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Canon and Nikon Small Flash Comparison

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May 2018    

Nikon Reviews   Nikon Flash

Canon Reviews   Canon Flash

 

Introduction

More so than most comparison tables, for these little flashes, this table pretty much tells it all. Enjoy!

 

Nikon Flash (Canon)

Actual measured values (unless otherwise stated)

 
Anno
2013-today
2006-2013
2014-today
2008-today
Battery
2 - AAA
2 - AA
2 - AA
2 - AA
Weight, with alkaline cells

4.2 oz.

120g

6.2 oz.

177g

9.8 oz.

279g

5.5 oz.

156g

Bounce
Up only
Up only
All over
Up only
Ergonomics
Superb
Superb
Excellent
Excellent
Coverage, full-frame
28mm
28mm
24mm
32mm
Zoom head
No
No
No
No
Wake-up time1
immediate
immediate
instant (only turns off after 15 minutes, then never wakes up)
Recycle time2
4s
2.6s
3s
7.3s
Measured Power, ISO 100, m/ft
13/424
19.5/64
19/694

16/53 (normal)

7½/25 (ultrawide)

Rated Power, ISO 100, m/ft
18/56
21/69
24/79
20/65
Rated number of flashes at full power, alkaline cells
70
140
100
200
 
AF Assist beam
No
No
No
No
AF Assist range, m/ft
none
none
none
none
AF Assist coverage
None
None
None
none
Flyback transformer
Silent
Audible
Test flash button
No
No
Yes
Yes
Exposure OK light
No, shown by lack of blinking of ready light or finder bolt
No
Manual Exposure
Yes, set in camera menus
No.
High-speed FP Sync
No
No
 
Exposure System
i-TTL
i-TTL
i-TTL
i-TTL & E-TTL II
Works with
Newer Nikon iTTL DSLRs; the F6.
Newer Nikon iTTL DSLRs; the F6.
Newer Nikon iTTL DSLRs; the F6.
Newer Nikon iTTL DSLRs; the F6 and most Canon EOS digital and 35mm cameras
Doesn't work with
D1, D70, older DSLRs and older film cameras.
D1, D70, older DSLRs and older film cameras.
D1, D70, older DSLRs and older film cameras.
Made in
China
China
China
China
Build quality
Tough
Tough
Tough
very good
Foot
Metal
Metal
Metal
Plastic
Shoe lock
Metal pin
Metal pin
Crummy plastic ring
Case
sack
Zippered, padded case, included.
sack
None.
 
Price, 5/2010 USA
n/a
n/a
 
Price, 01/2013 USA
$147 (Aug 2013)
n/a
 
Price, 05/2018 USA

$150 new

$50 used

1.) Time to be ready again after 10 minutes of lying idle. In other words, after you've left the camera alone for ten minutes and it has gone to sleep, how long does it take the flash to be ready again when you tap the shutter to wake up the camera?

2.) With freshly charged Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTG Ni-MH cells.

4.) Estimated.

 

Canon Flash (Nikon)

Actual measured values (unless otherwise stated)

 
Anno
2011-2017
2011-today
2009-2011
1996-2009
2008-2016
2012-2017
2008-today
Battery
4 - AA
2 - AA
2 - AA
4 - AA
4 - AA
2 - AAA
2 - AA
Weight, with alkaline cells

13.1 oz.

373g

7.2 oz.

203g

6.8 oz.

194g

8.8 oz.

250g

14.8 oz.

420g

2.6 oz.

73g

5.5 oz.

