Canon Speedlite 220EX for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras

Excellent flash.I had an accident with the first one and had to replace it. It was worth the expense.

Built-in flash on Canon EOS digital rebel is flawed. This inexpensive add-on works great and is very useful for the casual photographer who likes the flexibility of the digital SLR but who is not a fanatic about flash photography. Price is right. Feature-full for all but the highest end photographer.

This is Canon's smallest EX flash. With a guide number of 22m it is about 2.9 times as powerful as the typical onboard flash (guide number 13). It does not allow for tilt or sviwel. There is a cheaper Cullmann flash, the 20 AF-C, that does allow for tilt but unlike the 220EX it does not support high speed sync. The support of high speed sync is crucial for use of the flash for daylight fill. For me fill is the primary use of this flash.

The small size is a big advantage over its larger cousins. It has adequate power for bounce flash of standard height ceilings though you will need a flash bracket and off shoe cord since the flash does not support tilt.

I bought my G6 in December, borrowed a Canon 420 EX speedlite and liked the results but I wondered if the smaller, lighter, less expensive 220 EX would be good enough? Some of the reviews here say it is underpowered. Is it? I bought one to find out and took both out into my backyard in 8 PM darkness to try them at 5 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet and 40 feet on the G6.

Conclusion #1: The G6 has a good builtin flash. It makes good images within it's limited range of 5 meters/16 feet (or 4 meters/13 feet when the lens is set to telephoto) and works well as a fill flash. Complete failure beyond 20 feet.

Conclusion #2: The 420EX (range 24.2 meters) and the 220EX (range 15.7 meters/51.5 feet) both make better images than the builtin flash and both offer longer range. But both are limited by the autofocus range of 5 to 7 meters. That's right, neither flash can focus on a subject more than 20 feet away in darkness with the lens set to telephoto. Both worked fine when the lens was set to wide angle at 40 feet.

Final Conclusion: I'm keeping the 220 EX. The G6 is small and light, so is the 220EX. They make a good team, but the G6 also does well alone up close.

I ordered this flash as a replacement for a 420ex (that I was borrowing from a good colleague). The minute I opened I had the ominous feeling that it was going to be a disappointment. Indeed! The very first test shots were incredibly telling as to how lousy and shoddy this flash is. First, it does not swivel so you can kiss your hopes for bounce flash goodbye. Second, it's lacks punch and power. In many of the informal tests I performed, the built-in flash of my camera (and even that of a point-and-shoot I have lying around the studio) is more powerful!!!!!! I re-packed it and sent it back. Got a 430ex and am nothing but satisfied. In short, stay away from this flash! In this case you won't even get what you paid for--avoid!