Yo! For your situation, I DEFINATELY recommend the Godox V860III-C Speedlight for Canon over the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT. Canon is reliable, but the Godox Li-ion battery is basically a game changer for events—no more fumbling with AAs! Plus, the 1.5s recycle time is HUGE for fast-paced portraits. Honestly, for $250, you could even grab the Godox V1-C Flash for Canon for that AMAZING round head falloff. Both have GREAT TTL/HSS support. gl!

Late to the party but curious about one thing: r u planning to do off-camera lighting with that 90D or strictly on-camera work?? Tbh, if ur budget is $250, I’d suggest the Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon since it’s only $130. I've used it on an 80D before and it balances well. Just a heads up tho—HSS is hard on the hardware, so watch ur duty cycle and overheating warnings during fast-paced events... seen many people fry their gear cuz they dont listen to the warnings!! gl

This^ Also wanted to add, I've shot a ton of indoor stuff with my 80D and switching from the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT to Godox was basically the best move I ever made. The native Canon stuff is reliable, but the price-to-performance ratio just isnt there anymore for intermediate shooters. In my experience over the years, here is why the Godox ecosystem wins for the 90D and 80D: 1. **Versatility for the budget**: If the V860III is too pricey, look at the Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon. It does everything the V860III does but uses AA batteries. You can use the extra cash to grab a Godox XProII-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger, which is a TOTAL game changer for off-camera portraits.
2. **The X-System**: Unlike Canon’s confusing mix of optical and radio, Godox uses one 2.4G system. It actually works perfectly with the 90D’s TTL. I've rarely had a misfire even in crowded event spaces.
3. **HSS Performance**: High-speed sync is super stable on these bodies. If ur shooting wide open at f/1.8 or f/2.8 indoors and need to kill some ambient light, it handles it like a pro. Honestly, dont overthink it. Going Godox gives u way more room to grow later... anyway, hope that helps! 👍

I just found this thread and wanted to share what I have learned after using my gear for a couple of years. I am definitely still a learner but I love looking at the technical side of these things. If you havent decided yet, I think looking at a different brand might actually save you some cash for accessories.

• Have you checked out the Yongnuo YN685 II for Canon? It has a Guide Number of 60 which gives you a ton of power for bouncing light off high ceilings in indoor venues.
• In my experience, the long-term reliability of the radio system is what matters most. This one has a 2.4GHz receiver built right in so you dont have to buy extra parts later.
• One technical detail I noticed is the AF assist beam. Some flashes have a weird pattern that the 90D sensor struggles to lock onto in low light. The Yongnuo pattern seems really consistent for me.
• Since your budget is $250, you could get the flash and a MagMod MagSphere 2. Honestly, the modifier makes a bigger difference in the look of the photo than the brand of the flash does. Does anyone know if the 90D still has that issue with the center pin on some of the newer third party flashes? I know the 80D is fine but I have heard mixed things about the newer bodies!!! Just something to keep in mind for the long haul.

Just saw this thread and wanted to chime in based on my own trial and error with different brands. I basically spent months doing market research before I realized that not all third-party gear is created equal, you know? I actually started with some super cheap clones thinking I was outsmarting the system, but I realy learned the hard way that saving a few bucks isn't worth it when the hardware fails mid-shoot. From a market perspective, here are a few things I'd watch out for when looking at non-Canon options: * Firmware headaches: Some of these off-brand flashes have zero way to update software, so if you upgrade your body later, the TTL might just... stop working properly.
* Build quality: I've seen so many "budget" flashes with plastic hot shoe feet that just snap off if you bump into someone at a crowded event. It's a total nightmare.
* Overheating: A lot of the cheaper alternatives don't have realy good thermal management compared to the high-end stuff, so they'll lock up right when the action starts!!! Honestly, the market is a bit of a minefield right now. Definately check if the brand you pick actually has a service center or a decent warranty, or you're basically buying a disposable paperweight if it breaks. (At least that's what happened to my first generic unit!)

Big if true