Nikon Speedlight SB-500 to be announced at Photokina?

Nikon may announce the Speedlight SB-500, a successor to the entry-level SB-400 flash, at the Photokina trade show next month.

Nikon Speedlight SB-400

Nikon may announce the Speedlight SB-500, a successor to the entry-level SB-400 flash, at the Photokina trade show next month. A search on Nikon’s global web site shows that the SB-500 was at one time listed on the page for the SU-4 Wireless Remote. Assuming it is not just a typo, this could be evidence of a new flash coming soon.

Nikon SB-500 search listing on Nikon.com

Via NikonRumors

With SB-400 having been discontinued and a new bottom-of-the-line flashgun, the AAA-powered SB-300, now available, there is room in Nikon’s line-up for a beginner-friendly flash with a reasonable amount of power and some control beyond ‘on’ and ‘off’. If they follow Canon’s lead, then Nikon could bring out a basic unit with built-in wireless slave functionality, so photographers don’t have to buy a Speedlight SB-700 every time they want to use AWL. They could even build in an LED, like the LD-1000:

Nikon LD-1000 LED

What do you think? Is Nikon’s flash lineup missing something? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

David Selby
David is a keen photographer and has been editor of Lighting Rumours since 2010. When not writing about lighting, he works as a data scientist at the University of Manchester, UK.
selbydavid.com