156g

Bounce
Up only
Up only
Up only
None
All over
None
Up only
Ergonomics
Excellent
Superb
Superb
Excellent
Excellent
poor
Excellent
Coverage, full-frame
24mm
28mm
28mm
28mm
14mm
24mm
16mm
Zoom head
24mm or 50mm
28mm or 50mm
28mm or 50mm
No
14 & 24~105mm
No
No
Wake-up time1
1.4s
2 s
2 s
0.75 s
 
never wakes back up
instant (only turns off after 15 minutes, then never wakes up)
Recycle time2
2.5s
4.3s
3.9s
2.3s
2s
6s
7.3s
Measured Power, ISO 100, m/ft5

20/67 (24mm)

24/80 (50mm)

17/56 (28mm)

20/67 (50mm)

20/67 (28mm)

26/85 (50mm)

19.2/63
22/71
7/224

16/53 (33mm)

7½/25 (ultrawide)

Rated Power, ISO 100, m/ft5

24/79 (24mm)

32/105 (50mm)

22/72 (28mm)

27/89 (50mm)

22/72 (28mm)

27/89 (50mm)

22/72
26/85
9/30
20/65
Rated number of flashes at full power, alkaline cells
180
100
100
250
200
100
200
 
AF Assist beam
No3
No3
No3
Yes
Yes
No3
No
AF Assist range, m/ft
none
4m/13'
(3.5m/12' sides)
4m/13'
(3.5m/12' sides)
5m/16'
none
none
AF Assist coverage
none
All sensors
All sensors
Center
Center & sides
none
none
Flyback transformer
Silent
Silent
Silent
Audible
Silent
Silent
Audible
Test flash button
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Exposure OK light
No
No
No
Yes, bright green
Yes, bright green
No
No
Manual Exposure
Yes, set in camera menus
Yes, set in camera menus
Yes, set in camera menus
No.
Yes
Possibly set in camera menus
No.
High-speed FP Sync
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
 
Exposure System
E-TTL II, E-TTL
E-TTL II, E-TTL
E-TTL II, E-TTL
E-TTL, TTL
E-TTL, TTL
E-TTL, TTL
i-TTL & E-TTL II
Works with
All Canon DSLRs and recent 35mm EOS SLRs
All Canon DSLRs
All Canon DSLRs
All Canon AF cameras (EOS) since 1987, film and digital, T90.
All Canon AF cameras (EOS) since 1987, film and digital, T90.
All Canon AF cameras (EOS) since 1987, film and digital, T90.
Newer Nikon iTTL DSLRs; the F6 and most Canon EOS digital and 35mm cameras
Doesn't work with
TTL Autoflash EOS cameras (older film EOS), or FD.
TTL Autoflash EOS cameras (older film EOS), or FD.
TTL Autoflash EOS cameras (older film EOS), or FD.
Made in
Taiwan
China
China
Japan
Japan
Taiwan
China
Build quality
Tough
Tough
Tough
OK
OK
very good
very good
Foot
Metal
Metal
Metal
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Plastic
Shoe lock
Metal pin
Metal pin
Metal pin
Metal pin
Metal pin
Metal pin
Crummy plastic ring
Case
Padded Velcro nylon pouch
Unpadded drawstring pouch, included
Unpadded drawstring pouch, included
"Soft pouch," included.
Padded Velcro nylon pouch
"Soft pouch," included.
None.
 
Price, 5/2010 USA

 

n/a
 
Price, 01/2013 USA

$300 new 

$200 used

 
Price, 05/2018 USA

$329 new

$80 used

$150 new

$50 used

1.) Time to be ready again after 10 minutes of lying idle. In other words, after you've left the camera alone for ten minutes and it has gone to sleep, how long does it take the flash to be ready again when you tap the shutter to wake up the camera?

2.) With freshly charged Sanyo Eneloop HR-3UTG Ni-MH cells.

3.) No separate illuminator, but will fire the flash repeatedly to focus, which is way too annoying to use around people or animals.

4.) Estimated.

5.) At normal 24mm or 28mm (full-frame) setting.

6.) No, not a small flash, but a superb flash that sells used at a very low price.

 

Recommendations

For Nikon, get the SB-400.

For Canon, I find the older 220EX far superior because 1.) the older 220EX is always ready to shoot, while the newer 270EX often takes two seconds to charge back up after the camera has sat idle for a few minutes (this misses shots), and 2.) the older 220EX has a real AF illuminator LED, while the newer 270EX instead actually fires the flash itself in people's faces if the camera needs more light to focus.

 

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30 April 2018, January 2013, May 2010