The Nikon D850 is a remarkable camera that has gained immense popularity among photographers for its exceptional image quality and versatility. It’s a tool that allows photographers to capture breathtaking moments with unrivaled precision and detail.
However, even the best cameras can benefit from a little extra light when faced with challenging lighting conditions. That’s where a top-notch external flash comes in, illuminating your subjects and elevating your photography to new heights.
In this article, we’ll delve into the world of flashes specifically designed for the Nikon D850, guiding you toward the best options available. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a passionate hobbyist, finding the perfect flash for your D850 can significantly enhance your photographic endeavors.
Note:
All the Flashes mentioned here are compatible with the Nikon D850 camera and work perfectly fine.
| Best Flash for Nikon D850 |
|---|
| Godox V860III-N (Best TTL Flash)
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| Nikon SB-5000 (Another Great TTL Flash)
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| NEEWER NW645II-N (Budget TTL Flash)
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| Godox V850III (Best Manual Flash)
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| NEEWER NW620 (Budget Manual Flash)
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We’ll explore various options, considering their compatibility, features, and overall performance, so you can make an informed choice. Prepare to unlock the full potential of your Nikon D850 as we dive into the realm of exceptional flashes that will illuminate your picture-perfect moments.
Best Flash for Nikon D850
1. Godox V860III-N Speedlite Flash for Nikon Cameras
The Godox V860III-N Flash is a versatile and powerful external flash unit designed specifically for Nikon cameras. With its impressive features and advanced capabilities, this flash is a must-have accessory for both amateur and professional photographers.
One of the standout features of the Godox V860III-N is its high guide number of 60m at ISO 100, which ensures ample lighting power even in challenging conditions.
This flash offers a zoom range of 20-200mm, allowing for precise control over the spread of light to match various shooting scenarios.
The V860III-N speedlight also boasts a built-in 2.4GHz wireless X system, enabling it to be used as a master or slave unit for wireless triggering and control. This system supports TTL, manual, and multi-flash modes, providing flexibility in different shooting situations.
The flash is compatible with Nikon’s i-TTL system, ensuring accurate exposure and seamless integration with Nikon cameras. Equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the V860III-N offers an impressive 1.5-second recycling time at full power, ensuring you never miss a shot.
The battery life is equally impressive, providing approximately 480 full-power flashes on a single charge, minimizing downtime for battery changes during intensive shoots.
The V860III-N flash features a clear and intuitive interface with a large LCD screen, making it easy to access and adjust settings. The flash also comes with a variety of professional features, including high-speed sync (up to 1/8000s), flash exposure compensation, and stroboscopic flash.
For added convenience, the Godox V860III-N supports firmware updates via a USB port, allowing you to keep up with the latest features and enhancements released by the manufacturer.
In terms of build quality, the V860III-N feels solid and sturdy, thanks to its durable construction. The flash comes with a rotating head, allowing for bounce and swivel capabilities to achieve more natural and flattering lighting angles.
This Nikon D850 Flash is a reliable and feature-rich accessory for Nikon photographers. With its powerful output, versatile wireless capabilities, and long-lasting battery life, this flash provides excellent value for its price.
Whether you’re shooting weddings, events, or studio portraits, the V860III-N is a dependable tool that helps elevate your photography to the next level.
Pros
- Versatile use
- Easy wireless control
- Highly compatible with Nikon D850 as it is specially designed for Nikon cameras
- Intuitive Interface
- High-end features
Cons
- Bit costly
- Bit heavy
2. Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight Camera Flash
The Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight is a flagship external flash unit designed for Nikon cameras, offering advanced features and exceptional performance for professional photographers. Let’s delve into its specifications and assess its capabilities.
The SB-5000 boasts a high guide number of 34.5m at ISO 100, providing ample power for various lighting conditions. It features a versatile zoom range of 24-200mm, allowing for precise control over the spread of light to match different shooting scenarios.
