Speedlite 220EX - still the best for its size?

[GirlsAreBeautiful]

I've bought this in great condition for 34 bucks. I love the size, power and recharge time. I wonder: is there something better with this small of a profile? Or has technology peaked in that regard?

A few pictures that I took with it that I like:

Spoiler

https://girlsarebeautifull.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/1425/

https://girlsarebeautifull.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/1429/

https://girlsarebeautifull.wordpress.com/2025/11/25/2256/

https://girlsarebeautifull.wordpress.com/2025/11/02/1422/

 

[neuroanatomist]

I've bought this in great condition for 34 bucks. I love the size, power and recharge time. I wonder: is there something better with this small of a profile? Or has technology peaked in that regard?

Personally, I prefer the lower profile 270EX II. Slightly more power, also has zoom and, more importantly to me, bounce.

 

[GirlsAreBeautiful]

But slower if I recall correclty, right? Also no AF illuminator. I feel like that would mean waking up the subjects to full sun before shooting.

 

[neuroanatomist]

But slower if I recall correclty, right? Also no AF illuminator. I feel like that would mean waking up the subjects to full sun before shooting.

The 270EX II is faster (3.9 s vs 4.8 s for a full charge), and also offers a quick flash (firing at 50% charge/power) with a 2.6 s cycle time. So if you don’t need full power, the 270 is almost twice as fast.

The red AF lamp of the 220EX covers just the center point on a DSLR (a point I almost never used) and doesn’t work on an R-series mirrorless camera at all, so for me that’s definitely not a differentiating feature.

 

[GirlsAreBeautiful]

That's very interesting. It seems like I had read different numbers on this review. Now I might consider trying it.