> Regarding what #2 said about "@Reply #1 - good point! I've been looking..." Are you shooting these weddings solo or with a team? If you want real reliability without the Canon tax, look at the Nissin MG80 Pro Flash for Canon! Its a total beast for heat management and the UI is so easy to use. I love it because it feels solid and never misses a beat during fast dancing! Its basically a safer bet for weddings tho!

@Reply #1 - good point! I've been looking at recycle times and color temp stability lately... make sure to be careful with AF assist beams on the 6D II since third-party patterns can be hit or miss. My Godox V860III-C Speedlight for Canon sometimes acts up. Maybe check the Westcott FJ80 II Universal Speedlight for a better touchscreen. Quick tip: always test your TTL in the specific venue lighting before the guests arrive.

Congrats on the 6D Mark II upgrade, thats a massive jump from a T6 and honestly that body is a workhorse for event stuff. I have shot plenty of weddings with that exact camera and the flash situation is definitely something you wanna get right before your first big solo gig. The struggle with those old Seattle buildings is real tho, those dark walls just eat light. I have used both systems and here is my take on your current dilemma:

• The Godox V1-C TTL Li-ion Round Head Flash is probably your best bet for that $450 budget. The round head gives a slightly smoother falloff when you are shooting bare, but the real winner is the lithium battery which lasts forever. You can easily clear a 6 hour reception on one or maybe two batteries max.
• The Godox V860III-C TTL Li-ion Flash is basically the same internal tech as the V1 but with a standard fresnel head. If you bounce your flash off the ceiling 90% of the time, you wont see a massive difference in light quality compared to the V1.
• The Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Flash is the gold standard for reliability and the weather sealing is legit, but buying it new will blow your budget and even used prices are high for what you get. The AF assist on the Godox units usually plays nice with the 6D II focus system since it is a DSLR. It is the newer mirrorless bodies where the red grid gets weird. If you are worried about that first kiss moment, maybe grab a V1 and a cheaper backup unit. Having a second flash in your bag is way more important than having a single native one if you are shooting solo. You got this.

Just saw this thread and honestly, I'm a bit disappointed that nobody's really emphasized the risk of third-party AF assist patterns yet. We've talked about the Godox V1, the 600EX, and the FJ80, but unfortunately, those third-party patterns often miss the mark on the 6D Mark II's sensors. I've missed focus on a couple's entrance before because of it and it's a nightmare. Basically, the discussion is split between battery convenience and native reliability. It's a tough spot. A few cautions:

• AF assist beams on off-brand units are notoriously inconsistent in low light.
• Heat management usually fails right when the reception gets busy.
• Communication errors with the hot shoe can happen at the worst times. I've had issues with the Canon Speedlite 430EX II being way too slow on recycle times for fast dancing. Honestly, for your first big solo contract, if the flash doesn't fire or the camera won't lock focus, you're in trouble. Don't compromise on the link between your body and your light.

Late to the party but this whole thread is 💯. Glad I found it.