EL-5 Part 2
p.1 #1EL-5 Part 2
What are the thoughts about the revised flash? The wireless range is about 5/3 of the original EL-5. I wonder if those will ever be on sale. My early EL-5 has the battery draw defect.
EBH
EBH
Sep 15, 2026 at 07:25 PM
p.1 #2EL-5 Part 2
I pretty much only use Godox flashes nowadays, because you can’t beat the interoperability and value. This looks like a good unit, though, and not insanely priced for a first party option with its power. I don’t like that it’s only multifunction shoe compatible, though - it really locks you in to using it just with the most recent bodies. (Even the R5 can’t use it, let alone any Canon DSLRs).
Meanwhile my Godox V1 works with every Canon body I own, and my Godox flashes for other systems makes work with my Canon Godox triggers.
Meanwhile my Godox V1 works with every Canon body I own, and my Godox flashes for other systems makes work with my Canon Godox triggers.
Sep 15, 2026 at 07:58 PM
p.1 #3EL-5 Part 2
I have Canon (EL-5 and 600 series), Godox and Neewer on-camera flashes. Purely as an on-camera flash, I like the Canon EL-5 the best out of all of those. It just feels better built with really fast recycling time (though the EL-1 is even better). IMO touchscreens on a flash, like the Godox I have, are a complete PITA when trying to work quickly. Too much delay when changing group modes for example, because it's trying to prevent an accidental mode change. Yet accidental touches/swipes will inadvertently change power output or some other setting. The Canon feels more responsive in TTL mode, though the Godox is also pretty fast. This is where the Neewer units are well behind. For some reason they exhibit a slightly longer but noticeable delay between the pre-flash and main flash, which only gets worse if using additional units off camera, and even more worse when they're in different groups. But these Neewer were the physical equivalent of the Godox V1 Pro at half the price and are rock solid in off-camera manual output where that multi-group delay does not happen because there's no need for pre-flash. I also like that there is a USB-C charging port in the Godox and Neewer batteries, something Canon should emulate.
I've become a fan of some of Neewer's speedlight/strobe offerings at the lower end because of the price/performance ratio. They generally match the equivalent Godox units, often are near clones, yet are lower priced and sometimes considerably discounted (and are compatible with the Godox radio system). Meanwhile Godox seems to have become mainstream and no longer the bargain they used to be. They appear to quite tightly control street pricing, in that sales are modest and pricing remains consistent across all sources/suppliers.
The main reason I have Canon, Godox and Neewer speedlights now is how long it took for Canon to recognize and finally (apparently) fix the massive mess their RT radio network became between around 2020 until 2025. I updated the EL-5's firmware and it seemed to fix the problem, but I am reluctant to actually use it in real world critical applications. The same apprehension extends to the EL-5 v2, though the assumption is that Canon 'properly' fixed it in hardware this time. Hopefully.
I've become a fan of some of Neewer's speedlight/strobe offerings at the lower end because of the price/performance ratio. They generally match the equivalent Godox units, often are near clones, yet are lower priced and sometimes considerably discounted (and are compatible with the Godox radio system). Meanwhile Godox seems to have become mainstream and no longer the bargain they used to be. They appear to quite tightly control street pricing, in that sales are modest and pricing remains consistent across all sources/suppliers.
The main reason I have Canon, Godox and Neewer speedlights now is how long it took for Canon to recognize and finally (apparently) fix the massive mess their RT radio network became between around 2020 until 2025. I updated the EL-5's firmware and it seemed to fix the problem, but I am reluctant to actually use it in real world critical applications. The same apprehension extends to the EL-5 v2, though the assumption is that Canon 'properly' fixed it in hardware this time. Hopefully.
Sep 15, 2026 at 10:14 PM
p.1 #4EL-5 Part 2
I just thought simplistically that Canon would be more electronically compatible in the long run and I could charge the battery in the usual LC-E6. But I would not trust it for quite a while until other people buy it first. 
