Best Flash For Nikon D500

Last Updated on February 2, 2023

The Nikon D500 is a powerful camera, but it can only do so much in low light situations. That’s where a flash comes in, helping to brighten up your shots and add depth and dimension to your images. But with so many flashes on the market, how do you choose the right one for your Nikon D500?

In this blog post, we’ll be reviewing the best flashes for the Nikon D500, taking into account factors such as compatibility, power, and versatility. Whether you’re looking for a basic flash or one with more advanced features, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be weighing the pros and cons of each flash, helping you to make an informed decision based on your specific needs and budget. So, let’s dive into the world of flash photography and find the perfect match for your Nikon D500!

QQUICK RECOMMENDATION:
Check out Godox V1-N Round Head Flash for Nikon D500 for best value
or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews…

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Best Nikon D500 TTL Flash

Nikon SB 700 AF Speedlight Flash

This is by far my favorite speedlight TTL for the Nikon D500. It offers exceptional performance in a compact design that is certain to improve your lighting quality. It provides all the high professional performance features you need and it is i-TTL compatible.

That means you get automatic metering when mounted on either the DX or FX format cameras. It is designed to work flawlessly with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System. This allows you to take control over all your lighting setup needs. This flash offers auto zoom in the 24-120mm range with the ability to expand that to 12mm thanks to the built in wide angle diffusion panel.

• Guide number of 92′ at ISO 100 and 35mm
• Zoom range: 24-120mm with 12mm wide angle diffuser panel
• Tilt: -7 to 90 degrees
• Compatible with Nikon iTTL
• Features commander mode for wireless TTL
• Offers strobe mode with three illumination patterns
• Fast recycle time
• Features slow, high speed and 1st and 2nd curtain sync
• Battery powered

Godox V1 Flash

This powerful TTL flash for D500’s is powerful and a top performer. It provides advanced lighting in an i-TTL on camera flash body that is well designed. It offers a round head design that provides soft illumination that provides flattering lighting for your subjects.

You get full tilt and head rotation as well as magnetic light modifier attachment mounting for awesome versatility. This flash is powered by a quality lithium ion battery for extended life. The recycle time is very quick and you get high speed sync up to 1/8000 sec. This flash is great when shooting with a wide open aperture and when shooting in bright conditions.

• High power and soft flattering light
• Auto zoom control
• Offers a built in modeling lamp
• Fast recycle time
• Great build and design
• Magnetic light modifier mount
• Lithium ion battery powered
• 2.4 GHz wireless x system transmitter

Nikon SB 5000 AF Speedlight Flash

This is a true professional quality speedlight ideal for the Nikon D500 camera. You get impressive lighting and overall performance at a very reasonable price.

The radio control feature is Nikon Creative Lighting System compatible. You also receive an advanced shoe mounted flash cooling system that allows you to shoot up to one hundred consecutive flashes at full power. This speedlight is powerful and feature rich making it one of the best overall flashes you can get for your D500.

• Professional performance
• Offers a radio controlled wireless lighting system
• Fully i-TTL compatible
• Guide number of 113′ at ISO 100 and 35mm
• Features tilt and rotating
• Easy button operation
• Super fast recycle time
• Features slow, high speed and 1st and 2nd curtain sync

Bolt VX 710N TTL Flash

This Bolt on camera flash is designed specifically for Nikon cameras and pairs perfectly with the D500. It offers excellent performance at a great low price. You get tilt and rotation for improved lighting setup and it is great for taking closeups and portrait shots. It offers a built in diffuser panel and a stepless auto zoom mode. It matches the focal length of your lens seamlessly for easy operation. You also get rear curtain sync which allows you to shoot at slow shutter speeds. Add in wireless optical manual slave mode and you have a feature packed TTL flash for your Nikon.

• Compatible with Nikon D500 and iTTL flash
• Auto zoom feature
• Ideal for portrait photography and closeups
• Wireless slave mode
• Fast recycle time
• 1st and 2nd curtain sync
• Battery powered

Yongnuo YN968N TTL Speedlight Flash

Yongnuo is my favorite budget flash maker and this model is a great low cost option for the D500. It offers a guide number of 197′ at ISO 100 and 105mm.

This flash offers quick and powerful lighting with a wireless system for both master and slave modes. It is one of the best Yongnuo flashes for Nikon and at this price point you get a lot of bang for your buck.

• Exceptional value and performance
• Compatible with Nikon D500 and i-TTL
• Zoom range of 20 to 105mm
• Features power control
• Radio master and slave modes
• Features high speed sync and 1st and 2nd curtain sync

Best Manual Flash for Nikon D500

Yongnuo YN560 IV Speedlight

This Yongnuo model is my top pick for manual Nikon D500 flash. It allows you to trigger additional flashes from a range up to 328 feet. It is compatible with RF603 and RF602 wireless transmitters.

This powerful flash provides soft and flattering lighting with a guide number of 24-105mm and offers a built in wide angle panel diffuser. You also receive adjustable power output. All these features are great but at this low price this is an amazing value flash.

• Exceptional value
• Top rated manual flash for Nikon D500
• Offers full tilt and rotation
• Features optical slave mode
• Fast recycle time
• Provides multi mode for shooting with consecutive flashes
• Battery powered

Bolt VD 410 Manual Flash

This Bolt VD 410 is my favorite budget priced manual flash compatible with the D500. It offers sold performance and simple operation at a very reasonable price. You can use this flash for on camera and off camera lighting. You receive tilt and rotation for closeups and portrait shots. It covers standard 35mm and longer lenses and it offers a built in diffuser that offers even wider light coverage. It doesn’t offer as many features as the above model but if you are looking for a low cost flash this is the best currently available.

• Good performance and low price
• Offers tilt and rotation
• Manual output of 1/1 to 1/128
• Features optical slave mode with a 33′ range
• Instant sync slave mode
• Fast recycle time
• Battery powered

Conclusion

The Nikon D500 is a great camera popular with thousands of photographers thanks to it’s versatility and performance. If you are looking to improve your image quality one of the best ways to do so is by investing in a top rated flash. There are tons of options out there but not all flashes are worth the investment. But whether you are looking for a TTL speedlight or a manual flash, any of the top rated picks above will provide you with excellent performance at a great price.

For more Nikon and lighting tips and guides read these articles

• Best budget TTL flash for Nikon
• Best flash for Nikon
• Speedlight vs Strobe
• How to use a photography reflector
• TTL flash vs manual flash