Small/Compact hotshoe flash units?

Please forgive me if this has been addressed; I'm unable to find anything conclusive
within search results.

Up till now, my cameras - S3iS, 40D, 50D - have had onboard pop-up flashes.
I've rarely used them, but they are occasionally needed or desired.
They've done a fairly good job on the few occasions I've used them.

But now that I have a 5D IV, there's bound to be an occasion from time to time
where a flash will still be desired. Problem for me, is that hotshoe flashes
all seem to be very large affairs, roughly the size of a smaller zoom lens.
I don't actually like to use flash, my methods prefer using available light,
so I likely wouldn't benefit from remote comptrolled whizz-bang features.
I've also zero experience with hotshoe flashes; simplicity is paramount.

The real meat of my questioning here has to do with physical size of hotshoe units:
Are there any out there which don't stand several inches above the top of the camera,
perhaps something which uses just a pair of AA or AAA batteries?
Inexpensive would be a major plus as well, say, around $50.

The Google found something which intrigued me, but it's an older unit
from Olympus(discontinued), and I haven't a clue if such is compatible with Canon.

What say you good people? Anything out there for me?

Check the Canon refurbs at https://shop.usa.canon​.com …rbished-speedlite-flashes.

The 270EX-II won’t meet your $50 but is a smaller profile. I doubt you will find much that has ETTL for that $50 range.

Maybe look for a used 90EX? or a Meike MK320-C.

$50 is gonna make it hard to find something, though. I'd personally consider a $65 (during all the holiday sales; typically $85) TT350-C. Not as compact as these really small accessory flashes, but has a head that actually tilts and swivels so you can bounce.

Flashpoint R2 TTL Mini is great. Does HSS/TTL. Very small. 2x AA batteries. It's really excellent. Full swivel.

Support from Adorama.

New ($65):

https://www.adorama.co​m/fplfsmminica.html

Open box ($59)

https://www.adorama.co​m …S8jBnfZRG9kAaAo​WJEALw_wcB

Very best,

Many thanks for the feedback, everyone.

The 90EX and 270EX are closer to what I was hoping to find, albeit still fairly large.
I'd prefer something which doesn't stand up as tall as the majority of flashes.


I've discovered the Sunpak RD2000, which certainly gets closer to my intent.
It's discontinued, but NOS examples are on eBay.


Seems I was chasing a dream, as the camera doesn't harbor the driving circuitry
for a truly tiny flash. I'll have to find a compromise.

Okay, major question:

What should I know about trigger voltages of these flashes?

Before I go blow money on one of these compact flash units,
I'd like to be sure it won't fry a 5D4.
Would the Sunpak RD2000 I found be a problem?
I simply don't know how to know...

Not a direct answer, but few times I was using the 5D4 with prime lens and no flash at night, I needed a bit fill to balance the subject to the background, I just used the cell phone's LED as off camera lighting. It's not pretty, but neither is the tiny on camera flash.

Not really sure why you would ever WANT to use a hotshoe flash that is so close to your lens. I NEVER use the pop-up flash and rarely have a flash in the hotshoe. Best option, and not very expensive, is to get the flash off the camera. All you need is a flash unit - pick up a used Canon EX420 or EX580 off of ebay for fairly cheap, or any compatible flash. And buy 2 Yongnuo 622 transceivers for Canon - you can get a pair of those off of ebay for around $75. I see you're from West MI, as am I - where are you located?

SkedAddled wrote in post #18970700
Would the Sunpak RD2000 I found be a problem?

I have the RD2000. Even though I haven't used it in years, back when I did, I had no trouble with it.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18970700
Okay, major question:

What should I know about trigger voltages of these flashes?

The 5Div has a sync voltage limit of 250V on both the hotshoe and sync port.

Most digital-era speedlights have sync voltages <10V.

Sunpak themselves lists the RD2000 as compatible with Canon dSLRS.

Pretty sure it won't be a problem. Generally, the 300V+ speedlights are from the '70s.