The flash supports Nikon’s i-TTL system, ensuring accurate exposure and seamless integration with Nikon cameras.
One of the standout features of the SB-5000 is its wireless capabilities. It is equipped with a built-in radio control system that operates on the 2.4GHz frequency, offering a range of up to 30 meters.
This enables effortless wireless communication between multiple flash units, allowing for sophisticated lighting setups without the need for line-of-sight. The flash also supports optical wireless communication, compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System.
This provides further flexibility for wireless triggering and control, especially when used with other Nikon flashes. It features a compact and durable design, with weather-sealing to protect against dust and moisture.
Its intuitive interface, including a large, easy-to-read LCD panel, ensures quick and convenient access to settings and adjustments.
The Speedlite flash offers high-speed sync (up to 1/8000s) for capturing fast-moving subjects with a balanced exposure. On top of that, the SB-5000 supports firmware updates, allowing users to keep up with the latest features and advancements released by Nikon.
One potential drawback is the price, as the SB-5000 is a high-end flash with a premium cost compared to entry-level options. Additionally, the compatibility of this flash is limited to Nikon cameras, restricting its use to Nikon users exclusively.
To sum it all up, the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight is a powerful and feature-rich flash unit. With its strong wireless capabilities, excellent build quality, and reliable performance, it is a valuable tool for professional photographers looking to elevate their lighting setups and achieve exceptional results in their work.
Pros
- Powerful performance
- Versatile and easy to use
- Weather-sealing
- High-speed sync
- Frequent Firmware updates
Cons
- It’s Brand-specific
- Pricey
- Limited compatibility
3. NEEWER NW645II-N TTL Speedlite Flash
The NEEWER NW645II-N TTL Flash is a feature-packed external flash designed specifically for Nikon cameras, including the highly acclaimed Nikon D850.
With its impressive specifications and exceptional compatibility, this flash is a valuable addition to any photographer’s toolkit.
It offers TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering, ensuring accurate and consistent exposure in various shooting conditions. Its high guide number provides ample lighting power, and the adjustable zoom range allows for precise control over the light spread, making it suitable for different focal lengths.
This speedlight flash seamlessly integrates with the camera’s TTL system, providing reliable and accurate exposure metering. This compatibility allows Nikon D850 users to take full advantage of the flash’s capabilities, resulting in professional-quality lighting for their photographs.
The NW645II-N flash features a built-in 2.4GHz wireless transmission system, enabling it to function as both a master and slave unit. This wireless capability allows for convenient off-camera flash setups, opening up creative possibilities for lighting and composition.
The flash offers a fast recycling time, ensuring that you never miss a crucial shot. Its intuitive control interface and clear LCD screen make it easy to navigate and adjust settings on the fly.
The NW645II-N Speedlite also supports high-speed sync, enabling the capture of fast-moving subjects with a perfectly balanced exposure.
With its sturdy construction and durable build quality, this flash is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use. The NW645II-N’s compatibility with Nikon’s i-TTL system further enhances its performance, ensuring seamless communication and reliable exposure control.
Its reliable TTL metering, wireless capabilities, and user-friendly interface make it a valuable tool for photographers seeking professional lighting solutions.
Whether you’re shooting portraits, events, or any other genre, the NW645II-N delivers consistent and high-quality results, making it a worthwhile investment for Nikon D850 enthusiasts.
Pros
- Highly compatible
- Wireless as well as Versatility
- User-friendly design
- Affordable
- Reliable
Cons
- Build quality could have been better
- Limited features
- Recycling time
4. Godox V850III Manual Camera Flash for Nikon D850
The Godox V850III Flash is a remarkable addition to the Godox Flash lineup, offering an array of advanced features and specifications suitable for both amateur and professional photographers.
With its impressive power output, rapid recycling time, and wireless control capabilities, the V850III proves to be a versatile and dependable flash unit. At its core, the V850III boasts a GN60 power that provides ample lighting for various shooting scenarios.
