D5200 and TTL

So I am looking at getting my first flash. Ive been looking a Yongnuo and would like some help. It seems that I cant find one place that has all the info and when I search around and try to piece stuff I keep confusing myself. Id like to pick up a basic flash that has the ability of TTL off camera. I dont think Ill be using wireless because outdoors will be near useless from what Ive gathered. I was looking at the 468ex ii and then looking at a commander unit down the road when I want to expand to more than one flash, is that correct thinking? Is that plausible?

Now as for my d5200 will I need anything to use a flash off camera in TTL mode? (other than the sync cords?)

" .. I dont think Ill be using wireless .. "

I think you mean Optical wireless. In fact Nikon's CLS can be pretty good. But overall Radio Wireless is probably the way to go.

If you really need TTL & HSS etc off camera, then every link in the chain needs to be (I)TTL capable. ie Camera, triggers & Speedlights all (I)TTL capable & compatible with each other.

Even M Manual flash varies: for some, power adjustments are made on the individual Speedlights - while other setups allow M flash power adjustments remotely, by Group, from the camera position.
(See Yn 560 TX & their Speedlites - or maybe - Cactus V6 setup.)

For Nikon, fully TTL & HSS capable networks include 1) Yn 622N based - 2) Phottix Odin / Mitros+'Plus' for Nikon - or - 3) the TTL PWs Mini & Flex.

My camera cant use HSS. My camera does do ttl but not a built in commander. Thats were I get lost. Figuring out if I can get the 468ii then later use it as a ttl slave from something like a 565ex or 568ex

OK. I shoot Canon, so others will have to help with d5200 detail - but the principles above still hold.

It's pretty likely that you may change bodies at some stage so factor that in. Hope a Nikon guy moseys by . . .

If you want TTL off camera, you have 2 options, really. The YN-622n triggers, one under each flash, is the simplest way. You can then add the YN-622N-TX for manual control of the flashes as well.

http://flashhavoc.com …-for-nikon-now-available/

Godox does make the V860n and the FT-16 controller-

http://flashhavoc.com …-for-nikon-now-available/

That will allow you to control the flash settings from the camera.

Having a good TTL flash is nice, but once you get the flash off camera, and especially once you start adding more than one flash, manual control is the way to go.

Poke around at the flash havoc site I linked- he has some good info there on different flashes and capabilities.

I'd recommend the godox setup- with similar pricing, and the lithium battery, one YN-860n, One FT-16 set, and you are good to go. You can also add the v850 later for more manual off camera flashes, and control them with the FT-16. You could also add in the more powerful wistro 180 and 360s and still use the same controller setup.

$180 on just a flash is more than I really want to spend right now.

So I guess from what your saying TTL is nice but manual is just fine, even more useful?

Manual is most useful off camera, and with multiple lights. For the most bang for your buck, you can get either the YN-560TX and YN-560 III or IV flashes, or the FT-16 and godox v850 flashes.

TTL capable flashes are great for on camera use. Slap on the flash, bounce it off the ceiling/wall/whatever, and get a decent exposure. I think everyone should have a TTL flash to throw in the bag. If this is your first attempt at using a flash, I would suggest a TTL flash that has manual power options, like the YN-568EX on the V860. You can always add the triggers to take it off camera later.

If you just want to try out something cheap before you jump into the money pit that is off camera lighting, check out the Neewer 750. iTTL compatible and manual power options. Won't interface with either YN or godox controllers, but a decent cheap TTL option for on camera flash.

http://www.amazon.com …=1-1&keywords=neewer+ittl

Thanks Maybe Ill just do that then. Get a decent ttl and then learn manual with it as well for moving off camera eventually

Just FYI. Any of the Yongnuo flashes with EX in the name can be used as CLS slaves.

Most of the TTL-capable models have numbers that don't end in 0 (YN-500EX/510EX excepted).

If you want TTL off-camera without using CLS, then you need a hotshoe-to-hotshoe cable. PC and 3.5mm minijack cables are manual-only.

Manual may be all you need, but TTL off-camera can also mean high-speed sync/FP (if you upgrade from the D5200 some day ), as well as remote power commanding (although a number of manual flashes are now coming with that feature when used with a specific trigger; e.g., YN-560III/IV and the YN-560-TX). Remote power setting can be very convenient.

When shopping YN TTL flashes, the ones with gold lettering on them are the Nikon version. Silver lettering either means Canon-specific or manual-only.

And, there are a lot of other players out there in the cheap flash world aside from Yongnuo (e.g., Pixel Mago). Just realize that it's kind of like tripods. There's a list of three key things, but you can only get two of them together: low cost, a lotta fancy TTL/HSS-type features, rock-solid reliability.