In my experience, you'll get way more bang for your buck with Godox. Here is what I suggest: • Godox V860III-C Flash for Canon: The Li-ion battery is a total game-changer for recycle speeds.
• Godox V1-C Flash for Canon: Round head light is sooo much smoother for portraits. Both support HSS and E-TTL, but be careful cuz the AF-assist beam can be slightly wonky on newer DSLRs like the 90D. Still worth it tbh! 👍

Respectfully, I'd consider another option before jumping on the expensive Li-ion bandwagon. I spent years shooting with an 80D and eventually the 90D, and I actually had a pretty bad experience with those proprietary batteries failing at the worst possible time—it was a total nightmare when I couldn't just swap in spares. Everyone loves the V1, but I honestly think you'll get more reliability from the Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon. It's way under ur $250 budget and uses standard batteries. I always pair mine with Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA Rechargeable Batteries cuz they're literal beasts for recycle times. In my experience, the E-TTL II communication is super solid on the 90D, and HSS works perfectly for those outdoor shots you mentioned. The build quality is decent too—it wont overheat as fast as some older units I've tried. Plus, if a battery dies, you can find AAs at any gas station. Sometimes keeping it simple is better for those "can't miss" candid moments!! gl!!

Just caught this thread today and I really have to back Rusty on the AA battery point. While those Li-ion packs in the V1 are cool, being stuck with a dead custom battery during a wedding or family event is a total nightmare compared to just swapping in some fresh ones from your bag. Honestly, if you want something that behaves exactly like a native Canon Speedlite but fits your under $250 budget, you should check out the Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II for Canon. I have used both Godox and Yongnuo for years on my 90D and 80D. The big thing with this specific Yongnuo is that they basically cloned the Canon RT wireless system. This means the AF-assist beam and the E-TTL communication often feel a bit more seamless with Canon bodies than Godox, which uses its own separate X-system logic. The YN600EX-RT II has HSS, plenty of power, and it is a tank for the price. If you ever decide to pick up a second flash or a transmitter, it works natively with the Canon wireless protocol. Godox is definitely the king of ecosystems if you want big studio strobes later, but for reliable on-camera event work, the Yongnuo is a killer value that feels much more like the pro Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT without the massive price tag.

Saw this earlier but just now responding! I’m still pretty new to flash photography myself, but I spent a LONG time researching the market before I bought anything for my 80D. I mean, it’s basically a maze once you stop looking at the standard Canon stuff. I was really trying to find that sweet spot between "cheap junk" and "overpriced pro gear." Here’s a few other brands I looked into during my journey: - Nissin Di700A Flash for Canon: I was really interested in this one because the controls are so SIMPLE. It uses a color-coded dial instead of a confusing screen, which seems great for beginners. It’s pretty affordable too, though maybe not as common as other brands.
- Neewer NW655 Flash for Canon: This was my budget pick. It has E-TTL and HSS for way under $100. Well actually, I was a bit worried the build quality wouldn't hold up for event work, but for family portraits, it seemed like a solid way to save money.
- Sigma EF-630 Flash for Canon: Since Sigma makes such good lenses, I figured their flashes would be amazing. It’s definitely powerful, but the menu looked kind of intimidating to me. Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out if having a simpler menu is better than having more features. Do you think the interface makes a big difference when you're in a hurry at an event?

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> Godox V860III-C Flash for Canon: The Li-ion battery is a total game-changer... Totally agree with the above! Honestly, the Godox V860III-C is a total game changer because of the Li-ion battery—I've tried many AA-powered units and they just cant keep up. Regarding the 90D AF-assist, Godox uses a red grid that works great in low light, whereas the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT is way pricier for fewer features. For under $250, Godox is actually the more reliable pro choice imo. gl!

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