Canon SL1 Flash

Coverage and Range
Good flash range for its size, though with somewhat narrow coverage. Average positive exposure compensation required.

Coverage. Canon rates the EOS Rebel SL1's internal flash coverage at approximately 17mm, though as you can see in the top left shot, we've found manufacturers' coverage ratings are usually quite optimistic. Peripheral Illumination Correction was on (by default) for these shots, so the fall-off seen here in the corners and vertical edges is mostly from the flash. Coverage is more even at full telephoto, as expected.

Exposure. Indoors, under incandescent background lighting, the Canon Rebel SL1's flash performed well, requiring an average amount of positive exposure compensation of +0.7 EV for a bright image. The camera's slow-sync flash mode only required +0.3 EV exposure compensation for bright results, though the longer shutter time (1/15s) results in a warmer orange/yellow cast from the ambient background lighting.

ISO 200 Range. At the 18-55mm lens' maximum wide-angle setting, the flash range test shots at ISO 200 show bright results out to about 14 feet, which is very good. At full telephoto (55mm), flash intensity was good out to about 9 feet.

Manufacturer Specified Flash Test. The Canon Rebel SL1's built in flash has a rated Guide Number of 9.4 meters or 30.8 feet at ISO 100. At ISO 200, that works out to about 12.5 feet at f/3.5 and 7.9 feet at f/5.6, the maximum apertures of the 18-55mm lens at full wide angle and telephoto respectively. In the shots above, we can see that the Canon Rebel SL1's flash performed to specification at both wide angle and telephoto, producing well-exposed targets at the rated distances.

Note: Our standard test method for flash range uses a fixed setting of ISO 200, to provide a fair basis of comparison between cameras. We've now also begun shooting two shots using the manufacturer-specified camera settings, at the range the company claims for the camera, to assess the validity of the specific claims.