> Canon actually removed the center sync pin I would suggest a used Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT for reliability. Be careful to verify firmware on the Godox TT350C Mini TTL Speedlite to ensure itll sync with your T7.

Wow, I love that you are doing this for a friend! Baby showers are amazing events to photograph! Since you have a specific budget and that tricky T7 hot shoe issue, I want to be super careful that you get something reliable that works every time. Safety and consistency are so important!! Before I give a final suggestion, could you clarify how large the Chicago venue is? Knowing the ceiling height would be fantastic so I can tell if you need a high-power unit for bouncing light effectively. One quick tip is to always double-check the product descriptions to ensure the firmware is specifically updated for the T7 pin skip. If you find a deal on a Yongnuo YN685 II TTL Speedlite for Canon, it is a fantastic budget-friendly workhorse that handles TTL beautifully and is very reliable for these types of parties!

Man, Canon really did us dirty with that hot shoe design on the T7. It caught so many people off guard. Since you need TTL and want to stay under $150, I would suggest looking into the Godox TT685II-C TTL Flash for Canon. Godox updated their newer units to handle the missing pin through the other contact points, but you might want to consider double checking the firmware version before the event just to be safe. I've used Godox for years and it's mostly solid, but be careful with older used stock. If you're nervous about third-party quirks, you could probably find a used Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT within your budget. It works perfectly because Canon designed the communication to bypass that center pin for these specific bodies. Just make sure you dont accidentally buy a super old version that might struggle tho.