Totally agree! I struggled with AA recycle times until I got the Godox V860III-C Speedlite for Canon. Its lithium voltage is technically more stable; make sure to use HSS for youre 1/8000s shutter. 👍

sooo, for your 90D I highkey recommend grabbing the Godox V860III-C Speedlite for Canon because it basically gives you way more features for the money than the native options. The biggest win is definitely that rechargeable lithium battery... it literally lasts for like a thousand shots and the recycle time is way faster than using AAs in the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT. It handles E-TTL II and HSS perfectly for those outdoor portraits, plus it has a built-in radio trigger so you dont have to buy extra stuff when you move to off-camera setups. I was kinda worried about third-party quirks too, but honestly it's been super reliable for me and is way easier to grow with than the basic Canon flashes. gl!

Just saw this while browsing. If you want to stay well under budget but still have full compatibility with Canons own radio system, you might want to consider the Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II Speedlite. It mimics the Canon 600EX-RT almost perfectly for a fraction of the cost. I would suggest being careful with the battery door though; third-party builds can be a bit flimsy over the long term compared to native gear. Honestly, make sure to get something with HSS. Without it, the 90D will cap your shutter at 1/250s. If youre shooting outdoors at f/2.8, youre gonna blow out your highlights instantly without that 1/8000s capability. If you dont mind using AA cells, the Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon is a solid technical pick. It has a better UI than the older versions and the 2.4GHz wireless is very stable for off-camera setups. Just make sure to use high-quality cells like Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA Rechargeable Batteries so you dont get sluggish recycle times during events. It saves you enough cash to grab a trigger too.

Ngl, if youre a bit of a DIY enthusiast, I’d suggest looking for a used Canon Speedlite 580EX II. Basically, they are built like absolute tanks and you can find them way cheaper than the new stuff nowadays. The best part is that if anything goes wrong, like the flash tube dying or the hotshoe plate getting loose, you can usually find the replacement parts online for super cheap and fix it yourself instead of paying for an expensive pro service. It gives you that high-end E-TTL performance without the 300 dollar price tag, which is a huge win in my book. For the harsh light problem, honestly just try the old rubber band and white index card trick before buying fancy modifiers. Bouncing the light off a white ceiling or wall is basically the easiest way to get soft portraits without spending a dime. I’m not 100% sure if you absolutely need HSS for every outdoor shot, but having a powerful older pro unit definitely helps when you gotta overpower the sun. The menus are a bit clunky compared to the 90D’s internal screen, but for the price, it’s hard to beat if you dont mind doing a little self-service maintenance now and then.

Honestly, I’m gonna go against the grain here and say be reallyyy careful with the third-party stuff. I’m pretty new to photography myself, but when I was doing my research, I saw so many posts about third-party brands having weird communication errors or even scratching the hotshoe on the camera body. Since you just got a nice 90D, maybe it’s better to just stick with the official Canon lineup? Basically any flash made by Canon is going to be way more reliable with the E-TTL system than a budget brand. I know they cost more, but the peace of mind is worth it so you don't have to troubleshoot while you're trying to take photos. Plus, if something breaks, you know their support is actually gonna help you out. It just seems way less complicated to stay in the same ecosystem, you know? Has anyone else had issues with those other brands after a firmware update? I’m always so worried about that lol.

sooo i found a cheap third-party unit basically worked best... it’s been realy solid for indoor shots and saved me a ton of cash over the official canon ones, you know? haha

Saved for later, ty!