flash recommendations, please (Page 2): He also has a Yongnuo site with warranties.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

DavidM wrote:

I also recommend godox flashes but suggest you buy from flashgear.net. Reason why is Tim Payne owns the site and offers a two year warranty. He also helps you with any flash related questions. Super nice guy.

He also has a Yongnuo site with warranties.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

toxdoc42 wrote:

I have 1 Yonguo and 2 Neewers I find the latter as good, easier to use, and can rotate as well as tilt.

There is a Yongnuo speedlight that rotates 360 degrees and tilts about as much as you can want! Of course I don't remember the model number...

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

I would recommend the SB500 if you insist on small. It will meet your size and other requirements. However the QN is about 79' (if I remember correctly). That is OK for many lighting situations but still is limiting.

If you want the most versatility in a flash you need to go larger, there is no getting around it. I would recommend the Godox V860 N II. It costs less, has a QN of almost 200, delivers about 600 full power flashes per charge on a lithium battery. Adorama has the identical flash but it is branded differently (can't remember the name). And best of all at max power it recycles in 2s.

Check out the specs on both flashes before you commit.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

The Nikon SB-700 is the current and most popular today. About $330.The Nikon SB-5000 flash unit is about $600. I would choose a reputable third party flash unit, such as the Yongnuo #685. Less than $125. Or Nikon SB-700, if you don't mind paying more money.

Jimcamera Loc: Michigan

Scott Kelby's "The Flash Book" is an excellent source on high to get the most out of your flash.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Check out YouTube to see videos on the Yongnuo's. I read the same thing about their manuals and found a video on how to set up their radio flash transmitter/receiver before I bought it. Worked like a charm. Very simple.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

Love my SB-600 & 800.

ronz Loc: Florida

I would suggest you check out Phottix. I have used them over 15 years with no failures. They have easy to understand menus and simple settings. The are very powerful and well put together.

NikonFan

As far as I'm concerned, you want a flash for a Nikon, get a Nikon flash. I bought a sunpack equivalent of the SB 300 for my D60 and it worked just fine, but for a cam like the 5500, I'd go with a Nikon flash. Good luck.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

i like the godox li ion ttl and hss flashes with built in receivers along with a godox transmitter again specific to each camera brand. Flashpoint is the godox under the storebrand at Adorama. Check them out too

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

Jim Bob wrote:

I like the SB700. Excellent versatility and performance for the money.

👍

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

The Nikon SB-700 meets all of your requirements and will outlast the cheep Yongnuo's and similar brands.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I shoot YN460s; they are totally manual. They are super reasonably priced. The newer edition (with batteries in a straight line) has a recycle time of about 5 seconds. I like having total control over my lighting.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

GoofyNewfie wrote:

img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)

The Godox/Flashpoint is an excellent choice and you have the option iTTL as well as manual. You can also build this system to a studio setup. I have the manual Yongnuo which now sits idle. The Flashpoint is simply better and easier to use.

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

Deanie1113 wrote:

Help me, experts! I am looking for an upgrade to my very basic SB 300. My requirements are simple: of course, must be compatible with my Nikon D5500, TTL, a FAST recycle time, able to turn so I can bounce off walls, and not large or loud. I am ready to venture into 3rd party brands, but I have heard Yongnuo manuals are very difficult to understand and I love a good manual. Your insights are most appreciated.

I love the Yongnuo YN685N. I have 3 of those, and 1 of the new YN968N. What's great about these is that all can be set to the 2.4GHz radio slave setting, and the YN-968N can be set to MASTER. There are 3 groups in 7 different channels. Automatic Zoom function taking the data from the camera lens. All have OPTICAL triggering as well. GN of 60' at ISO 100 at 105mm. So far, none have given me any trouble.

I shot two basketball games last night using fresh alkaline batteries and I still have all bars showing on the battery display. The YN968 has 3 LEDs for shooting video. I'll probably get another YN968.

Altura and Godox are also good brands, I think, although I have only used the Altura flashes.

Good luck on your purchase.

Kozan