Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight

Lightweight i-TTL Speedlight and LED video light in one.
Guide number of 24 m/78.7 ft. (at ISO 100) with 24mm coverage in FX-format and 16mm coverage in DX-format.
Flash swivels 180° and tilts 90° for bounce lighting.

Front and rear views of the SB-500 AF Speedlight flash

Take control of the lighting in your stills and HD videos.

As you master your camera, you begin to look at lighting in an entirely new way. No longer is proper exposure your only goal—now you can use shadows and brightness to add a sense of depth, an artistic characteristic to your photos and HD videos. A first for Nikon Speedlights, the SB-500 AF Speedlight is a compact, lightweight i-TTL Speedlight and LED video light that gives you total control of the light around you. Whether you’re looking for extra illumination during HD video recording, a wireless off-camera flash to use along with your camera’s built-in commander mode, another Nikon Speedlight like the SB-700 or SB-910 or the SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander or just an advanced and versatile—yet simple to use—Nikon Speedlight, the SB-500 AF Speedlight is a bright idea.

Photo of a soccer player in a run down building kicking a ball in air, lit with the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight flash

Simple operation, advanced performance

Compact, lightweight and multifunctional

The SB-500 AF Speedlight has simple controls—just a few buttons —and it operates on two AA batteries; yet, it offers the performance of an advanced Speedlight. Its powerful and has wide coverage with a guide number of 24/78.7 (ISO 100, m/ft) with 24mm coverage in FX-format and 16mm coverage in DX-format. Its head rotates 180° left and right and tilts 90° upward allowing you to bounce light off nearby surfaces to soften the light and shadows, creating more flattering portraits. If your camera has a Commander Mode, it can even be used wirelessly off-camera along with your camera’s built-in flash for greater illumination power from interesting angles.

Nikon SB-500 Speedlight on the hotshoe of a Nikon D750 with lens, showing the illumination from the LED light source

Brighten up your HD video

High-performance LED for video recording

The SB-500 AF Speedlight is also a versatile video light especially well suited for recording interviews up close. It has a built-in high-intensity LED light (approx. 100 lux) that provides steady, uniform daylight-balanced illumination. It can be used at three output levels—quarter, half or full power—making it practical for low-light video shooting and close up still photography. And when used with the D810 or D750, the SB-500 AF Speedlight communicates LED color information (along with that of the flash) to the camera for optimal white balance.

Nikon D750 photo of a male parkour athlete upside down in air, lit with the Nikon SB-500 Speedlight

Power, ease and versatility

Nikon i-TTL technology

Nikon’s i-TTL technology (intelligent Through-The-Lens) tailors the characteristics of the flash to each shot you take, so you get optimal results every time. With that intelligence and more illumination power than a camera’s pop-up flash, the SB-500 AF Speedlight is excellent as a fill-light outdoors (brightening shadowy areas on your subject) or for soft bounce lighting indoors. Use it off-camera wirelessly as a second flash controlled by either your camera’s built-in flash (if your camera has a Commander Mode), another Speedlight or the SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander. If you’re using D810 or D750 in Commander Mode, the SB-500 AF Speedlight will also work as a master flash in Advanced Wireless Lighting.

At a Glance

Guide Number

24m/78.7ft. (at ISO 100)
Lens Coverage

24 mm lens (FX format) or 16 mm lens (DX format)
Bounce Function (Tilt)

Flash head tilts up to 90° with click-stops at 0°, 60°, 75°, 90°.
Bounce Function (Rotate)

Flash head rotates horizontally 180° to the left and right with click-stops at 0°, 30°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°
Dimensions

2.6 x 4.5 x 2.8 in. (67 x 114.5 x 70.8mm) (Approx.)
Weight (Approx. without batteries)

8 oz. (226 g)

Commander Function

Yes
Remote Function

Yes
Guide Number

24m/78.7ft. (at ISO 100)
Electronic Construction

Automatic Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry
Flash Exposure Control

i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash with CLS compatible cameras
Lens Coverage

24 mm lens (FX format) or 16 mm lens (DX format)
Other Available Functions

Test Firing
Monitor Pre-flashes
Modeling flash (LED)
Bounce Function (Tilt)

Flash head tilts up to 90° with click-stops at 0°, 60°, 75°, 90°.
Bounce Function (Rotate)

Flash head rotates horizontally 180° to the left and right with click-stops at 0°, 30°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, 150°, 180°
Minimum Recycling Time

3.5 sec. (approx.) with Ni-MH batteries
4.0 sec. (approx.) with Alkaline-manganese (1.5V) batteries
Flash Duration

1/1100 sec. at M 1/1 (full) output
Required Power Source

2 AA-size batteries of the same brand from any of the following types:
1.5V LR6 (AA-size) alkaline batteries
1.2V HR6 (AA-size) rechargeable Ni-MH batteries
Flash-ready Indicator

Fully recycled: lights up
Warning indication: flashes slowly
Ready Light

Back
Flash Compensation

Available via camera settings
Minimum Number of Flashes / Recycling Time

100/4.0-30 sec. (Alkaline-manganese batteries)
140/3.5-30 sec. (Ni-MH batteries)
Wireless Flash Modes

Commander / Remote
Wireless Communication Channels

4 channels for Commander mode; 1 channel for Remote mode
Wireless Groups

Two: A, B
Other Functions

Firmware update
Thermal cut-out
LED light with three level brighness for close-up photography, modeling light or recording movies – maximum output: approx. 100 lx at 1 m (3.3 ft.), high power
Dimensions

2.6 x 4.5 x 2.8 in. (67 x 114.5 x 70.8mm) (Approx.)
Weight (Approx. without batteries)

8 oz. (226 g)

LCD, Video and Photo Gallery images are for illustrative purposes only.

How To Buy

brands	Nikon
color	Black
Condition	Brand New

Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight

Take control of the lighting in your stills and HD videos.

Simple operation, advanced performance

Compact, lightweight and multifunctional

Brighten up your HD video

High-performance LED for video recording

Power, ease and versatility

Nikon i-TTL technology

At a Glance

Guide Number

Lens Coverage

Bounce Function (Tilt)

Bounce Function (Rotate)

Dimensions

Weight (Approx. without batteries)

Commander Function

Remote Function

Guide Number

Electronic Construction

Flash Exposure Control

Lens Coverage

Other Available Functions

Bounce Function (Tilt)

Bounce Function (Rotate)

Minimum Recycling Time

Flash Duration

Required Power Source

Flash-ready Indicator

Ready Light

Flash Compensation

Minimum Number of Flashes / Recycling Time

Wireless Flash Modes

Wireless Communication Channels

Wireless Groups

Other Functions

Dimensions

Weight (Approx. without batteries)

How To Buy

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