BEST DETACHABLE CAMERA FLASH
A professional photographer knows how an external camera flash can change the game during the shooting. They evenly illuminate a scene, brighten up the subject, diffuse light, and efficiently remove unwanted shadows.
Some built-in flashlights of cameras could also do such work, but the best advantage of detachable light is it lets you control the direction of light.
So, most professionals prefer using a detachable flashlight, even if their camera comes with a built-in light too.
Here you will get to know about the best camera flashes on the market from top brands, including Canon, Neewer, Nikon, and many more. Every flashlight will not work with every DSLR. So, choose a suitable one for your camera and explore the world as you want.
In a hurry?! Here are my top picks
REVIEWS OF THE BEST DETACHABLE CAMERA FLASHLIGHT
1. NEEWER TT560 FLASH FOR CANON, NIKON, AND DIGITAL CAMERAS - BEST DETACHABLE COMPACT CAMERA FLASH
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Now that you've checked the product details, you can sense how powerful and efficient this DSLR flashlight is, right?!
The satisfying guide number of 38 ft. at ISO 100 makes this camera flashlight a good option for use in various shooting conditions. The flashlight lasts up to 1500 flashes triggers on a single.
This external camera flash of Neewer is compatible with Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax cameras. It has a standard Hot Shoe mount and the latest MI Hot Shoe mount, which makes it compatible with Sony A7 A7S/A7SII A7R/A7RII A7II A6000 A6300 A6500.
Unfortunately, the TT560 detachable flashlight doesn't support TTL and the camera menu setting function.
Despite the disadvantages, some of its unique features like size, decent recycle time, flexible tilting, and panning power have helped this get placed in the 1st position in this list.
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2. POWEREXTRA PROFESSIONAL DF-400 SPEDLITE CAMERA FLASH - BEST DETACHABLE ON CAMERA FLASHLIGHT
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With a couple of other standout features like - a user-friendly control panel, newly launched wireless trigger functionality, speedy recycle time of 3 seconds, This external camera flash is not a disappointment for anyone, especially for the price.
You can tilt it upward up to 90 degrees and horizontally move up to 270 degrees to get more directional light. It has powerful and versatile illumination power and a speedy recycling time.
The batteries last quite a while and quickly get recharged. And that is all we generally dream about. In the power-saving mode, the automatic shutdown function is another feature added to it; that I like the most.
Thanks to the Hot Shoe mount, it does a great job and works well with different cameras.
If you are a professional photographer; who is still on a budget, nothing can be better than this product. It is one of the most important camera accessory that you must try using!
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3. CANON SPPEDLITE 430EX III-RT FLASH - BEST DETACHABLE CAMERA FLASH FOR CANON
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This Canon camera flash offers a very good combination of advanced features and simple operation. The detachable camera flash is compact yet powerful in range.
The Speedlite 430EX III-RT not only delivers a portable light source but also offers several easy-to-manage features that give you full control over contrast, brightness, color temperature, and direction of the light to create natural light.
This detachable Canon small flashlight is likely to be compact, easy-to-use, and high-end, making it perfect for beginners and professionals.
The convenient lighting customization option, various functions, a pretty decent guide number of 141 ft, and speedy recycle times to put the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT is the silver lining.
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4. NIKON SB-5000 CAMERA LED FLASHLIGHT - BEST DETACHABLE nikon external flash
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The Nikon SB-5000 detachable external flashlight is a full-featured camera flash; that also comes with a radio remote for wireless control.
This external camera flash offers AF-assist illumination for multi-point AF, modeling illumination functions, test firing, monitor pre-flashes, and so on.
Without doubt, this detachable flashlight for cameras is a clear winner in the segment of adaptability and ease of use. That's why I have to place it on the list.
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5. SONY HVLF60M FLASH FOR ALPHA CAMERAS
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Why would you take a flattering portrait or a boring nature photograph when you have such an efficient small flashlight at hand?
Its advanced technology makes it a superior lighting solution with a great price; that every videographer and photographer wants.
