Which speed light for Nikon D3300

Jeysson

New member
Hi All,

2 Months ago I purchased a Nikon d3300 this is my first DSLR and I'm really happy with it.
I have explored it as much as my work gives me time, and now it comes the time to purchase a flash.

From a Budget point of view I want to get the best I can such as the Yongnuo 568ex.

However I'm not sure of the capability of the d3300 for high speed sync. So I don't know if it is worth to get the 568ex or perhaps I should go for a cheaper one.

I want this flash mainly to bounce light on the roof and start taking social pictures in Disco, Parties and Bars.

Please give me your thoughts and suggestions about it. Thank you so much.
 

weebee

Senior Member
The Yongnuo is a good flash. But, you can get the Neewer 750 II for less. It doesn't have command mode. But it has TTL and is a good starter flash.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
The Yongnuo is a good flash. But, you can get the Neewer 750 II for less. It doesn't have command mode. But it has TTL and is a good starter flash.
The D3300 does not support HSS so you could get the less expensive Yongnuo 565EX, instead of the 568EX.
....
 
For discos parties and bars you dont want flash ....you will get the same effect as holding your disco at midday in a field.
You want P mode ..auto iso 200-6400 min 1/30 and off you go ....
If you do want a flash you need a Meike Mk 3000 but if its in the shoe or any flash in the shoe only shoot landscape to avoid side shaddows....
 

aroy

Senior Member
If the disco has strobes going on, then they will act as flash, so you need to set the aperture to say F8 and exposure to less than 1/100 and let the strobes do the rest.

Other wise as has been mentioned, get a basic flash with no HSS (or even command mode as you are not going in for multiple flashes) with as high a guide number as you can afford.
 
I shoot discos every week of the year so of course I know nothing .....

Though I do take my own disco lights so I have full control...
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Just got a pair of Neewer 985's, and while yet to use em, they got solid reviews and for $63 have a plethora of features and power. I'd say that a good flash makes or breaks an entry level body when it comes down to you needing more light.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
The Yongnuo YN565EX or Neewer VK750 II are real bargains, and perform well.

The Neewer NW985 I had was satisfactory for normal TTL or Manual operation, but it had defective HSS mode, and deficient TTL as Remote with the Commander (neither of which would be D3300 concerns).

Reviews of all three at the link below.
 

vics

New member
For discos parties and bars you dont want flash ....you will get the same effect as holding your disco at midday in a field.
You want P mode ..auto iso 200-6400 min 1/30 and off you go ....
If you do want a flash you need a Meike Mk 3000 but if its in the shoe or any flash in the shoe only shoot landscape to avoid side shaddows....
Are you saying that with D3300 in auto ISO one can constrain ISO range and minimum shutter speed? I'm new to digital, and my Sony a200 won't do this. I'm a prospective D3300 buyer.
Vic
 

WayneF

Senior Member
Yes, sort of.

The Auto ISO menu on Nikon DSLR have a "Minimum Shutter Speed" setting. This is not a true absolute Minimum, but is instead a threshold for Auto ISO to kick in. It works this way (assuming camera mode A or P or Auto, but not S or M of course):

In the Auto ISO setting, you set say ISO 100 minimum, ISO 3200 maximum, and say 1/100 second minimum shutter speed.

In bright scenes, it might use ISO 100 and shutter speed maybe 1/500 second, as normal.

As the light becomes more dim, shutter speed drops slower, as normal.

When shutter speed hits the 1/100 second limit (if set at minimum shutter speed), then shutter speed hangs there, does not decrease, but then ISO starts increasing. Anytime Auto ISO is acting (above minimum, below maximum), the shutter speed will be the 1/100 second (minimum). All of the Auto ISO range uses that shutter speed you set (so it is important). You may want it a little faster than 1/30 second. All of your high ISO pictures will use that value.

When the light gets more dim, and when ISO 3200 is not enough, then since ISO cannot increase above your maximum, then shutter speed has to drop even lower, as normal. So, it is NOT an absolute Minimum shutter speed. The goal is still to provide a proper exposure, whatever it takes.

Using a flash can alter this action somewhat, the minimum shutter speed with flash comes into play (it wins conflicts), and ISO with flash has a high limit in some models... camera models vary, if using flash. There are ifs and buts... if the flash is seen and recognized as a Manual flash, then Auto ISO is automatically disabled (a manual flash cannot respond to Auto ISO). My own notion is that it's always a good idea to turn Auto ISO off with any flash.


The idea of Auto ISO is actually to take effect "when all else fails"... some physical limit is reached. For example, in camera S mode, the aperture varies. When the aperture hits wide open and can go no more, then Auto ISO kicks in. This means Auto ISO is always using a wide open lens (in camera S mode).

In camera A mode, the shutter speed varies. But that means Auto ISO does not kick in until shutter speed hits its physical limit at 30 seconds. That is too slow, not realistic, so instead, they provided this artificial limit (called minimum shutter speed), to be the threshold where Auto ISO kicks in. You can set it wherever you like. All of the Auto ISO range will use that shutter speed you set, but it can go slower if required.
 
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