Which external flash is most reliable for a Canon EOS R6?

Godox V860III-C ($230) vs the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT II. Godox wins on price/battery. I'd avoid Yongnuo YN685 II for Canon—it's cheaper but feels flaky... Godox is definitely the best value!

sooo i saw this earlier and wanted to help... i'm still kinda learning the technical side of the R6, but i've been looking at a lot of market data on flash consistency lately lol. honestly i'm super happy with these options i found!! if you want fast recycle times and solid TTL communication without sticking to the usual brand, check these out:

• Westcott FJ80 II Universal Touchscreen Speedlight - this one is cool cuz it has a 0.5s recycle time. i read the specs and it uses a 11.1V 1600mAh battery which is way better than AAs for events. it's super reliable with the canon RT system too.
• Profoto A10 AirTTL-C for Canon - this is basically the high-end choice. it has built-in AirX tech so the sync is perfect. it's pricey but the thermal management is way better than cheaper units so it won't overheat during a long wedding!

have you looked into these brands yet? they seem way more modern than the old Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT II everyone talks about. gl!!

Check out the compatibility guides on DPReview... unfortunately, I've had issues with gear failing lately. Are you doing weddings or just casual stuff? Reliable gear is literally a safety net!

In my experience, I would suggest maybe just getting the Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT II. It's like $500 which is a lot—but honestly—my third-party flash is kinda flaky with TTL accuracy on the R6 sometimes... If you're doing events, you probably need that reliability so you dont miss shots. Plus, the recycle time is seriously fast. Worth the extra cash imo!!

ngl, the transition to mirrorless definitely changed how I look at my lighting kit. I’ve been running the R6 for a couple of seasons now, and honestly, the biggest thing I learned is that the physical connection on the new hot shoe can be a bit more sensitive than the old DSLRs. With the one I’ve been using lately, I had to get used to how the camera handles the pre-flash for TTL—it felt just a tiny bit different at first, which tripped me up during fast-paced receptions. I also noticed that the R6's burst rate can easily outrun even a fast flash, leading to some weird thermal issues I never had before. Before you pull the trigger on anything, are you planning on doing a lot of high-speed sync or shooting in high-burst modes? Tbh, knowing how much you rely on those features would help, because I’ve found that some setups handle the heat of the R6 much better than others over a long 8-hour day.

I've been thinking about your question for a bit... In my experience, you should definitely look at the higher-end Godox options. Over the years, I've tried many flashes, and honestly, the third-party stuff has really caught up to the big brands. If you're doing events and need those fast recycle times, you basically HAVE to go with a brand that uses lithium-ion battery packs instead of AAs. It's literally a game changer for speed and staying power during long sets.

Tbh, I've found the TTL communication with the R6 to be super solid with their newer gear since they're constantly pushing firmware updates to keep up with mirrorless tech. You can't really go wrong with their pro line—it’s so much more modern than the older official stuff and the wireless system is just way more flexible if you wanna get creative later on. Plus, it's way easier on the wallet haha. gl!