Canon Speedlite EL-5 - hot-shoe clip-on flash
$399.00
$375.99
Mfg # 5654C002
CDW # 7643552
| UNSPSC 45121600
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A powerful, advanced flash with fast recycling, great creative control and outstanding performance for all situations.
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Canon Speedlite EL-5 - hot-shoe clip-on flash is rated
2.10 out of
5 by
13.
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Faulty from
Very disappointed
After comparing this Speedlite with a 430EXlll RT, I decided on the EL5 because it was supposedly advanced technology and worth the additional price. Wrong! After fully charging the battery, (charger not included), I placed it in the flash, shot a few pictures, left it in the flash overnight only to find it dead the next day. Thinking I did not fully charge the battery I repeated the process. Same result.
I asked our local camera salesman to replace the battery which he did. Same result. Back to the camera shop where the store manager told me he has had this same complaint from other customers. He has advised the Canon Representative. The Canon Rep response; "...don't put the battery in the flash". Let that soak in.
I’m disappointed in Canon and cannot recommend this EL-5.
Date published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
ALL from
Great features but terrible support/compatibility.
While this flash has some very impressive stats like sub 1 second charge times and high frame rate lossless firing, the limited number of cameras supported to use this flash lets it down. While the information on the page states that this flash will work will ALL cameras with the multi-function hot shoe, it only has compatibility with a very small and finite number of cameras that have said hot shoe. Case in point, the R5C. It being a newer camera that also sports the new multi function hotshoe, it should technically have the ability to use the flash, atleast in stills mode, but it doesn’t. How is it the Canon have neglected to make a firmware update that allows for use with the only flash currently available on their website? This leaves potential customers with only 3 options. 1. Find a flash elsewhere and maybe one of a different brand. 2. Buy a different camera instead of the R5C like the cheaper R6 Mark II. 3. Just buy a different camera system from a different brand ALL together. Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus ALL have other options on their store for cameras that are competitive with the R5C that are both cheaper and as effective. So what is to stop someone from either using a different brand or simply switching to one that has better and more options that are sometimes cheaper? So, I ask, where is the updated firmware for ALL cameras with the the updated hotshoe? Specifically, where is the firmware update for the Canon R5C that allows for full compatibility and use of this EL-5 speedlight? If this firmware update happens, I can then change this review and rating to atleast 4 stars with something much more positive to say. Currently though, because of the terrible firmware compatibility issues, I can only give this a 1 star. If I could, I’d leave it at 0 stars as this flash doesn’t even work with one of the premier cameras in this sector/price range. Again, if and when they release a firmware update that allows for the R5C to use this flash, then I’ll rate this flash much, much higher. But only if and when release this update.
Date published: 2023-12-13T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
MDB from
Speedlite EL-5 pairs nicely with R6m2
My first time using a Speedlite. Works well with my EOS R6 Mark ii and I didn't need to buy another charger because I can charge the Speedlite battery with the R6m2 charger. Easy to use and I have no complaints.
Date published: 2023-12-30T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
METOO from
A Multifunction flash that doesn't work with Multifunction R5C
I pre-ordered this flash last year after consultation with Canon Sales (via Chatbot) and the Canon support community. The R5C (I believe Canons 1st mirrorless with the new shoe design) has very limited Canon flash options, and with the Supply shortages since we seen since COVID and After both sources saying it would likely be supported; I bought it,. WRONG! Like the previous post by "ALL" ; I will be happy to update the rating when I can actually use this product. "ALL" Did a very good job describing why many of us. R5C owners purchased this and why we want this solution. Canon Please listen to your customers. Right now I have a brick that can easily be fixed with a firmware update.
Date published: 2024-01-09T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Bruce 911 from
Great Flash, But...
I just recently bought a Canon EOS R3 and found out that the hot shoe on this particular body is different from other Canon bodies and from my existing flash (600EX-RT) to work properly, I would need to purchase an adapter which has been back ordered for at least 4 months.
I found out that the Canon EL5 and EL1 were designed for this body and as I couldn't afford the EL1 (are over $1000) I did some research and found that based on me being a sports photographer and not really using flash a whole lot that the EL5 was probably what I needed..
When I was setting up the product after I had first purchased it I was dismayed to find out that it was missing a fairly essential item.
A battery charger for the rechargeable battery.
I truly believe that a $400 flash should have this included or make it more prominently known that it doesn't included in the package.
So far the flash works fine but I'm really disappointed with Canon that is essential item is not included.
Date published: 2024-02-19T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Bruce911 from
Great Flash, But Missing Something Very Important
I have a Canon EOS R3 which is a great camera but has a different hot shoe than other Canon bodies, and in order to use my existing Canon flash (600EX-RT) I need to use tan adapter which is been out of stock for at least 4 months.
I was truly disappointed after paying over $400 including tax for the item that it doesn't include a battery charger which I thought would have been included as every other Canon I product I purchased that requires a chargeable battery has come with a charger.
The flash to date has worked great but I really do believe that a battery charger should be included with the item.
