Canon EL-5 Flash Speedlite Review by Ken Rockwell
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 08. 2023
- Canon EL-5 Flash Review by Ken Rockwell
Full Written Review www.kenrockwell.com/canon/fla...
EL-5 User's Guide www.kenrockwell.com/canon/fla...
I got my EL-5 at www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
I'd also get it at www.adorama.com/CAEL5.html?kb...
or at www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL876KV7/...
or at www.crutchfield.com/i-rKRWc00...
or used at www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...
How to Win at eBay www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ebay...
When you click on the links above to various merchants and make a purchase, this can result in me earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
How to Take Great Pictures www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
FART First for Fantastic Fotos www.kenrockwell.com/tech/fart...
Sony vs Canon vs Nikon www.kenrockwell.com/tech/comp...
I get all my gear at www.kenrockwell.com/links.htm...
Contribute at www.paypal.me/kenrockwell
Shot with iPhone 14 Pro Max www.kenrockwell.com/apple/iph... 720/30 oops
Lit with Luxli lights at 3500K www.kenrockwell.com/tech/luxl...
Left & Right: Timpani at 67% with Angler soft boxes www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc... & Angler grids www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Top rear: Cello at 35% with Luxli diffuser www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Native iPhone Audio
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
©KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.
Ken Rockwell® is a registered trademark - Věda a technologie
Love the insight only an engineer can bring to the table.👍👍👍
Thank you. Truth.
Not everyone has the money to keep changing cameras. I made the jump from the T3i to a Canon R6 Mark II. And I use my Canon 600EX II-RT without an adapter. And I will only replace my R6 Mark II after 20 years, in 2044, when there really is some significant change. The difference from Canon R6 Mark II to Canon T3i in high ISO and autofocus was worth the replacement. Let's see what will happen after twenty years with my R6 Mark II. And I only use the RF 50mm f1.8 as a point and shoot camera for Hobby.
Good luck! I doubt any of this will hold up 20 years. Unlike with film, digital cameras, like the pictures they make, are mostly disposable.
I like how Canon was able to minimize costs while ratcheting up the quality. Off-loading the processing to camera is smart and also very cool when you see things popping up on your much more capable camera screen. (I wonder how deeply it's integrated with manipulating your flash settings in the camera menu?!?). They knocked 20 percent off the price by realizing most of us already have more of those battery chargers than we need. Having their radio trigger tap into the camera's screen, processor, battery (and memory?) brings a very capable command center down to a little over $100. It's not a pocket wizard with a quarter mile range, but we're talking flash systems here where 100 ft. is usually more than enough. The on-screen menu of the radio trigger looks very capable as well.
They've got some pretty fierce, albeit slow-charging competition in flash units from some capable companies in China and other places and these are some pretty good approaches to meeting that challenge in a way that no one else really can.
Thanks!
Thanks for doing this Ken. Simple but informative. I was looking at a Godox or other alternative to save a few bucks, but for my new R7 I didn’t want to compromise as that camera has no filler flash built in and I wanted something reliable for years to come. Anyways, appreciate your quick overview.
Works fine on R7, enjoy. Honestly you might prefer the much smaller EL-100 kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-100.htm for fill, and R7 works great with all the old EX and EL series flash, like the small EX-320 www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/320ex.htm THANKS!
Thanks for the reply Ken. I started off wanting a fill flash and was hunting for an EL-100. Somehow, I got led to the EL 5 and your review made allot of sense to me.
Your reviews are quite significant for me when I buy camera stuff. Not trying to butter things up, I just like your straight forward observations and that you come across objectively without a big brand having its tentacles around you.
I actually received the EL-5 today. Beautiful piece really, but quite big and a bit heavy for the R7 it seems, unless a tripod is in play. The EL-100 may have been better as a first flash for this camera. I’ll have a look around and may get one of those too.
I’m guessing you would recommend the EL-100 over any of the overseas brands on Amazon? There are a few that seem to have allot of exposure amongst camera enthusiasts. For something like this though, my gut is saying to get the official Canon model (EL-100 opposed to a similar Godox or Yongnuo) to have a more reliable and possibly better compatibility. As I’m totally amateur, it might be the better choice for me.
Thank you from Canada.
Andy
Wow thanks! You saved me a good amount of time. I have an older camera not compatible with this flash.
BINGO! This needs to be made clearer by everyone else mentioning they flash. thanks!
