Canon EOS Speedlites Comparison Table

Comparison table of all Canon (brand) Speedlites which are TTL-metering compatible with Canon EOS camera bodies. (I did not include any non-Canon brand flashes.) I developed this table to answer commonly asked questions concerning Canon Speedlites. Let me know if you can think of another category for comparison (or fill in any blanks.)

Guide numbers and AF assist range are in meters, ISO 100

Corrections and comments welcome. Send e-mail to: dave@pixseal.com

Last updated December 5, 2006.

Click on highlighted entries for notes.

Speedlite	ST-E2	ML-3	MR-14EX	MT-24EX	160E	200E	220EX	300EZ	380EX	300TL	420EZ	420EX	430EZ	430EX	540EZ	550EX	580EX	480EG	Speedlite
introduction	1998	1989	2000	2001	1988	1990	1996	1987	1995	1986	1987	2000	1989	2005	1994	1998	2004	1993	introduction
discontinued	----	????	----	----	1990	????	----	1995	2001	1991	1989	2005	1994	----	2005	2005	----	????	discontinued
GN at 14mm coverage														11			15		GN at 14mm coverage
GN at 17mm coverage																15			GN at 17mm coverage
GN at 18mm coverage															16				GN at 18mm coverage
GN at 20mm coverage																		24	GN at 20mm coverage
GN at 24mm coverage									21	25	25	23	25	25	28	28	28		GN at 24mm coverage
GN at 28mm coverage						14	22	22	23		27	25	27	27	30	30	30		GN at 28mm coverage
GN at 35mm coverage					16	20		25	28	30	30	31	30	31	36	36	36	48	GN at 35mm coverage
GN at 50mm coverage		11	14	24				28	31	35	35	34	35	34	42	42	42		GN at 50mm coverage
GN at 70mm coverage								30	33		40	37	40	37	46	46	50		GN at 70mm coverage
GN at 80mm coverage											42		43	40	50	50	53		GN at 80mm coverage
GN at 85mm coverage										40									GN at 85mm coverage
GN at 105mm coverage									38			42		43	54	55	58		GN at 105mm coverage
GN at 135mm coverage																		68	GN at 135mm coverage
(A)uto/(M)anual zoom	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	A	A	M	A/M	A	A/M	A/M	A/M	A/M	A/M	M	(A)uto/(M)anual zoom
Sensor size zoom	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Sensor size zoom
tilt head	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	tilt head
swivel head	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	swivel head
AF assist light	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	AF assist light
AF assist range	0.6 - 10	-	-	-	1.0 - 5	1.0 - 5	0.7 - 5	0.9 - 6	0.7 - 10	-	0.9 - 8	0.8 - 7	0.9 - 10	0.7 - 10	0.5 - 15	0.6 - 10	0.6 - 10	-	AF assist range
A-TTL	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	A-TTL
E-TTL, FEL, FP flash	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	E-TTL, FEL, FP flash
2nd curtain sync	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	2nd curtain sync
FEC	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	FEC
FEB	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	FEB
Wireless master	Y	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	-	Wireless master
Wireless slave	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	Wireless slave
modeling light	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	-	modeling light
exposure confirmation	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	exposure confirmation
manual power range	-	-	1 - 1/64	1 - 1/64	-	-	-	-	-	1 - 1/16	1 - 1/32	-	1 - 1/32	1 - 1/64	1-1/128	1-1/128	1-1/128	1 - 1/16	manual power range
strobe range (Hz)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1 - 5	-	1 - 10	-	1 - 100	1 - 199	1 - 199	-	strobe range (Hz)
hot shoe locking pin	Y	-	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	hot shoe locking pin
illuminated LCD panel	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	illuminated LCD panel
rapid fire capable	-	-	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	rapid fire capable
save energy (SE) function	-	5 min	90 sec	90 sec	15 sec	-	90 sec	5 min	90 sec	5 min	5 min	90 sec	90 sec	90 sec	90 sec	90 sec	?	-	save energy (SE) function
SE function override	-	-	Y	Y	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	?	Y	SE function override
battery	2CR5	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	2CR5	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	AA x 4	-	battery
lithium AA capability	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	lithium AA capability
external HV	-	-	Y	Y	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Y	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	external HV
Quantum 6v module	-	MG2	MA2	MA2	-	-	-	MF2	MF3	MG2	MZ2	MF3	MZ2	MB2	MKZ	MKZ	MB5	-	Quantum 6v module
weight (grams - w/o battery)	100	365	404	585	85	130	160	215	270	395	350	300	365	330	405	405	375	1065	weight (grams - w/o battery)
Speedlite	ST-E2	ML-3	MR-14EX	MT-24EX	160E	200E	220EX	300EZ	380EX	300TL	420EZ	420EX	430EZ	430EX	540EZ	550EX	580EX	480EG	Speedlite

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