It gives a nice dome of light. Recycling time is incredibly fast. But, sometimes this camera flash gets overheated after rapid use.
This detachable digital camera flash has a dust and moisture-resistant design as well as ample versatile mounting options making it a mandatory accessory in the camera bag of a travel photographer.
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6. ULANZI VL49 2000 MAH
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This detachable video light is well-known for its’ expandable compatibility and lighting efficiency. It offers 3 expansion joint interfaces, where you can connect multiple lighting panels to enhance illuminating power. Most cameras with a cold shoe mounting interface will support this external flashlight.
The light is powered by a built-in 2000mAh lithium battery; that gets fully charged within 2 hours and illuminates for 120 to 300 minutes in return.
Because of the extended battery life, I want to recommend this camera flasher to event shooters or travel photographers. The battery life, Type-C fast charging method, along with adjustable color temperature makes it a real winner.
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7. SIMOR LED VIDEO LIGHT
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The Simorr P96 Video LED Light 3286 is a lightweight, portable and stylish mini-LED light with 0-100% brightness control. Its illumination angle is up to 120°.
The brightness can reach the topmost CRI range, 95; that helps you recreate the perfect color of sunlight. There is a control knob to adjust the color temperature and brightness.
This Neewer Flash Speedlite is highly recommended for portraiture, wedding photography, and travel photography. Being lightweight, you can easily roam around with it.
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8. NEEWER 200W TTL EXTERNAL FLASH KIT
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The Neewer brand always provides a happy shopping experience. This detachable camera flash model is not exceptional.
It comes with an advanced wireless lighting system, which makes it a good fit for beginners, as well.
Its illumination power is amazing for outdoor and indoor photography. The battery charge lasts all day, but make sure you turn it off when you are done with a click.
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THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE BUYING A DETACHABLE CAMERA FLASH
Most professional removable flashes are designed to get used with different cameras. The TTL external camera flash provides extra benefits; they automatically adjust the output depending on the scene.
The guide number of flash units or speedlight-kits will define how bright light you can get from it.
Some budget-friendly portable camera flashes generally have a guide number of around 35 to 45. That means the light could reach up to 45 feet with a 100 ISO range.
Some expensive and powerful pro camera flashes offer accurate Guide Numbers for one situation; that surpasses 100.
Some on-camera flashlights; even a few high-end hand-held flashes can take up to 100 photos without requiring a recharge. But most budget-friendly compact camera flashes or digital flashes need a few seconds of a break after each shot.
When you’re on an adventure trip, it’s pretty obvious that you’ll not get a charging outlet nearby all the time. So, choose a flashlight with external batteries and keep plenty of additional fully charged batteries.
It’s totally up to you. One thing I want to make you aware of is that you could look for budget-friendly options but before purchasing anyone make sure it can fit into your shooting needs.
FAQ
An external flash lets you control the direction of the light. You could move the light source in various positions to find out the best angle, from where you’ll get a shadow-free well-lit photo.
Moreover, you can accurately adjust the amount of light; they provide versatile lighting effects and flexible color temperature. These are the few advantages; that could make you prefer an external detachable flashlight over built-in flashes.
The expensive flashes generally have a longer lifespan, up to 300,000 flashes, than other cheaper options. Some aspects like – the bulb it has, the weather condition, flash numbers, and so on affect the lifespan.
Washed-out photos are the result of severe over-exposure. So, disable the manual or semi-manual function and put the camera in full-auto mode, to avoid this issue. The camera will choose appropriate aperture settings and shutter speed according to the external light source.
If the subject is getting over-exposed, bounce the light off a nearby surface instead of pointing the light directly at your subject.
CONCLUSION
Here are the best detachable camera flashes currently available on the market for both experienced and amateur photographers. I’ve shortlisted them based on their size, ease of use, functionality, compatibility, and affordability.
If you’ve come across some better products, share your opinion on them in the comment section below. Also, let me know, have you found my recommendations interesting?