Ken, can you use the old style hot shoe flashes on newer cameras like the R6 MK2? These flashes are hard to get hold. Cheers.
The old flashes work great if you have the five big pins inside the bottom of the shoe like in the R6 Mk II. If you don't, like in the R50, all you need is the AD-E1 "Multi-Function Shoe Adapter" (www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1663792-REG/canon_4943c001_ad_e1_multi_function_shoe_adapter.html&BI=287&KBID=1037) which adds those contacts and compatibility with old flash.
Are they compatible with the older RF flashes? Could you use this to control old RF flashes off camera or would you still need the Canon ST-E10 Speedlite Transmitter to do that?
Also could you do a review of the new Canon R8, and especially the problems surrounding HDR-PQ HEIF photos?
See the full review at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm and the complete R8 review at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm I don’t use these little flash in multiples, I use pro studio strobes that work much better see kenrockwell.com/tech/strobes.htm Ultimately for your question in call Canon in the USA at (800) OK- CANON and ask them. Thanks!
My first SLR was a Nikon N50 and the last DSLR is a D500. I love Giorgetto Giugiaro's design on Nikon SLRs and DSLRs but I definitely won't buy any Nikon mirrorless. Nikon would never come up with the idea of using an EN-EL15 in a speedlight, uses a ridiculous mechanism in the LCDs of the Z8 and Z9 and persists in not following KR's advice. Greetings from Brazil! Great job!
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken what is canons equivalent to the SB-400 for the RP?
The EL-100 www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-100.htm or 320EX www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/320ex.htm
Ken, I am a R6 Mark II owner, but I have the 600EX-II flash. Can I use the older flash on the R6 Mark II without the AD-E1 Adapter thats you cant get?
Yes. As you can see at my growing R6 II review, it has contracts for both old and new generation flash. www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r6-ii.htm
Nice review! Ken, did you ever do a video review of the 5DmkII? I read your excellent review on your website. I just bought one with 17k shutter counts. I really really like it!
No, as you know CZcams is just for entertainment. If you want a serious review, it's been up at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/5d-mk-ii.htm for years. THANKS!!!
@@KenRockwellTV - People should understand that if they simply your name with a product, they are likely to find a review. Great, concise, consistent format reviews of endless Canon items with the kind of insight (get it/don't get it) that actually matters, no equivocating!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the LED illuminator used for focus assist? I can imagine that not being such a big issue since mirrorless cameras focus so wonderfully nowadays. However won't the new white LED's (housed inside the flash head - 1:45) be problematic when using as bounce flash? The flash will be communicating the focus distance to the ceiling instead of the distance to the subject. Am I right? Also, with no diffuser included, will the EL-1 diffuser fit this flash head?
All true. In actual use different cameras do and can be programmed to use different sorts of AF assist.
Mirrorless camera do not use the focus assist beam from flash. I don’t remember why it could be because the autofocus is on the sensor instead of seperate
It’s kind of wild that this doesn’t work on the fantastic and popular EOS R5. It’s too bad, Canon should’ve introduced this digital hotshoe system when they started the RF mount, or at least with the R5 and R6 back in 2020 (which to me were the first proper mirrorless cameras by Canon, since has been mostly fantastic.)
Otherwise, this seems like an excellent flash of this type and size. Though I do wish more companies would make high quality yet compact and low-profile flashes for each camera system.
The Fujifilm EF-X20 is now discontinued and highly sought after; It’s bizarre that many companies such as Leica, Nikon, Hasselblad, Canon, Fujifilm, Sony, etc. all do not have a modern flash unit that fit that mold. I LOVE to walk about and use fill flash during the day but it’s a lot less fun to lug around a slightly large and conspicuous shoe mounted flash.
Thanks! Canon is moving ahead, like they did with the EOS system in 1987 that left all their FD her in the dumpster. Ultimately normal people have rightfully forgotten about the FD system and the EOS system is still the world leader precisely because Canon abandoned what had come before. Thanks!
@@KenRockwellTV Sorry dude but the R5 is not THAT old
@@billx4266 Agreed. And there's been many many issues reported on the R5 & R6 hot shoe. I'm personally stoked to see a redesign, which will almost surely be included on whatever R5 mkii is coming our way. I also wish it had been introduced sooner.
