topic Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend? in Gear Guide

EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

CanonFreak — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:29:05 GMT

I might use a diffuser for a speedlite flash but I don't know which one to use. I mostly use the Canon R6 Mark II for indoor photography for baton or dance (ballet) in dark theater settings. But I also do portraits as well under trees, etc.

Any recommendations?

Re: Canon R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

JeffXB — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 05:54:55 GMT

In order to better assist you it would help if you told us your budget and lens(s) you primarily use. Please state the full lens model and not just the focal length.

Re: Canon R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

CanonFreak — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:51:36 GMT

I mostly switch between the 24-105mm EF F/4L IS II USM and the EF 100-300 F4.5-5.6 USM using the SNIPIZ adapter by EBYPHAN on Amazon.

My ideal canon lens is the Canon RF70-200mm F4L USM which I can find a speedlite flash that will cover this. That lens is my next purchase.

Re: Canon R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

deebatman316 — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:27:10 GMT

Welcome to the forums @CanonFreak most speedlites cannot cover up to 200mm. Usually the high end professional speedlites such as the 600EX-RT can cover that. But not anything lower than that speedlite. Indoor events like sports prohibit flash use. I would recommend a lens with an F/2.8 aperture or wider.

Re: Canon R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

shadowsports — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 13:22:21 GMT

Greetings,

I'm curious. Most of the time indoor performances don't allow flash photography. It's extremely distracting to the performers and could even be dangerous. I've seen people fall off a stage, etc. You may want to consider the f 2.8 variant and no flash. I would also suggest you budget for a Canon brand EF to RF adapter. I assure you it's worth it's $100 price tag.

These things are worth consideration 🤔.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

CanonFreak — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:28:30 GMT

Good points on the max range of the flash on the speedlites. Thinking about it now I mostly used the 24-105mm EF F/4L IS II USM when I was taking pictures of my daughter for her school pictures. I could always change my exposure meter as well especially if there is a backlit issue (which I try to avoid anyways). This R6 Mark II has been an awesome improvement over my Canon Rebel t5i whereas I always pushed its ISO to its max when I was taking pictures of her in indoor gyms with hardwood floors. Each gym I also adjust the "white balance" as well but looking at my gym pictures my ISO is typically 3200, 4000, 5000 or 6400 with shutter speeds at 1/200 through 1/320 at around 5.6 aperture and thats using the 100-300mm lens. So I would like a speedlite for the 24-105mm lens for possible fill in flash capability for those portrait moments.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

rs-eos — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:09:17 GMT

When you say "portrait moments", where are those taken? Are you up-close to your subjects, or are you far away?

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

CanonFreak — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:47:05 GMT

Close up using the 24-105 mm lens.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

rs-eos — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 19:38:50 GMT

But where? The gym?

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

SignifDigits — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:56:09 GMT

The Mark II still has the TTL for flash so you have a lot of options as long as you're not truly trying to get to 200mm at f/4. I have the EL-10,two 430EX III RTs and the EL-100. The EL-10 has no TTL and only works with the multifunction shoot that Canon is limiting some cameras to (my R50V, for instance). It allows for more information exchange between the camera and flash.

For me, the EL-10 is my least favorite as it only fires on top of the camera, and on top of the camera is almost never where I want a flash as straight-on flash tends to create a two-dimensional snapshot effect. I am SO grateful to have both the Mark 2 support I-TTL and E-TTL.

Using cards, panels diffusers and bounce flash in this configuration is usually helpful, but under a tree unless you have a helper you might be limited to the diffuser.

Canon has a known issue with their wireless interconnect so I use a Godox X3 flash controller and multiple Godox XR TTL Wireless receivers for off-camera flash. The EL-10 is 100% Canon-proprietary multifunction shoe only, as are most (maybe all?) of the latest Canon flashes. Thus, the current generation of Canon flash is NOT my personal choice or recommendation. This is one area where I think the third-party advantages outweigh the proprietary - for me at least.

