I honestly have no idea where to start because when I look online there are like a million options and everyone is talking about things like TTL and slave modes and high speed sync and my brain is just melting lol. I saw some Nikon brand ones that cost like five hundred dollars which is crazy because my budget is strictly under $200 since I'm still paying off the lens. My logic was that maybe a cheaper one would work just as well for a beginner? I'm in Seattle and the weather is always gray so I really need more light for indoor stuff. My sisters wedding is coming up in three weeks and I really want to be able to take some decent shots of people dancing without them looking like ghosts or just dark blobs.

I have a few things I'm totally lost on:

• do I need a specific one for mirrorless or do old ones work


• what is the difference between the $50 ones and the $400 ones


• is it gonna break my camera if I dont buy the Nikon brand

Are the third party brands like Godox or Neewer actually safe to use on a Nikon Z or will they like fry the electronics? I heard some people say you have to be careful with the voltage or something? I just want something that is easy to use where I can just slide it on and it works without me having to be a scientist to figure out the settings. I'm just worried I'll buy something and it wont talk to my camera right. If anyone has a specific model that is good for someone who is a total disaster with tech please let me know...

Should I go for the 85mm 1.4G or is the 105mm really that much better?

Some of the flashes are like $600 which is crazy but then there are cheap ones for $40 that people say are junk and might catch fire or something. I have about $300 saved up and I really need to figure this out before my cousins wedding in Chicago in two weeks because she expects me to take some pro shots since I have this big camera now. I'm honestly panicking a bit lol. Everything talks about TTL and sync speeds and I have no idea what any of that means I just want it to work when I press the button without me having to do math. Is there a specific external flash that you'd recommend for a D850 that is easy for a total beginner to use?

I need something that:

• can handle at least 50lbs capacity to be safe


• stays stable in windy marsh conditions


• stays under $800 for the whole setup


• isnt too heavy for a 3 mile hike

I'm heading to the Everglades in three weeks for a birding trip and need this sorted ASAP. Is there a middle ground that actually works?...

Budget is around 1200 max so the f1.2 options are totally out of the question for now unfortunately. I have a big family session coming up in rural Vermont next month and I really want to capture those fall colors with something that has a bit more character than the kit zoom.

• Must have fast eye-autofocus tracking


• Sharp wide open (dont want to have to stop down to f2.8 just to get a usable shot)


• Lightweight enough for a 4 hour outdoor session

Is the 85mm S really that much better than the old G version or should I maybe look at the 105mm micro even if I dont do much macro work? Ive heard people use it for headshots but Im worried it might be too sharp or slow for portraits...

I need something that can actually handle the weight and the torque of a long lens without sagging or taking five seconds to stop shaking after I touch the shutter. I have heard people talk about Gitzo and Really Right Stuff but are they actually worth that insane price tag or is it just branding? I am looking to spend maybe $900 or $1000 on just the legs since I already have a decent gimbal head but I need to make sure whatever I buy is rock solid. I have a big trip to Alaska coming up in about three weeks so I need to get this sorted fast before I am stuck in the tundra with blurry bears and a broken heart.

Is there anything else I should look at besides the big names? Maybe Leofoto or Benro or something like that? I have heard mixed things about those being clones but if they work as well as the high end stuff I am all ears. Honestly I just want something that wont make me want to cry when I look at my RAW files at the end of the day. My current legs have these twist locks that keep slipping too which is just another headache I do not need when I am trying to track a moving subject. Just looking for something that is actually stable enough for a big heavy Nikon setup...

My initial thought was just to grab the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S because everyone calls it the nifty fifty and says its a must-have. My logic was that it’s wide enough that I wont have to stand a mile away if we’re in a crowded spot, and it seems like a safe bet for general use too. But then I started reading some threads on reddit and people are swearing that the 85mm is the only way to go for 'real' portraits because of the compression and how it slims the face down. I found a used Viltrox 85mm f1.8 that fits my budget, but then I read a couple reviews saying the autofocus can be a bit hunt-y compared to native glass.

That’s where I’m getting stuck. If I go with the 50mm am I gonna regret not having that extra reach and bokeh? Or if I go for the 85mm am I gonna find myself constantly backing into traffic just to get her whole outfit in the frame? I’m also seeing people suggest the older AF-S lenses with an FTZ adapter, but adding the cost of the adapter basically kills my budget anyway so that seems like a dead end. Its frustrating because I want that professional look but I just dont have the a thousand bucks to drop on the high end glass right now. Does the 50mm actually hold up for tight headshots or does it distort the nose too much? I keep looking at comparison photos and one minute I'm convinced the 50 is fine and the next I'm sure I need the 85...

Budget is 1200 used, which one is better for a long day?

Then there is the battery situation. My logic was just buy two extra EL-15c batteries and call it a day but then I saw people swearing by those dummy batteries for long shoots or just using a power bank via USB-C. Does the Z6 even charge while you are using it? I read conflicting things about the original Z6 vs the II on that. Also considering a screen protector and maybe a better strap because the stock Nikon ones always dig into my neck after an hour. Is a cage overkill if I am mostly doing stills and maybe a bit of handheld b-roll? Just trying to make sure I dont waste money on stuff that will just sit in my bag...