As a professional photographer and videographer, I get asked a lot of questions about camera gear. A common question from those who have moved up to a SLR, DSLR, or ILC mirrorless cameras is “Do I need any other camera equipment?”
To their surprise, my usual response is usually a auxiliary flash as it adds so much more versatility to ones camera. As me and most of my buds shoot on Canon, I thought this would be a good opportunity to review some of the best flashes for Canon cameras on the market.
How a camera flash can benefit your photography?
I know you’re wondering why I recommend an auxiliary flash as one of the first accessories for your DSLR kit. Don’t most Canon cameras have a built in flash? Yes, they do, even top of the line professional DSLRs often have a small built in flash. Ah ha, there’s part of the answer: small.
A flash built in to the camera has to be small. Being small, they have low power ratings. They also are very close to the lens axis. Finally, they lack certain important features. Let’s tackle all of those points.
Power and Range
With a camera flash, power relates directly to range. The built in flash is fine for many situations, but there are plenty of times a serious photographer will want more range out of their flash. Any subject further than about 8 to 10 feet from the camera isn’t going to be lit up much by the built in flash.
Even a small external flash gives us more power and thus more range. Using its own batteries also helps us keep shooting longer. Using an external flash also gives you more bounce settings to really get nitty gritty with your lighting technique.
No Red Eye
We’ve all seen it. That scary looking phenomenon that makes people look like they’re possessed or at least very, very angry. In pet photography, it’s even worse. The cute puppy or favorite little kitty has eyes glowing like a creature in a low budget sci-fi show. That, my friend, is “red eye.”
A very complete technical explanation is an interesting read, but let’s just say for now that it is caused by the flash being too close to the center axis of the lens. With your DSLR built in flash, the flash head is mere inches from the optical axis of whatever lens is mounted. This results in the unwanted red eye effect being avoided.
Versatility and Extra Features
Even the smaller, less expensive flashes for Canon cameras tend to have features that make it more versatile than the built in flash. Bounce flash lets us aim the flash beam to a low ceiling, handy wall, or some sort of light modifier to bounce off of. This can make the final image look very natural.
Another benefit is that the flash and camera electronically communicate with each other such important information as subject distance, lens focal length, and exposure calculations. When we had to do that all ourselves, we ended up with a lot of unusable film to get one or two good shots. That’s really one of the best things about modern flashes, in my book.
How I found the best flashes for Canon cameras
With all the different brands having multiple models available, I have to narrow down my choices. What criteria did I use to find the best flashes for Canon cameras? While certain things are more important to some people than others. This is what I looked at:
- Compatibility. This is possibly the most important factor in choosing a great Canon speedlite. The Canon DSLR systems, full frame or APS-C format, are fully electronically controlled and incorporate many features in their cameras, lenses, and other accessories. I want to make sure that the flash I’m buying works with the features and capabilities of the equipment I already have. If my camera has TTL intelligent flash control as a feature, I want a flash that matches.
- Flash Output. How much light do I need? Often rated with what’s called a Guide Number (GN), flash output is what separates larger flashes from the more compact models. Many of the newer flashes are quite high powered for their relatively compact sizes.
- Flash Metering. Canon cameras have a great flash metering system. The system uses the exposure meter, the autofocus, and the lens aperture, shutter speed, and flash output in a balance of computing factors. If the flash is not part of that metering system, the user is missing out. A flash can do a pretty decent job with its own metering sensor, but full integration with the system is best.
- Power Source. All the external flashes need power other than the camera’s battery. Many flashes use AA batteries, some use a dedicated rechargeable battery, some use a non removeable rechargeable battery. Recycle time varies with different power sources. Some also have external power pack capability. Either as A/C power or specialty high output battery packs.
- Wireless Control. This is important when using the flash off camera. Wireless control allows all or most of the automation and other features to be available. This would include being able to used as a slaved flash. Situations for that include multiple flash portraiture, macrophotography, product photography, real estate photography, weddings and other uses.
- Bounce Tilt/Swivel. Bounce flash is great. Besides the head tilting, some flashes also swivel. Swivel is great for vertically oriented shots or when using certain light modifiers like an umbrella.
- Zoom. The angle of light coverage is important. If I have a wider lens on, the flash will adjust the angle of light output to match. With wider lenses, that prevents light fall off, in other words having the center of the image well exposed but dark edges and corners. With telephoto lenses, it increases the range of the flash.
- AF Assist. A nice feature. Usually an IR or near IR lamp that helps the camera achieve more accurate focus in lower light situations. Unobtrusive compared with most on camera assist lights.
Top 5 Best Flashes for Canon Cameras
1. Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review
This compact unit is easily one of the best flashes for Canon cameras that I tested. The Canon Speedlite 430EX II balances power with size and has a wide range of benefits for all levels of photographers.
Best of all is that this model is compatible with all Canon EOS cameras, PowerShot G series cameras and even some of the higher end compacts or bridge cameras.
Even when the scene requires for the flash to fully discharge, the flash recycles in 3 to 4 seconds. There is a sharp power drop off with rechargeable batteries as opposed to regular AAs, so be aware of that issue. Not an issue specific to this flash, everything using rechargeable AAs has that happen.
