Canon recalls the Speedlite EL-5 due to faulty batteries

Canon is recalling units of its Speedlite EL-5, the flash designed specifically for mirrorless cameras. Canon Japan first issued the recall, which is apparently due to an issue with the battery holding its charge.

“Some parts of this product may consume battery power quickly when the power is turned off,” says the Canon Japan recall notice on the website. “If a fully charged battery is inserted and the power is turned off, the battery may run out in about two days,” it continues.

The products experiencing the battery problem are the “Speedlite EL-5” flash units with a “0” as the fourth digit from the left of their serial numbers. If you have one of these products, Canon is offering to inspect and repair it free of charge. The acceptance period runs until September 30th, 2026, so there’s plenty of time to get things fixed if you have a problem.

“We sincerely apologize to customers who use this product for any inconvenience caused,” says Canon. “We will implement even more thorough quality control measures in the future so that customers can use our products with peace of mind, and we appreciate your understanding.”

Canon’s flash issues don’t seem only confined to the EL-5. Last year Canon issued recalls for it’s EOS R10 mirrorless bodies due to “loud noises” when the pop up flash was fired.

This issue appears to be global and not confined to Canon Japan, as the EL-5 recall notice is also present on the Canon USA site.

Apparently, any repairs will take between 10 days and two weeks to complete. If you have a problem with this flash unit, you can contact Canon via the instructions on the website that pertain to your part of the world. Canon Japan has an application button here while Canon USA merely says to register the product and they will email you directly.

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