p.2 #1 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
jojib wrote:
I pre-ordered but I read that Canon has delayed the launch of the EL-5 to this summer. My camera store said there’s no ETA but will get back to me by end of May.
In the meantime, I will shoot with the 580EXII and Gary Fong lightsphere collapsible gen 5
Canon EOS R6m2EF35mm f/1.4L USM lens35mmf/1.41/3200s100 ISO0.0 EV
Canon EOS R6m2EF35mm f/1.4L USM lens35mmf/1.41/2500s100 ISO0.0 EV
Canon EOS R6m2EF135mm f/2L USM lens135mmf/2.01/200s100 ISO-1.0 EV
Canon EOS R6m2EF35mm f/1.4L USM lens35mmf/1.41/3200s100 ISO0.0 EV
p.2 #5 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
EB-1 wrote:
Is there any way to use it on a high-res camera like the R5 yet?
EBH
Not that I know. I asked my dealer to look into this because I also have an R6. Was thinking of getting two, but then realized I probably couldn't use it on the R6... But might still get two because I'll eventually get newer cameras with the new shoe interface. Just really tired of AA battery performance and not a Godox fan, so this is long overdue from Canon.
p.2 #6 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
I was hoping that there would be an adapter, but expected that the R5 II would be out by now. Canon really screwed up the timing. I've used the EL-1 a few times with the R5, but it is stupidly heavy/bulky for on-camera flash. Recycling is crazy fast and it has a fan to prevent overheating.
p.2 #8 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
I got mine today, too. Yes, I was disappointed to see no charger was included. Was hoping to get another one so I can charge multiple LP-E6NHs and/or the LP-EL for this flash, rather than have to buy them. Definitely something to take note of if you're only using the R3 and don't have any cameras that take the LP-E6 style battery. Yes, the LP-EL is longer and won't fit in a camera. It's the same battery for the EL-1 flash.
A few thoughts about the EL-5 (I'm coming from 600EX-RT v1 units):
No lock buttons for bounce tilt/swivel, which is good/bad. The detents seem firm so the head likely won't slip, but we'll see after years of use. I generally like this because it's faster to adjust the bounce position.
Wider when viewed from front/back to accommodate the LP-EL battery, but the 'body' portion of the flash is a bit thinner because it does not have the AF assist module of the 600.
Flash head is same width as 600, but its face has a 'chin' to accommodate some LEDs that make it about 1/3" thicker.
Made in Taiwan and not Myanmar.
The usual small shoe stand supplied for remote use.
Neoprene-like case that is more formfitting (but no belt loop or other attachment point).
No other accessories like the tungsten (orange) clear plastic clip-on cover for warming up color temperature (handy when shooting in 'tungsten-like' ambient light environments) that I think is supplied with the EL-1.
No HV battery pack port.
No PC sync socket.
No 1/4" thread to directly attach to a stand.
Double locking pin in the shoe to slot into the camera's shoe.
Entire battery door pulls straight down to open. No push to the side then pull down style button release.
Battery latch inside to hold battery in place, like the cameras, therefore not putting pressure on the battery door (I've had problems with the 600EX-RT doors popping open and spilling the batteries).
Different menu set up, though not sure how different from the 600EX-RT v2. I noticed it has three 'C' presets where you can save your custom configurations for quick access, which will be handy.
p.2 #10 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
Good point about the manual. It can be found here. (Choice of HTML or PDF.)
Also, I bought only one unit because I currently only have one compatible camera. But a reason I considered buying two now was to determine if the radio trigger system has been made more robust than the system in the 600 series units. Those were pretty rock-solid for me over many, many years, but recently have been dropping the link after only minutes at a time. This was discussed in at least one older thread here.
I also noticed there's a gasket inside the battery door that presses against a lip around the battery compartment, so should have decent moisture sealing there. The manual states the flash has a level of weather sealing similar to the R5.
Both the Canon USA and B&H sites recommend the external AA battery pack as an accessory, but I didn't see the required port on the flash to attach it. It's probably an error. At 1.2 seconds full power recycling time, the flash with internal battery is already pretty quick.
But... just noticed the warning below about thermal protection. Hopefully this doesn't kick in too aggressively and/or can be defeated by turning off the unit briefly like how one could with the 600EX-RT when it locked up due to thermal protection activation.
p.2 #12 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
I hate the direction Canon went on this.
1) if you’re going to replace the hot shoe and have new flash units only be compatible with that new hotshoe, do it at the beginning of your new system, not part way through. The fact if I bought one of these, I could only use it on my R8, and not my R5, is just dumb.
2) using the fragile thin accessory pins for all flash operation is also not a great idea. It’s far less robust than contact pins that flashes have used for decades. I don’t mind the accessory pins, for things like mics or other communication heavy devices, but for flashes it’s dumb.
p.2 #13 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
Excuse me for my ignorance, but why do you folks still speedlites when there are powerful strobes like the 200Ws flashes from other vendors, I’m just curious.
p.2 #14 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
Jman13 wrote:
using the fragile thin accessory pins for all flash operation is also not a great idea. It’s far less robust than contact pins that flashes have used for decades. I don’t mind the accessory pins, for things like mics or other communication heavy devices, but for flashes it’s dumb.
Also, why so many small pins instead of 4 big robust pins? It’s 2023, serial is preferred over parallel for digital buses.
p.2 #15 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
nhanzero wrote:
Excuse me for my ignorance, but why do you folks still speedlites when there are powerful strobes like the 200Ws flashes from other vendors, I’m just curious.
The AD200 from Godox is not an on-camera flash. From my experience working with a wedding photographer heavily invested in both Canon and Godox systems, the Godox has not been quite as 'bulletproof' though it is still very good. But recent developments with apparent interference with Canon's radio system has been a concern.
With the EL-5 there are a few things I like about it as a standalone hot shoe flash, including compatibility with the battery charger I'm already using for my camera.
But yeah, I don't like that a charger was not included with the flash. I'm sure it was done so Canon could sell them and keep the apparent cost of the flash lower, which at least here in Canada is selling for less than the 600 series used to back in the day.
p.2 #18 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
The logical comparison should be the EL-5 to the EL-1. The EL-1 is more expensive but comes with an extra charger (not that I'd need one from a dozen cameras) and has the fan for heavy use. Is it just the cost that is why people are waiting so long for the EL-5?
p.2 #19 · Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Discontinued / New EL-5 announced
I've borrowed the EL-1 a few times from CPS and it's a great flash. Has been very reliable whenever I've used it. But yes, it just feels excessively priced. And it is kind of large. Here in Canada its regular retail price is 3x the EL-5. IMO it should only be about 50% more.
Having used the EL-1, the EL-5 does come across as a bit 'budget' in comparison. Hard to pinpoint, but part of it is what isn't included, such as the various ports (sync, 1/4" thread, HV port - though one might argue the latter is not really needed now), no clip on color gel for balancing with tungsten ambient lighting, no charger...
I've gotten by with 600EX-RTs for a very long time, either internal AAs or with an external pack & cable, which I'm not a fan of. Also not a fan of Godox, so didn't bother to invest there, and already have a pretty extensive collection of studio strobes that haven't really needed to be replaced by something from Godox. In multi strobe type use environments, I've settled on triggering it all with Canon's RT system, hence a desire to stick with Canon Speedlites. I just want to get away from AAs for faster recycling and cut dependence on the annoying cord of the external HV pack, at a more reasonable price.
DUMB!