Use of an external flash unit is a good way to improve your photography. The built-in flash on the average camera is okay, but it only points forward and you can't rotate it. With an external flash unit, you have a more powerful flash and you can change the position of the flash in order to bounce the light off a wall or off the ceiling.This small size of this external flash makes it easier to carry around and also doesn't make the camera itself significantly heavier. While you may want a larger flash for a studio shoot, this is perfect if you want an external flash unit when you're on the go.