Best Flash for Nikon Z5 II
The Z5 II has no pop-up, syncs flash at 1/200 s, and Nikon’s own CLS table leaves radio AWL and unified flash control blank. Off-camera radio on this body is a Godox 2.4 GHz N-mount in the shoe, not an SB-5000 waiting for a WR-R11b that has nowhere to plug in. Godox’s V1Pro N is the one that does i-TTL, Auto FP, and X-system master on the same battery.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Reviewed August 2026 · Nikon i-TTL N-mount only · sync 1/200 s, Auto FP for faster
76 Ws round head, 2980 mAh, ~1.3 s recycle, SU-1 sub-flash. Built-in X-system master for AD200/V1 remotes. Buy the N, not C or S.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Same 76 Ws round head and AK-R1 magnets. 2600 mAh, ~1.5 s, no SU-1. The previous page’s Overall, now the cheaper round head.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓GN 60 (ISO 100), 20–200 mm zoom, i-TTL, HSS, X-system, four AAs. Godox’s own listing names the Z5 II. Recycle at 1/1 is the AA tax.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Comparison Table
| Product | Power / battery | Radio on Z5 II | Head | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godox V1Pro N | 76 Ws · 2980 mAh · ~1.3 s | Built-in 2.4 GHz X | Round + SU-1 | ~$280–$330 | Check |
| Godox V1-N | 76 Ws · 2600 mAh · ~1.5 s | Built-in 2.4 GHz X | Round, AK-R1 | ~$210–$260 | Check |
| Godox TT685II-N | GN 60 · 4× AA · 0.1–2.6 s | Built-in 2.4 GHz X | Rect. 20–200 mm | ~$120 | Check |
| Nikon SB-700 | GN 28 (ISO 100, 35 mm) · 4× AA | Optical AWL only | 24–120 mm FX | ~$330 | Check |
| Nikon SB-5000 | GN 34.5 · AA · cooling | Radio AWL not on this body | 24–200 mm | ~$550+ | Skip |
| Godox V100 N | 100 Ws · Li-ion · touchscreen | Built-in 2.4 GHz X | Round + sub-flash | ~$400 | Check |
How We Picked These Flashes
- Start from Nikon’s Z5 II sheet, not a Z8/Z9 CLS chart: No built-in flash. ISO 518 shoe with sync and data contacts. Flash control is i-TTL (balanced fill with matrix/center/highlight, standard i-TTL with spot). CLS list is i-TTL, optical Advanced Wireless Lighting, modeling illumination, FV lock, Color Information Communication, auto FP. Flash compensation −3 to +1 EV. i-TTL is specified at ISO 64–12800. Flash will not combine with silent mode, video, high-speed frame capture +, or HDR overlay. Speedlight AF-assist lamps do not light — the camera’s lamp does. Unified flash control is a dash on every Speedlight row in Nikon’s compatible-flash table.
- 1/200 s is the sync, Auto FP is the workaround: Custom Setting e1 [1/200 s (Auto FP)] is how you get shutter speeds to 1/8000 s with a compatible unit, or 1/2000 s if d6 is electronic front-curtain. Lines can appear in Auto FP; Nikon says slow the shutter or drop flash power. Mechanical shutter for flash. Do not set silent and expect a pop.
- Radio on this body is Godox, not SB-5000 + WR: Nikon marks radio-controlled AWL as unavailable for the SB-5000 on the Z5 II. The accessories list has the MC-DC3 on the 3.5 mm jack, not a WR-R11b accessory terminal (the original Z5 had that terminal; this body does not). Optical AWL still works: SB-700/SB-5000 as master, or an SU-800 commander. Godox N-mount units carry their own 2.4 GHz X transceiver in the shoe — that is the radio path that does not need a Nikon WR module. Buy the N firmware, not C/S/F.
