Ok so, adding my two cents... basically both choices are solid, but if ur looking for technical deep dives, check out Flash Havoc. It's a great resource for comparing speedlite specs and seeing real-world tests. Honestly, the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT is probably the most reliable for E-TTL accuracy, but Godox is way more flexible if u ever wanna do off-camera work. Pro tip: if u go third-party, maybe look at the Godox V860III-C TTL Flash for Canon. The Li-ion battery is a total game changer for long family events—u won't be swapping AAs every hour lol. Also, I think there's a helpful thread on the DPReview forums about the 90D's AF assist compatibility with Godox firmware... it's kinda worth a look before u buy cuz it can be hit or miss depending on the version. hope that helps!

I would suggest being careful with those high Canon prices. Honestly, I spent way too much at first, but switching to the Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon was literally a game changer for my 90D. * Full E-TTL & HSS support
* Reliable AF assist grid
* Saves you over $200 Basically, dont waste your cash on the brand name. Just make sure to update the firmware first. gl!

I was researching this too and honestly the market is so flooded right now its hard to choose but basically you have to look at the long-term reliability. If you want to save money but still get that radio trigger stuff people swear by the Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II because it’s a total workhorse and basically a clone of the high-end Canon flagship units for like a quarter of the price... though I think the AF assist grid can be a little bit off sometimes? Not a dealbreaker but something to watch for. If you want something that feels way more premium though I’d look into the Nissin i60A for Canon because they are a reallyyy solid Japanese brand and their build quality is just on another level compared to the cheap stuff. They handle heat way better during long events so you don’t get that annoying cool-down period right when you need to take a shot and the size balances so well on a 90D body. TL;DR: Yongnuo if you want the best bang for your buck features-wise, but go with Nissin if you want better build quality and heat management for those long family events.

Would love to know this too

🙌

Building on the earlier suggestion, I have to say I am literally in the exact same boat as you and it is driving me absolutely insane! I have been shooting with Canon gear for a decade now and recently picked up the Canon EOS 90D for my sisters wedding, but the flash search has been a total nightmare. Honestly I have been dealing with this exact same dilemma for like three months now and I still havent pulled the trigger on anything because every review contradicts the last one. It is just so frustrating when you want that perfect E-TTL sync for family stuff and everyone has a different opinion on what actually works with the hot shoe. I love this body so much but the uncertainty about the AF assist beam is just killing my vibe... I feel like I am just stuck in research limbo forever!

Lol I was literally about to post the same thing. Glad someone else brought it up.

Building on the earlier suggestion about going third-party, I would suggest being really careful with the pin alignment on some of those cheaper knockoffs. Ive seen some folks mention that the 90D hot shoe can be a bit finicky with non-native gear sometimes. If you want the safest route without paying full retail, maybe look for a used Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT. Its basically the gold standard for reliability and you wont have to worry about the AF assist beam being slightly off-center like on the clones. A couple things to watch out for if you go the used or DIY route:

• Check the battery compartment for any white crusty signs of old corrosion
• Make sure the weather sealing gasket at the foot is still soft and not cracked
• Definitely stick with Panasonic Eneloop Pro High Capacity AA Batteries to avoid the risk of alkaline leaks ruining your internals Honestly, check out The Digital Picture or even Ken Rockwells site for the specific compatibility charts. They go into deep detail on the E-TTL II accuracy which is huge for portraits. Better to be safe than sorry when youre shooting family stuff... nothing worse than a flash failing mid-event.

Can confirm this works. Did the same thing on mine and its been solid ever since.