Our work as photographers depends on our ability to interpret and record light. At times, we function as quiet observers and photograph using the light that is available to us. Other times, e have to take the reigns and create our own light.

This is especially true for studio and portrait photographers or anyone who has to combat the darkness in order to capture the photo the need. Like most photo gear there is no shortage of speedlights available to help you conquer your lighting. So when I was asked to evaluate the KF882 e-TTL Flash Speedlight from K&F Concept I jumped at the idea.

The looks of the speedlight instantly reminded me of my trusty 430EX II Canon that I used back when I did more portrait driven work. On paper, the KF882 looks great. Let’s see how it stacks up in terms of build quality and flashiness… flashing… flashitude? You get the idea.

Out of the Box

The speedlight arrived from K&F Concept in a well packaged container. This is the fifth product I’ve reviewed from K&F and all of them have been expertly packed and shipped. Included with the speedlight is a padded carrying case, plastic diffuser and a plastic mounting foot.

The flash itself fits very snuggly in the padded case when the included mounting foot is placed in it’s own pocket inside the carry pouch can’t be closed with the diffuser attached to the flash head which is common for most speedlights of this size. A velcro-type belt clip is also featured on the back of the carry pouch.

Here are a few specifications provided from the K&F Concept website:

• 2.9 seconds recycle time
• Wireless Master/Slave function and S1/S2 light flashing mode support
• Strobe flash mode
• Rear curtain sync
• AF assist lamp help you autofocus in darker environments
• Metal hot shoe and overheat protection
• Can be connected to external power supply and PC synchronization line
• Automatic save function

Build Quality

The flash itself feels quite solid and has a heft to it even without the 4 AA batteries. I couldn’t readily locate any exact specifications but after weighing the flash myself I found the empty weight to be approximately 14.1oz (399g) with the battery increasing the total fighting weight to 17oz (782g). K&F Concept lists the head articulations to be 90 degrees vertical with a possible 270 degree swivel range. The head is freely adjustable meaning there is not lock button to depress in order to manipulate the flash head. A pull out grid diffuser is also built in to the head of the flash along with a retractable reflector card.

Compared to my Canon 430EX II (see images) which comes in at 11.6oz (328g) without batteries. I also measured the KF882 to be approximately 8 inches long from hot shoe to the top of the flash and 2 ½ inches wide at 2 inches thick. Again, those are my own measurements and not the official specs from K&F Concept.

Side-by-side comparison of the K&F Concept KF882 and the Canon 430EX II.

In Use

The KF882 speedlight fit well to both my Canon 5D MK3 and Canon 7D MK1 with no play after the twist lock was firmly tightened down. Note there is no hot shoe lock present but not once did the flash become loose during normal use. For its size the flash didn’t not seem to overbalance the camera when in the 90 degree position but wearing the entire rig around your neck could become problematic. Overall, it’s a King-size package.

The operation of the flash functions was relatively easy and the green backlight offers excellent visibility. All the buttons are well spaced and rubberized.

The KF822 also features an autofocus assist beam. It’s actually quite impressively looking. This allows for more accurate focusing in low light conditions.

One thing I must point out is the incredible loudness of the notification beep on the KF882. You most definitely will not have trouble hearing it as it is quite audible; so much in fact that you’ll likely choose to turn it off on the majority of your shoots. I’m serious… it’s loud.

Quality of Illumination

I was pleasantly surprised at just how well balanced the light was from such a low priced speed light unit. The light was even and pure. In fact, I opted to leave the diffuser off the the flash as it seemed to add a blue tint to the images. Even without it the light was still great.

Camera mounted/90 degree angle
Camera mounted/70 degree angle
Camera mounted/ceiling bounce

Final Thoughts on the KF882 Speedlight

I was thoroughly impressed with the KF882 speedlight from K&F Concept. Being a third party flash with such a “budget class” price point makes its performance even more admirable. Here are a few of the high points:

• Feels solid in hand
• Looks great
• High visibility screen
• Wireless function
• Great light output
• Affordable (about $84 from K&F or Amazon)

And of course, there were a few things that could have been better:

• Bulky compared to similar flashes
• Non-locking flash head
• Non-locking hot shoe

Overall, the KF822 speedlight makes a fine piece of lighting gear for studio or location shoots. Given it’s low cost it would be a great option for multi flash slave setups. The build quality coupled with the great performance nearly makes the size and weight worth it when you consider the price point. If you’re looking for a great flash with pro-grade function then I highly recommend you try out this offering from K&F Concept.