Flash for a D3300

Glevum Owl

Senior Member
I've dropped myself in it. In a weak moment I agreed to take photos at a Nativity service.

The church building is modern but with mixed lighting and high ceilings. Somehow I don't think my trusty little SB400 is going to cut it.

Any recommendations for a flash for the D3300, please? Preferably one that won't break the bank. I'm in the UK.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I've dropped myself in it. In a weak moment I agreed to take photos at a Nativity service.

The church building is modern but with mixed lighting and high ceilings. Somehow I don't think my trusty little SB400 is going to cut it.

Any recommendations for a flash for the D3300, please? Preferably one that won't break the bank. I'm in the UK.
I'm going to assume you'll want to use TLL and you're planning on having this flash on the hot-shoe the whole time? If so, my first suggestion would be a Godox tt685-N but if you want to save a few bucks there's the Yongnuo 568EX to consider. If you think you're going to stop at just one, on-camera (hot-shoe mounted) flash the Yongnuo is a good bet. If you think you'll want to expand into using off-camera flash at some point in the future, start buying into the Godox system now.
 
Last edited:

Glevum Owl

Senior Member
I'm going to assume you'll want to use TLL and you're planning on having this flash on the hot-shoe the whole time? If so, my first suggestion would be a Godox tt685-N but if you want to save a few bucks there's the Yongnuo 568EX to consider. If you think you're going to stop at just one, on-camera (hot-shoe mounted) flash the Yongnuo is a good bet. If you think you'll want to expand into using off-camera flash at some point in the future, start buying into the Godox system now.

Thank you for the advice and my apologies for not replying sooner.

The Godox was a great idea and I've found one on eBay, from a reputable seller. I hope to be playing with the (almost) new toy by the end of tomorrow.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Thank you for the advice and my apologies for not replying sooner.

The Godox was a great idea and I've found one on eBay, from a reputable seller. I hope to be playing with the (almost) new toy by the end of tomorrow.
Good luck on your shoot... The tt685 should serve you well.

Also, while I don't want to muddy the water I am going to point out that IF you wanted to seriously up your game, you could put an XPro Controller (about £60.00) on your D3300, place your new tt685 anywhere you want and have total control of its output right from the camera body. You could also use the less expensive X1T-N controller but I have used them both and can't even begin to tell you how superior I feel the XPro is over the X1T.

I mention this only because getting the flash off-camera was probably THE best thing I learned regarding improving my photography. The freedom of being able to put your flash pretty much anywhere you want is just amaaaazing, even when working with a single flash. I'll further point out your spiffy-new tt685 will come with a foot that has a 1/4 x 20 thread in the bottom to which you can attach a QD plate from a tripod. Put that whole assembly back on your tripod and BAM! Your tripod now serves double-duty as a light-stand since the tt685 has a built-in wireless receiver. Of course this assumes you already have a tripod but I would feel legitimately remiss if I didn't point the virtues of getting the flash out of the hot-shoe.
 
Last edited:

Glevum Owl

Senior Member
A controller is a good idea. It's now in the Amazon wish list for next year sometime. Thank you (again!).

In my Canon days, I used a 20D with two 430s slaved to a 580ex + an old 35mm era Canon gun fired by a pea sensor for architectural photography. They were a complete PITA to use as Canon did everything possible to make them difficult to set up and the 580 had to stay in the camera's hot shoe. A wireless solution sounds eminently more sensible.

In the dim and distant past I visited a site that recommended using one of those hospital drip stands for moving around an off-camera flash. Another project for next year perhaps?

EDIT: found the link for the hospital IV stand. The article's totally Canon focused (sic) and includes a plan for a homemade reflector + a Stroboframe bracket which I made and used respectively with some success. Thinking about I still have the bracket in the cupboard. The IV stand info is buried in the middle of the page. I honestly can't say I like the results shown but the theory is sound.
 
Last edited:
Top