Best External Flash for Canon – Get Better Result on Click

best canonflash

If photography is the passion of your life, then getting an external flash for Canon becomes an indispensable accessory for you. A good canon flash gives you additional light when the surrounding gets too dark, help achieve balanced exposure in the daytime, and allows the freezing of fast-moving subjects. Apart from this Canon external flash gives an artistic feel to the images in almost any light conditions. If you are looking for a beginner or expert, check out our list of seven best flashes for Canon

Best External Flash for Canon

1. Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite 

Neewer TT560Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite has received great reviews online as this best third-party flash for canon comes with eight manual power settings, three triggering modes, a PC sync socket, a built-in reflection board, and a wide-angle diffuser.

Pros
  • Available at a budget-friendly price online.
  • The built quality is very good compared to another flash available in the market.
  • Loads of features to improve photos and versatility.
Cons
  • The learners might find some difficulty in using the manual flash.

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2. Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon

Canon Speedlite 430EXThe Speedlite 430EX II is a canon flash powered with a Guide Number of 43 that works best for suitable telephoto lens shooting and bounce flash. Canon Speedlite 430EX II comes with a 24-105mm auto zoom head and a 14mm wide-panel diffuser that gives you flash coverage when you are working on a full range of shooting situations. This flash is powered by 4 x AA batteries, yet the flash is lightweight, compact, and portable to carry anywhere in the camera bag.

Pros
  • Gets fully charged in less time.
  • The Canon flash gives pearl lightning at 5400K.
  • The wide panel allows the coverage to 14mm focal.
  • Parable while doing auto-zoom is quiet and fast on various excursions when used with zoom lenses.
Cons
  • Lacks in master function.

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3. Altura Photo AP-UNV1

Altura PhotoVoted as the best flash for canon, the Altura Photo AP-UNV1 DSLR Camera Flash Speedlite fulfills all the photography expectations. It comes with remote triggers for easy operations; this flash offers you a lot of photography options at a pocket-friendly price.

Pros
  • Series of photography options to get the perfect lighting.
  • Compatible with Canon camera and easy to control.
  • Has PC synchronizing socket.
  • Altura Photo AP-UNV1 has manual flash and eight manual flash levels.
  • The package comes with a flash stand, drawstring pouch, tripod mount, and cleaning cloth.
  • There is a power-saving option to longer the life of Altura Photo AP-UNV1 Flash.
Cons
  • You need to be patient while synchronizing with PC as the process takes a lot of time.

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4. Yongnuo YN 560 III

Yongnuo ProfessionalYongnuo YN 560 III is the latest version of the very popular YN-560 series of manual flash units. This updated YN560 IV comes 2.4 GHz wireless radio receiver, has a zoom range of 24-105mm that can be expanded to 18 mm with the built-in wide-angle diffuser. Get the full bounce and swivel lighting by moving the unit to -7 to 90-degree tilt and 270-degree rotation Yongnuo YN 560 III flash runs on 4 AA batteries with recycle time of approximately 3 seconds.

Pros
  • This external flash for Canon has High Flash Intensity (GN58).
  • This unit is compatible with YN560-TX Flash Controller.
  • It contains the external battery Input.
  • Yongnuo YN 560 has a Built-in Receiver.
  • The Manual Zoom ranges from 24mm ~ 105mm.
  • The Optical Slave Mode has S1 Flash and S2 Pre-flash cancellation.
  • Wide Power Range is 1/1 ~ 1/128th in 1/3rd stop increments.
  • Has multi-mode, sound prompts, and heat detector.
Cons
  • The external flash for Canon has not TTL.
  • The Limited Zoom Range is between 24 ~ 105mm.
  • There is Auto-Zoom or Built-in Trigger.
  • Yongnuo YN 560 III comes with an old-fashioned Locking Foot which can be a hassle.

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5. Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT

Canon SpeedliteCanon Speedlite 430EX III-RT is a compatible Canon external flash with guide number 43 and gives coverage for focal lengths from 24 to 105 mm. The recycling time between flashes lies between 0.1 to 3.5 seconds, but it depends on the power level of the battery. A fully charged battery can give a minimum of 200 flashes and a maximum of 1400 flashes. The unit also has an infrared AF assist lamp, radio control for flash, ten custom functions, and an adjustable head that can tilt to +90 degrees and rotated by 180 degrees.

Pros
  • The burst time of this Canon external flash is worth considering.
  • It’s compact but has all the features that require in professional photography.
  • The superb white balance gives you exposure to get a clear picture with every click.
Cons
  • No weather sealing in the Canon external flash.
  • You feel a certain limitation while rotating the flash head.
  • The zoom range is limited to 14-105 mm which can be improved.
  • You cannot use an external battery pack.

