While many gear heads geek out over specifications like megapixels and burst speeds, light plays a far bigger role than in image quality. Adding a flash to your kit allows you to take great photos nearly anywhere rather than being limited to where the ambient light looks best. Flashes also have the ability to make photos appear sharper by freezing the action and adding contrast. Flashes also open up more creative possibilities, from using direct unmodified flash for a retro feel to incorporating creative blur effects with rear-curtain sync. The best camera flashes offer powerful, versatile lighting to fuel those creative possibilities while balancing the list of key features and, of course, price.
