01 February 2023

Canon Speedlite Flash Basics

Learn how to calculate flash power and how Canon Speedlites can determine the appropriate output to deliver perfect exposures every time.

Canon Speedlite Flash Basics

Speedlite camera flash units enable you to add extra light to a scene and take control of how your subject is illuminated. They're useful in low-light conditions but they can also transform images in bright sunny conditions by filling in shadows and helping to balance the exposure across the scene.

Canon has a range of Speedlites to suit different cameras, photographers and shooting situations. For example, the Speedlite EL-1 is very powerful and well-suited for use on pro cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV or full-frame mirrorless EOS R5, whereas the Speedlite EL-100 is very compact and more at home on a smaller camera like the EOS 250D or compact mirrorless EOS M6 Mark II. And for macro photography, there's the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II and Macro Twin Lite MT-26EX-RT, which help you get light onto very close subjects.

All Speedlites have a collection of Canon technologies to help you get the best possible results, and it's useful to understand a bit about them to ensure that you select the right Speedlite and get the best from it. So here's a guide to the most important Speedlite basics. (Canon Source: Canon Central and North Africa)

  • Understanding Guide Numbers
  • Autoflash Exposure
  • TTL Autoflash
  • E-TTL Autoflash
  • E-TTL II Autoflash
  • Face Priority
  • E-TTL Balance