SB-5000 AF Speedlight

I have two SB5000s. They over heat very quickly, in spite of the fan system. Batteries are depleted even if the flashes are turned off. However, if I plug them into my Sd9 battery packs they keep going and going and going...Since I have discovered MY solution to the overheating, the units have been a pleasure to use (with my D5s and D500s)

I love Nikon SB-5000. It is compact, consistent and very reliable light sources. As soon as Nikon announced these light, I ordered 3 o them and I can´t say enough how much I love them using with my D5 camera body. With control in the camera body, I don´t need to place anything on my hot shoe, making it clear view on the top. Remote works flawlessly and they are so tiny and lightweight, you don´t even notice they are there. Great sturdy light, much better than third party brand.

This flash has been some what misrepresented by Nikon in the beginning.
It was claimed to be a Radio controlled flash but in order to get radio control to work I was told I must purchase a WR-R10 radio and a WR-A10 adapter. This is what I was told when I called Nikon Professional Services when I could not get it to work with my D800 and D810 cameras. Yes I told them which cameras I had and was trying to get it working on. After purchasing the WR-A10 adapter and finding out that I must send the WR-R10 to Nikon for repair to have it´s firmware updated to version 3.0. So when I got it back it still would not work with my cameras. After repeated calls to Nikon I was told that it only works with the new D5 and D500 cameras. I told them but you told me if I purchased the adapter it would. I was told nobody here told you that. I sent them a copy of their emails to me. I heard and received no more responses.
I purchased this flash in order to have radio communication to a remote flash as advertised but it doesn´t work unless you also purchase additional hardware the newer cameras. So why did I give this flash five stars. Because in spite of not being able to use the radio feature, this flash is one of the best ever produced by Nikon. I have had great results with it. I would love to have it also with the Radio Function, I feel if Nikon would upgrade it´s firmware for the D800, D810 and the WR-A10 adapter it would be possible. Still hoping, however it is not a deal breaker.

This is a nice flash unit, I bought two. There is no wireless capability with my D810 other than optical. A huge feature that is missing and inexcusable. Third party companies can do RF TTL control with the D810, why doesn´t Nikon???? The menus are not user friendly and lacking user setup memories. Other than that, this is a nice flash unit.

I purchased 3 of these units about a month ago and use them in my Creative Lighting System setups seamlessly. I use a Nikon D810 and Nikon D750 as my primary camera bodies and knew that I would not be able to trigger these flashes using the radio function. I wish Nikon would create a hotshoe controller to work with the radio triggers similar to the SU-800 IR wireless trigger. I know I can upgrade to the D5 or go with a D500, however, the D5 is a big price jump and I like the full frame sensor for shallow depth of field shots so the D500 doesn´t quite work for me.

Ive been using the SB-5000 for about 4 months now (2 of them) using them with triggers for location based lighting as well as on camera for wedding work. They keep up with my continues shooting style for the most part. Much better than my SB-910 did. I use them all night at 1/2-3/4 power and they dont slow down.
I´m having an issue with one of them, the zoom function is giving me an error message. As well as the cooling fan remains on after the first flash. Being sent out under warranty. Hoping that becoming an NPS member will expedite my issue.
Overall, I love how easy it is to change power on the fly. Great job Nikon.

I used this flash to shoot a wedding, and it was fantastic with my D810. I used it for bounce flash, pushing it with full power shots and fairly quick sequences, and the new fan worked as advertised--no overheating. And the exposures were right on the money.

I like the fact that it´s smaller and lighter than the SB-900/910, and that you can connect it to an external battery. Now I´m hoping that Nikon finds a way to make the radio controls work with my D810!

The design is very intuitive and easy to make adjustments. The smaller size is excellent and helps free up bag space. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE update software of some past camera bodies or have an additional triggering system. The D5 and D500 are not for everyone and limiting the radio triggering to those bodies is a MAJOR shortcoming of a long awaited improvement to the Nikon system.

This flash has been misrepresented by Nikon.
It is claimed to be a Radio controlled flash but in order to get radio control to work with the latest flagship D5 DSLR camera you must purchase a WR-R10 radio and a WR-A10 adapter.
Then you must send the WR-R10 to Nikon for repair to have it´s firmware updated to version 3.0.
By the way if you put the version 3.0 WR-R10 on a D810 it will lock up and no longer function.

I purchased this flash in order to have radio communication to a remote flash as advertised but it doesn´t work unless you also purchase additional hardware.