But flash photography can appear to be prohibitively expensive for those just looking to get started with it — if you’ve been shopping around for a flash for your camera, you may have noticed prices surpassing reasonable budgets for first-party models. Fortunately, a number of budget manufacturers have stepped up to the plate to deliver lower-cost flashes that, in some cases, match the first-party models for features and power. Here are four worth considering.
Godox VING V860II TTL
Best budget camera flash
Want a premium flash without the premium pricetag? The Godox VING V860II TTL offers advanced features found on flagship models from Canon and Nikon but at a fraction of the cost. This flash is a great way to get into advanced off-camera lightning techniques thanks to its built-in radio transceiver, which can both control and be controlled by other V860II flashes.
In addition to its wireless controls, the flash features a unique rechargeable battery so you can finally say goodbye to AAs. It boasts a fast 1.5-second recycle time and can fire 650 flashes at full power, while the fully articulating flash head is useful for bouncing light. With a guide number of 197 feet (at ISO 100 and 200mm zoom setting), it has plenty of reach to illuminate subjects at long range. It is available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Panasonic cameras and offers through-the-lens (TTL) metering for automatic flash exposure. It is also compatible with high-speed sync, letting you shoot beyond the normal flash shutter speed limitations of your camera.
Neewer NW670
Most powerful budget camera flash
Neewer has made its name known with an excellent lineup of affordable lighting gear. Generally available for a low price, this external flash features built-in 2.4GHz wireless triggering and comes bundled with a wireless transmitter. Other features include TTL metering with Canon cameras (check out the Neewer VK750 II for Nikon compatibility), high-speed sync, rear-curtain sync, and high-speed bursts at lower power levels.
Compared to the Godox, it has a shorter guide number of 190 feet, a longer recycle time of 3 seconds at full power, and its zoom range tops out at just 105mm, but whether used alone on your hot shoe or in conjunction with other flash systems, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more capable flash at this price point.
Yongnuo YN560 IV
Best manual budget camera flash
If you need something robust but can’t splurge for the Godox, this model from Yongnuo might be what you’re looking for. The YN 560 IV is a solid iteration of what was already an impressive flash for the value, being the fourth generation of the model.
Inside the YN560 IV is a wireless triggering system that works alone or hand-in-hand with Yongnuo’s collection of radio transmitters, thus helping to create a wireless lighting setup that doesn’t rely on fickle, line-of-sight-based optical triggers.
The flash still lacks TTL metering, so you’ll need to rely on manually adjusting the power — but fortunately, in the days of guess-and-check digital photography, this isn’t too hard. With a guide number of 58, you should be getting a good deal of power as well.