Great vid. I want to replace my Canon EOS 7D with an R6 MkII Mirrorless model that has the same new shoe. I occasionally shoot product photography using two of my older 580EXs optically controlled speedlights offcamera as strobes (firing into reflectors) using my 7D as the controller. I realize this is optically controlled (never transitioned to the RF 600EX series). Can the R6 also control my older optical flashes off camera? Or do I need to have one of the 580EXs on the hot shoe? I can't seem to find this answer anywhere... Thanks!
You need something in the R6 II shoe to be the source that triggers the optical flashes. In the USA 800 OK-CANON can help you select what’s best for you, but honestly I’m much happier with real studio strobes for studio work and they don’t cost any more than the much less convenient and less effective shoe mount flash. See kenrockwell.com/tech/strobes.htm thanks!
Great info, thanks Ken. I've noticed that the focus beam of my 430 ex iii flash does not work on R6ii. Also EL-5 does not have one, and the beam on the body is blocked by the lens (24-70). How am I suppose to focus in the dark? Help
I’d have to be there, but if you can’t get the IR to fire then Canon shooter off pops of the main xenon tube in the dark. Thanks!
The el5 also uses its white LED if it needs it for AF help.
@KenRockwellTV Thanks for the answer. Preflash and lamps are very annoying for the subject, and they cost you at least one second. From what I've read on the meantime, Mirrorless cameras don't do flash beam. Don't understand why.
I like the looks of this flash better than Nikon's SB 5000 speedlights. I am still keeping two of my SB 5000 soeedlights, (which are universal), but I have invested in the Westcott FJ80 II speedlights. Canon has always been ahead of Nikon with their speedlights.
Thanks!
Yes yes yes 🎉
THANKS THANKS THANKS!
I thought the compatible cameras were listed in the description??? I don’t see them??
Every camera Canon has ever made is INCOMPATIBLE except for the few listed here www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#compat Thanks!
I've just bought this speedlite and the battery discharges after a day off inactivity? when the flash is turned off? is this normal? Thanks.
Sounds. Weird. If you’re USA call 800 OK-CANON and ask them. Also check that you have auto shutoff enabled and don’t have it set to stay awake too long expecting to fire as a slave. It will run down if it’s staying on.
The real man: K R, rocks. Give Nikon some attention a couple times a year, or more.
I do, but I've moved up. Nikon was in the past, only relevant 1959-2012 ish. RIP.
🪦🤡🤡
In all the references I can see canon has the EL-5's full power recycling time at 1.2s and the EL-1 at .9s. You have mentioned both here and in your written reviews that the EL-5 is actually .9 as well. Is this a mistake? Or have you done testing/have inside knowledge that it’s actually faster than canons own specs? Great reviews, thanks for your content.
I’m reporting my actual measured recycling times. I don’t recycle manufacturer’s marketing claims, I report the actual performance as I measure myself. My full written review makes this more clear. www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm thanks!
Full writing EL-1 review www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-1.htm
@@KenRockwellTV Fantastic review. having never gotten a good answer from canon I wonder if you know the reason Auto Iso does not work with high speed shutter sync on any canon cameras with canon flashes? I was forced to move from the Nikon D5 to the Canon 1dxiii a few years back and I was incredibly disappointed I could no longer use Auto ISO with a minimum shutter (I would use 1/500) along with fill flash. Shooting in AV and auto ISO with a min shutter of 1/500 meant while shooting news I could move from harsh sunlight to a dark interior and back again with any aperture i chose while always maintaining a sharp Image, using easy exposure compensation when needed. Especially when the flash ran out of juice I would still get a sharp correctly exposed Image. Now with the R3 the 1/200th sync (1/180 electronic shutter) is so slow its even easier to end up with soft Images. You can use AV with flash with auto ISO but that means when you cross into a dark space you need to quickly adjust iso. There are some situations where this results in missed Images. Thanks fore any thoughts on the matter.
Can't believe how much more expensive OEM flashes got in the last 20 years while bodies got cheaper & phones replaced most of the DSLRs. Until they totally eliminate the legacy hot shoe from the body, the Godox TT685-II with all its limitations is going to stay competitive. The lion kingdom's 580 EX-II failed after 15 years from some non tube issue.
Easy: flashes have advanced very little in 30 years, cameras have advanced by leaps and bounds. Thanks!
Hello,
Will this flash work with the new Canon Camera R8?
Yes, works great. My written reviews have all this information www.kenrockwell.com/canon/eos-r/r8.htm#flash thanks!
