What are the best external flashes for Canon 5D Mark IV?

Question

What is the best external flash for a Canon 5D Mark IV that won't be too hard for a beginner to use? I just got this camera secondhand from a family friend and honestly it feels way above my head and I feel like I'm drowning in buttons. I've been trying to take pictures of my kids inside but they always look dark or super grainy and blurry because the light in our house is just awful. Someone told me I need a speedlight or an external flash thingy but when I look online there are literally hundreds of them and the prices are all over the place. I'm really worried I'm gonna buy one that doesn't fit or maybe I'll buy a cheap one and it'll fry the camera electronics or something scary like that.

I have my cousins wedding coming up in three weeks in Chicago and she asked me to take some candid shots at the reception since I have the fancy camera now. I'm super stressed about it because the venue is an old dark basement style restaurant and I know for a fact my pictures will look like black rectangles if I don't get a flash. My budget is pretty tight, maybe 150 dollars or 200 if I really stretch it. I saw some brands like Godox and Neewer and then the official Canon ones but the Canon ones are like 500 dollars and I just can't do that right now.

Does a cheaper brand work the same as the Canon ones?

Is there a specific model that is plug and play for a 5D Mark IV?

Do I have to change settings for every single photo or is there a mode that just does it for me?

I heard something about TTL being important but I have no clue what that even stands for or what it does. I just want something that clicks onto the top and makes the room bright without making everyone look like pale ghosts. I'm so sorry if these are dumb questions I'm just really panicking about this wedding and don't want to let my cousin down with bad photos...

brielle.wells · Accepted Answer

Congrats on the new gear! The 5D Mark IV is a beast of a camera, so dont feel bad about it being a lot to learn. Shooting with Canon for over a decade has taught me that you dont need to drop $500 on their brand name flashes. I have been super satisfied with Godox stuff for years and it works perfectly with your camera without any risk of frying the electronics.

Get a flash with TTL. It stands for Through The Lens, and it basically means the camera and flash talk to each other to figure out the right brightness automatically. Its your best friend for a wedding reception.

Look at the Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon. Its well under your $200 budget and honestly the build quality is great. I own two and they have never let me down.

If you want something even easier, the Godox V860III-C Speedlite for Canon is awesome because it uses a rechargeable battery pack instead of fumbling with AAs. I use this one for long events and no complaints about the battery life at all.

To avoid the pale ghost look, just point the head of the flash up at the white ceiling. Its called bouncing the light and it makes everything look soft and natural... works wonders in dark rooms. You totally got this! Just set the flash to TTL mode, put the camera in Program mode if you are really panicking, and let the tech do the math. Hit me up if you get stuck with the menus... I have spent way too much time digging through Canon settings myself.

samuel.evans · Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "Congrats on the new gear! The 5D Mark..." - it is a solid camera but flash tech is where people usually get stuck. I have logged thousands of shots with various speedlights and honestly, you dont need the Canon 600EX-RT price tag. For your budget, look at the Godox V860III-C for Canon. It uses a lithium-ion battery pack, which is huge for weddings. I remember my first gig using AA batteries... it was a nightmare because the flash took forever to recycle between shots. The V860III fires way faster. If thats too pricey, the Godox TT685II-C for Canon is basically the same tech but uses 4 AA batteries. Both have TTL which stands for Through The Lens. Basically, the camera and flash talk to each other to set the power automatically. It works fine for candid shots. Just point the flash head at the ceiling to bounce the light so people dont look washed out. The Godox units are totally safe for your 5D's electronics, so dont sweat that part.

CreativeEdge · Answer

Jumping in here because im super satisfied with how far third-party gear has come lately. You definitely dont need to spend 500 bucks to get pro results on that 5d. One major caution tho... stay away from vintage flashes you might find at thrift stores or old garage sales. Some of those old units have a really high trigger voltage that can legit fry the sensitive electronics in a modern digital body like yours. Stick to brands that specifically mention canon compatibility and the 5v trigger circuit. Here are a few resources and specs that helped me:

check out the strobist blog, specifically their lighting 101 section. it is a total lifesaver for understanding how light works without getting bogged down in math.

look for a unit with a recycle time under 1.5 seconds if you can. when you are shooting kids, waiting 3 or 4 seconds for the flash to recharge feels like an eternity and you will miss the shot.

focus on guide numbers (gn). a gn of 60 at iso 100 is the sweet spot for that basement wedding.

look up bounce flash tutorials on youtube. hitting the ceiling instead of the subject makes the light look way more natural. Honestly once you see the data on how much power these cheaper units put out compared to the name brands, you will feel way better about the savings. Just keep it on ttl mode for the wedding and let the camera do the heavy lifting while you focus on the kids!