Best Flash for Nikon Z5 II: Detailed Reviews
Godox V1Pro N View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU / ASIN | V1Pro N / V1PRO-N · B0DT43BV7V |
|---|---|
| Output | 76 Ws · zoom 28–105 mm · 5600 K class |
| Battery | 7.2 V / 2980 mAh · ~1.3 s to 1/1 · ~500 full-power pops |
| TTL / sync | Nikon i-TTL · HSS to 1/8000 s · 1st/2nd curtain |
| Wireless | 2.4 GHz X · master groups M/A/B/C · ~100 m |
| Street | About $280–$330 |
Why this one on a Z5 II. You need i-TTL in the shoe and a radio commander that does not depend on Nikon radio AWL. The V1Pro N is both. Godox rates 76 Ws, a 2980 mAh pack, about 1.3 s to full, and a detachable SU-1 sub-flash for fill when the round head is bounced. Same magnetic bayonet as the V1 (AK-R1 dome, grids, gels). Tilt −7° to 120°, 330° swivel. USB-C on the battery. It will talk to Godox AD200Pro / V1 / TT685 remotes without an extra X3 in the shoe — add an X3-N later if you want a tiny transmitter and the hot shoe free for a catchlight.
Skip this if you only bounce with AAs and never go off-camera (TT685II-N), or you already own a V1-N and do not need the SU-1. Skip any listing that is V1Pro C or V1Pro S.
- i-TTL + HSS + X-system on a body with no Nikon radio AWL
- SU-1 and 2980 mAh vs the original V1
- Heavier than a TT685 (~580 g with battery)
- Godox menus, not Nikon unified flash control (this body does not have that anyway)
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Godox V1-N View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU / ASIN | V1-N · B07QRGPT8T |
|---|---|
| Output | 76 Ws · 28–105 mm zoom · LED modeling lamp |
| Battery | 7.2 V / 2600 mAh · ~1.5 s · ~480 full-power pops |
| Weight | 530 g with battery |
| Not this | V1Pro (SU-1) · V1 Mid · V1 C/S |
| Street | About $210–$260 |
Why it is value, not Overall. Same round head, same i-TTL/HSS, same X-system, same magnets as the Pro. You lose the SU-1, about 380 mAh, and a bit of recycle. The old page called this Best Overall. It is still the round-head buy if you do not want to pay for Pro. VB26 battery is removable; keep a spare for a long reception. AK-R1 is sold separate unless the listing is a kit (B08FYMN9KS is a kit — confirm before you double-buy the dome).
Skip this if you want the SU-1 or the 2980 mAh pack in one purchase. That is the V1Pro row. Skip V1 Mid if you wanted this exact VB26 ecosystem unless you like the newer battery.
- Round head + radio at less than SB-700 money
- Same modifier bayonet as V1Pro
- No SU-1; slower pack than Pro
- Amazon C/S/N mix-ups
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Godox TT685II-N View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU / ASIN | TT685IIN / TT685II-N · B09TPDRH6V |
|---|---|
| Guide number | 60 m / 197 ft at ISO 100 |
| Zoom | 20–200 mm auto/manual |
| Recycle | 0.1–2.6 s · ~330 full-power on 4× AA |
| Godox fit list | Includes Z5 II, Z5, Zf, Z6/Z7/Z8/Z9 series |
| Street | About $120 |
Why this plastic rectangle. It is the cheapest way to get i-TTL, Auto FP/HSS, TCM (TTL-to-manual lock), and a 2.4 GHz master/slave on the Z5 II. Zoom to 200 mm beats the V1’s 105 mm for a tight tele fill. NiMH AAs are the recycle story: 2.6 s at 1/1 is why it is Budget, not Value. Godox’s Amazon copy names the Z5 II; still buy the N. External port for a PB960 if you later hate AAs. USB-C for firmware.
Skip this if you shoot a wedding at full power all night. That is the Li-ion row. Skip TT685 (non-II) and any TT685 C.
