Archive 2023 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

haptoski
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

This winter I’ve slowly migrated from EF to RF. One hesitation/concern that I had was native flash system to use with my R6 mkII Previously I had multiple flashes that I used with pocket wizards for occasional portrait and Macro/product work. The EL -1 Was way out of my price bracket. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the EL f5 with the STE 10.

Recently received both and wanted to share my experience. Set up was easy and intuitive for both transmitter and flashes. One complaint I’m baffled about was the lack of a battery charger provided with the flash. Newsflash if you’re buying this flash you have the charger already because it came with the camera that you’re putting the flash on. Many of the complaints I read online dealt with the connection between transmitter and flash being dropped repeatedly. 300 test pictures spread out over three days. This did not happen one time for me.

Bottom line I found the system intuitive and easy to program. Reliable. Powerful enough for anything short of full on studio/location portrait work where dedicated studio flashes provide more power and creativity. Two flashes and a transmitter is not inexpensive. There are less expensive options, the integration and ease of use in my mind makes the investment worth it.

Jul 20, 2023 at 07:48 PM

rscheffler
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

It would be good to get your longer term experiences with this combination to see if it continues to be this reliable.

What was the environment in which you used it? Urban? Densely populated? IMO there are likely a number of factors impacting user reports of poor reliability. I've experienced this myself with my 600EX-RT v1 units (I have four) over the past 1.5 or so years since events restarted here following the pandemic. Prior to this, since the beginning of the 600EX-RT system, I've found it to be very reliable, for example using it without general problems at hundreds of events and weddings. So my feeling is something changed in the general urban environment since around 2020 that has negatively impacted the Canon RT network's stability.

I have not extensively used the EL-5 yet, and when I used it in a multi-flash environment, it was the master unit. Those events generally worked well, but perhaps also because I used Phottix Laso receivers (unfortunately now discontinued), which work on the Canon RT network, but appear to not be nearly as affected by whatever has been affecting the reliability of my 600EX-RTs.

Jul 20, 2023 at 10:44 PM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

rscheffler wrote:
So my feeling is something changed in the general urban environment since around 2020 that has negatively impacted the Canon RT network's stability.

I suspect that may be the recent spread of 5G transmitters and other RFI sources.

Jul 20, 2023 at 10:47 PM

haptoski
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

Had not thought of the Wifi/BT and other radio bands in urban areas. I defiantly live remote, nearest house in 2 miles. have only tested arround here. Will head into town soon and test it out in more urban enviroment see if reliability remains high.

Jul 21, 2023 at 12:25 AM

rscheffler
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

rscheffler wrote:
So my feeling is something changed in the general urban environment since around 2020 that has negatively impacted the Canon RT network's stability.

Gochugogi wrote:
I suspect that may be the recent spread of 5G transmitters and other RFI sources.

That's also my suspicion but have no way to confirm it. The rollout of 5G seems to coincide with the onset of reliability problems.

haptoski wrote:
Had not thought of the Wifi/BT and other radio bands in urban areas. I defiantly live remote, nearest house in 2 miles. have only tested arround here. Will head into town soon and test it out in more urban enviroment see if reliability remains high.

As you may have read in reviews, the problem is that the units disconnect from the controller after a while. Might be 5-10 minutes. Could be longer. Only way to reliably reconnect is to cycle everything off/on.

Jul 21, 2023 at 12:26 AM

rscheffler
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

@haptoski any update? Has it been a reliable wireless trigger configuration?

Sep 13, 2023 at 10:08 AM

haptoski
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

Ive used it several time for informal enviro portraits and interior photos and its worked flawlessly. Ive not had the oportunity to use it in a wifi/bluetooth busy location. later this fal i will.

Sep 17, 2023 at 12:15 AM

tomasr
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

Unless you need specifically on camera flash there is absolutely no reason not to buy several boxes of Godox gear for the price of a single Canon candlestick

Sep 17, 2023 at 08:10 AM

jojib
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Rf flash is it reliable? El-5 and ST E10

rscheffler wrote:
@haptoski@ any update? Has it been a reliable wireless trigger configuration?

I just tried the EL-5 and ST-E10 combo. My left hand was holding on to the EL-5 and the ST-E10 on my R6MKII and lens on my right hand. It worked flawlessly. Mind you this was the first and only time I have tried this as I only got the wireless trigger a couple of weeks ago. So far I am extremely happy with the results.

Canon EOS R6m2 EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens 16mm f/4.0 1/80s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Canon EOS R6m2 EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens 50mm f/1.2 1/640s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Canon EOS R6m2 EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM lens 16mm f/4.0 1/80s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Canon EOS R6m2 EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens 50mm f/1.2 1/1000s 100 ISO 0.0 EV

Oct 13, 2023 at 07:10 PM


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