In this guide we will introduce you to the best flashes for mirrorless and reflex cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others dedicated to those who want to start shooting and control the light with their own hands. Let's start!
Light in photography is essential. In fact, "photography" literally means "writing with light". So everything is based on our ability to manage the light in order to create the right atmosphere around the subject. Very often the natural light conditions are not satisfactory - think of a room with poor lighting or shots in the dark - or they simply do not allow you to make the shot you have in mindand - the light may be too hard or too soft. With this guide to the best flashes for mirrorless and reflex cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others, we therefore want to show you the most suitable tools to explore the world of artificial lighting which is as fascinating as it is complex. Obviously we keep ourselves on a simple line, suitable for beginners and enthusiasts, but which nevertheless constitutes a solid basis for future developments. All the products listed will therefore have prices and features in line with the needs of any amateur. Also most of the products listed are compatible with different models - of course always check yours in particular before purchasing, even if generally compatibility is required for automatisms such as TTL or HSS in other words a manual flash is compatible with all cameras. Let's start with some general advice first. To jump to the list directly click here.
How to choose and orient yourself
A flash is used to take control - as much as possible - of the lighting of the scene, a fundamental action to impress one's vision on the shot. We can use a flash to illuminate a subject as a primary light or to lighten shadows as a secondary light and as a fill light. In all three cases we can also use a continuous light of course. Why choose a flash then? First of all they are more compact and consume less: even very powerful models are battery powered and can be mounted on very light supports. There are actually very bulky flashes, but they still have a better weight / power ratio than continuous light. They also generally heat up very little. The cons? There is no perception of what will happen until you shoot, so if you have little experience fixing the set up can take longer. The synchro flash it is in the minimum exposure time with which a flash light can be used; it is due to the fact that for very short times the shutter curtains never fully expose the sensor, but chase each other exposing one “window” at a time. Since the flash is very fast, the scene is not shot correctly. Some HSS-like features can solve the problem that does not exist with continuous light. In general, for those at the beginning a flash is the best way because you can reach the powers suitable for all situations without problems.
Different types of flashes
There are different types of flashes. Those most suitable to be used at the beginning are the sled ones that can also be attached to the camera: simple, compact and easy to carry, I guarantee excellent performance and with a limited budget allow you to experiment a lot. They can be combined with wireless triggers or Master Slave systems to be used also off-camera. Then there are the flash torches that reach very high powers, but are bulky and more complex to manage. Finally, some flashes have very specialized applications such as the ring that produces very uniform lighting for portraits and macros.
The power
A fundamental parameter for the choice of the flash is the power. Generally for those with torch it is expressed in watt / s, so in an intuitive way: a higher power is preferable because it lights up more and because it lasts longer - usually does not often use it at maximum power. P.for those with sled instead we speak of guide number (GN or NG). The NG is a value that allows to obtain the correct aperture or distance of the subject to obtain a correct exposure, in formulas NG = OPENING x DISTANCE [m]. NG is calculated at ISO 100, so if you use higher ISOs, remember a factor of 1,4 for each stop. Before you launch into astronomical calculations, please stop, in reality the NG is not used in practice to create the set up - of course it can be an indication, but you should always look at it -, more than anything else it serves to distinguish a more powerful flash. from a less powerful one. Same speech as before: a high NG is more advisable.
Other features
Finally many flashes today include various features such as TTL for automatic power setting - equivalent to automatic exposure mode, useful for those who take souvenir photos at parties for example - or HSS for very short exposures (useful outdoors), lo zoom which can concentrate or disperse the light beam more e integration of radio transmitters - if the trigger is not integrated, it must be purchased separately to use the off-camera flash. Remember that if you want to keep the automatisms like TTL, the flash must be compatible with a specific brand, but used in manual will do any camera. Depending on the use you propose you should give a different weight to the characteristics. We now come to the real list of the best flashes for mirrorless and reflex cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others.
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others): YongNuo YN560 IV and 560 III
These are two excellent manual flashes with a very low cost. Both have NG 58 and are equipped with integrated radio receiver and Slave slave mode. The only advantage of version IV is that it can also work as a transmitter or master to control other flashes.