Its zoom range of 20-200mm enables flexible coverage and precise light distribution. The flash also incorporates a 2.4G wireless X system, allowing seamless integration with other Godox flash units and accessories, making it ideal for off-camera setups.
One notable highlight of the V850III flash is its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers an impressive 650 full power flashes on a single charge.
This eliminates the need for cumbersome and costly disposable batteries, making it more convenient for photographers on the go. Additionally, the flash features a speedy recycling time of just 1.5 seconds at full power, minimizing downtime between shots.
The V850III encompasses a range of professional features, including high-speed sync (up to 1/8000s), stroboscopic flash, and multi-flash modes.
These functionalities provide photographers with the flexibility to freeze motion, capture multiple exposures, and experiment with creative lighting techniques.
Moreover, the V850III manual flash boasts a user-friendly interface with a large LCD screen, ensuring easy access to settings and adjustments. It also supports firmware upgrades, enabling users to benefit from future enhancements and advancements.
The Godox V850III Flash is an exceptional, feature-rich flash unit that delivers outstanding performance. Its powerful output, swift recycling time, wireless control capabilities, and rechargeable battery make it an excellent choice for photographers seeking a reliable and versatile lighting solution.
Whether you’re a professional or an enthusiast, the V850III is certain to elevate your photography experience.
Pros
- Impressive and powerful performance
- Fast recycling
- High-speed sync
- Stroboscopic flash
- Multi-flash modes
- User-friendly
- Firmware upgradeable
Cons
- Limited zoom range
- Potential compatibility issues
- Size and weight
5. NEEWER NW620 GN60 Speedlite Manual Flash
The NEEWER NW620 Speedlite Flash is a feature-packed flash unit that offers a range of capabilities suitable for various photography needs.
When it comes to compatibility, the NW620 is designed to work seamlessly with the Nikon D850, providing a reliable and efficient lighting solution.
With regards to specifications, the NW620 boasts a powerful guide number (GN) of 58, ensuring ample light output for a wide range of shooting situations. This high output is especially beneficial when shooting in low light conditions or when a longer reach is required.
The flash offers a versatile zoom range of 18-180mm, allowing for precise control over the coverage of light. This enables photographers to adapt to different focal lengths and adjust the flash beam to match the lens they are using, resulting in well-balanced and properly exposed images.
The NW620 Speedlite Flash supports high-speed sync (HSS), allowing users to shoot at higher shutter speeds than the camera’s sync speed. This feature is particularly useful for freezing fast-moving subjects or achieving a shallow depth of field in bright lighting conditions.
Furthermore, the NW620 incorporates a stroboscopic flash mode, enabling multiple rapid flashes within a single exposure. This feature is ideal for capturing motion and creating dynamic images with a sense of movement.
In terms of compatibility, the NW620 is designed specifically for the Nikon D850, ensuring seamless integration and communication between the flash and the camera.
This compatibility ensures accurate TTL (through-the-lens) metering and allows for effortless control over flash settings directly from the camera menu.
In short, the NEEWER NW620 Speedlite Flash offers impressive specifications and seamless compatibility with the Nikon D850. Its high power output, versatile zoom range, and advanced features like HSS and stroboscopic flash make it a reliable and capable flash unit for photographers seeking to enhance their lighting capabilities.
Pros
-
- Versatile usage
- Highly Compatible with Nikon D850
- HSS (High-Speed Sync)
- Stroboscopic
- Manual zoom
- Lightweight and Portable
Cons
- Build quality could have been better
- Limited features
- Recycle time is long
About Nikon D850
The Nikon D850 is a camera that leaves no room for compromise when it comes to specifications. Its standout features are designed to meet the needs of professional photographers and enthusiasts who demand the highest level of performance.
At the heart of the D850 lies a massive 45.7-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor.
This sensor captures incredible image resolution and dynamic range, producing stunningly detailed photos with true-to-life colors. Even in challenging lighting conditions, the D850 excels, thanks to its impressive low-light performance.
