Canon has launched the EL-5, its first mirrorless compatible speedlight. The flash unit is directly compatible with the latest Canon mirrorless bodies the R6 and brand newly released R6II, the R3, R7, and R10.
Using the speedlight with the multi-function shoe found on the R lineup of mirrorless cameras unlocks the array of upgraded features available with the EL-5. Such features include an extremely fast recycle time of between 0.1 sec and 1.2 secs, and an ultra-low power setting of just 1/1024.
The speedlight is bang up to date and uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery has a long charge life, you should be able to shoot up to 350 full-power triggers on just one single charge. Alongside the ultra-fast recycle time, the speedlight is able to continuously trigger up to 95 flashes in a row.
It also features a useful modeling lamp, something that previously wasn’t a normal feature of speedlights. That was reserved for more expensive studio lighting. It also doubles up as an autofocus assist lamp to help you focus in dark scenes.
The multi-function shoe allows direct control of settings from the R range of compatible cameras, or you can simply control it via the app. The flash unit uses 2.4GHZ wireless radio transmission as a sender or receiver for wireless triggering and can control up to 15 flash units from up to 98′ away.
| EL-5 | |
| Guide Number | 60m |
| Wireless groups | 5 |
| Power | 1x Rechargeable LP-EL Lithium-Ion Battery |
| Wireless channels | 15 |
| Dimensions | 80.2 x 139.9 x 123.3 mm |
| Weight | 491 g with battery |
| Price | $399 |
| Recycle Time | Approx. 0.1 to 1.2 Seconds |
| Number of flashes | Approx 350 full-power flashes per charge |
| Wireless | Built-in 2.4Ghz Radio (TTL/Manual) Up to 98.4' / 30 m (Master, Slave) |
| Coverage | Full-Frame 24 to 200 mm 14 mm (with Wide-Angle Adapter) |
| Exposure | Canon E-TTL / E-TTL II, Manual, Hi-Speed Sync, Second-Curtain Sync |
| Compatible with | Canon EOS R6, R6II, R7, R3, R10 |
| Auto Zoom Head | Yes |
| Modelling light | Yes |
| Power Range | 1/1 to 1/1024 |
All in all, it’s a compact yet powerful speedlight. Compared with the previous speedlites the 430EX III-RT or 600ex II-RT it’s a lot slicker and a lot quicker. Just the rechargeable battery and modeling lamp alone make this a decent upgrade.
Shipping starts in February 2023, and you can order now for $399.
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