The little Godox TTL350 is nice. The same as the Flashpoint listed above.

jwilson wrote in post #18970902
Best option, and not very expensive, is to get the flash off the camera. All you need is a flash unit - pick up a used Canon EX420 or EX580 off of ebay for fairly cheap, or any compatible flash. And buy 2 Yongnuo 622 transceivers for Canon - you can get a pair of those off of ebay for around $75.

Yes, well, that's already more than I wanted to spend, and the flash unit isn't even included in your pricing estimate.
"not very expensive" is a relative descriptor, certainly not an absolute one.
It seems you've also missed some of my quantifying comments in the thread opener.

Sibil wrote in post #18970942
I have the RD2000. Even though I haven't used it in years, back when I did, I had no trouble with it.

Your confirmation is highly appreciated; I thank you.

inkista wrote in post #18971157
Pretty sure it won't be a problem. Generally, the 300V+ speedlights are from the '70s.

Huge thanks for this tidbit. You've done a great service to this flash newbie.


Given the latest generous feedback, I now feel confident enough in seeking out
a Sunpak RD2000 for use on the extremely rare occasions I may wish to use a flash.
I offer my genuine thanks to all who have helped me with this issue thus far.

Just an update to mention the Sunpak RD2000 arrived.

It's small, just as I'd hoped.
Roughly 3.5 x 2.25 x 1.25 inches, standing just about 2.5 inches
above the camera when tilted at 90-degrees horizontal.
This is a substantial difference from the typical flash units
which stand a few inches above the hotshoe, not including their
tilting light heads which project another couple inches from the pivot.

It does tilt all the way from horizontal to vertical and in between,
allowing for bounce situations.
It allows EV output intensity adjustment from -1 to +1 in 0.5-stop increments.

Uses just two AA batteries, so is light in weight.
Triggers flawlessly on the 5D Mk IV hotshoe.
It even has a flip-down diffuser to soften its output.

Final cost: $28 USD for NOS(New Old Stock).

A perfect flash for the likes of me:
Simple, small, lightweight, inexpensive.

Big thanks again to everyone's feedback, and particularly to Sibil and inkista
for comments specifically about this item.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18970658
Many thanks for the feedback, everyone.

The 90EX and 270EX are closer to what I was hoping to find, albeit still fairly large.
I'd prefer something which doesn't stand up as tall as the majority of flashes.


I've discovered the Sunpak RD2000, which certainly gets closer to my intent.
It's discontinued, but NOS examples are on eBay.


Seems I was chasing a dream, as the camera doesn't harbor the driving circuitry
for a truly tiny flash. I'll have to find a compromise.

But you should be made aware that a taller flash WILL REDUCE the frequency of undesirable REDEYE in your subject's eyes (when ceiling bounce is not possible, and direct flash is the only way of lighting the subject). THAT is the reason that redeye appears far more often in flash shots from mobile phones and tiny P&S cameras!
Yes, even a tall flash can make redeye appear when the distance to the subject is far enough that the angle formed between flashhead to subject to lens becomes too narrow.

This response illustrates what I said above.

jwilson wrote in post #18970902
Not really sure why you would ever WANT to use a hotshoe flash that is so close to your lens. I NEVER use the pop-up flash and rarely have a flash in the hotshoe. Best option, and not very expensive, is to get the flash off the camera.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18974139
It's small, just as I'd hoped.
Roughly 3.5 x 2.25 x 1.25 inches, standing just about 2.5 inches
above the camera when tilted at 90-degrees horizontal...
It even has a flip-down diffuser to soften its output..

That 'diffuser' that flips down doesn't significantly increase the apparent AREA of the light source compared to the size of the flash's own reflector+lens.
So its 'softening' is minimal...mostly a way to decrease the brightness of the light and make your batteries deplete faster.

This shows how ineffective something only the original size of the flash lens can be (such as a Stoffen)
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=17879302