The EXPEED 5 image-processing engine powers the D850, providing remarkable speed and efficiency. With this engine, the camera offers swift continuous shooting at up to 9 frames per second (fps) with full autofocus and exposure tracking. You can confidently capture every decisive moment without missing a beat.
The D850 features an advanced 153-point autofocus (AF) system with 99 cross-type sensors. This AF system ensures precise subject acquisition and tracking, covering a wide area of the frame.
It delivers exceptional accuracy and reliability, allowing you to capture sharp and focused images effortlessly. With a native ISO range of 64 to 25,600 (expandable to 32-102,400), the D850 performs exceptionally well in low-light situations.
It maintains impressive image quality with minimal noise, enabling you to shoot confidently in challenging lighting conditions and produce stunning results. In addition to its stills prowess, the D850 offers exceptional video capabilities.
It can capture 4K UHD footage at up to 30 frames per second, delivering professional-grade video quality with rich details and smooth motion. Whether you’re shooting stills or videos, the D850 offers exceptional image quality and versatility.
The D850 also includes a built-in intervalometer for easy creation of time-lapse sequences. You can capture breathtaking nature scenes or document long-term projects with flexibility and precision.
The camera’s 3.2-inch tilting LCD touchscreen provides intuitive navigation, easy menu access, and convenient image review. Its tilting capability expands your creative possibilities by allowing you to shoot from various angles.
Built with a robust magnesium alloy body and extensive weather sealing, the D850 is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use. It offers reliability and durability in diverse shooting conditions, giving you peace of mind during your photography adventures.
The EN-EL15a rechargeable battery provides an impressive battery life, allowing for extended shooting sessions without interruption. You can focus on capturing images without worrying about running out of power.
Specifications of Nikon D850
- Sensor of 45.7-megapixel FX-format (full-frame) CMOS sensor
- Image Processor- EXPEED 5 image-processing engine
- ISO Range- Native ISO 64-25,600 (expandable to 32-102,400)
- Autofocus System- Advanced Multi-CAM 20K autofocus with 153 focus points (99 cross-type sensors)
- Continuous Shooting Speed- Up to 9 frames per second (fps) with full autofocus and exposure tracking
- Shutter Speed- 1/8000 to 30 seconds, bulb, and time modes
- Video Recording- 4K UHD video at 30/25/24p and Full HD at 60/50/30/25/24p
- Time-Lapse Photography- Built-in intervalometer for creating stunning time-lapse sequences
- Viewfinder- Optical pentaprism viewfinder with 0.75x magnification
- LCD Screen- 3.2-inch tilting LCD touchscreen with 2,359k-dot resolution
- Storage Media- Dual memory card slots (one XQD and one SD)
- Connectivity- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless image transfer and remote control
- Weather Sealing- Extensive weather sealing for protection against dust and moisture
- Battery Life- Approx. 1840 shots per charge with the EN-EL15a rechargeable battery
- Weight- Approx. 1005g (body only)
- Dimensions- 146 x 124 x 78.5 mm (5.8 x 4.9 x 3.1 inches)
Final Thoughts
Understanding the world of flashes and finding the perfect match for your Nikon D850 can be a daunting task, especially if you are new to the realm of photography.
However, armed with the knowledge gained from exploring different flash options, you are now equipped to make an informed decision and select the ideal flash for your needs.
By considering factors such as power output, zoom range, compatibility, advanced features like high-speed sync and stroboscopic mode, and even budget constraints, you can narrow down your options and find a flash that complements the capabilities of your Nikon D850.
Additionally, don’t underestimate the value of compatibility. Choosing a flash specifically designed for the Nikon D850, like the NW620, ensures seamless integration, reliable TTL metering, and easy control of flash settings directly from your camera.
With the right flash in hand, you’ll unlock endless creative possibilities, elevate your photography, and capture stunning images that truly showcase the capabilities of your Nikon D850.
Happy flashing!
