Flash/speedlite

[Leon]

I need a flash for an event in a few weeks, I borrower a Canon 430EX last year from an old customer, the most important bit was the AF Assist.  I have about £100 to spend.

would you buy 2nd hand or a Chinese copy Neewer/Yongnuo?

[David61]

Hi Leon, have a look at Godox as they are very good and under £100 on Amazon.

[Ryewolf]

I think Paul, who does all the bug macro uses a Yongnuo, I can't help much as the only flash I have is a ring flash.....

[Rick448]

I had 2 Yonghuo 600’s as well as the Canon 600 and I couldn’t tell any difference in use or results. If I was was using it in a non professional capacity id go Yongnuo without a worry. Possibly if it was my only flash and i was using it for weddings etc I’d probably get the Canon for the extra reliability , that’s not based on any experience of being let down though. 

[Phil]

I have 2 Yongnuos, both have never let me down, although they are the cheaper ones without TTL. Spend a few more quid (still less than your £100 budget) and get a Yongnuo with compatible TTL and you'll be quids in, compared to Canon's 430EX or the 560EX (I've owned both).

[VWGolf]

When my Nikon flash got wet and packed up, I bought two YongNuo flashes and radio triggers - all of which together came to less than a new Nikon flash.
I wanted to try off-camera flash, and didn't want to spend a lot and then find I didn't get on with it.
Three years later, I am still using all the YN stuff - it's robust and I can't find an excuse for upgrading it yet.  Nowadays, especially now arthritis in now spreading to my hands, I probably use OCF in about 90% of all pictures I take - it's great for freezing action

PS after about six months after its soaking, the Nikon flash returned to life, so I now have three flashes.