In this article, we will be taking a look at what we feel is the best flash for Nikon d3200 cameras at various price points currently available on the market right now. We have noticed a number of photographers across all levels of skill reaching out for assistance on finding a compatible flash for their Nikon d3200.
We have researched the various compatible flashes out there and settled on five that we feel will suit out readers best. They all fall within the budgets of our readers coming in between $30-£300 while all being compatible with the d3200 as well as having an excellent reputation within the photography community.
Click Here To Check For Prices On High-Quality Flashes For The Nikon d3200!
Table of Contents
The Nikon SB-910 Speedlight Flash – High End
The Nikon SB-910 is the newer version of the SB-900, it has all of the same functionality as well as a few improvements to make your life as a photographer as easy as possible. For example, the navigation menu on the Nikon SB-910 is much easier and quicker to use than the one on the SB-900.
Additionally, the actual user interface of the lens has been improved to make it easier to actually work the improved navigation menu. A number of quick select buttons have also been added to the Nikon SB-910 such as the flash exposure compensation button to allow you to quickly activate your flash exposure settings and adjust it accordingly. This can really help cut down on the amount of wasted time during your photography session with your Nikon d3200 while still letting you get excellent quality pictures.
The Nikon SB-910 can also detect if you are using an FX or DX Nikon camera (DX in the case of the Nikon d3200) and adjust its flash output accordingly to work best with your camera. This requires no additional action from you, simply attach the flash and you are good to go.
In our opinion, one of the biggest improvements that the Nikon SB-910 has received over the SB-900 is its filter system. With many of the old versions of Nikon flashes, you would get a single plastic filter fitting and then have to swap out the different color gel based inserts as required.
Not surprisingly, the gel-based inserts were often damaged or lost altogether limiting your options. With the Nikon SB-910, you get a full range of plastic fittings that have been tinted in a number of different colors. These plastic fittings are much more robust and won’t rip or tear making the system much better.
Another improvement to the Nikon SB-910’s filter system is its autodetection sensor. It is located at the base of the flash head just under where the filter will attach to the actual flash.
The sensor has the ability to auto-detect the color or type of filter that you have attached to the flash and then adjust its output as required for optimal photographs. This can save you countless hours over the course of a working week when you would otherwise have to manually go through the settings and tweak it as required.
Another thing with some competing flashes, even at this price range is that you are unable to attach a flash diffuser (Click here to check for product prices and availability) if you have your filter system attached. Thankfully, this is not the case with the Nikon SB-910 and you are able to easily attached your diffuser of choice even with a filter attached. Our guide on the best flash diffusers may help you pick out the right flash diffuser for you.
One of the major upgrades to the Nikon SB-910 is its overheating system. In the SB-900 and older models, the flash would simply power down and not let you use it at all if it detected that it was overheating.
Thankfully, this is no longer the case in the Nikon SB-910 although overheating of the flash is rare anyway. If the Nikon SB-910 detects that it is starting to overheat it will simply increase the flashes recycle time to allow it to cool down while still offering you use of it allows you to keep taking photographs.
Although a small thing, the storage system for the Nikon SB-910 is much better too in our opinion. Gone are the days where the bag was an awkward shape to add to your photography bag and almost forced you to leave things such as your filter kit out. The bag for the Nikon SB-910 is designed to be as small and compact as possible allowing you to store all the included accessories in it while also being easy to fit in your main photography bag.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!
The video below offers an additional third-party, independent review for the Nikon SB-910 to offer our readers an independent opinion of the product.
The Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight Flash – High End
As you would expect from a flash at this price point, the SB-700 offers full three hundred and sixty-degree rotation of the flash head around the body. It also offers a slight seven degree forward tilt as well as full verticle for any bounce flash needs you may have.
As you can see in the image to the left, the SB-700 comes with various modes that you can quickly switch between via the switch in the top left of the image. It comes with standard through the lens, manual, and guide number modes.
The TTL and manual modes are straightforward enough but anyone who use previously used entry level or budget range flashes may not have used guide numbers before.
Essentially, it is a way to preprogram or easily tweak the distance you have between the subject being photographed and the flash itself. Switching to this mode allows you to quickly tweak key settings to get the perfect photograph in no time.
The interface on the SB-700 is easy enough to use with people not familiar with the Nikon menu being able to pick it up quickly. If you have used any Nikon flashes previously to the SB-700 then you will see many similarities between their other flash products.
As with many modern style flashes, a basic flash diffuser is attached to the flash head as shown in the image to the right. Above this is an included bounce card to allow you to quickly and easily do any bounce photography on the fly.
Although the attached flash diffuser may help you in a pinch its performance is not the best. A decent attachable flash dome diffuser is included with the flash as standard though that will improve your ability to diffuser the flashes output. That said, if you are spending this much on a flash then using a premium flash diffuser (Click here to check for product prices and availability) is probably the way you will want to go.
Similar to the SB-910 covered above, the SB-700 uses the newer style flash molds rather than the older gel insert based system we already touched on earlier.
