Nikon D5100 and SB-700?

I'm a beginner and I'd like to try out flash photography. I'm using Nikon D5100 and I'm planning to buy SB-700. Can I use it off of the camera? And what are the other ways to use it off of the camera?

You can use it off camera, but only if you buy a SU800 (IR wireless $250) or SC-28 (cable $60).

If you use a 3rd party radio link, realize that all of them less than $500 will only work in manual mode, not iTTL.

That few dollars you saved by buying a D5100 vs the D7000 is coming back to haunt you. The D7000 has a built-in wireless function whereas the D5100, being an entry level camera does not.

I don't mean to beat up on your camera, but the main reason I dislike the D5100 is that you are paying extra (vs the D3100/D3200) for it, and you still have an entry level camera.

I don't like how Nikon dumbs these cameras down, but I do see the need for an entry level camera - so that is the purpose of the D3100/D3200.

But to have an up-scale entry level such as the D5100 camera that has minimal advantages over the D3100/D3200 is not a wise purchase in my view, and you should be looking at either the D3100/D3200 or the D7000.

I hope Nikon discontinues the D5100 without replacement for this reason.