EBH
EBH
Sep 16, 2026 at 12:20 AM
p.1 #5EL-5 Part 2
as an on-camera flash, both the EX 600 RT and the EL-5 have been great. the weakness i see in the canon flash line up is the lack of larger units for off camera use. i like a battery powered 600 WS flash for outdoor use. godox has stuff, canon does not. godox does not support canon's RT, so kinda pushes towards godox on camera transmitters.
Sep 16, 2026 at 07:38 PM
p.1 #6EL-5 Part 2
I have some of the old-school lkike EX600 RT II, but they are terribly slow. You need a pile of NiMH cells (4 internal and 8 in the battery pack) to get any kind of fast recycle. In some countries they get you with the AAs not being allowed in checked luggage. Before I started using the EL-1/EL-5 flashes I gave away a bunch of them before returning to the States. Now I just carry one or two battery packs.
Which Godox is equivalent or better than the EL-5?
I would be using it mostly at 200mm zoom setting for fill flash bursts up to 20FPS.
Thanks,
EBH
Which Godox is equivalent or better than the EL-5?
I would be using it mostly at 200mm zoom setting for fill flash bursts up to 20FPS.
Thanks,
EBH
Sep 16, 2026 at 09:55 PM
p.1 #7EL-5 Part 2
i am unaware of any flash that recycles fast enough for 20fps, probably studio lighting is the only way. I feel like the 600 EX RT II takes a couple of seconds to recycle and the EL-5 is much faster, maybe less than a second. My single subject portrait work is mostly between 50 and 100mm or so. (maybe someday i will run into a good deal on an EF 200 F/2). For the godox ad600 i have one of their transmitters, but were i starting from scratch i might think about the godox v1.
Sep 17, 2026 at 07:28 AM
p.1 #8EL-5 Part 2
V100 is a more powerful V1 (100Ws), but both the V1 and V100 only zoom the flash head to 105mm
The best equivalent Godox to this flash would be the V860III, which also has lithium ion batteries, 20-200mm flash zoom (same length, but even wider than Canon), 76Ws power (identical to the Canon)
The best equivalent Godox to this flash would be the V860III, which also has lithium ion batteries, 20-200mm flash zoom (same length, but even wider than Canon), 76Ws power (identical to the Canon)
Sep 17, 2026 at 07:57 AM
p.1 #9EL-5 Part 2
I wonder if the Ving Godox will develop a newer flash, e.g., v. IV. That V860III does not appear to have the multi-function shoe, just the 1980s style TTL shoe. Do you think the future Canon bodies will always have the traditional shoe or eventually all will be multifunction only like the lower grade bodies (R8 II)?
I'm still annoyed by the stupidity of the R5 C that has a multifunction shoe but cannot be used for flash.
EBH
I'm still annoyed by the stupidity of the R5 C that has a multifunction shoe but cannot be used for flash.
EBH
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:35 AM
p.1 #10EL-5 Part 2
snap-shot wrote:
i am unaware of any flash that recycles fast enough for 20fps, probably studio lighting is the only way. I feel like the 600 EX RT II takes a couple of seconds to recycle and the EL-5 is much faster, maybe less than a second. My single subject portrait work is mostly between 50 and 100mm or so. (maybe someday i will run into a good deal on an EF 200 F/2). For the godox ad600 i have one of their transmitters, but were i starting from scratch i might think about the godox v1.
I mean if the flash is at 1/16-1/8 power then it should do a few frames at high speed, no?
EBH
i am unaware of any flash that recycles fast enough for 20fps, probably studio lighting is the only way. I feel like the 600 EX RT II takes a couple of seconds to recycle and the EL-5 is much faster, maybe less than a second. My single subject portrait work is mostly between 50 and 100mm or so. (maybe someday i will run into a good deal on an EF 200 F/2). For the godox ad600 i have one of their transmitters, but were i starting from scratch i might think about the godox v1.
I mean if the flash is at 1/16-1/8 power then it should do a few frames at high speed, no?