This can make your life easier and make your Nikon d3200 photography sessions a breeze as the chance of having to use a damaged flash filter on the SB-700 or finding out that you have lost one is almost eliminated.
All in all, the SB-700 does offer an excellent product for your Nikon d3200 but in all honesty, we would recommend that you go with the SB-910 (Click here to check for product prices and availability) covered earlier in the article as it doesn’t cost much more but is a much better flash for your d3200.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!
The video below offers an additional third-party, independent review for the Nikon SB-700 to offer our readers an independent opinion of the product.
The Yongnuo YN-568EX Speedlight Flash – Mid Ranged
With Yongnuo managing to hit the nail between price and affordability with this lens, it has managed to grow to become a very popular flash. To this date, it still holds a solid reputation within the photography community and is considered one of the best camera flashes for its price point.
As you would expect for a camera flash at this price point, the user interface and menu control options are fairly basic. That said, the buttons are easy to use and the various controls are responsive.
Although some of the settings can be a little difficult to work out, spending five minutes reading the manual will teach you how to use the interface to its full potential. Once you have used the interface a few times it quickly becomes second nature allowing you to quickly and easily tweak the flash settings. If you have used any Yongnuo camera flashes in the past then you should be able to pick it up very quickly.
The Yongnuo YN-568EX also has a very high built quality with a robust design helping to reduce any potential damage to the flash that may occur in transit between locations. As you would expect, the YN-568EX has a TTL mode as well as an auto sync mode to try and save you as much time as possible during your photography sessions.
As you can see in the image to the left, the Yongnuo YN-568EX comes with an attached and easily stores flash diffuser and flash bounce card. Simply pull them out of their storage slots when required and then place them back in once your photographs are done.
Unlike many competing flashes on the market, including a number at much higher price points, the attached flash diffuser on the Yongnuo YN-568EX is surprisingly effective giving us another reason to recommend that you give this flash unit on Nikon d3200 cameras a chance.
The Yongnuo YN-568EX has the same flash power as the Canon 580 (not compatible with the Nikon d3200) and Nikon SB-800 (Click here to check for product prices and availability) while also being cheaper. Although the functionality one the Canon and Nikon rivals is a little better, the YN-568EX still makes a solid Speedlite flash for Nikon d3200 users.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!
The Neewer 750II TTL Flash Speedlite – Entry Level
The user interface options on the Neewer 750II are pretty basic but that is to be expected for its price point. That said, it is still able to get the job done efficiently and it is relatively straightforward to use.
If you are doing photography gig where you will need to be changing the settings of your flash quickly and often then one of the three flashes covered above would be better options though.
If you are familiar with Neewer flash products then you will notice little difference between the Neewer 750II and their other entry-level to mid-range products. The LCD screen is very clear though and allows you to quickly and easily see the flash settings that you are tweaking video the interface.
The Neewer 750II does come with an autofocus assist lamp as shown in the image to the right but we have found reports that it can be a bit hit and miss at times.
That said, the general consensus and other third-party reports and reviews that we could find seem to suggest that the majority of the time, the autofocus assist lamp does its job well, especially for being such a cheap flash.
At full power, you are able to use the flash for around thirty minutes before you will need to swap out or recharge the AA batteries it runs off. Although this is the lowest uptime from a set of fully charged batteries we have covered so far on our list, we feel it will be plenty for the majority of photographers purchasing a flash at this price point.
Additionally, AA batteries are very cheap (Click here to check for product prices and availability) and easy to come by meaning you can just stock up on them before doing to your location if required. All in all, we feel that this is a solid Neewer flash for a Nikon d3200 camera that will serve you well.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!
The Altura Photo AP-UNV1 Flash Speedlite – Budget Option
As you would expect for such a cheap flash, the interface and options menu is very limited as shown in the image to the right. That said if you are an entry-level photographer, photography student or hobbyist photographer we think it will meet all of your requirements for your d3200.
The AP-UNV1 uses four AA batteries (Click here to check for product prices and availability) that will keep the flash going for around twenty minutes from a full charge. That said, we have seen third-party reports say they were only able to keep the flash powered for around the ten-minute mark. We believe that this would be down to the types of batteries they use in the flash so always be sure to use a reputable brand like the ones linked above that have a proven track record.
The AP-UNV1 can also be used in a master and slave system offering a cheap and cost-efficient way for you to set up your first multi off-camera slave flash rig without breaking the bank too. Although the flash has a four second recycle time and many people see this as a negative it actually helps to remove the overheating issues that are so common in these very low priced camera flashes helping you avoid the issue of the flash randomly cutting out on you.
Click Here To Read Independent Third Party Reviews Of This Product!
Click Here To Check For Prices On This Product!
Related Articles
Click Here To Read More Of Our Articles About Camera Flashes!
4 Of The Best Tripods For Nikon D3200 Cameras!
3 Of The Best External Mics For Nikon D3200 Cameras!