I 100% concur with recommending a Canon-branded adapter, though. Please do that.

You might find a good deal on a used (no longer made) EL-100 to see if that meets your needs for outdoor flash, as it sounds that realistically you're not going to be using flash indoors. It's a great little flash. And Canon makes GREAT flashes, don't get me wrong. I own 4 of them, but I drive them all via TTL and don't rely on their wireless technology at all. I hope they've fixed it but I'll never trust it as Godox solves the issue 100%, 100% of the time for me for not a lot of money. I wish that Canon would license the multifunction flash to others (as it appears Sony does as I ordered the Sony version of the Godox controller by mistake first and notice it had connector instead of the TTL-only Canon version that I finally got), but that doesn't appear to be the case for now.

Consider a Godox V480 flash if all you really need is fill flash - $170 new and spend the other coin on a Canon branded adapter, or upgrading to a 2.8 70-200 instead of f/4. Or a used EL-100 is also a good choice, or used 430EX III RTs (especially if you get the snap on diffuser). All of those are in about the same price range.

I don't use flash for anything other than macro or other specialized uses (shooting a bit vehicle soon and I want gels for lighting in the cab and underneath it). For everything else I depend upon IS and IBIS.

Anyway, those are some ideas for you to ponder and opinions for others to throw stones at.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

deebatman316 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:19:28 GMT

@SignifDigits all current Canon flashes support E-TTL. Canon hasn’t introduced a new flash system called I-TTL. I-TTL/ CLS is Nikon’s proprietary flash system which is INCOMPATIBLE with Canon’s flash system. The EL-10 can work off camera in radio wireless with another flash or transmitter in the hot shoe. The EL-1 V2 doesn’t have the multi function shoe. It uses the same hot shoe as older R series cameras and DSLRs. The 5 pin hot shoe dates back to 1986 with the release of the FD Mount T90. Though flash systems have changed between then and now. Older EOS film bodies released prior to 1995 only supported A-TTL & Off the Film TTL. The EOS Elan II brought E-TTL & support for HSS. So E-TTL started out with film cameras first before digital cameras came around. Canon had no choice but to discontinue support for A-TTL & TTL. Since digital cameras don’t have film. The flash will fire at full output only. Old off the film TTL relied on light reflected off the film to end the flash duration. Since digital cameras don’t use film. This flash system wouldn’t work at all. Instead E-TTL fires a metering pre-flash to determine correct flash power. In 2004 with the release of the EOS-1D Mark II. Canon released the revised E-TTL II flash system. Most of the changes were made in the camera body. Not the flash so no matter which Canon EX flash is used. The E-TTL II flash system is used. E-TTL II uses focus distance information provided by the lens if equipped. Another method is used if the lens lacks a focus distance encoder. Or if wireless, Macro or bounce flash is used. Distance information is NOT used.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

SignifDigits — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:43:53 GMT

@deebatman316 Thanks. Sorry for the Erroneous I-TTL remark. I meant to say TTL and E-TTL. That was really my point. TTL connectors are included on the R6 Mark II, but not the R50V (and some others, I'm assuming). I'm aware the EL-100 is only an optical link the EL-10 only wireless and the 430EX III-RT supports both.

My point was that while the current offerings support E-TTL that's really only a Canon-specific MODE combability, not a TTL connector compatibility (see below). TTL connection is NOT supported on the newer flashes, so firing via a Godox TTL remote unit is not possible.

This whole "proprietary connector so that the camera can do the processing" should have removed some of the processing required by the flashes, perhaps lowering the cost. That has not been the case. The rechargeable battery and rapid recharge of the EL-10 are great, but I'm personally not buying another Canon flash with that proprietary connector. It was not a fully robust multiple flash solution in the current wireless environment for about three years. A firmware update last November is reported to improved things significantly for the EL-1, EL-5 and ST-E10, but there was no update for my EL-10.