- i-TTL + HSS + X-system for about $120
- GN 60 and 20–200 mm zoom
- AA recycle at 1/1; rectangular head, no magnets
- Plastic shoe vs V1 metal lock
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
If You Need Something Else
Nikon SB-700 View on Amazon View on B&H
| MFR | 4808 |
|---|---|
| GN | 28 m / 92 ft ISO 100, 35 mm, FX, standard pattern |
| Z5 II table | i-TTL, optical AWL master/remote, Auto FP, FV lock, firmware via camera. Radio AWL — . Unified flash control — . |
| Power | 4× AA · recycle ~2.5–3.5 s |
This is the native Speedlight that still makes sense here: optical commander for other Nikon flashes, three illumination patterns, 24–120 mm FX zoom (12 mm with the panel). It is not cheaper than a V1-N and it is not radio. Buy it if your other lights are SB-700/SB-910/SB-500, not Godox.
Skip this if you wanted radio remotes behind a wall. That is Godox on this camera.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Nikon SB-5000 View on Amazon View on B&H
| GN | 34.5 m class at ISO 100, 35 mm · zoom 24–200 mm |
|---|---|
| Why people buy it | Built-in radio + cooling for long bursts, on bodies that do radio AWL |
| Z5 II table | Radio-controlled AWL — . Unified flash control — . Optical AWL master still works. |
The previous page put this in Best Value at ~$599 under a $259 Godox. Value is not “more expensive native.” On a Z8/Z9/Z6 III with WR or onboard radio, the SB-5000’s radio is the point. On a Z5 II, Nikon leaves radio AWL blank, and there is no WR-R11b terminal on the accessory list. It remains a fine on-camera i-TTL tube with a cooling fan. It is not how you get radio groups on this body.
Skip this if radio off-camera is why you are shopping. Buy Godox N, or an SU-800 plus optical remotes.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Godox V100 N View on Amazon View on B&H
| Output | 100 Ws · round head · sub-flash · color touchscreen |
|---|---|
| Vs V1Pro | More power, fewer full-power pops (~400 vs ~500), ~1.7 s recycle |
If the 76 Ws round heads feel short outdoors at HSS, this is the 2025/26 Godox step-up. Same X-system, still buy N. It does not change the Z5 II sync rules.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an SB-800 or SB-910 work on the Z5 II?
Yes for i-TTL, Auto FP, and optical AWL as Nikon charts them. Firmware updates from the camera apply to the SB-910/SB-900. They are not radio AWL commanders on this body. Test one pop in i-TTL before a paying job; Godox N firmware is the safer buy if the Speedlight is a decade old.
Can I use flash in silent / electronic shutter?
Nikon lists flash as incompatible with silent mode, video, high-speed frame capture +, and HDR overlay. Use mechanical shutter, or electronic front-curtain knowing Auto FP tops out at 1/2000 s.
Do I set 1/200 s (Auto FP) or just 1/200 s?
e1 [1/200 s (Auto FP)] if you need faster than 1/200 s (daylight fill at f/1.8). Plain [1/200 s] caps you there. HSS eats guide number; that is physics, not a Godox defect.
Is the SB-5000’s radio dead on a Z5 II?
The SB-5000 still fires i-TTL on the shoe. Nikon’s Z5 II flash table does not enable radio-controlled AWL. Optical AWL still works. For radio remotes on this camera, use a Godox N unit (or X3-N) as commander.
Final Verdict
The Z5 II is i-TTL and optical AWL, sync 1/200 s, no pop-up, no radio AWL on Nikon’s chart. Buy a Godox N-mount with 2.4 GHz in the shoe: V1Pro N if you want the current round head and SU-1, V1-N if you do not, TT685II-N if you want AAs and GN 60. SB-700 is the optical CLS commander. SB-5000 is not Best Value on this camera. Silent shutter does not fire flash. Set e1 to 1/200 s (Auto FP) when you need faster than sync.