As for the Guide Number rating for this flash, it is a very respectable 43. The zoom angle of flash output will make the maximum range vary based on zoom settings. This flash covers lenses from 24mm to 105mm and zooms automatically along with your EF lenses. A separate diffuser for lenses as wide as 14mm is included as well.
One of the nice benefits about this flash is the tilt and swivel head which I have come to expect from any good flash. Being able to swivel means I can use bounce flash when holding the camera vertically in portrait orientation. It also means I can use some of the after market light modifiers, like a small on flash umbrella.
Final Thoughts
Even when used off camera, as a slaved flash, it still meshes up with Canon’s full flash automation. The response time synced up seamlessly with my Canon 70D which was great for lighting multiple environments.
Overall this Canon Speedlite 430EX II was easily one of the best Canon flashes that I tested for my camera. It strikes a good balance of functionality and affordability for all levels of photographers.
2. Canon 270EX II Speedlite Flash
Canon 270EX II Speedlite Flash Review
Next up on my list is a truly compact flash, the 270EX-II which is compatible with Canon’s full flash automation. With a GN of 22, it is about half the power of the 430EX-II and is powered by 2 AA batteries.
Anyone with one of the smaller Canon APS-C format DSLRs, like the SL-1, will feel very comfortable with this flash.
Being on the diminutive side of the camera accessory world, full featured will have to be qualified. For bounce flash, it has tilt from 0 to 90 degrees, but no swivel unfortunately. Having bounce flash ability at all in a flash this small is a great thing however.
Another feature to add to its fullness is the variable angle output. Not a true zoom, it’s a two position switch. Normal and Tele. Also, the switching is not automatic based on lens in use, so you will need to switch it yourself. Putting it in Tele position raises the Guide Number a bit to 27, so more effective range when using a longer lens.
Overall this flash did me wonders when working out in the field for such events as weddings, birthdays, red carpet events and more! It truly is a versatile flash that would suit a photography who likes to keep their bag light!
3. Neewer NW-670 TTL Flash Speedlite with LCD Display for Canon
Neewer NW-670 TTL Flash Speedlite with LCD Display for Canon Review
Neewer is a brand I have associated with great camera equipment for years and this NW-670 flash continues that trend. This is a very powerful flash (GN 58) that is almost fully compatible with Canon automation.
Almost? Yeah… about that… Many third party brands fit in well with whatever the current cameras they are made to fit do, but camera manufacturers often have extra features in mind for the future that are already wired in. Kind of a latent backwards compatibility.
The NW-670 has a bounce/swivel/zoom head and matches up with the amazing Canon flash automation very well. It’s really just the special features that may not work, like high speed synch and 2nd curtain synch. Powered by four AA batteries, it also has the option to plug in an external power pack. With a rechargeable external power pack, the recycle times are cut in half and usable time is more than doubled.
A great use for this flash is event photography. When I say events, I’m not exclusively meaning weddings, by the way. I was able to use this with a lightweight power pack as I was wandering through a corporate function I was hired (through an online freelancing website) to document.
One nice little feature I appreciated was the snap on wider angle diffuser which can also be used in bounce flash configurations to reflect back a little bit of the flash as a catch light for the eyes. The controls for most of the flash features are menu driven, either from the back of the flash itself or from the camera menu.
What really attracted me to this unit was the incredibly low price point which is almost a third of the cost of a offical Canon flash. While it may not be prefect, it still does a fantastic job or providing a lot of versatility.
4. Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash
Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT Flash Review
Wait a minute, didn’t I just cover the 430? I covered the previous model, the EX-II. This is the EX-III. Oftentimes, when a new model comes out, the older model is still available for a while.
The main difference between the two different 430s is the slave control. The EX-II had optical slave, the EX-III adds in radio slave like what the 600EX-RT has. Adding the radio wireless slave means this flash now be used as the master, triggering and controlling other compatible flashes with full automation.
If you had the older 430, or a 270, you can set up a wide variety of lighting configurations with this newer flash as the master control. Those options are menu driven from the flash or from certain Canon DSLR models. If you are likely to get in to multi light photography, this is certainly one of the best flashes for Canon cameras.
5. Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite for Canon
Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite for Canon Review
This model is an interesting choice for best flashes lists for various brands. It does not dedicate fully with Canon’s automation. No TTL metering, no balancing automatically with focus distance, etc…
What is does do is bounce and swivel, and it has controls to vary the flash output from full power down to about 10%. It can be slave triggered optically. What this is best for is multiple light set ups.
Powered by 4 AAs or an external battery pack, it uses battery power pretty fast when in the higher output modes.
The thing that firmly puts the TT560 on the list of best third party flashes for Canon cameras is the price. It costs less than an extra camera battery. That low price point, plus the variable power and slave trigger, makes this a fun flash to use as part of a complete lighting system.
The End Result
Buying an auxiliary flash unit is one of the three best next purchases a photographer stepping up to the DSLR world can do. Any of these I reviewed will be capable of doing a fine job for you.
That tag line is even more true today. Canon was an early pioneer in dedicated flash units for its line of cameras. Today’s flashes are so advanced, it’s almost mind boggling to think of all the things the best flashes for canon cameras do nowadays.
Some of the best flashes for Canon cameras even zoom their output to correspond with the focal length of our lens. With telephoto lenses, this increases our range even more. Off camera flash use is getting pretty fancy for this discussion, but some of the better flashes have that capability, maybe even with multiple flash units.