlights. That’s because it has a built-in cooling system. This prevents the flash from overheating, allowing up to 100 consecutive shots.
With a guide number of 113 feet at 35mm and 180 feet at 200mm, it’s one of Nikon’s most powerful flashes. It also includes TTL mode and an autofocus assist beam.
The flash includes high-speed sync and slow sync. It also has first and second curtain firing modes.
The Nikon SB-5000 Speedlight is their best flash. It isn’t cheap, but it’s a professional-grade flash system that won’t let you down.
2. Nikon SB-700
| Brand |
Brand
Nikon
|
| Size |
Size
4.1 x 2.8 x 5 inches / 71 x 127 x 104 mm
|
| Weight |
Weight
12.7 oz / 360 g
|
| Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100 |
Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100
92 ft (28 m)
|
| Tilt / Swivel |
Tilt / Swivel
-7 to 90° / 180 to 180°
|
| Zoom Range |
Zoom Range
24-120mm
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who need a professional-level flash for a good price
|
The Nikon SB-700 is an excellent mid-level flash. It’s a few steps below the Nikon SB-5000 in terms of capability. But it’s more affordable and still one of the best Nikon speedlights.
The SB-700 has a guide number of 92 ft (28 m). The flash recycle time is a respectable 2.5 seconds.
For shooting with shutter speeds faster than 1/250 s, high-speed sync is included. It also comes with first and second curtain sync. The zoom range is 24-120mm on a full frame camera.
The flash still includes the autofocus assist beam and a TTL mode. The flash head rotates 90 degrees up, with stops of -7, 0, 45, 60, 75, and 90 degrees in between.
In manual mode, you can adjust the flash power from full to 1/128. This is good for creating soft light or adding catchlights to portraits.
The flash also has a strobe mode and three different illumination patterns.
It doesn’t have the wireless communication of the SB-5000. And it doesn’t quite have the output and recycle time. But at nearly half the price, the SB-700 is great value for your money.
3. Godox TT685II-N
| Brand |
Brand
Godox
|
| Size |
Size
10.04 x 6.69 x 4.72 inches / 64 x 127 x 76 mm
|
| Weight |
Weight
14 oz / 405 g
|
| Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100 |
Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100
197 ft / 60 m
|
| Tilt / Swivel |
Tilt / Swivel
-7 to 120° / 150 to 180°
|
| Zoom Range |
Zoom Range
20-200mm
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers on a budget
|
The Godox TT685II-N packs a lot of power for a reasonable price. The flash has a guide number of 197 ft (60 m) and a 14-200mm zoom.
The Godox flash still supports Nikon’s TTL system and even high-speed sync. The brightness in manual flash mode goes from 1/128 to full power.
The recycle time is a quick 1 to 2.6 seconds. And the duration sits between 1/300 and 1/20,000 s.
The hot shoe flash has a swivel and tilt-bounce head. And an LCD screen at the back allows you to adjust the settings. It also has a built-in wireless feature to control other Goddox flashes off-camera.
Plus, you can pair it with a trigger for shooting off-camera with a single flash unit. And wireless is available for 32 channels in three groups.
The Godox TT685II-N isn’t a Nikon product, but the performance level is still very strong. And it gives you excellent lighting control.
For photographers who want many features without the heavy price tag of a Nikon speedlight, the Godox TT685N is the perfect option.
4. Yongnuo YN968N II
| Brand |
Brand
Yongnuo
|
| Size |
Size
8.66 x 3.94 x 3.54 inches / 89 x 219 x 100 mm
|
| Weight |
Weight
15.7 oz / 445 g
|
| Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100 |
Guide Number (GN) 35mm, ISO 100
196 ft / 60 m
|
| Tilt / Swivel |
Tilt / Swivel
-7 to 150° / 150 to 180°
|
| Zoom Range |
Zoom Range
20-200mm
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers looking to save money
|
While not a Nikon speedlight, the Yongnuo YN968N II offers many features for a competitive price. The flash has a guide number of 196 ft (60 m) and adjustable power from 1/128 to 1/1.
