I am in the need of yet another speedlight for my camera. i have a Canon 80D with the main lens being a Tamron 18-400. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck with flash attachments in just one year. the first was just a $29.00 flash that came as part of a package so I wasn't too upset when it didn't even give me one shot. I decided to go with a good flash so I checked reviews on Amazon and got a Voking VK550 less than eight months ago and it lasted less than 100 flashes. I was just getting ready to take family pictures for Christmas cards when it died three flashes into the session. Of course my first thought was batteries but that was to no avail. I have a budget now of $300.00 to $400.00 to spend on a flash but I need one that I can depend on. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Steve

I am in the need of yet another speedlight for my camera. i have a Canon 80D with the main lens being a Tamron 18-400. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck with flash attachments in just one year. the first was just a $29.00 flash that came as part of a package so I wasn't too upset when it didn't even give me one shot. I decided to go with a good flash so I checked reviews on Amazon and got a Voking VK550 less than eight months ago and it lasted less than 100 flashes. I was just getting ready to take family pictures for Christmas cards when it died three flashes into the session. Of course my first thought was batteries but that was to no avail. I have a budget now of $300.00 to $400.00 to spend on a flash but I need one that I can depend on. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Steve

I am in the need of yet another speedlight for my camera. i have a Canon 80D with the main lens being a Tamron 18-400. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck with flash attachments in just one year. the first was just a $29.00 flash that came as part of a package so I wasn't too upset when it didn't even give me one shot. I decided to go with a good flash so I checked reviews on Amazon and got a Voking VK550 less than eight months ago and it lasted less than 100 flashes. I was just getting ready to take family pictures for Christmas cards when it died three flashes into the session. Of course my first thought was batteries but that was to no avail. I have a budget now of $300.00 to $400.00 to spend on a flash but I need one that I can depend on. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Steve

Hi Steve,

With a budget like that, you have a lot of choices. It's just a matter of how large and full featured a flash you want.

I've got six Canon flashes: three old 550EX and three newer 580EX II. They were more expensive, but I've never had any problem with them over the years and have used them on a series of Canon film and DSLR bodies. Most recently on 7D Mark II. So they would work fine with your 80D, too... as would any of the Canon flash.

I would high recommend the Canon flashes, rather than some unknown third party. I suspect the quality and reliability will be far better! I've never heard of the brand you mentioned. I have heard of and/or used some Godox, Yongnuo, Metz, Sunpak and a few other brands.... and would be fairly comfortable buying those.

But by instead getting Canon flashes, I'm pretty much assured of full compatibility and long term usability (and that's proven true for nearly 20 years now).

Canon currently offers:

- Speedlite 270EX II is the most compact model, with an 89' guide number and a tilt head, it runs on two AA batteries.

- Speedlite EL-100 is slightly larger with a 85' guide number, a tilt/swivel head and runs on two AA batteries.

- Speedlite 430EX III-RT is a mid-size flash with 141' guide number, tilt/swivel head, radio communication (see below), that runs on four AA batteries.

- Speedlite 470EX AI is a new, mid-size flash with 154' guide number, automated tilt/swivel head ("intelligent bounce"), that runs on four AA batteries.

All the above are well within your budget. Several are on sale right now, so you'll even have some $ left over for other accessories (see below).

- Speedlite 600EX II-RT is over your budget, but is Canon's most powerful, top-of-the-line model with 197' guide number, tilt/swivel head, radio communication and master control, runs on four AA batteries and optional external battery pack.

There have also been a 300EX-series and 500EX-series models, as well as earlier 200EX-series and 400EX-series models that you might find used, which will work well.

There also was a very compact, highly automated Speedlite 90EX with some interesting features.

All Canon flash use an auto exposure program called "ETTL". Some of the more recent models use "ETTL II" which improves accuracy a little bit by receiving distance info from lenses.

Set to ETTL these models all fire a low-power (1/64) "pre-flash" which the camera's light meter system reads and the flash uses to determine the "real exposure", which then fires at the appropriate full power brightness. This happens so quickly, many times you don't realize the flash is actually firing twice.

Some models also can be used in Manual flash mode. And 400/500/600EX models provide Flash Exposure Compensation to be able to tweak the flash a little, as you see fit. (Other models may allow FEC to be done from the camera... FEC is the same as Exposure Compensation, except it's the flash's exposure that's being adjusted, instead of the ambient light auto exposure of the camera itself.)

