Suggested flash? (that supports four-pin Nikon hot shoe protocol)

[King Mustard]

I am a beginner.

I have a Nikon D3300 and will be taking (non-professional, just as a favor to the bride and groom) photos at the nighttime disco of the wedding event.

I am considering a more powerful flash than the one the D3300 has built-in, to replace and do the same job as the built-in flash (so no bounce lighting etc required).

I want a flash I can attach to the camera body and that I do not have to think about and simply works out of the box when I take a photo (so, nothing manual).

According to inksta in this thread on Stack Exchange, it appears I would need a flash that supports the Nikon hot shoe protocol (has four-pins). S/he also mentioned terms like TTL, full iTTL and HSS.

Is there a specific keyword I need to look for when looking for the kind of flash I am looking for?

Searching for 'TTL flash' on Amazon does indeed bring up flashes, such as the:

• Neewer NW635II-N
• Neewer NW645II-N
• Neewer NW700-N
• Godox TT350N
• Godox TT685II-N

Are those the correct kinds I need?

 

[RAZKY]

I am a beginner.

I have a Nikon D3300 and will be taking (non-professional, just as a favor to the bride and groom) photos at the nighttime disco of the wedding event.

I am considering a more powerful flash than the one the D3300 has built-in, to replace and do the same job as the built-in flash (so no bounce lighting etc required).

I want a flash I can attach to the camera body and that I do not have to think about and simply works out of the box when I take a photo (so, nothing manual).

According to inksta in this thread on Stack Exchange, it appears I would need a flash that supports the Nikon hot shoe protocol (has four-pins). S/he also mentioned terms like TTL, full iTTL and HSS.

Is there a specific keyword I need to look for when looking for the kind of flash I am looking for?

Searching for 'TTL flash' on Amazon does indeed bring up flashes, such as the:

• Neewer NW635II-N (£70-£85)
• Neewer Z760-N (£150)
• Neewer Z1-N (£120-£170)

Are those the correct kinds I need?

You might check your User's Manual for compatible Nikon flash units. (Metz is the only non-Nikon brand I would personally recommend, or consider, though some cheap units may suit your purpose).

 

[adamhiram]

I have had great experiences with Godox flashes, as they typically perform well, and are both versatile and affordable. Based on the examples provided, it appears you are looking for something on-camera. Here is a quick overview of Godox's on-camera flashes. The same units can be found through Adorama under the Flashpoint brand.

• Godox TT600: Manual flash (no TTL), uses AA batteries
• Godox TT850II: Manual flash (no TTL), built-in Li-Ion battery
• Godox TT685II: TTL, uses AA batteries
• Godox TT860III: TTL, built-in LiIon battery

The flashes listed above sell for $65-$229, depending on whether you need TTL and if you want a built-in Li-Ion battery or can settle for AA. The will all work well both on-camera and off, can be used with standard bowens-mount light modifiers using an S-2 adapter, and can be triggered wirelessly using an inexpensive Godox trigger.

There is also the TT-350, which is lower power, but also smaller and lighter weight. If size and weight are critical, perhaps this is something to consider. On the other end of the spectrum are the V1/V1Pro flashes, which are bigger, brighter, heavier, and have a round head, which some people prefer. But you'll pay a premium for them, and they are less portable.

Personally, I started with a Nikon SB-700, never used the TTL feature, and had to buy additional hardware to trigger it wirelessly. I ended up going with 4x TT600 flashes with Enelopop rechargeable AA batteries, which I occasionally used on-camera, but mostly used as ultra-portable strobes that could be adapted and used inside standard light modifiers such as softboxes. I eventually added Godox AD400Pro studio strobes to my kit, but those are more for studio use.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!