Date published: 2024-02-19T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
R62 from
Wireless remote does not work right, OK if direct mounted to R6 MkII
I bought this from a vendor who has a 30 day return policy in order to see if there was a way to beat the "Canon wireless link for external flash is unreliable" issue. This is documented on the Canon forums. I had found that my former workhorse Canon 600EXR flashes were no longer able to maintain a link with the Canon STE3 (v1) trigger and got this flash thinking if all worked well, along with the new STE10 trigger, I'd switch.
First issue: Canon remote trigger flashes do not work on the Canon R6 MkII (My camera) without the latest (third) firmware upgrade. The original firmware had a lot of bugs in it, and this was one of them. SO, a couple of upgrades later I could get the remote flash function to work. The devil of it is that the failure is inconsistent and so it looks like it could be a shoe seating issue, etc. It isn't that at all - just the firmware upgrade fixed all.
Second Issue: Wireless remote trigger is messed up and I think it is caused by a systemic weakness in the radio system that Canon uses and therefore not fixable without blowing backwards compatibility with the rest of their system. I tested this extensively, along with others in the Canon forums, and we've found that the Canon wireless link gets killed off by some sort of wifi or other 2.4GHz interference (could be Bluetooth, other remotes, wireless telephones, microwave ovens, etc.). In any case, this flash and the STE10 perform just as poorly in this regard as the 600EXR and STE3 that I was using before. Exactly the same. I even went to far as to test it with the Westcott multi protocol (e.g. mimics Canon as well as doing their own proprietary radio link) and it failed the same way.
The only time I could get the flash to work reliably was when mounted directly to my R6 MkII hotshot. It works great there. If that is all you do - direct mount on your hotshoe - this is a wonderful unit with all the features most of us need and more at a decent price for the output and capability. For me, remote flash placement is everything. Multiple flash units are a must (I typically use 3) and this makes this new flash no better than the old stuff I had.
After hoping I could get this to work, but finding it failed in the same way as my old gear, I sadly returned it.
I subsequently went out and purchased some separate aftermarket flash trigger units for each of my 600EXRT and run them off the same brand's trigger controller. All works well, but it's not what I wanted to happen. I wanted this new flash to work well. If it had, I would have bought three of them and and STE10 (over $1200 out the door total) and sold my old gear and been OK with it.
Canon has been silent and insensitive to this issue. If you use wireless remote, I advise you to NOT buy this flash with the hope they will fix the link reliability any time soon. It's been over a year and - nothing. Of course, if you use direct mount or a WIRED remote connection, this is a good flash with a lot of features and awesome integration into the new R bodies.
Date published: 2024-02-19T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
LCE6 from
To the Guy with the R3s....
The charger your cameras came with charge the battery which is the same charger many other Canon cameras came with. I would venture to guess you have a handful of them. I would venture to guess this is it didn't come with one. I would rather have a lower price than multiple chargers.
Date published: 2023-11-03T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
callsmith from
No other option for the R6Markii, no filters that fit on it
I bought this speedlite June 14th this year and have used it on many photo shoots. I bought it because I have the R6markii with the new shoe. It does seem to communicate far better than my EF-1 flash, which I used all the time with my R6, but had issues when I moved to the markii.
This speedlite didn't come with the filter set, like all my other canon flashes. I went to buy the recommended ones - Canon SCF-EL Color Filter Set (which doesn't come with the white filter) and the Vello Mini Softbox doesn't fit around the head. I am very disappointed not to be able to find something else recommended by Canon, and really this is the only flash that works with my R6Markii so I'm left with a lot of extra editing for hot spots.
Date published: 2023-09-26T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
CodeTHR33 from
Recommended Accessories Don’t Fit
Why are the SCF-EL (Color Filter Set) and the SBA-EL (Bounce Adapter Diffuser) listed as accessories when then don’t fit this Speedlite? Since these don’t fit, looking further, I actually don’t see color filters or a bounce diffuser that will fit. The impression given (because these accessories were listed as recommended) was that the Speedlite just didn’t include them, but that they were available to purchase separately. I bought them and they definitely don’t fit. In fact, I don’t even see anything on the Speedlite that would allow for attachment of filters or a diffuser at all. Are filters and a diffuser not going to be available for this Speedlite and that just wasn’t stated anywhere in the marketing or specifications?
Date published: 2023-06-08T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
MTK from
No charger included???
How do you sell a flash with a proprietary rechargeable battery but do not include a charger for it? Terrible decision Canon. I have a brand new flash that I was looking forward to testing out with my R3's. Really thinking I should just send this back and not bother with it.
Date published: 2023-06-05T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Robert Snip from
Powerful flash with minor flaws
The EL 5 is definitely a very powerful flash and is likely to become my new work horse (together with my EX-600 units). It is a bulky unit, but that comes with the power it packs. I love the dedicated rechargeable battery, but only because I had the charger already for my R5 batteries. IMHO, a charger should be in the box already. On camera, the flash recharges extremely fast and I have not experienced any overheating. The connectivity with my ST-E10 is iffy at best, which may be more of a transmitter flaw than a flash unit flaw.
Especially with the current price point (recent Canon deal), this flash is a great quality and value.
Date published: 2024-04-16T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Another user from
Junk out of the box
Useless for the R5. Complete junk. Don't even bother buying it.
Date published: 2024-03-17T00:00:00-04:00