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The D2X shipped in 2005 as one of Nikon’s first i-TTL bodies, and that protocol hasn’t changed enough since to strand it — the flashes built for that generation still meter correctly on this camera today. What has changed is availability: every genuinely compatible Speedlight is long out of production, so this is a used-market guide rather than a new-in-box one. Stick to Nikon’s own CLS-era units; Nikon’s own compatibility documentation confirms the SB-800 and SB-600 by name for the D2X, and the rest of that same generation follows the identical protocol. Modern third-party radio flashes are a real fitment risk on a 2005 body and are left off this list for that reason.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight | $70-$120 used (good condition ~$91) | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight | $40-$70 used (good condition ~$51) | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight | $85-$140 used (good condition ~$101) | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight | $120-$190 used (good condition ~$157) | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight | $30-$160 used, most listings $80-$160 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander | $60-$130 used | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight
Nikon’s own documentation confirms i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash and Auto FP High-Speed Sync compatibility with the D2X specifically — the safest bet on this list.
- i-TTL and D-TTL compatible
- Can act as commander or slave for CLS wireless
- Guide number 125 (ft, ISO 100)
- Bounce and swivel head
- Explicitly confirmed compatible with the D2X in Nikon’s own sell sheet
- Plentiful on the used market
- Discontinued since 2008 — used only, condition varies
- Runs on 4x AA, no modern lithium pack option
Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight
Also explicitly listed by Nikon as i-TTL compatible with the D2X, and the cheaper of the two confirmed units.
- i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash with D2X, D2H, D200 and more
- Advanced Wireless Lighting support
- Lighter and smaller than the SB-800
- Least expensive confirmed-compatible option here
- Good size/weight pairing for a body already carrying a pro-grade DSLR
- Lower guide number than SB-800/900, less reach
- No commander mode, slave only
Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight
The SB-800’s direct successor, built on the same i-TTL generation and widely used by D2-series photographers as an upgrade.
- Guide number 34/111 (m/ft, ISO 100, 35mm zoom)
- Master/slave CLS operation
- Faster recycle time than SB-800 on NiMH
- More power and faster recycling than the SB-800
- Still common secondhand
- Discontinued; early units had a well-documented overheating/thermal-cutout issue
- Heavier than the SB-800
Nikon SB-910 AF Speedlight
The refined SB-900 with the overheating issue fixed — the newest Nikon flash still built on the same i-TTL protocol the D2X uses.
- Fixes the SB-900 thermal cutout complaints
- Same core i-TTL/CLS feature set as SB-900
- Improved menu and firmware
- Best condition/reliability of the SB-800/900/910 family used today
- Full CLS master/slave support
- Most expensive used option on this list
- Still runs on AA batteries with no built-in lithium pack
Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight
A lighter, more affordable CLS-era flash than the 800/900 series, built on the same i-TTL system.
- Three illumination patterns for different beam spreads
- CLS wireless slave capability
- Lighter than SB-800/900/910
- Cheapest of the confirmed-generation Nikon flashes on the used market
- Compact for a body-plus-flash kit
- No commander mode (slave only)
- Lower guide number than the 800/900/910
Nikon SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander
Not a flash itself but the wireless commander unit built for this CLS generation — pairs with any of the slaves above to trigger off-camera lighting from the D2X’s hot shoe.
- Infrared commander for CLS wireless flash
- Controls up to 3 groups of remote flashes
- No visible flash output of its own
- Lets any SB-600/700/800/900/910 above work off-camera
- Doesn’t add flash-head bulk to the camera
- Requires at least one compatible slave flash to be useful
- Also long discontinued, used-market only
Buying tips
- Stick to Nikon-brand CLS-era flashes (SB-600 through SB-910) — the D2X predates the radio-trigger standards used by current Nikon and Godox flagship units.
- Buy from a dealer offering a return window (KEH, MPB, Adorama) — these are all 15-20 year old electronics and used condition varies widely.
- Nikon’s own documentation names the SB-800 and SB-600 by model as D2X-compatible; the SB-700/900/910 use the identical protocol but double-check individual seller descriptions.
- If you already own a D200 or D700, any of these flashes will double up across bodies since they share the same i-TTL generation.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.