The power is similar to the Nikon SB-700. But the recycle time is a little slower at three seconds. High-speed sync isn't included, limiting the flash to slower shutter speeds.
This third-party flash has a rotating and tilting bounce head. And it covers a zoom range from 20-105mm (full frame).
While not designed by Nikon, it still supports Nikon's i-TTL and has high-speed sync. And you get a built-in continuous LED for videography.
The flash also has built-in RF wireless control. But you can't control the off-camera flash from newer camera bodies as you can with the SB-5000.
You can add another flash to the top of the camera to fire one (or more) off-camera. And the flash weighs less than a pound and uses four AA batteries.
Buying a third-party brand gives you a high-quality flash with a lower price tag. The YN968N II is another great option for photographers on a budget.
5. Meike MK-14EXT-N Macro Ring Flash
| Brand |
Brand
MEKE
|
| Release Date |
Release Date
18/06/2020
|
| Brand |
Brand
Meike
|
| Type |
Type
LED ring flash for macro/close-up work
|
| Compatible Bodies |
Compatible Bodies
Nikon D7100, D7000, D5200, D5100, D5000, D3500, D3200, D3100, D90, D300S, D600
|
| Modes |
Modes
Manual, Lamp A, Lamp B, All-Flash, Long Brightness
|
| Price |
Price
Around $80
|
| Best For |
Best For
Macro and product photographers on a budget
|
The Meike MK-14EXT-N is a Nikon-mount LED ring flash built for macro and close-up work, wrapping continuous, even light around the lens barrel instead of firing from one side. It replaces the older MK-MT24 twin-flash set on this list, which Meike has discontinued.
That ring shape earns its spot here because macro subjects sit centimeters from the lens, where a normal hotshoe flash casts a hard shadow right where you are focusing. The MK-14EXT-N lights the whole subject evenly from every angle instead.
It runs in Manual, Lamp A, Lamp B, All-Flash, and Long Brightness modes, and it is built for Nikon’s i-TTL DSLR line, covering bodies from the D90 up through the D7100 and D600. At around $80 it costs a fraction of a twin-flash rig, and doubles as a constant modeling light for macro photography.
The trade-off is power: it is LED-based rather than a true xenon flash, so it puts out less raw light for freezing fast motion than a strobe-driven twin lite, and it is built around a DSLR hotshoe, so Nikon’s mirrorless Z bodies need the FTZ adapter to mount it. For casual close-up and product shots that is a fair trade for the price; serious macro shooters who need more punch should look at a twin-flash kit instead.
If you’re buying this flash to improve your macro shots, improve them even more with our Macro Magic course.
Choosing the Best Flash for a Nikon DSLR
Like Nikon cameras, flashes come at different price points with varying features. You have everything from budget options to the pricier advanced models.
Choosing the best flash depends on what you need and what gear you already have. If you want a flash to use with your 200mm lens, you'll want enough power to reach that far.
Flashes are ranked based on their guide number (GN). The higher the number, the more light the flash can produce.
The recycling rate indicates how long the flash will take before providing another burst of light.
A TTL flash has an auto mode inside the flash. This automatically chooses the settings for you.
Manual mode allows you to choose the flash output from the flash yourself. And a tilting, rotating head gives you more directional control.
Some high-end flashes have wireless control. This allows you to use off-camera flash easily.
While there are several great flashes, the best flash for Nikon depends on what you shoot and which Nikon camera you have.
Conclusion: Best Flash for Nikon
Nikon speedlights are of excellent quality. But there are third-party flashes that also work well with Nikon cameras. The ones featured in our list still make the grade. And there are options to suit every photographer’s needs. Whether your budget is big or small, there’s a Nikon flash for you.
If you want to grab the best Nikon flash possible, we suggest the Nikon SB-5000. It has a lightweight body, fast recycle speed, and excellent build quality.
