Best Canon flashgun: which Speedlite is right for you?

Canon Speedlites enable you to take creative control of lighting in ways that are impossible to do with daylight or continuous LEDs. Freezing a moment in time is just the start.

"Being able to separate the exposure for the background and for the subject in daylight, overpower the sun and pop some fill-light into shadows outdoors – these are things that you can't do with normal continuous LED lights," says Canon Europe Product Marketing Specialist Mark Fensome.

Canon Speedlites are considerably more compact and manoeuvrable than equivalent continuous lights, and even entry-level Speedlites render colour to a very high level and accuracy. With advanced flash features such as high-speed sync, wireless second curtain sync and wireless radio control of multiple groups, Speedlites also extend your opportunities for creative photography.

But how do you choose the best Canon flashgun that suits your needs? What are the features that matter? Here, we suggest some of the best Speedlite options to consider.

• For high performance and action: Canon Speedlite EL-1
• For creative portraiture, weddings and events: Canon Speedlite EL-5
• For everyday photography: Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT
• For flash beginners: Canon Speedlite EL-100
• For macro photography: Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II
• For professional creative macro: Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT
• Comparison: EL-1 vs EL-5

With a blistering burst rate of up to 170 full-power flashes, rapid 0.1-0.9 sec¹ recycle times, a guide number of 60 (m, ISO 100) and precise manual power control down to 1/8192² power, the Speedlite EL-1 offers the ultimate in high performance for demanding shoots. It's built for endurance too, with an active cooling system, weather-resistant construction and a rechargeable Li-ion battery that delivers up to 335 full-power flashes from a single charge.

"The Speedlite EL-1 is the best Canon flash for professional photographers who need to capture images in high-pressure scenarios," says Mark. "Whether you're shooting news or sport or covering a red carpet or a catwalk, you can depend on the Speedlite EL-1 to be ready to shoot and ready to keep up when you need to hammer images out."

In addition to familiar advanced flash functions such as radio triggering, high-speed sync and a bi-colour LED modelling lamp, the Speedlite EL-1 features wireless second-curtain sync for more creative off-camera flash control. It also includes FE Memory which automatically transfers E-TTL II flash exposure information to Manual flash mode, making it quicker to get up and running with a manual Speedlite setup.

If you don't routinely require the ultra-fast performance of the Canon Speedlite EL-1, the Speedlite EL-5 gives you many of its professional functions and near performance in a more affordable form.

"It's a great all-round performer," says Mark. "It's as powerful as the Speedlite EL-1, and while it doesn't offer the same level of Manual power adjustments, it still goes down to 1/1024 power with compatible cameras. The majority of flashguns typically go down to 1/128 power, so you're still getting a wider range of power levels with the Speedlite EL-5.

Are you looking for a decent hit of flash power? A movable flash head for bouncing the light? Simple controls and a lightweight design? The Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT ticks all the boxes and more.

With its guide number of 43 (m, ISO 100), the Speedlite 430EX III-RT has plenty of power for most occasions. It's powered by AA batteries and recycles in just 3.2 seconds following a full-power flash. In addition to a tilt-and-swivel zoom head that permits a versatile range of adjustments, the Speedlite 430EX III-RT can be used as a sender or receiver in a radio or optically triggered wireless flash setup.

"The Speedlite 430EX III-RT is a flashgun that hits the perfect balance of performance and price to satisfy the majority of people," says Mark. "It's nicely built, fairly compact and has a lot of capability – certainly enough for typical everyday photography."

The Canon Speedlite EL-100 is the best choice for photographers who are just starting out in flash photography. With an easy-to-use Auto mode that can take care of all the flash exposure settings, it's ideal for flash beginners, but also provides room to get creative, with Manual flash control down to 1/128 power and advanced options, such as stroboscopic flash and an optical sender/receiver function for wireless lighting control.

"The Speedlite EL-100 is a great choice if you have an entry-level camera and you're looking for a solution that gives you a bit more power than the on-board flash unit," says Mark. "It has simple operation and controls and a bounce/swivel flash head, so you can direct the light towards a wall or ceiling and avoid that harsh look you get with direct light."

While it's possible to use any Canon flash to photograph close-up subjects, a dedicated Canon Macro Speedlite flash offers the performance and creative control that can have a massive impact on your macro photography.

The Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II uses a ring-flash design with dual semi-circular flash tubes positioned around the front of the camera lens. These flashes can be rotated and controlled independently, enabling you to achieve a uniform, shadowless look, or to emphasise texture by making one flash brighter than the other.

The Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT provides all the flexibility and control that professionals need for close-up photography. "Both the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II and the Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT allow you to be creative with your macro lighting," Mark explains, "but the Twin Lite is more powerful and gives you more control over the lighting direction."

It's based around a twin-flash system, with the position of each flash able to be independently adjusted to suit the subject. "You can even take the flash heads off the ring and mount them to external supports," says Mark. "They're connected by cords, but you're free to have both lights on one side if you like, or perhaps at 90° to one another."

This flash offers an abundance of power as well, with a guide number of 26 (m, ISO 100) but it also has the option of reducing the flash output to 1/512 power, compared with the Ring Lite's standard 1/128 power.

"Having a Canon RT flash means you can also control other Speedlites remotely using radio wireless control as well as optical," adds Mark. "This means you've got more options available to you when it comes to positioning other Speedlites."

There is a difference in price between the Canon Speedlite EL-1 and the Speedlite EL-5, but these two advanced Canon flashguns share many of the same flash functions and capabilities. They both have a guide number of 60 (m, ISO 100), draw their power from a rechargeable Li-ion battery pack LP-EL, and have zoom heads that can cover 24-200mm. So what are the main differences between the Speedlite EL-1 and the Speedlite EL-5?

"The Speedlite EL-1 has an active cooling system whereas the Speedlite EL-5 features an enhanced passive cooling design," Mark explains. "You also get an upgrade in terms of dust and moisture resistance with the Speedlite EL-1, plus an external power supply terminal, so if you really need to boost the power or shoot for longer, or place the flash in a remote location, then you have the option of using the CP-E4N battery pack."

The Speedlite EL-1's integrated fan allows it to function for extended periods, and it's capable of firing up to 170 full-power flashes³ in a continuous burst. By comparison, the Speedlite EL-5 is able to sustain a burst of about 85 full-power flashes⁴ before it needs to rest.

Some of the compromises made in the design of the Speedlite EL-5 versus the Speedlite EL-1 are functions that only the advanced Speedlite photographer, who needs the ultimate in flexibility and features, is likely to need. There isn't a sync terminal or an external flash metering module, for example, nor are there locks on the battery door or bounce angle. It also only supports wireless radio triggering, whereas the Speedlite EL-1 also comes with optical.

What these professional Speedlites have in common – and what is consistent across the Canon flash range – is ease of use, intuitive controls and the capacity to unlock creative opportunities. More than just a way to add light where there is none, they are tools that can inspire you to experiment with new techniques.