EBH
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:36 AM
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p.1 #11EL-5 Part 2
EB-1 wrote:
I wonder if the Ving Godox will develop a newer flash, e.g., v. IV. That V860III does not appear to have the multi-function shoe, just the 1980s style TTL shoe. Do you think the future Canon bodies will always have the traditional shoe or eventually all will be multifunction only like the lower grade bodies (R8 II)?
I'm still annoyed by the stupidity of the R5 C that has a multifunction shoe but cannot be used for flash.
EBH
The R8 II doesn't have multifunction only? It's a standard hotshoe and also has the multifunction contacts, just like the R6 II/III and the R5 II.
Personally, ditching a standard hotshoe would be an absolute instant dealbreaker for me. Even Sony realized how dumb that was when they used a non-standard hotshoe in the early days of NEX.
I wonder if the Ving Godox will develop a newer flash, e.g., v. IV. That V860III does not appear to have the multi-function shoe, just the 1980s style TTL shoe. Do you think the future Canon bodies will always have the traditional shoe or eventually all will be multifunction only like the lower grade bodies (R8 II)?
I'm still annoyed by the stupidity of the R5 C that has a multifunction shoe but cannot be used for flash.
EBH
The R8 II doesn't have multifunction only? It's a standard hotshoe and also has the multifunction contacts, just like the R6 II/III and the R5 II.
Personally, ditching a standard hotshoe would be an absolute instant dealbreaker for me. Even Sony realized how dumb that was when they used a non-standard hotshoe in the early days of NEX.
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:48 AM
p.1 #12EL-5 Part 2
EB-1 wrote:
I mean if the flash is at 1/16-1/8 power then it should do a few frames at high speed, no?
EBH
Can definitely do a few, but likely not extended.
I obviously don't know about the EL-5. I did test with my Godox V1, and while I can't use flash at 20 or 40fps (since my R6 II won't sync in e shutter), at 12fps, my V1 can do 12 flashes in a burst at 1/16 power and 4 flashes in a burst at 1/8 power.
Where the real extended time comes is at 1/32 power, where it is basically unlimited. I hit the camera buffer before the flash stopped firing, and the flash continued to fire at the slower rate when the buffer was full (which was 91 shots).
Edited on Sep 17, 2026 at 10:57 AM · View previous versions
snap-shot wrote
i am unaware of any flash that recycles fast enough for 20fps, probably studio lighting is the only way. I feel like the 600 EX RT II takes a couple of seconds to recycle and the EL-5 is much faster, maybe less than a second. My single subject portrait work is mostly between 50 and 100mm or so. (maybe someday i will run into a good deal on an EF 200 F/2). For the godox ad600 i have one of their transmitters, but were i starting from scratch i might think about the godox v1.EBH
Can definitely do a few, but likely not extended.
I obviously don't know about the EL-5. I did test with my Godox V1, and while I can't use flash at 20 or 40fps (since my R6 II won't sync in e shutter), at 12fps, my V1 can do 12 flashes in a burst at 1/16 power and 4 flashes in a burst at 1/8 power.
Where the real extended time comes is at 1/32 power, where it is basically unlimited. I hit the camera buffer before the flash stopped firing, and the flash continued to fire at the slower rate when the buffer was full (which was 91 shots).
Edited on Sep 17, 2026 at 10:57 AM · View previous versions
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:52 AM
p.1 #13EL-5 Part 2
I guess the example should be R50, so perhaps no concern.
EBH
EBH
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:55 AM
p.1 #14EL-5 Part 2
You replied while I was editing so see previous comment for burst at 1/32 power.
Sep 17, 2026 at 10:56 AM
p.1 #15EL-5 Part 2
I no longer do off-camera flash photography so I'm pretty happy with my EL-5 V1.
Sep 17, 2026 at 11:59 AM
p.1 #16EL-5 Part 2
I use it sometimes with a big tele off camera, but nearby and well elevated and attached to the yoke with an A-S. The EL-5 is mostly, but not 100% reliable. I think they had a fix for it, but I did not ever send for repair. I'm not sure how it works with the little transmitter in the multi-function shoe, if it is possible to use two flashes v.1 and v.2 at the same time.
