Which external flash works best with the Canon Rebel T7?

Question

So I just picked up a Rebel T7 as a backup body for a small wedding gig I'm shooting in a couple days and I am totally losing my mind here. I've been shooting with an 80D for years so I thought I knew what I was doing but I just tried to slide my old manual speedlite onto the hot shoe and... nothing. Literally nothing happens. Then I looked closer and realized there is no freaking center pin on the mount?? I honestly didnt even know they made cameras like that. It's like they intentionally broke it for anyone who doesn't buy the expensive Canon-branded ones.

I need a TTL flash that actually works with this specific crippled hot shoe because I'm on a tight timeline and need to get this sorted by Friday. I'm based in Chicago so I can probably hit a local shop if I have to but I'd rather just order something from B&H if I knew it would actually fire. My budget is around 150 bucks tops since this is just a backup rig. I heard some of the Godox stuff like the V860II or the TT685 got a firmware update for this but then I read conflicting stuff online and now I'm just confused and stressed out. Does anyone know which specific flash models are actually 100% confirmed to work with the T7's missing sync pin?

CipherSurfer · Accepted Answer

Honestly, I disagree that it is still a total mess. I have been really satisfied with the newer Godox gear since they patched the firmware. It works well and it is super reliable, basically plug and play now tho...

Godox TT685C II TTL Speedlite for Canon fits your budget perfectly.

Godox V860III-C TTL Li-Ion Flash for Canon is awesome if u want the lithium battery. Zero complaints using those with the T7.

ThunderSquirrel · Answer

Man, that center pin drama was such a huge mess when it first dropped! Canon really did people dirty with that one lol. Basically they removed the universal sync point, so you need a flash that talks through the side pins. I have messed around with this exact setup and honestly Godox is your best bet for keeping it under 150 bucks. I love these options because they actually fixed the compatibility while Canon was being difficult:

Godox TT685II-C TTL Speedlight for Canon

This one is amazing! It is the updated version and it works perfectly with the T7 shoe right out of the box. It is super powerful for a backup rig.

Godox TT350C Mini TTL Flash for Canon

If you want something lighter for a backup, this little guy is fantastic and way under your budget. Stick with the TT685II-C tho. Its a total beast and feels way more pro than the price suggests!

eric.russell · Answer

> Godox TT685C II TTL Speedlite for Canon fits your budget perfectly. ^ This. Also, the consensus here is definitely right that Godox is the move for the T7 since they actually updated their stuff to work with that missing pin. I've been satisfied with their gear for years because it stays budget friendly and just works. Speaking of Chicago tho, if you're heading to a shop downtown, watch out for the parking near the pier. I went there last summer and ended up paying like forty bucks just to park for an hour. Then I got a flat tire on the way out because of some debris in the alley. I spent the next two hours sweating in a suit trying to change a tire while people just walked by and stared. I really need to get one of those portable air compressors for my trunk. Anyway lol, sorry kinda went off topic there.