Canon Speedlite EL-5 (Ver.2) Flashgun

The Speedlite EL-5 (Ver.2) is Canon’s mid-tier professional flash, sitting below the EL-1 but built around the same Multi-Function Foot control and radio wireless system that make Canon’s current flash range easy to run from the camera body rather than fumbling with buttons on the flash itself. It’s aimed at anyone who shoots weddings, portraits or events and needs a flash that keeps up: fast recycling, a genuine guide number of 60, and enough battery life to get through a full day’s work.

Guide number 60 and recycle times as low as 0.1 seconds

A GN60 (ISO 100, 200mm) output is enough to light distant subjects or a full group shot, and the rechargeable LP-EL Li-ion battery recycles in 0.1 to 1.2 seconds depending on power level, with up to roughly 854 full-power flashes available in a continuous burst. Canon rates the battery for approximately 350 to 2,450 flashes per charge, lower at full power and higher as you drop the output, and an on-flash indicator shows remaining charge as a percentage rather than leaving you to guess.

Runs from the camera, not just the flash

Canon’s Multi-Function Foot connects the EL-5 (Ver.2) directly to compatible EOS cameras, so custom flash modes, FE Memory and manual output settings down to 1/1024 power can all be set from the camera’s own menus instead of the flash’s joystick. Custom Flash Modes link to a compatible camera’s own custom settings, useful if you regularly switch between, say, bounce flash for indoor portraits and direct flash for fast-moving events.

Wireless control up to 50m, an improvement on the original EL-5

The built-in radio transmitter controls up to 15 other Speedlites at up to 50m, up from 30m on the first-generation EL-5, which makes a real difference in a larger venue or an outdoor multi-light setup. A Dual White LED modelling light with five brightness levels lets you preview how the lighting will fall before you commit to a shot, and it doubles as a practical work light in a dim room.

Built to work in the same conditions as the camera

Weather-resistant seals and an improved internal airflow design (there’s no active cooling here, just a smarter passive layout) keep the flash working through the kind of damp, cold or dusty conditions that professional and enthusiast shooters end up in. The head tilts up to 120 and rotates a full 180 in either direction for bounce lighting, and the whole unit weighs 487g, close to the EL-1 but noticeably lighter to carry around for a full day of shooting.

What’s in the box

The EL-5 (Ver.2) ships with its LP-EL battery, a mini-stand and a Speedlite case. The battery charger (LC-E6E) isn’t included, in keeping with Canon’s current EOS accessory lineup, so if you don’t already own one it’s worth adding at checkout. Optional extras include the ST-E10 and ST-E3-RT (Ver.2/3) wireless transmitters, a spare LP-EL battery, and the OC-E4A off-camera shoe cord for anyone running the flash away from the hot shoe.

Choosing between Canon’s current Speedlites

If you need finer manual control down to 1/8192 power, faster full-power recycling and active internal cooling for sustained professional use, the Speedlite EL-1 (Ver.2) is Canon’s flagship option. If you want something lighter and simpler for occasional use, the Speedlite EL-10 is a smaller, more affordable step down.