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6. YONGNUO YN560 IV Wireless Flash Speedlite

YONGNUO YN560YONGNUO YN560 IV Wireless Flash Speedlite is a mix of the two previous products YN-560 III and YN560-TX. The Canon flash is made with a built-in wireless trigger system so that one can use it as a flash Speedlite and as a flash controller Transmitter. It also has three independent groups, detecting remote control the flash mode, focal length, and flash output.

Pros
  • All the function and reliability of YN560 IV Wireless Flash Speedlite is flawless.
  • It has a lot of high-end features which comes in handy while taking a picture.
  • Allows controlling zoom and power from the camera.
  • The price is very low compared to similar feature Canon compatible flash.
Cons
  • The built is made out of cheap plastic to the durability is questionable.
  • For beginners, it might be complicated to use.

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7. AmazonBasics Electronic

AmazonBasicsAmazonBasics Electronic Flash is compatible with all kind of DSLR Cameras and helps in getting great photos even in low-light situations. It has three flash modes: Manual mode, Slave mode 1, and Slave mode 2.

Pros
  • The settings are easy to understand.
  • Flash can be tilted from 0 to 90 degrees or rotate to 270 degrees to get a perfect click.
  • If you are a beginner and need flash which available at a cheap rate, then AmazonBasics Electronic Flash might work for you.
Cons
  • It might require some additional adjustments to connect with the camera.
  • The build is not sturdy so handle well.

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How to Pick External Flash for Canon?

If you are a novice in photography looking out for the best flash for Canon to improve the quality of shots, then there are few things you should keep in mind before paying for the product. While most of the DSLRs come with built-in a flash, they don’t produce an adequate amount of light to get a clear picture.

While choosing the flashlight, decide on what kind of photos you are required to take. As per your need, you can sort the flash and then determine the amount of money you can spend on it. There is a high-end flash available, but for beginners, it’s advisable to go cheaper version with a limited feature. This will help you get adjusted using the flashlight and learn the essential features quickly. If you have mastered all the basic features of using the flash, then check the main features of the flashlight.

The first thing to see is the guide number which defines the size of the flash. If you want a portrait effect in your photos, then pick one that comes with a different flash size. Another point is flash sync that is a camera function. The flash can limit the shutter speed of a camera, so use on that comes with a higher sync speed that will help in handling the camera with ease. Recycle rate in a flash comes when you are shooting an action scene. In this, the recharge goes flash is important as you want it to be ready to use for the next shot. So, your flash should hold a good recycle rate if you want a clear picture of a moving subject.

Quick Compare Table of the External Flashes

ModelGuide Number (m)
Flash Mode
Weight (g)
Neewer TT560
38M, S1, S2286
Canon Speedlite 430EX II
43M, A, WP331
Altura Photo AP-UNV1
38M, S1, S2589
Yongnuo YN 560 III
57M362
Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT
43M, A, WP294
YONGNUO YN560 IV
57M384
AmazonBasics DF500 Flash
33M, S1, S2311

How to Clean Your Camera Sensor?

Clean Your Camera SensorCleaning the camera seems to be a daunting task after you have taken your camera in nature, clicking some beautiful shots. Well, removing dirt in and out from your camera is necessary; if ignored, you will be damaging the sensor, which plays an important for capturing crystal images. While many will advise you to get it clean by professionals, cleaning a camera sensor is a task that requires some tools, a clean table, and time. If you are up for the job, then read below some easy steps to clean the sensor.

  • Remove the lens and place the camera on a clean cloth with the LCD facing downwards.

  • Once done, you need to select the manual cleaning option, so the mirror is locked. The process of choosing manual cleaning may differ from the brand of the camera.

  • Once you get access to the sensor, slowly remove the sensor swab to see if any dust is in that area. Even a piece of lint can cause an error in the camera or reduce the picture quality.

  • Use a manual air blower to clean dust or lint. Make sure the tip of the blower doesn’t touch the surface of the sensor.

  • Now, use two drops of special camera cleaning liquid on the tip of the swab. You don’t need more than three dots as this chemical is strong. A dripped swab will leave streaks on the sensor, which will ruin your photography experience for the future.

  • Place the swab on the sensor and, with gentle force, swipe the sensor by moving the swab in one smooth motion. Don’t rub the swab in side-to-side motion as it will create scratches on the sensor.

  • To see if there is any remaining lint on the sensor, use a torch or a magnifying lens to inspect the surface. You can also take a test shot to see if the cleaning hasn’t left a mark.

  • If you see some dust particles or blurry images, do the same again using a new swab.

I hope with this straightforward tutorial, you will be able to clean the camera sensor right on your work table.

Conclusion

The best way to upgrade your Canon camera is by using an external flash that will help you take great pictures in low light, shoot moving subjects, and have features that will help you click portrait-like photos with a click.