4 Compact On-Camera Flashes Perfect For Your Mirrorless Kit

A modern mirrorless camera packs all the punch of a full-sized DSLR into a small, sleek and technologically-advanced body. So, when looking to mount a flash onto the hotshoe of a mirrorless camera, it makes sense to look for something smaller than an old-fashioned full-sized flash—something that balances well, and doesn’t make your kit feel top-heavy and awkward to hold.

Luckily, there’s quite a few compact flash units on the market that fit the bill, and you won’t even have to sacrifice features, power or reach.

Here are some of our favorite compact flash units.

Nissin i60

Available for Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus/Panasonic, Nikon, Sony.

The Nissin i60 is perhaps the best compact flash on the market—hoisted up by a great combination of power, reliability and portability. This unit packs plenty of light for most applications, and offers a wide range of tilt and rotating motion, for ultimate versatility.

You can do TTL for your respective camera system, and even sports an internal 2.4 GHz radio system for off-camera functionality. Sync it at slow, high-speed or 1st and 2nd curtain—whatever the occasion calls for. It runs on four AA batteries or an external pack, so a full charge is always easily achieved. Even vloggers love it, as it comes equipped with a built-in LED video light for continuous lighting.

For an even smaller option with lots of the same features, check out the Nissin i40.

Panasonic Lumix DMW-FL580L

This top-of-the-line flash unit was designed with Micro Four Thirds in mind, so it plays well with smaller mirrorless cameras by Panasonic or Olympus. It’s got a zoom range of 14-200mm (full-frame equivalent), covering a lot of ground. You can control it wirelessly with a long list of Lumix cameras, including GH, GX and GF bodies.

It also has an LED video light, capable of emitting light continuously for approximately 170 minutes on a full charge of AA alkaline dry batteries. That goes up to 240 minutes if you use AA rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries.

For another MFT option, check out the Olympus FL-700WR.

Nikon SB-500

If you’ve bought into the Nikon Z mirrorless system, the SB-500 offers great performance and the kind of quality construction we’ve all come to expect from the Japanese manufacturer. All the usual suspects are here—TTL, HSS, LED video light, and more.

The SB-500 is no slouch in output, recycle time, or any other area. It can keep up with flashes twice the size and cost. It tilts and swivels, so you can position it at just the right angle. The simplified controls allow you to quickly dial in your settings, or use the camera’s menu for more options.

Godox TT350

Available for Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus/Panasonic, Pentax, Sony.

The Godox TT350 is the budget option on this list, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked by those with bigger budgets. This little unit packs a lot of punch and features in its compact design—and did I mention it’s dirt cheap?

It’s got a 2.4 GHz radio system, TTL, and can do high-speed sync for daytime use with your wide-aperture lenses. It only runs on two AA batteries, meaning it’s lighter than most other options, but still squeezes out 210 full-power flashes and recycle times of 0.1-2.2 seconds per charge. Another nice touch is that it has a USB port to make installing firmware updates super easy.

For more options, visit our Lighting section, or give us a call at 1-800-DIALKEH.