bill unger

I just bought a Nikon D 7000 and want to get a flash unit. I am starting back into serious photography after30 years. I still have a Vivitar flash 3700 Auto Thyristor from thirty years ago for film cameras. I don't think I can use it and am looking for one for my digital camera. I looked at the Nikon Sb 700 but it is $326. A friend said he uses a Vivitar 285 H V $87 but the reviews are not great. Obviously, I would like to keep the cost down but get a good flash.

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

I would stick with the Nikon SB700 because it is compatible with Nikon product and can use its TTL. You may try to look for a used one on EBay or Craig's list. Arnold

DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois

I have the SB600,and it performs very well;and probably(I haven't checked) cheaper.

NikonEdd Loc: Spokane Valley, WA

Check out Nikon for its list of currently available re-furbished flashes.
At times, they have the sb400, sb600, sb700, sb800, and sb900.
Then, if you want to know detailed info on any one of those, try [kenrockwell.com] He also gives his own views as to which one of these he would personally use.
Nikons website is [nikonusa.com]
I believe that each one of these flashes has more to offer as you ascend the numbers upward, with the lowest number being less than the ones above.
Happy holidays

Spodeworld

I have a SB-600 with my Nikon D7000. The SB-700 is newer, and nothing works as well with a Nikon as a Nikon flash.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Hi,

I did a lot of research recently for my D5100 and ended up going with the SB700. It is a big pill to bite but you know everything will work. There were some negatives on the battery door. I think it is fine. There were also some concerns about it not having an external "PC" connection or power. I don't need that...it is still running on the first set of batteries after a couple of months and hundreds of flashes.

I was initially interested in the Vivitar...there is a 383 I believe for around $140 that may do iTTL for Nikon. I must have read some of the same reviews...they were terrible. Many of them failed and the company was a disaster to deal with.

If you want a maximum bargain check out Yongnuo YN-560 Speedlight. It gets great reviews on Amazon. They might have an iTTL for the Nikon now. They had one only for Canon when I checked last.

I was considering the Sunpak PZ42XC also.

The SB700 exceeds my expectations and the wound of paying so much is already fading.

Regards,
Larry Leach

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

You've spent what some people would call "a fortune" on one of the best cameras available, so don't cheap out on your accessories - go with the Nikon flash! If you can't afford it right now, just wait. Nothing could be worse than a sleazy, badly-built, Chinese Fuqu-brand piece of crap hanging loosely on top of one of the most sophisticated, technically-superior, high quality, high-res, digital cameras available to the consumer market.

I have Vivitar 385 flashes for my Sony Alpha, they're built well, and most times they are excellent but they also have a tendency to ignore TTL information from the camera and blast full power at the subject if I don't wait long enough for the "ready" light to come on. I think that's a design flaw personally.

I likely should have waited and bought the expensive Sony top of the line flash (about the same price as Nikon) but I don't use flash professionally nor ever at full power. So I don't mind if I get a misfire occasionally or if my flash index number is not high enough to scorch the eyebrows off of everybody in the front row when taking group photos.

Save up and get the Nikon flash!

Dontrain Loc: Chicago suburb

I have used a sb600 on a D40 for last two years with great success. It is made for a Nikon and the camera and flash talk to each other nicely. For its many features and the $200 price it is a bargain. Also the optional coiled extension cord for off-camera light produces interesting hand-held light source options without tripod.

I have no knowledge of the newer 700.

MtnMan Loc: ID

Ah, this was the one I was interested in, but wasn't yet released. If you try it please post a review.

http://www.lightingrumours.com/yongnuo-yn-467-i-ttl-speedlight-for-nikon-released-670

Here also is the larger comparision I wanted to share with you. I used it in research:

http://speedlights.net/flash-for-nikon-speedlights-with-i-ttl/



Regards,
Larry Leach