EBH
EBH
Sep 17, 2026 at 03:30 PM
p.1 #17EL-5 Part 2
@EB-1 the Canon product advisory for the EL-5's too-fast battery drain problem was announced in Sept. 2024 and the free repair period ends Sept. 30, 2026, so you only have about a week to send it in and have it done (for free). Prerequisite to qualify for the free repair is a zero (0) as the fourth digit in the serial number (from the left).
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/Product-Advisory
I dropped mine off at Canon Canada today, so we'll see... the reps weren't aware of this 'recall' but it was in their system when I presented the above information.
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/Product-Advisory
I dropped mine off at Canon Canada today, so we'll see... the reps weren't aware of this 'recall' but it was in their system when I presented the above information.
Sep 18, 2026 at 07:03 PM
p.1 #18EL-5 Part 2
rscheffler wrote:
@EB-1@ the Canon product advisory for the EL-5's too-fast battery drain problem was announced in Sept. 2024 and the free repair period ends Sept. 30, 2026, so you only have about a week to send it in and have it done (for free). Prerequisite to qualify for the free repair is a zero (0) as the fourth digit in the serial number (from the left).
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/Product-Advisory
I dropped mine off at Canon Canada today, so we'll see... the reps weren't aware of this 'recall' but it was in their system when I presented the above information.
Thanks for this information. I'm an early adopter to the EL-5 and I don't have any issues with that battery drain problem. I used it a lot over a week ago and I still have about half power in the tank. I'm using it again tomorrow so just in case all of a sudden I have that drain problem, I have more or less a week to drop it off.
@EB-1@ the Canon product advisory for the EL-5's too-fast battery drain problem was announced in Sept. 2024 and the free repair period ends Sept. 30, 2026, so you only have about a week to send it in and have it done (for free). Prerequisite to qualify for the free repair is a zero (0) as the fourth digit in the serial number (from the left).
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/Product-Advisory
I dropped mine off at Canon Canada today, so we'll see... the reps weren't aware of this 'recall' but it was in their system when I presented the above information.
Thanks for this information. I'm an early adopter to the EL-5 and I don't have any issues with that battery drain problem. I used it a lot over a week ago and I still have about half power in the tank. I'm using it again tomorrow so just in case all of a sudden I have that drain problem, I have more or less a week to drop it off.
Sep 19, 2026 at 11:20 AM
p.1 #19EL-5 Part 2
EB-1 wrote:
What are the thoughts about the revised flash? The wireless range is about 5/3 of the original EL-5. I wonder if those will ever be on sale. My early EL-5 has the battery draw defect.
EBH
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if v2, given its otherwise very similar specs, is a way to move beyond those battery issues. I have had my EL-5 repaired literally 3 separate times by Canon related to that recall and it still drains the battery. I have given up and I just leave the battery out. If the new version comes up as Canon USA refurbished I might go for it.
I have the Godox V100 which is superior in a number of ways, but the EL-5's build still feels better and my sense is its TTL metering is more consistent. I use all kinds of Godox products but their on camera flash TTL still is not sufficiently consistent for my event photography needs.
What are the thoughts about the revised flash? The wireless range is about 5/3 of the original EL-5. I wonder if those will ever be on sale. My early EL-5 has the battery draw defect.
EBH
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if v2, given its otherwise very similar specs, is a way to move beyond those battery issues. I have had my EL-5 repaired literally 3 separate times by Canon related to that recall and it still drains the battery. I have given up and I just leave the battery out. If the new version comes up as Canon USA refurbished I might go for it.
I have the Godox V100 which is superior in a number of ways, but the EL-5's build still feels better and my sense is its TTL metering is more consistent. I use all kinds of Godox products but their on camera flash TTL still is not sufficiently consistent for my event photography needs.
Sep 24, 2026 at 08:34 PM