Canon HF-DC1 High Power Flash for Canon Powershot Digital Cameras

This unit is really good for addition light when making digital images. The bracket is slightly short to correctly fit my Canon Powershot SX100, but if I angle it a bit, it still works. The shipment was prompt and accurate.

Very easy to use and very compact. I have a Canon S5 and works great as an additional flash to it. I have the option of mounting a speedlite flash on my camera and opted not to because of the price and also the size. The price for this is very reasonable and you don't need a hotshoe mount for it. It works with any camera that is got a flash.
Only (very minor) disappointment is that it is a gray color and doesn't blend in with my black camera.
Other than this, this is a great product.

I have a Canon 710IS. Its flash is great most of the time, but does give people Red Eye quite often. I thought the HF-DC1 would prevent Red Eye so I mainly bought it for that reason. Unfortunately, it didn't prevent Red Eye any. Since it failed in that main purpose for me I sent it back. So, I don't know if it would have helped in other photo situations, like a large group photo from some distance away, etc.

Also, I expected the manual to be more informative. But, it only had the bare minimum of information concerning the two switches on the camera.

I did notice that it is light, automatically sync'd with my Canon camera, and was easy to use.

The product may be more helpful on cameras that don't have as good of a flash as the 710IS, but I can't answer to that.

Very nice add-on for any digital camera. You have to understand how it was intended to be used and use it properly, a SLAVE FLASH. If you do, it works great within its range. Basically, your own camera's flash is good for between 5' to say 12', 15'. So from my own little bit of experience, I'd say the 3 settings on this slave flash extend it between (min. = 15' to 25'), (med. = 25' to 35') and (max. = 35' to about 45') and actually a little beyond. You actualy can provide too much flash if you don't watch out!!!

Buy it, you won't regret it.

I have to admit that the fact that this flash works without even having to touch the camera has a huge "gee whiz" factor... (Yes, you can even hold it in your hand at arms length for some unique effects)! But besides that... it works great for those dark shots that are more than 12 feet away... like groups, etc. If you are tired of having to take flash shots too close due to the low power of your digital cameras built-in flash... then this will do the trick for you. The handy two-compartment case/bag that comes with it actually fit the two parts well enough to prevent it scratching anything in your pocket or cameras case.