Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased this flash to use with my Canon G1 digital camera. When using the latest Canon camera lines there is a huge benefit in going with the Canon "EX" flashes, as they deliver E-TTL metering. Without boring you, the essence of this is that when you press the shutter button the flash is momentarily fired so the camera can measure the actual light and determine the best exposure, and then it fires the flash again and takes the actual picture (all in a fraction of a second). Sorry, if you don't have a Canon camera, you don't get E-TTL. Why is this important? Because it is measuring the real light and not estimating what might be needed or trying to turn off the flash while it takes the picture when it thinks enough light has been delivered. Its complicated, but trust me you're pictures will be a lot better. Now the 220EX model is Canon's smallest and lightest. You can opt for other Canon models (380EX is discontinued, 420 EX, 550EX), and you'll get higher light output (so you can use flash from more than 100 feet away), and swivel/tilt so you can bounce flash - but at the added cost of larger size, more weight, and more cost. The 220EX also provides a long battery life (check out Amazon's price on Kodak photolife batteries) - I seem to get well more than 300 shots per set of AAs. And it also manages power by shutting down the flash after inactivity. The 220EX makes sense for any smaller Canon camera, or even a larger one where the photographer is less likely to use flash form more than 70 feet away or use bounce flash capability. If that sounds like you, then buy this flash. Its a winner.