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The D5500 has no built-in commander mode for wireless off-camera flash, but its hot shoe and pop-up flash both work fine for triggering an external speedlight on-camera or via optical slave. These are real Nikon and third-party flashes confirmed compatible, from Nikon’s own TTL line down to budget manual units.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight | $550-$650 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight | $280-$350 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight | $150-$200 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Godox TT860II | $70-$100 | Amazon |
| 5 | Godox/Flashpoint R2 TTL Flash | $130-$180 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Yongnuo YN560 IV | $50-$70 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Neewer TT560 | $25-$40 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight
Nikon’s flagship speedlight, fully compatible with the D5500 and built for shooters who want the brand’s most powerful, most capable flash.
- Guide number ~113ft at 35mm / 180ft at 200mm
- Radio-controlled wireless (with WR-R10 module)
- Quick-access control buttons
- Robust build
- Nikon’s top-tier flash performance and reliability
- Priced well beyond what most D5500 owners need
Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight
A genuinely mid-level Nikon speedlight that covers most D5500 shooters’ needs without the SB-5000’s price tag.
- Full i-TTL support
- Three illumination pattern settings
- Wireless commander/remote capability
- Bounce/swivel head
- Strong balance of features and price within Nikon’s own lineup
- No built-in radio wireless like the SB-5000
Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight
A budget-friendly Nikon-branded option that doubles as an LED video light, good for D5500 owners who shoot both stills and video.
- i-TTL support
- Built-in LED continuous light
- Wireless remote/commander capability
- Compact size
- Cheapest way into a genuine Nikon-branded flash
- Lower guide number than the SB-700/SB-5000
Godox TT860II
A third-party TTL-capable flash with a rechargeable lithium battery, priced well under any Nikon-branded option.
- i-TTL compatible (Nikon-fit version)
- Li-ion battery pack
- Manual and TTL modes
- Standard hot-shoe mount
- TTL metering at a fraction of Nikon’s own flash pricing
- Menu and build quality trail Nikon’s own units
Godox/Flashpoint R2 TTL Flash
Sold as Godox or under Adorama’s Flashpoint branding, this TTL flash uses easy-to-find NiMH batteries instead of a proprietary pack.
- i-TTL compatible
- NiMH battery power
- Manual and TTL modes
- Standard hot shoe
- Battery flexibility versus lithium-only competitors
- NiMH batteries recycle slower than Li-ion under heavy use
Yongnuo YN560 IV
A long-running, purely manual flash that’s a reliable budget choice if you don’t need TTL metering and are comfortable dialing in power by hand.
- Manual power control only
- Built-in radio trigger/receiver
- Bounce/swivel head
- Wide compatibility (no camera-brand TTL contacts needed)
- Very low price for a manual flash with a built-in radio system
- No TTL metering – power has to be set manually every time
Neewer TT560
The entry point of this list – a fully manual flash for D5500 owners who just want basic off-camera or hot-shoe fill light on a tight budget.
- Manual power control
- Standard hot shoe (no TTL contacts needed)
- Bounce/swivel head
- Built-in optical slave trigger
- Lowest price on this list by a wide margin
- No TTL, no radio trigger built in – optical slave only
Buying tips
- The D5500 has no built-in commander/master mode, so if you want wireless off-camera TTL flash, you need a flash or trigger with its own radio/optical wireless system – the SB-5000 (with the WR-R10 receiver) or a radio-equipped Godox unit handle this; the manual Yongnuo/Neewer units rely on optical slave instead.
- Nikon’s own SB-series flashes give the most reliable i-TTL metering; third-party Nikon-fit flashes are generally close but can occasionally misfire in tricky mixed lighting.
- If budget is tight, a manual flash (YN560 IV or TT560) plus bouncing off a ceiling or wall gets you most of the quality improvement over the pop-up flash for a fraction of a TTL unit’s price.
- Always buy the Nikon-fit (not Canon/Sony) version of any third-party flash – the hot-shoe contacts and TTL communication differ by brand.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.