I wish there was an adapter to use this on older cameras like my R5 😢
The EL1 is too heavy and way more expensive than it needs to be 🙃
Sorry, time to move up to an R3. Bless Canon for blasting into the future and not stuck in 1953 like the LEICA M system. Thanks!
@@KenRockwellTVnot all of us have the budget to upgrade all the kit for a new flash and additionally many of us still use studio flash and the reports of the adaptor working with triggers are sketchy.
@@itsmehere7717 he really just said it like you're changing socks.
My old eos m6ii has a contacts on the hotshoe
Almost every Canon does. Use any other flash on your M6 Mk II.
Is this compatible to Canon EOS R50?
Yes. I explain all that here www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#compat
Flash battery drains when turned off and not in use. Apparently an issue with the battery compartment. Mine drained from nearly 100% of dead overnight. Anyone else experiencing this issue?
Never seen that. Thanks!
What’s new is “no charger included” that’s not mentioned when you buy it. The other issue it won’t work with any existing Canon that doesn’t have a multifunction port. The reports from many owners of the R5 and R5C is that the multiport is a bust. Fault ridden or not working at all. Way to go Canon
Just telling it like it is. There are so many awesome flashes available used cheap that we don’t really need to worry about these new ones. See them at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/#flash Thanks!
Why don't it work with Canon 90D EOS DSLR?
because it has no conventional hot-shoe contacts. See this at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#compat Thanks!
It’s not expensive because it never had to be. They made a Godox flash. Cool.
And cabbage crates are coming over the briny. Thanks!
So Godox flash also integrates with the camera electronics to include the camera touchscreen, no? Fascinating. Be sure to get the word out. 🤡
A few bits of information I gleaned from Canon USA: Same power output/guide number as the $1k EL-1, and the white light focus assist adjusts it’s output so as to no longer fuse retinas.
How many shots can this Speedlite give
See the specs at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#spex Thanks!
Ken is it true that this EL-5 don't work with Canon D5c!!!!!
What’s a D5c? This flash has only the new multipin “digital” contacts, NOT the usual hot shoe connections. See www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#compat for details. Thanks!
Hi Ken, I don’t know if you are familiar with the huge issue this flashes have. Recently bought 3 at the same time, pair them, and keep loosing link between them after 3-5mins. Huge issue that had to be addressed since it makes this canon el-5’s unstable system and unusable for any serious work , not to mention weddings…
Have you tried a different channel?
As my written review at www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-5.htm#usage says under multiple flash, I use pro studio strobes www.kenrockwell.com/tech/strobes.htm if I need more than one light for exactly the reason you’ve seen: these little flashes always drive us crazy with this. Thanks!
Hmm. I have paired my older 580EX and 550EXs for controlled multiflash photography for years without this issue. This is concerning now that I want to upgrade to a mirrirless camera model that might require me to also ditch my old flagship speedlites.
Canon I use it with Sony a7iii external ?
NO!!!! Ever since the 1980s camera brand flash has had electronic contacts and communication specific to that brand. They do not interchange. Thanks !
More specifically, this flash is only compatible with one or two of the very newest Canon cameras. Hint: used flashes sell for almost nothing at eBay and even old ones and old models work as well as the newest. I’d grab one of these www.kenrockwell.com/sony/index.htm#flash thanks!
El1 review is it pricy ?
Yes, EL-1 is the most expensive there is. www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/el-1.htm
Will definitely save money by not having to buy AA’s.
And time! Recycling is immediate! Thanks!
Hm, another area where manufacturers switch from globally accepted standards (AA-batteries) to a dedicated vendor-specific solution. AA batteries are cheap and everywhere available, this Canon battery is not 👎🏻
for a 4-AA solution get a different flash like the 580EX II www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/580ex-ii.htm or 430EX III RT www.kenrockwell.com/canon/flash/430ex-iii-rt.htm. This new battery allows recycling over four times faster for people who need it. Thanks!
You are correct, however no .9/sec recharge rate w/aa cells, so take your pick. Additionally, quick and sure battery reloads under the heat of fire.
AA batteries are everywhere. So perhaps they should be powering all the cameras out there as well as the flash units?
vai lp-el? vai not standart lp-e6!!!! this is stuped! wan standart- camara end flash!!!!!!!
Bigger battery. Bigger is always better. Thank you.