beginners flash for nikon D7200: Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally. It will mainly...

sagfgrump

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I see a used Metz 36 AF 4 for a reasonable price on MPB - would that be a good starting point?

Leitz Loc: Solms

sagfgrump wrote:

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I see a used Metz 36 AF 4 for a reasonable price on MPB - would that be a good starting point?

Metz is my favourite brand, but personally I would not buy used. It could look like new, but there is no way of knowing how many pops it's had. If you want all the auto features, you cannot go wrong with one of the Nikon units recommended in your User's Manual. I do not use TTL flash, hence I don't know how well a Metz flash
will work with a Nikon. Should be at least as good, though.

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Neewer TTL flash for Nikon - Amazon $60.

d3200prime

This is a value-priced flash and is Metz's lower end light. If you will never pursue lighting with all its intricacies then a flash like this will suffice.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

yorkiebyte wrote:

Neewer TTL flash for Nikon - Amazon $60.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

sagfgrump wrote:

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I see a used Metz 36 AF 4 for a reasonable price on MPB - would that be a good starting point?

There is no such thing as a beginner's flash. If you buy a good one it will save you money and won't hinder creativity, in the long run.

Get one that has a system behind it so you can add to it or use all the features, if desired. There are several excellent economical flash systems available...Godox is one and my favorite.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

sagfgrump wrote:

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I see a used Metz 36 AF 4 for a reasonable price on MPB - would that be a good starting point?

Not sure how much the Metz is, but a Nikon SB-600 would be better.
The Metz is TTL only, and the head only rotates up and down, not sideways.
If you’re using it inside, you will want to learn how to bounce flash and will need to swivel it sideways as well as up. It’s as simple as pointing the flash head to a ceiling or wall to create a larger, softer light.
Will make a HUGE difference in the look of your photos.
More on bounce flash HERE.

If you advance even a little bit, the SB600 can also be triggered and controlled remotely by the pop-up flash of your D7200.

This is one of those things where “you don’t know what you don’t know” and when you learn, it becomes a “so that’s how its done” moments and you wind up using it more often.

Used Nikon SB-600 at MPB

Like Joer, I’m a Godox fan as well

BebuLamar

Leitz wrote:

Metz is my favourite brand, but personally I would not buy used. It could look like new, but there is no way of knowing how many pops it's had. If you want all the auto features, you cannot go wrong with one of the Nikon units recommended in your User's Manual. I do not use TTL flash, hence I don't know how well a Metz flash
will work with a Nikon. Should be at least as good, though.

I have a lot of used flashes and I don't have problems with most of them. The ones that have problems don't look nice at all. So for me it's much safer to buy used flashes than used cameras.

Leitz Loc: Solms

BebuLamar wrote:

I have a lot of used flashes and I don't have problems with most of them. The ones that have problems don't look nice at all. So for me it's much safer to buy used flashes than used cameras.

There's usually a risk buying anything second hand.

CO

The head of the Metz you're looking at only swivels vertically. I found that to be a hindrance with my Nikon SB-400 flash. I could not bounce flash off the ceiling when I had the camera in portrait orientation. I sold it and now have an SB-700 and SB-5000. Take a look at the Nikon SB-500. It's an excellent basic flash. Its head swivels vertically and side to side. If you do video, it has LED video assist lights.

BebuLamar

Leitz wrote:

There's usually a risk buying anything second hand.

Yes and don't tend to buy used but buying used flash is much less risk than used camera.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

sagfgrump wrote:

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I see a used Metz 36 AF 4 for a reasonable price on MPB - would that be a good starting point?

I bought a Nikon 600 and 800 off eBay. Both said they didn't work because of corrosion in the battery compartment. I paid less than 85 dollars for both of them. I cleaned the compartments carefully and learned that the batteries have to slide very freely in the case. Once cleaned and cleaned again they work awesome. Not sure how handy you are but something to check out.

Najataagihe

sagfgrump wrote:

Can anyone recommend a flash that is compatible with a d7200 - I've never used a flash before, apart from the built in one occasionally.

It will mainly be used for indoor photos.

I'd start with the SB-400 (used only, about $140) and use it as a "souped-up, built-in" flash.

It'll save your camera batteries for pictures, recycles far faster than the camera's flash and allows you to use bounce flash.

It is absolutely fantastic as an indoor flash: light, powerful, well-built, effective and FAR less cumbersome than the larger flash units.

It will always be handy, if you decide to get a bigger one.

Well worth having.

Edward Booth Loc: Riverview, Florida

Neewer TTL flash for Nikon. Buy from Amazon

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

I have used Yongnuo flashes for years and never been disappointed, just make sure you choose one for Nikon and decide if you want manual or TTL + manual. The price is good, also you can buy remote triggers for them also well priced - again just make sure they are the Nikon variety. I use mine on a D7100. You will find a few who also use them for insects and flowers in the Macro section. They are worth a look at least.