Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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Like other inbuilt flashes, the Canon 80D’s pales compared to what an external flash can offer. Set at a Guide Number of 12m at ISO 100, it can’t meet your long-range lighting needs. Below are my reviews for the best flash for Canon 80D with carefully picked alternatives for optimal real estate illumination.
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If you want to cut to the chase, my pick is the Godox V1-C’s. While Canon Speedlites are amazing, the Godex is too AND comes equipped with a more ergonomical flash head.
Below is a comprehensive analysis of my carefully picked top flashes for Canon 80D.
One of Godox V1-C’s most outstanding features from the rest of my top flashes for Canon 80D is the building design. Unlike the rest of my options with a cuboid head, this unit has a cylindrical-shaped head. The circular lighting ensures soft illumination and minimizes undesirable shadows in your photos.
You’ll rarely find a flash with a wireless channel scanner. With this function, the Godox V1-C helps you identify congestion and find the best channel to use.
Few flashes can supersede its degree of flexibility. Its vertical tilting is through zero to 120 degrees, while horizontal adjustability is up to 330 degrees. That way, you won’t have to turn the flash for bounce illumination.
It has a rechargeable lithium battery that should easily last you all day. Together with its powerful performance, TTL support, and 1.5 seconds recharge time at full power, the battery power makes it superb for quick extended action.
Coming at approximately a third the price of a new Canon 80D, this unit is a bit on the high end. However; its powerful illumination with a build quality to match are worth every penny.
The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI is a superb choice given the additional features you’ll hardly find in other flashes.
With its automatic intelligence bounce mode, the unit quickly adjusts itself depending on your subject location. The sensor at the front of the flash head works hand-in-hand with this automation. It resets the unit to face the perfect position for ample subject illumination.
Thanks to the semi-auto mode, you can position the flash to your liking if you want control over the bounce illumination. There is also the off feature to eliminate any adjustability automation.
Its range of vertical tilting is similar to the Godox V1-C. Thanks to an extra 30 degrees in horizontal flexibility than my best flash for Canon 80D, it offers much more versatility for excellent bounce effects.
The higher GN of 47m at ISO 100 beats the Godoz V1-C by 19m. Add this capability to automated head adjustability, and its lighting performance at long distances is pretty undeniable.
Like the Godox V1-C, it also includes TTL that supports taking photos in quick succession. Given its auto bounce feature, you can move around your subject quickly while capturing well-lit images.
The YONGNUO YN560 IV is quite a popular choice for several cameras besides the Canon 80D. Its affordable pricing is among the reasons this unit is a favorite among those looking for a manual flash.
The unit almost appears to be a Canon 560EX II flash knock-off. What is impressive, though, is it tends to be much easier to use. Unlike the Canon 560EX II, you don’t need to press the side button to tilt its head. You also get it at half-price, something many would appreciate.
It is not as flexible as my first two flashes for Canon 80D though still ideal for bounce illumination. Sideways tilting is through 0-270 degrees, whereas perpendicular tilting is through -7 to 90 degrees.
What we liked the most about the YONGNUO YN560 IV is that it has a much higher GN value than my first two flashes. Able to illuminate 58m at ISO 100, this unit may be more suitable to capture images with restricted movement around the subject.
You get slightly slower performance when it comes to recycling time. The flash takes three seconds to recharge at peak power, though this level is still ideal for still shoots like real estate. If you don't mind going off-brand, this Yongnuo is a great Canon flash option.
The GODOX Thinklite TT685C is a much more affordable option with many features you get to enjoy with my top two premium picks. Its most significant advantage is how it can illuminate objects much further. Able to light up scenes 60m away at ISO 100, the unit might be your perfect option to capture subjects at a long distance.
The range of adjustability is insane too. It can rotate all around sideways. Vertical flexibility through -7 to 90 degrees isn’t my largest range in this buying guide, though it should be fine for convenient bounce lighting.
Like most of my choices for the Canon 80D, this one includes TTL mode. You can let it automatically decide the illumination for you, a superb feature for newbies and fast activity capturing.
At peak performance, the GODOX Thinklite TT685C has a recycle duration of 2.6 seconds. While not the fastest on my list, it is much better than the Canon 270EX II and functions well for real estate and landscape scenarios.
Its build quality is excellent. The battery compartment has a spring hinge design that feels more solid than a design like YONGNUO YN560 IV.
Though it resembles a pop-up flash, the Canon 270EX II comes with slightly more upgrades to make the experience better than Canon 80D’s inbuilt flash.
I especially liked how small the unit is at 2.6 by 2.6 by 3 inches. Being my most compact flash for Canon 80D, you can slide it into your pockets without taking much space.
It also is my lightest top pick with its weight at only 155g. Barely will you feel the difference it adds to your Canon 80D, and it’s great for lengthy sessions of handheld
The rest of the specifications are pretty commonplace. It has the smallest Guide Number on my list at ISO 100 of 27 meters and may not be superb for illuminating subjects at great lengths.
It can only vertically tilt through 90 degrees, limiting the surfaces you can bounce light. Its recycle duration of four seconds at peak performance is the longest in my review. This flash may not be an excellent choice to capture quick action but suitable for real estate and landscape images.
If you are looking for a compact, light, and affordable manual flash, the Canon 270EX II is a good choice. You should, however, expect lower performance than the rest of my top flashes.
Even with a unit like the Canon 270EX II, you still can enjoy better illumination than what Canon 80D’s inbuilt flash delivers. More adjustability, higher GNs, smoother lighting, and other exciting features like auto intelligence bounce illumination from my top picks will improve your Canon 80D experience.