YongNuo YN560 IV YN-560IV, Speedlite wireless flash, Master + Slave + integrated trigger system, for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Fujifilm, Panasonic and other digital cameras - The YN560 IV can be used as a master unit, provides 3 independent groups with capacity control, realizing remotely control the flash mode, flash and focal length of the YN560 IV and YN560 III.
Yongnuo YN560III YN 560 III - Ultra-long range wireless Speedlite flash - Support high-speed continuous shooting
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR cameras (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others): YONGNUO YN685 E-TTL (TTL for Canon)
A very powerful flash with NG 60 and with practically all the main features integrated: TTL, HSS and integrated radio receiver. It does not function as a master to control other flashes.
YONGNUO YN685 E-TTL HSS 1 / 8000s GN60 2.4G Speedlite Speedlight for Canon DSLR Compatible with YONGNUO 622C / 603 Wireless System - Fully compatible with YONGNUO 622C and 603 wireless system: YN685 supports receiving wireless trigger signal from YN622C, YN622C-TX, YN560IV, YN560-TX, RF605, RF603II and RF603 respectively.
Migliori flash per mirrorless e reflex (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic e altri): YONGNUO YN968N II Speedlite (TTL per Nikon)
Powerful flash with NG 60 and all the automatisms for Nikon, it also works as a master. It can also vary the temperature of the light without jellies.
YONGNUO YN968N II Speedlite Flash TTL Wireless 1 / 8000s HSS Luce a LED Integrata 5600K per Fotocamere Nikon DSLR Compatibile con Sistema Wireless YN622N YN560 - Equipped with LED light: Equipped with a high-power high-power LED light, the brightness can be adjusted, there is a built-in diffuser and a color conversion filter for the LED light.
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others: Yongnuo YN-14EX (TTL for Canon)
Ring flash with TTL functionality for Canon, but can also be used with other brands in manual.
Yongnuo YN-14EX Flash Macro Ring Light Flash Ring per fotocamera Canon EOS 7D 5D Mark II, 60D 650D 600D 50D 550D III 40D 700D 70D (supporto flash TTL) - bear TTL flash control
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others: Neewer 750II TTL Speedlite (TTL for Nikon)
Inexpensive, but functional flash with an NG 58 and TTL for Nikon. Also excellent in manual and controlled in slave mode.
Neewer 750II TTL Speedlite - Flash con schermo LCD per Nikon D7200 D7100 D7000 D5500 D5300 D5200 D5100 D5000 D3300 D3200 D3100 D3000 D700 D600 D500 D90 D80 D70 D60 D50 e altre Fotocamere DSLR Nikon - Hot shoe in metal
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others: Neewer NW565EX E-TTL (TTL for Canon)
Similar to the previous model, but for Canon. The package also includes a very useful radio trigger for off-camera shooting.
Neewer® NW565EX E-TTL Slave Flash Speedlite Kit for all Canon models, Includes: Neewer Flash + Diffuser + 35pcs. Colored Filters + Trigger + 4pcs. LR battery - Powerful flash lamp with number 58 guide (ISO 100, 180 mm). Flash modes: TTL, M, February, Slave, S1, S2, Multi. Light angle: from 18mm to 180mm.
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others: Neewer NW561
Very low budget and low power (NG 38), useful as a secondary flash perhaps to soften the shadows. Manual and works in slave mode. It can be combined with an external trigger.
Neewer NW561 LCD Display Flash Speedlite per Canon Nikon Panasonic Olympus Pentax Fijifilm e Sony con Mi Hot Shoe, DSLR e Mirrorless Fotocamere con Standard Hot Shoe - Powerful flash with high guide number 38 (ISO 100, 35mm), supports m / multi / s1 / s2 modes; fast charge recycle: about 2,9s note: does not support ttl and camera setting menu operation. Not compatible with Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / 250D, Rebel T7 / 1500D 2000D, Rebel T100 / 3000D 4000D
Best flashes for mirrorless and SLR Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and others: Neewer Flash Strobo Vision 4
Flashlight not very powerful by standards (NG 60), but really cheap. It integrates a rechargeable battery and the trigger is supplied.
