non-native AF grids usually misalign on DSLRs... unfortunately, i found they miss on the 90D too, but the Godox V1-C Flash for Canon is still better value than $400 native gear.

Sooo, I would suggest the Godox V860III-C Speedlite for Canon instead of the expensive Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT. I totally feel u on the pop-up flash, it's pretty harsh! The Godox is like $160 and the battery lasts foreverrr compared to AAs. I was kinda worried about the connection but it works fine on my 80D with E-TTL. I guess just check the firmware?? Basically, save ur cash! gl!

Hmm, I've had a different experience. Honestly, for weddings, the reliability of a native Canon unit is HUGE, especially for AF. Third-party gear is cheap, but communication can be flaky when things get fast! Before you decide tho, are you mostly gonna be bouncing flash on-camera or looking for a wireless setup? Also, whats the absolute max ur looking to spend? Like 200 or four hundred??

Following this thread

Honestly, before you drop the cash, I’m curious about one thing—how comfortable are you with doing your own maintenance or DIY fixes? Since you’re shooting weddings and events with the 80D/90D, things are basically gonna get banged around at some point. A few things I’ve been thinking about: * Iirc, some of the newer Canon bodies have slightly different pin sensitivities. Are you planning to mostly use the flash on-camera, or are you looking into building a DIY bracket or off-camera setup?
* Not sure but I think I heard someone mention that the 90D can be a bit finicky with self-service repairs if the hot shoe mount gets loose. Have you looked into how easy it is to tighten those yourself or do you usually send things in for pro service?
* Also, are you planning on using expensive modifiers or just sticking to DIY bounce cards and stuff you can make yourself to save a few bucks? Tbh I'm not 100% sure if the weather sealing on those mid-range bodies plays nice with every mount out there. It’s definitely something to consider if you're doing outdoor fill light stuff where it might get misty or dusty. What kind of environments are you usually shooting in?

Ok so, after years of doing this, I've realized that the most important thing for long-term ownership isn't the brand name on the front, but the consistency of the radio trigger system. You definately want to look at brands that offer a unified ecosystem. Honestly, just get any of the higher-end units from the major third-party manufacturers that use dedicated lithium-ion batteries. They're a total game changer for recycle speeds during weddings compared to fumbling with AAs in the dark. I've found that the communication with the 90D's metering is usually spot on with most modern TTL-capable units. The big thing you're paying for with the more expensive 'pro' tiers is really just the thermal management—cheaper units tend to overheat and lock up right when the cake cutting starts. Look for a brand that has a solid reputation for firmware updates too, because that's what keeps the HSS behaving correctly when Canon tweaks their hot shoe protocols. Just grab any of the high-output third-party options with a metal foot and you'll be set for a long time.

Commenting to find later