About.com has tested a high end flash from Nikon called Nikon Speedlight SB-900.

Some key features for the Nikon Speedlight SB-900:
-Guide Number: 157.5 feet (48m) at ISO 200
-360 degrees tilt / swivel
-Recycle time 2.3 – 4.5 seconds
-4 wireless channel options

About.com ends up giving the SB-900 a good review with an overall score of 4 out of 5 possible stars. It is a very good flashgun that covers most needs that a photographer should have, but it is heavy and expensive. If you are not a professional photographer you might look at a cheaper model like the Nikon SB-700 or flashguns from other brands.
Read the full review of the Nikon Speedlight SB-900 flash here.

Canon has announced two new flash units called Canon Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II. The Speedlite 270EX II is replacing the Canon Speedlite 270EX, which is their entry level flash. The Canon Speedlite 320EX is a mid level flash that is compact and have more control options.

The Speedlite 320EX will be available in March 2011 and cost about £249.99, while the 270EX II will cost about £179.99 and released in March 2011.

Press release:
Canon enhances EX Speedlite range with the new Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II 270EX II

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 7th February 2011 – Canon today announces the launch of the new Speedlite 320EX and Speedlite 270EX II – a duo of new additions to its leading EX Speedlite range. Designed for EOS Digital SLR (DSLR) owners who want to use creative lighting techniques to make their photography more engaging, each new model is ideal for experimenting with different lighting set-ups with off-camera support, allowing users to alter subject lighting and add ambiance to a scene.

Ideal for users of the newly-launched EOS 600D and EOS 1100D DSLRs, the Speedlite 270EX II replaces the Speedlite 270EX at the entry level of Canon’s Speedlite range, whilst the Speedlite 320EX is a compact, powerful and versatile flash for users of mid-level cameras who want to take more control over lighting. Both new models are compatible with Canon’s distance-linked E-TTL II system, and can be used on-camera or as slave units controlled by a separate master unit or the Integrated Speedlite Transmitter of the EOS 600D, EOS 60D and EOS 7D. Ideal for more creative home studio shooting or general use, each model adds a new dimension to portraits or still life shots.

The Speedlite 270EX II – Compact, pocketable light
Perfect for users who want a small, pocketable flash unit, the Speedlite 270EX II is a compact, high-power flash with a guide number of 27 (m/ISO 100) and fast, silent recycling between shots. Flash settings can be manually controlled through the camera menu system, and photographers can experiment with the manual bounce flash head for different effects, as well as the zoom head to ensure efficient light distribution across the scene.

Providing the freedom for photographers to light a scene in a range of different ways, the Speedlite 270EX II launches with additional slave capability, allowing for creative, off-camera use. A new Remote Release function also wirelessly triggers the shutter release on a compatible EOS DSLR, allowing users to set up lighting without having to make repeat trips to the camera. Photographers can frame their shot, wirelessly trigger the two-second shutter release timer on the camera body, and then reposition the flash anywhere in the scene – capturing the image as the camera then fires both the flash and shutter release.

The Speedlite 320EX – versatile and powerful performance
Offering additional functionality, the new Speedlite 320EX is the ideal flash unit for amateurs and professionals looking for a secondary flash, featuring the ability to light a scene when recording movies. An LED flash offers a guide number of 32 (m/ISO 100), as well as the ability to change the flash coverage from 24mm to 50mm by manually extending or retracting the flash head. The flash head can also be rotated for more flexible bounce flash shooting, creating a wider variety of lighting effects.

The Speedlite 320EX’s slave utility allows it to be controlled by a master unit via one of four selectable channels. Flash group A, B or C can also be selected, controlling the relative power of the flash and the resulting lighting effect. The Speedlite 320EX also features the Remote Release functionality allowing users to trigger their camera from the flash.

In a first for Canon Speedlite, the Speedlite 320EX features a Video Light function, complementing bodies with EOS Movie by enabling users to illuminate low light scenes continuously when capturing HD video. When using the Speedlite 320EX in combination with the new EOS 1100D or EOS 600D, Auto Light mode ensures that the LED light automatically turns on or off according to the ambient light of the scene when in Movie mode.

Key features of the Speedlite 270EX II
• Lightweight compact design
• Guide Number 27 (m, ISO100)
• Bounce flash head
• Wireless slave function for off-camera flash
• Trigger your EOS camera with Remote Release button
• Variable angle of coverage
• Fast, silent recycling

Key features of the Speedlite 320EX
• Guide Number 32 (m, ISO100)
• Compact lightweight design
• Bounce-and-swivel flash head, with 24mm and 50mm zoom settings
• Integrated LED video light
• Wireless slave for off-camera TTL flash
• Remote Release button
• Fast, silent recycling

Pricing and Availability
The Speedlite 320EX is available from late March 2011, priced at £249.99/€299.00 RRP incl. VAT.
The Speedlite 270EX II is available from late March 2011, priced at £179.99/€219.00 RRP incl. VAT.

Canon has announced a new entry-level flashgun today. It is called Canon Speedlite 270EX and replaces the 220EX model. The new Canon Speedlite 270EX is smaller and more powerful, and has a 90 degrees tilting head.

Some key features for the Canon Speedlite 270EX:
-90 degrees tilting zoom head
-guide number of 27 meters
-3.9 seconds recycling time
-uses two AA-batteries
-compatible with all recent Canon cameras

It is not known when the Canon Speedlite 270EX flashgun will hit the marked or how much it will cost.

