Camera Labs

As title said, anyone with experience with 3rd party external Flash for D5100 (or any of the DSLR series really)?

Just bought a new D5100 with both the 15-55mm and the 55-300mm lens for my wife as a present and looking to add in a budget Flash for now and maybe upgrade to the SB600 down the road a bit. So any advice would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Hello tkchan007, and welcome to the friendly Camera Labs forum!
To enjoy your stay here please have a look at the house-rules!
----
As to your Q: i hope others from the forum can give some advice. I use only a Nikon flash now but have fond memories of my old flash from German manufacturer Metz who is still in business. I think they still make great products. Have a look at the "System Flash Units", they should be optimally adapted to the specifics of each camera-manufacturer.

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

I don't have personal experience, but my local camera store rate the `Nissin` units? http://www.nissindigital.com/top.html

The Nikon SB400 is a good, basic flash. Small & easy to carry. Suppose it depends on budget AND the amount of use etc.

_________________

Nikon D700 & D7100 bodies + Nikkor 300mm F2.8 VR11, 1.7TC, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

I bought my wife a Metz flashgun to use with her D7000, as a spare and for her to try off-camera flash, with her Nikon SB-800 and SU-800. She has not used it extensively, but it seems to work fine. I do not recall the exact model designation, but it is the one comparable in power to the SB-700. The control buttons seems simpler and more intuitive than a typical Nikon flashgun.

I have a Nissin Di 866 II Professional, to fit Canon. It is quite capable and powerful. One desirable feature is that when the camera is turned 90 degrees to portrait oriention, the display screen rotates, in order to be read more easily.

_________________
Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro

I have the SB400.

Although I only use flash occasionally, it has enough power to bounce of reasonably high ceilings - particularly with the ISO capabilities of the D5100.

It has no individual controls (apart from the tilt) which means it works in the same manner as the on-camera flash, but to me this is an advantage - plenty of control options still and no extra ones to learn.

If you look around, you may well see it on sale for a reasonable amount (seems to be prone to discount).

It's compact, mounts securely and recharges quickly.

_________________
HCC
Nikon DSLRs, film cameras from Leica to Linhof

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Just curious, anyone has any experience (good and/or bad) with Yongnuo Flashes? Specially I'm looking at both the 565EX as well as the 468II model while leaning towards the 468II model for now as a starter flash for my wife.

Thanks again.