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Canon EL-5…wow!

Herb
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon EL-5…wow!

All I can say is WOW!

I know there is a lot of chatter about Canon not including the charger. I am in the camp of no big deal, I have 4 of them. Enough on the charger.

This flash is a beast! I was able to fire my R3 in drive mode in low speed continuous (approx 3 frames per sec) and the flash had no problem keeping up so I shifted into high speed continuous (approx 15 frames per sec) and after the first 3 or 4 shutter releases there was a slight hesitation in the shutter release. I am impressed how the flash was able to keep up.

Even with fresh double AA batteries my 600EX II-RT would not recycle as fast as the EL-5 can. Look past the lack of charger in the box and this flash will not disappoint!

Jun 12, 2023 at 07:17 PM

sirimiri
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon EL-5…wow!

I don't know how the EL-5 is made but once I overdid it with flashing my 600 EX RT and "sorta" melted the lensed cover. More like I permanently marred it.

Jun 12, 2023 at 09:41 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon EL-5…wow!

The EL-5 senses internal temperature conditions. According to its manual, it will gradually lengthen recycle time as temperature rises. Eventually it will show two stages of thermal warning icons, IIRC, on the display. At some point it significantly increases recycle time.

I've only used it intensively once so far at an event. According to the battery info, it did the equivalent of 296 full power pops and was down to 27% charge. Most of the time I'd guess it probably output around 1/4 or 1/8 power and didn't have trouble keeping up with short bursts. But there were instances where it was near full power output and I did consciously have to wait a second or two before making another exposure.

IMO still beats AAs or using an external HV pack and cable.

Jun 12, 2023 at 11:17 PM

Jman13
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Despite the fact that I have a very nice Godox flash system, I would consider picking up an EL-5, if it actually worked with both of my cameras.

Jun 13, 2023 at 06:59 AM

Herb
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Found this in the manual

Precautions on continuous flash firing

To avoid wearing out or damaging flash heads from overheating, do not fire the flash continuously at full output more than approx. 40 times. After firing continuously at full output this many times, stop using the Speedlite for at least 40 min. After continuous firing at full output this many times, further continuous firing at short intervals may activate a safety function that restricts firing. At a firing restriction level of 1, the firing interval is automatically set to approx. 8 sec. In this case, stop using the Speedlite for at least 40 min.

Jun 13, 2023 at 01:53 PM

Herb
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Recharge times

Jun 13, 2023 at 02:06 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Pg. 173 of the manual or this link to the HTML version:

Repeated use of continuous, stroboscopic, or modeling flash at short intervals may increase the temperature of the flash head, battery, and areas near the battery compartment.
Repeated flash firing gradually increases the firing interval, up to approx. 4 sec., to avoid wearing out or damaging the flash head from overheating. Continuing to fire in this state will automatically restrict flash firing.
Note that when flash firing is restricted, a high-temperature warning icon is displayed, and the flash photography firing interval is automatically set to approx. 8 or 20 sec. (levels 1 and 2, respectively).

Also this on pg. 175:

Jun 13, 2023 at 05:23 PM

Mike_5D
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Herb wrote:
Recharge times

I'd like to see that chart with the 600EX using NiMH cells.

Jun 13, 2023 at 05:30 PM

Herb
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Mike_5D wrote:
I'd like to see that chart with the 600EX using NiMH cells.

Develop the data…

Jun 13, 2023 at 06:53 PM

Mike_5D
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Herb wrote:
Develop the data…

Tough to do without the flash.

Jun 13, 2023 at 09:33 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Herb wrote:
Recharge times

Mike_5D wrote:
I'd like to see that chart with the 600EX using NiMH cells.

Just tried my 600EX-RT v1 with NiMH and it's about 2.5 seconds at full power. I think v2 promised slightly faster recycling but I don't have one of those to test. Batteries were the IKEA Eneloop clones, 2450 mAh, charged recently, so should still be pretty fresh.

Jun 13, 2023 at 11:57 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon EL-5…wow!

After a few months with the EL-5 I've noticed that if I leave the battery in the flash and don't use the flash for an extended period, there is unsurprisingly a parasitic drain on the battery. Haven't monitored it to determine how quickly it drains, rather just a heads up to keep this in mind if only using the flash sporadically. If so, store the battery outside the flash.

This probably also happens with the old 600EX-RTs I use, but those don't have a battery percentage indicator, whereas the EL-5 does, which makes it more obvious.

Sep 13, 2023 at 09:15 AM

jojib
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon EL-5…wow!

Absolutely love mine! Did a shoot with a tennis pro at noon time as it was the only time the court was available. So I used the EL-5 as a fill in flash on camera.

Canon EOS R6m2 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens 85mm f/2.8 1/2000s 100 ISO -0.7 EV

Canon EOS R6m2 EF35mm f/1.4L USM lens 35mm f/1.4 1/5000s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Canon EOS R6m2 EF35mm f/1.4L USM lens 35mm f/1.4 1/4000s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Sep 13, 2023 at 01:06 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon EL-5…wow!

I'm sure the EL-5 is great if you don't want more than 24MP.
I'm hoping the R5 II can use it.

EBH

Sep 13, 2023 at 01:11 PM


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