7 Best Nikon Flashes To Improve Lighting

Achieve perfect lighting with these Nikon flashes.

When photographing in poor lighting conditions, a Nikon flash can be a good gadget. Also, it comes in handy for capturing fast-moving subjects or getting more balanced exposures in daylight. Manufacturers offer a lot of models differing in performance and price.

There are decent inexpensive models with price tags around $50-80. However, if you're looking for models with more impressive specs, you'll have to spend more than $200. Finally, the best Nikon flashes that will bring an incomparable photography experience cost up to $800.

Despite a rather modest range of flashguns, Nikon is making every effort to meet various needs and financial capabilities. In this review, we have collected the top flashes available on the market and also share some clear guidelines so you can make the right choice.

In this list, you can choose a cool camera flash from Nikon or a good inexpensive option from other brands. When choosing flashes for this review, I took into account functionality, ease of use, size, and price.

Recycle Time: 2.3-4.5 Seconds | Zoom Range: 17-200mm | Guide Number: 111.5' at ISO 100 and 35mm | Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches | Weight: 1 pound

This flash for Nikon works great in studios and outdoors. It is compatible with FX and DX-format DSLR cameras. You can operate this flash as a remote unit, a hot shoe-mounted Speedlight, or wireless Commander thanks to the universal i-TTL feature designed for on-camera or wireless flash control. This model comes with a dedicated Menu button, an improved interface, and illuminated buttons for use in low light.

The SB-910 has special thermal cut-out protection to prevent overheating. This feature allows slowing down recycling instead of removing the flash. It's useful for many shooting scenarios, for example when you're photographing in rapid sequence. Thanks to this technology, this flash is perfect to pair with Nikon photography cameras.

Recycle Time: 3.5 Seconds | Zoom Range: 27-200mm | Guide Number: 59' at ISO 100 | Dimensions: 2.26 x 2.45 x 2.57 inches | Weight: 3.36 ounces

This model is incredibly light and compact. It only needs two AAA batteries to work (typically, flashes are powered by four AA batteries). This is a very simple flash for Nikon camera at the moment. The affordable price tag is another advantage of this model. Although it doesn't include some ultra features, this inexpensive basic flash can be a good choice for photography hobbyists.

Please note that i-TTL capabilities are not included. This means you should adjust the shots yourself. The SB-300 delivers a balanced light that prevents unflattering shadows. What's more, this model has fill-flash and tilt features. With a tilt range of 120 degrees, you can create various lighting effects to take outstanding flash photography projects.

Recycle Time: 2.9 Seconds | Zoom Range: 24-180mm | Guide Number: 278' at ISO 100 | Dimensions: 2.5 x 3 x 8 inches | Weight: 1 pound

This multiposition flash comes with a tilt head. You can adjust its angle from -7 to 90°. With the -7°s downward position, you can take fully lit close-up photos. The head can be rotated to 180° to the right and 90° to the left.

This flash for Nikon is known for its a 24-180mm focal range. Plus, you can expand it if you use a diffuser. You get the best illumination due to the accurate matching of the zooming range in auto mode and the focal distance of the lens. The camera's TTL meter settings measure the flash and background light that bounces off the subject. Besides, you can adjust the flash output.

Recycle Time: 1.5 seconds | Zoom Range: 20-200mm | Guide Number: 197' at ISO 100 and 200mm | Dimensions: 8.27 x 9.06 x 3.15 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds

This flash for Nikon camera has a modeling lamp to preview the lighting effect it produces. As a result, you can be sure that you will take a flawless photo. For more impressive shots, you can adjust lighting levels using pre-visualization and adjustment settings. In general, the flash has 10 levels of brightness.

You can take pictures in both manual and TTL mode. To switch between them, use a fast switch. This model has a large Lithium powered battery so you can take pictures for a long time without recharging. Another plus is the fast recycling time. The flash is attached securely to the camera with a fast-release lock which was improved to a quick lever.

Recycle Time: 4 Seconds | Zoom Range: 24-105mm | Guide Number: 42' at ISO 100,105mm | Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.39 x 3.03 inches | Weight: 8.9 ounces

Though this easy-to-use flash has its drawbacks, overall it's a good option with decent features. Perhaps you would like a faster recycle speed and a stronger guide number. On the other hand, you can adjust the brightness and set the desired settings through its nice LCD display.

I also like features like automatic detection of flashlite temperature, overheat protection, and long service life. Overall, this is one of the best options if you need an affordable price tag and decent performance.

Recycle Time: 2.5-3.5 Seconds | Zoom Range: 24-120mm | Guide Number: 92' at ISO 100 and 35mm | Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.8 x 5 inches | Weight: 12.7 ounces

This is one of the best Nikon speedlights built for new cameras. It supports Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS). The built-in diffusion and filter detector work great with the new cameras delivering amazing results. With this feature, the camera can select the proper white balance when tungsten and fluorescent filters are used.

As a result, you do not need to modify any settings to achieve the correct white balance. If you want to expose both the backdrop and the subject correctly, you should use the synchronized fill-flash option. Alternatively, the regular i-TTL is suitable for exposing the subject properly.

Recycle Time: 0.1-2.2 seconds | Zoom Range: 24-105mm | Guide Number: 36m/157 ft. at ISO 100 | Dimensions: 6.69 x 3.46 x 3.46 inches | Weight: 12 ounces

This flash for Nikon camera is a good option for multi-directional and multi-angle photography. With 2.4GHz, you can easily take pictures with improved wireless multiple flash lighting. The flash units do not require visual proximity to one another and work on the Master/Slave principle. The transmission distance is 98.4 ft.

This flash is perfect for any professional-level task. At the same time, it is 30% lighter. You can get the ideal exposure by selecting one of the available modes ( Manual (M), TTL, and Multi (Stroboscopic). It works well even in tricky light-changing environments. Its guide number is 36m/118 ft at ISO 100. This model is compatible with mirrorless and DSLR cameras.

Below, you'll see some tips on how to choose Nikon best flash and what things to keep in mind to avoid mistakes.

TTL. While some models are manual, others feature TTL capability which is an automated flash mode. Both options have their advantages. If you're working with artificial lighting or want more control over your image, then a manual mode is the best for you. TTL comes in handy when you need to take a series of shots quickly and don't have time to change the settings manually. For example, it is suitable for event or sports photography.

Recycle time. Using a flash for Nikon or any other camera, you will have to wait for some time between the shots. To know how long it takes to prepare a speedlight for the next photo, you should find out its recycling speed. This aspect can be key if you are photographing a lot of action.

Wireless remote control. Typically, modern flash units have built-in wireless connectivity. This means that you can use them off-camera without an adaptor. As a result, you can easily create different lighting conditions by removing the flash from the camera and positioning it at the desired angle or combining it with others.

Longevity. Like other light bulbs, camera flashes only work for some time. You will have to replace it when it "burns out". Regardless of the brand or model, you should check its longevity to see how long the speedlight will last.