The "RT" flashes and ST-E3-RT control module can communicate with each other via radio in multi-flash/off-camera setups. This has long range and doesn't require line-of-sight.

Most of the other flashes and the ST-E2 control module also have means of communicating with each other in multi-flash/off-camera setups, but they use infrared light (optical control and triggering) which significantly limits their range (about 35' in ideal conditions, this is effected by ambient light and other factors) and, most importantly, to line-of-sight only. One advantage with most of these flashes is that they also can provide autofocus assist in low light conditions.

Many of the last couple generations of DSLRs with built-in flash also can use that to control the optically triggered flashes off-camera. However, to do so they use a stroboscopic effect, white light flashes that can be rather obnoxious.

There are third party radio receivers which allow the optically controlled flashes to work with the radio system.

Most (all?) of the "affordable" models mentioned above can be used as "slave" units off camera. In other words, they can be controlled by a master flash unit or one of the controller modules.

With one exception, only the 500-series and 600-series flashes are able to act as "master" units and control other flash units (they also can be used as slave units). The exception is that little Speedlite 90EX, which also is able to control other flashes. (The ST-E2 and ST-E3-RT modules are master units, when no on-camera flash is needed.)

For best results with them all, I recommend several accessories:

1. Put the flash on a bracket. This moves it to the side and a little higher up, which improves the look of images quite a bit by getting the flash farther from the lens axis, reducing redeye and throwing shadows down, behind subjects. This doesn't need to be an expensive or bulky thing... one I use cost less than $25, nothing fancy, a clone of a much more expensive Stroboframe but seems to work just as well.

2. To use a flash on a bracket, you need an off-camera-shoe-cord. I've got several Canon cords and have never had any problems with them, other than needing to tighten a few screws. This cord attaches to the foot of the flash on the bracket, while the other end fits into the camera's hot shoe, to provide wired communication between the flash and camera.

3. Get some sort of light modifier... either a mini-softbox or a "light scoup"... that allows you to use the flash directly or to use high controlled bounce. A lot of people try to bounce off walls and ceiling. That can sometimes work, but there are often problems and it ends up wasting an awful lot of the flash's light output. All too often, bouncing off walls and ceilings ends up causing ugly color tints in images and makes for slow flash recycling. For that reason, I prefer to use direct flash, but it may need to be modified a bit to make it more pleasing. There are also "bounce" cards that mount on-camera, pure white or reflective silver (no color tint) and much better controlled power usage.

Finally, the 500-series and 600-series flashes have a socket that allows them to be used with an external power source, which helps them recycle much faster and allow longer continuous shooting sessions. Canon offers "compact" CP-E4 battery packs that use 8 AA batteries to supplement what's already installed in the camera. There are also third party battery packs (Quantum and others). The 400-series and lower flashes cannot be used with the Canon battery packs, but there are adapters from some third party manufacturers that allow their packs to be used. However, those require some modification of the flash.

Take your pick of the Canon flashes.... the power level you want, the size you need, the price you are comfortable spending. I think you'll have less problems and be able to use them for a many years with your 80D... and probably any future Canon DSLR or mirrorless model that might replace it.

The BEST advice I can give you is to stop wasting your money on cheap junk as you, most often, get what you pay for. I strongly suggest you buy the Canon flash unit designed for/matched to your camera. You can buy a better Canon unit if you wish if you are planning on sticking with photography and possibly upgrading in the future. Sorry I can't quote models as I am a Nikon guy. Best of luck and Happy Holidays.

P.S. If you're anywhere near Roberts in Indy, start there. If not call B&H for a recommendation. If you have a trustworthy local camera store, go there and support them.

I am in the need of yet another speedlight for my camera. i have a Canon 80D with the main lens being a Tamron 18-400. I have had more than my fair share of bad luck with flash attachments in just one year. the first was just a $29.00 flash that came as part of a package so I wasn't too upset when it didn't even give me one shot. I decided to go with a good flash so I checked reviews on Amazon and got a Voking VK550 less than eight months ago and it lasted less than 100 flashes. I was just getting ready to take family pictures for Christmas cards when it died three flashes into the session. Of course my first thought was batteries but that was to no avail. I have a budget now of $300.00 to $400.00 to spend on a flash but I need one that I can depend on. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you Steve