Help choosing flash: I recently got a D500 and am thinking about a flash for it . . . Am considering the nikon sb700, but was wondering if one of the other brands such as Yongnuo would...

AK Grandpa Loc: Anchorage, AK

I recently got a D500 and am thinking about a flash for it . . . Am considering the nikon sb700, but was wondering if one of the other brands such as Yongnuo would have the exact same capabilities but at a cheaper price. I am sure the Nikon flash will be good, but if another cheaper flash works exactly the same . . . Then I might go that way. Mostly will be used for interior snapshots during family get-to-gethers and as fill flash for outdoors. Not into portraits, but do a lot of outdoor animals/birds and landscapes. Any suggestions are appreciated . . .

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

AK Grandpa wrote:

I recently got a D500 and am thinking about a flas... (show quote)

I do not shoot Nikon, but I already had 3 Canon flashes (600 EX-RT), when I decided to give the Yungnuo's a try. I'm glad I did, because they are almost the same and they work just nicely (either in tandem with the Canon's , or alone). The light from the Yungnuo seem to be just a tad more harsh (blueish), but they are just as powerful. So, I'm a happy camper with them (it's about a quarter of the price). I don't know, but I would think, the Nikon models are just as good, as the ones they make for Canon. Don't really know if this is helpful to you in any way, but I thought it is just one more piece of information!

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

I'm a Nikon shooter and have 2 Yongnuo's and I am very pleased with them. I have owned Nikon flashes in the past and the Yongnuo's give me the same results, for what I am using them for, as I got with the Nikon.

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

I also have the D500 and the Yongnuo 568 flashes. Glad I got the Yongnuo since mine does the high-speed sync. Since the camera also does HSS, I can do portrait outside and still have the background black. Great for flowers, too.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

AK Grandpa wrote:

I recently got a D500 and am thinking about a flas... (show quote)

Here's a brand vs brand comparison.

http://www.martincphotography.co.uk/more/photographers/gear-reviews/flash-head-head-nikon-sb-910-vs-yongnuo-568ex

Maybe a better choice (according to the article) -

http://www.martincphotography.co.uk/more/photographers/gear-reviews/godox-tt685n-review

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Kozan wrote:

I also have the D500 and the Yongnuo 568 flashes. Glad I got the Yongnuo since mine does the high-speed sync. Since the camera also does HSS, I can do portrait outside and still have the background black. Great for flowers, too.

You do not need HSS for a black background, it can be done with any flash! But it sure is nice to have!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

jerryc41 wrote:

Here's a brand vs brand comparison.

http://www.martincphotography.co.uk/more/photographers/gear-reviews/flash-head-head-nikon-sb-910-vs-yongnuo-568ex

Maybe a better choice (according to the article) -

http://www.martincphotography.co.uk/more/photographers/gear-reviews/godox-tt685n-review

Besides some operator error issues when getting started, I absolutely love my YN685s with YN622tx trigger. Works every bit as well as my Nikon flashes with Pocket Wizards, but at a MUCH lower cost. Using the 685 instead of 568 also helps with using fewer batteries, and not having a transceiver attached to the flash makes for less chance of something breaking during a shoot.

I plan to slowly sell my Nikons, Yongnuo 568 exII, and Meike 910 flashes, and go strictly to the Yongnuo YN 685. I can also sell a few of my YN622 transceivers as well. It will be really nice to have all my flashes the same, so I don't have to remember how to change settings on 5 different flashes.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Like an earlier poster, I have both Canon's high-end 600 EX-RT and the Yongnuo equivalent at 1/4 the price. (I also bought the Youngnuo radio controller equivalent of the Canon so I can use both flashes off-camera with umbrellas) Visually and performance-wise, it would be hard to tell the difference - even the menus and case are identical. Now whether the reliability is also identical is another matter - I haven't had the Youngnuo long enough to know. I believe if I was shooting professionally and had to depend on my flash(es), I would buy the factory (Nikon) flash, but for the occasional amateur use, where a failure may not be critical, it's hard to ignore the huge price difference (you can buy ~ 4 Yongnuos for the price of 1 Nikon/Canon). Unless something changes, I'm buying a 3rd Youngnuo for a hair/backdrop lighting.

Designdweeb Loc: Metro NYC & East Stroudsburg, PA

Ive had a friend tell me her Youngnuo failed after 9 months of weekend jobs. She replaced it with a Nikon.

Designdweeb Loc: Metro NYC & East Stroudsburg, PA

Ive had a friend tell me her Youngnuo failed after 9 months of weekend jobs. She replaced it with a Nikon.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

I believe that Meike do a dedicated small flash for Nikon. I have a Meike dedicated to Panasonic - works perfectly and conveniently very small. swivels etc.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

https://mpex.com/nissin-di700a-speedlight-kit-with-air-1-commander-nikon.html

And they have cheaper models

Also check out other speedlights at Midwest Photo

https://mpex.com/flashes/flashes.html

And their blog - everything you've ever wanted to know about shooting with flash

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

AK Grandpa wrote:

I recently got a D500 and am thinking about a flas... (show quote)

IMHO, I use Nikon SB800's mint off ebay. Just as cheap and was DESIGNED to work from the basement up on my NIKON'S. They are great flash units and work great.

ronz Loc: Florida

Take a look at the Nissin Di 866. I have several of these for environmental shots when I don't want to take the big guns out. They do everything the speed lights do such as Canon, Nikon etc. I have used them for over five years and never had a failure. They also make a 666 & 466 if you don't require the same power. Adjustments are simple and easy and of course HSS..

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

bkyser wrote:

Besides some operator error issues when getting st... (show quote)

Yongnuo #685 is the way to go. I concur with this selection.