JimGrog Loc: Wash DC Area

Wife wants some ideas for my Christmas gift. I'm thinking FLASH!
I'm using D850 (my D90 with built-in died 9 months ago). Don't do a lot of inside pixs but would like something for dark museum visits and inside/nighttime family events.

Any suggestions? Prefer ease of setup/operation/adjustment. Good set of diffusers. Other criteria you feel make one model the best choice?

BebuLamar

SB-5000. It's the one you can still buy new. Nikon no longer sells the SB-910. It's fully compatible with your D850. It has just about as much power as any shoe mount flash. It's easier to use than other TTL flashes not made by Nikon.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

If you liked using the pop-up flash on your D90, you might try to find a nice SB-400. . It will do bounce, fits in a pocket, and is surprisingly powerful with two AA batteries. It will also cover the field of a 24mm lens, and it works perfectly with the TTL support of your D850. Nice ones are usually $125-$140. I have two of them...one bought locally and one from KEH.

I also have a couple of SB-800s that I've been using for probably close to 15 years. If you can find one with all the accessories, they come with a range of extras, including a diffusion dome. The head swivels and tilts, and the reflector adjusts to your lens to provide full coverage and maximum piwer at each focal length. It covers 24.. (wider with the dispersion "filter," and zooms to 100mm or so. its user interface is somewhat awkward, but is learnable.

The SB-900 and SB-910 were the last top-end choices. I do not have personal experience with either of them, but the SB-900 had a pretty well-known overheating problem if fired rapidly. Lots of folks have a number of third-party favorites. They will have to tell you about them.

Have fun with whatever you choose and are able to find.

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

I purchased a couple of Godox flashes for my Nikon D850 and now hope they work with my Z8. I haven't tried yet. I really like Godox flash products but their customer service is terrible.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Nikon cured the overheating problem of the SB900 with the SB910. I have the SB910 and have no complaints. I think it would serve your needs and save you a few $$$ vs the SB5000. Look for a used one at KEH, B&H, Adarama, NikonUSA or MPB. Good luck!

Don

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Ditto.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

I have and use the Nikon SB-600 (rarely now), SB-910 and the latest SB-5000.

Based on your comment "Prefer ease of setup/operation/adjustment" I would recommend looking at non-Nikon because the LCD screens are difficult to read/see in poor light compared to some other brands.

Hip Coyote

You have a superb camera. I suggest you get Godox or Adorama’s store brand equivalent. I also suggest you learn off camera flash using a transmitter and ocf. It will change your photography. Take a look at Speedlight and Stobe Fundamentals group on Facebook.

Burkley Loc: Park City

SB-5000 is an amazing tool. The SB-700 and 500 are also great, but the SB 5000 is amazing.

BebuLamar

If you shoot quickly you will have problem with the SB-800, SB-900 and SB-910 but the problems are different. With the SB-800 you could burn your flash out if you do so. With the SB-900 it would quit before you burn it out and you have to wait until it cool down before you can use it again. With the SB-910 it doesn't stop working completely but slows down when it gets hot so it won't burn out.
So really Nikon didn't figure out how to make their flash cooler when shooting rapidly. But then to be fair the Nikon flashes do recycle very quickly compared to others.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Might want to check with Nikon & make sure they will support the SB-5000 model flash well into the future before purchasing it. I'm pretty sure Nikon is getting away from supplying speedlights. Wescott or Godox would be pretty good options. The FJ80 from Wescott has multi-brand built into the menu & would come in handy if you upgrade to another brand in the future or use multiple brand systems.

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

You can get a nice used SB-900 or 910 off ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=nikon+sb-910&_sacat=0
Or, a new Godox TT685II from B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1669849-REG/godox_tt685iin_tt685n_ii_flash_for.html

I have used the Godox on my Nikon's and now on my Sony's. They work fine and are less expensive than Nikon.
Whatever flash you get, get one with a movable head so you can aim it up (with or without reflector) or behind you for really nice lighting.
I shot my camera in manual and the flash on TTL, works really great.
I would also like to recommend a book titled "On-Camera Flash" by Neil van Niekerk. You will really improve your photography with a movable head and this book.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.

BebuLamar

Why do you think Nikon is getting away from supply speedlights? I think they make big profit with their speedlights. Nikon wouldn't tell you what they will do in the future but the SB-800 is 20 year old and is completly compatible to the newest Nikon Z system.

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

I would also recommend the SB500 for a Nikon system. It's a quality unit and integration with the camera is easy and seamless.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I don't know that they are getting out of this business either. But I can see that as the market changes (shrinks) the demand for dedicated units could be dropping to unsustainable levels. The people buying cameras are people who already have cameras and, presumably, any speedlights they would want or need.