Canon does a LOT of things remarkably well, but openly addressing flaws and aggressively taking steps to fix them does not seem to be one of them. Both the EL-1 and EL-5 were about 3 years in the field old before a firmware fix was released. That's a long time. I have already invested in and trust Godox and don't appreciate the lower-end EL-10 not being included in the firmware fix. Just not a good look for Canon, in my opinion.

Current Canon hot-shoe configuration below - no TTL connectors. 100% proprietary. Nikon and Sony haven't released a new flash in like 4 years, and all of them (even if they have a proprietary connector) support TTL.

I don't think the on-camera flash technology or business is worthy of this "proprietary-only" approach Canon has taken. I think their flash business would be enhanced by allowing TTL firings as they do make great (the best and most reliable, I think) flash units.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

deebatman316 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:09:30 GMT

@SignifDigits the EL-10 doesn’t use rechargeable batteries. Also the radio link has been improved. Maybe the EL-10 was updated before the other flashes from the factory. But Godox still has some work to do with compatibility problems. The R8 has banding issues when using HSS with Godox flashes. Also Godox flashes are known to lock up cameras with error 70. Canon changed the AF Assist Beam signal when they moved to the R series. Godox had no fix for this nor can it be disabled it still fires and locks up the camera.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

SignifDigits — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:41:03 GMT

@deebatman316 Of course, as always you're 100% correct. And Yikes! I have an EL-5! I'll have to update the firmware! Sometimes I cannot keep up with own my gear makes and models, apparently!

Godox certainly has their issues in quality and reliability, but they, like Sigma, seem to be steadily improving and moving forward. They, too, stumble. Their new model controller is a step back in that it doesn't mount as well, and their quality is NOT that of Canon. That said, the Godox ecosystem is rapidly becoming a defacto standard and they have become the flash "King". Sort of like Adobe - not perfect, but still "good enough" for enough folks they may own the market. Godox does, and will have their issues and they will almost certainly never make a flash as good as Canon's. But being "best" doesn't always "win". Sony Betamax was better than VHS by any technical standard, but VHS won in the consumer market, though Betamax won in the newsroom.

There is no doubt that Canon makes the best flash, and can offer unsurpassed compatibility. I just hate that they chose to abandon TTL connections and think it was a bad call. This proprietary move may be the nail in the Canon Speedlite coffin after the wireless interference stumble. Or maybe not - time will tell. From my point of view that I will continue to only buy used Canon flashes that offer TTL. I guess I got a great deal on the EL-5 but the lack of TTL and cross compatibility and unusefulness with the Godox gear makes it a one-shot (pun intended) wonder for solo on-camera use (which means it will rarely, if ever, get used).

Sorry for my continued and ongoing confusion and mistakes. I can only plead old age at the reason 🙂

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

CanonFreak — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:54:28 GMT

Outside shots only.

Re: EOS R6 Mark II. What flash models would you recommend?

deebatman316 — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:01:03 GMT

@SignifDigits Sony has a similar hot shoe to Canon’s. It uses connectors to interface with flashes and other accessories. Sony’s old hot shoe was created by Minolta in 1988. It was a weird proprietary hot shoe it doesn’t even look like a hot shoe. There was no center pin on it to use traditional flashes instead a proprietary adapter is needed. Sony replaced that hot shoe in 2012. This new hot shoe brought back the center pin on it. This new hot shoe Canon has is mainly focused on video accessories like microphones. To eliminate cables needed to connect the microphone. Instead it goes through the hot shoe instead. Canon’s own flashes don’t need the center pin to work. Instead the camera reports the shutter speed value to the flash. Then the flash internally calculates when it needs to fire for the exposure. Only the R50 & R50V lack the 5 pins for legacy flashes to work. But those cameras are focused on video not stills. The R5 C while it has the new hot shoe. It only works with older flashes in stills mode. The newer interface only works with video accessories only. The EL-5 won’t work on that camera at all.