Press release:
Amstelveen, the Netherlands, 25 March, 2009: Canon announces the launch of the entry level Speedlite 270EX, an enhanced flash designed for EOS and PowerShot users. Replacing the popular Speedlite 220EX, the Speedlite 270EX is aimed at photographers wanting to expand their flash photography beyond the built in flash and those who want a small: pocketable flash unit to complement their EOS-1D or EOS 5D series. The compact Speedlite 270EX builds on the success of its predecessor, with more power than usual for its class and size.

The Speedlite 270EX includes a host of new features not available with a built-in flash that push the boundaries for the entry level flash market. These include the addition of a zoom head, ensuring efficient light distribution and bounce flash head, enabling light from the flash to bounce off a ceiling to produce pictures with more flattering lighting with softer tones and depth. Improved circuitry offers near silent recharging and enables similar recharging times as its predecessor, despite being powered by just 2 AA batteries.

Key Features include:

High power flash with a maximum guide number 27 m
Fast, silent recycle times
Manual flash output (settable via camera menus)
Speedlite controllable with compatible camera’s menu
Zoom head
Bounce flash head

The Digital Picture has reviewed the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash. The 430EX II is upgraded with several things including 20% faster and silent recycle time.

Some key features for the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash:
-20% faster and silent recycle time than the previous version
-guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100
-one-touch quick-lock mechanism
-metal foot

The Digital Picture ends up giving the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash a very good review as the reviewer can’t find any serious problems with the flash, but you might want to look at other flashes if you need more features for your photography style.
Read the full review of the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash here.

-With uninterrupted shooting with the SB-900 set to i-TTL mode, images captured just before the flash ceased firing were sometimes slightly overexposed. This issue has now been resolved. By resolving this issue, metering precision has been further increased and the number of times the flash fires has also been increased.
-When the SB-900 (set to TTL auto flash mode) is used with a camera supporting the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS), flash mode automatically changes to A mode according to camera communication status. That flash mode was previously maintained, but it has now been modified so that TTL auto flash mode is restored once the SB-900 again recognizes the camera as a CLS-compatible camera.
When installing the new firmware for the Nikon SB-900 on the Nikon D3 and D300 DSLR’s be sure to have updated firmware on the camera. That is not necessary for Nikon D90 and D700.

Download the Nikon SB-900 flash firmware version 5.02 here for Windows and here for Mac.

Sony has announced a new flagship flash unit, the Sony HVL-F58AM, that will be released in June, 2008. The Sony HVL-F58AM flash unit got a new Quick Shift Bounce system. The flash is able to move 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the usual up and down movement. The HVL-F58AM flash unit is compatible with all current DSLR camera from Sony and will also be compatible with the new fullframe DSLR camera that Sony will release later this year.

Press release:
SAN DIEGO, Jun. 19, 2008 – Sony is expanding its a (alpha) system of accessories to include the new HVL-F58AM flash unit with exceptional features for versatile and flexible external lighting control.

Quick Shift Bounce and Expanded Versatility
This new flash features a new and innovative Quick Shift Bounce system. It offers more creative ways to achieve lighting, flash and bounce angles you may not have been able to experience before.

The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down vertical adjustment. With this system, the camera and flash unit can keep the same orientation regardless of portrait or landscape shooting. This gives a higher degree of flexibility when arranging the direction of light.

For example, you can take full advantage of the flash unit’s built-in bounce card even during portrait shots since the flash head can maintain the same orientation as it would in the landscape position.

Enhanced Operability and Ease-of-Use
A powerful performer, the HVL-F58AM flash unit features a maximum guide number of 58 at 105mm and ISO 100. It recycles (or recharges) in as little as five seconds, approximately 55% faster than the predecessor HVL-F56AM model, so you are ready to capture the next shot. And because it features a quiet recycle charge, there’s no whine to distract you from your subject.
It also has a large, easy-to-read LCD screen that is about 13% larger than its predecessor’s. Its intuitive control layout makes it easy to control flash functions and configure the settings based on your shooting needs.

Wireless Auto Flash Control
This new flash has wireless auto flash control so you can remove the flash unit from the camera and easily light subjects from different angles. Photographers can create soft shadows to add depth to their images and avoid the strong shadows and hot spots that can occur with front lighting. The HVL-F58AM flash unit can also control the ratio of lighting from several off-camera flash units.

Up to three groups of flashes can be set up for optimal, complete control of lighting via a wireless connection. Flash output ratios can be adjusted automatically without having to do tedious exposure calculations. Additionally, you can fire a modeling flash to preview flash effects before taking the picture. Even with multiple units, the modeling flash fires according to the flash ratio you have set.

Advanced Features for Optimal DSLR Performance
One of the flash’s most advanced features is its sophisticated zoom control that automatically optimizes illumination angles that are suitable for either APS-C size or 35mm full frame sensors. This control reduces light “fall-off” at the periphery of images.

It also has an advanced white balance compensation system that gathers color temperature information, complimenting the white balance information reading of the camera. This achieves more accurate results when the main unit is in auto white balance mode.

Other features include: high-speed synchronization at shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 of a second, ADI flash metering, manual flash and zoom (six levels), multiple-flash, and a supplied mini-stand for greater wireless freedom.

Price and Availability
The HVL-F58AM flash unit will ship in September for about $500 at sonystyle.com, Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), military base exchanges, and authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders begin online on Jun. 20 at www.sonystyle.com.