I would suggest the Canon Speedlite EL-5. I use it on ur same R6II and the multi-function shoe integration is literal perfection... AF assist finally works, so I'm honestly very satisfied!

sooo ive used tons of gear over the years and i gotta say, the Godox V1-C Flash for Canon is the best value imo. tbh, the AF beam thing is kinda weird on mirrorless anyway since they use LED light now, but the TTL is solid. if ur worried about price, the Godox V860III-C for Canon is a literal workhorse and balances great on the R6II. gl!

Honestly, if you’re looking at this from a practical DIY enthusiast angle, you don’t necessarily need to drop $600+ on the latest RF-native stuff to get pro results. I’ve been messing around with the R-series for a while now, and basically, you can save a ton by taking a "self-service" approach to your lighting rig instead of paying the Canon tax for the EL series. Here are a few things I’ve learned from tinkering with my own setup: * **The Adapter Route:** If your old speedlites are still working, just grab the Canon AD-E1 Multi-Function Shoe Adapter. It’s a cheap way to bridge the gap between your old gear and the new multi-function shoe. It maintains the weather sealing and makes those older flashes feel way more secure on the R6II.
* **Firmware is King:** Most communication issues with third-party gear like the Godox Xpro-C II are just outdated firmware. If you’re willing to spend ten minutes downloading drivers and updating the gear yourself, the TTL and HSS become super reliable.
* **Weight Management:** Since you’re worried about balance, check out the Godox V350C. It’s tiny, runs on a lithium battery, and won’t make your wrist ache after a four-hour event. It’s basically the perfect DIY middle ground for mirrorless bodies. Anyway, you can totally get that "native" feel without the professional service price tag if you're willing to do a little bit of the setup work yourself!

Great info, saved!

Nice, didn't know that

+1

Did this last week, worked perfectly

Honestly, after reading through all the advice here, it basically boils down to whether you want to pay for that seamless native integration or save some cash with third-party gear. Having used these systems for years, the real long-term win is picking one ecosystem and sticking with it. If you go with a brand like Westcott or even Profoto, you are paying for crazy reliability and consistency across every shoot, which is huge when you are doing events!!! I have found that mirrorless bodies eat through power way faster than the old DSLRs, so definitely look for a brand that uses proprietary lithium-ion packs rather than AAs. It makes a massive difference for recycle times during long days and you wont be carrying around heavy bricks of spare batteries. Just find a solid brand you trust and buy into their whole wireless ecosystem. It makes moving to off-camera work so much easier down the line. Basically:

• Pick one brand for all your lights to keep it simple
• Prioritize lithium-ion power for faster shooting
• Dont overthink the AF assist beam thing because mirrorless works differently anyway Just grab whatever fits your budget from a reputable third party and you will be set for years! tbh, the consistency is worth more than the brand name on the plastic.

Interested in this too

Re: "Great info, saved!"

• I actually have to disagree that this is settled because I am in the exact same boat and still feel very uneasy about the current options. I have been researching this for about six weeks since getting my R6 Mark II and the lack of consensus on a truly reliable, safe setup is honestly driving me crazy. My main hang-ups are:
• The physical risk of using older triggers on the delicate multi-function shoe pins
• Inconsistent TTL performance reported with the newer third-party firmwares
• Total lack of affordable native options that dont feel like a major compromise It is pretty disappointing that we are this far into the RF lifecycle and basic lighting compatibility still feels like a gamble. I am still looking for a solution that doesnt involve spending a fortune just to ensure my hot shoe doesnt short out or lose sync during a job.