This^ Also wanted to add that the AA battery struggle is real... literally hate carrying spares lol. I went with the Godox V1-N Flash for Nikon and tbh the Li-ion battery is a total game changer for recycle times. Ur gonna get way more pops before it slows down compared to the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight. It's basically the best value for Z users right now imo! gl

Sooo I actually went through this exact dilemma last year when I was overhaulng my kit for the Z9. I’d been a die-hard Nikon speedlight user since the D3 days, literally swearing by the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight because the TTL reliability is honestly unmatched in tricky lighting. But when I started doing 10-hour wedding days, the logistics of managing 24+ Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA Rechargeable Batteries became a total nightmare, right?

In my experience, moving to the Godox V1-N Flash for Nikon was more about system efficiency than just saving a few bucks, tho the price difference is wild. Basically, the technical trade-offs ended up favoring the third-party stuff for my specific workflow:

* Voltage Consistency: Unlike AAs that drop in performance as they drain, the 7.2V/2600mAh Li-ion pack in the V1 keeps recycle times at a steady 1.5s until it’s basically dead.
* The Round Head: It’s not just hype; the fall-off is much more natural for events where you can’t always bounce off a perfect white ceiling.
* Thermal Management: I’ve pushed the V1 pretty hard, and while the SB-5000 has that internal cooling fan, the Godox holds its own for most event bursts before the protection kicks in.

I mean, I still keep one Nikon SB-700 Speedlight in my bag as a fail-safe because Nikon’s communication protocol is just so stable... but 95% of my work is on the V1 now. It highkey changed how I pack my gear bag. Also, if ur looking for a backup, the Godox V860III-N for Nikon uses the same battery, which is a lifesaver. Just sharing my journey, but honestly, the value prop for mirrorless users is hard to ignore these days!! peace

For your situation, I've used both the high-end native units and the third-party lithium options on my Z camera. Honestly, the native Nikon gear is LITERALLY built like a tank and the TTL is basically the gold standard, but man, I dont like swapping AA batteries during an event. plus, they're expensive lol. I mean, I mostly use the round-head lithium units now cuz the 1.5s recycle time at full power is a total game changer. The build quality feels a bit more "plastic-y" compared to Nikon's pro stuff, but for the price of one native flash, you could basically buy three of the others. so yeah, if you need that raw speed and a battery that lasts all night, the third-party lithium route is probably the way to go... gl!

Good to know!