Speedlite Flash

Canon Speedlite EL-5

A powerful, advanced flash with fast recycling, great creative control and outstanding performance for all situations.

Built for brilliance

Choose the powerful Speedlite EL-5 to catch those unique moments, with improved communication and features thanks to Canon’s Multi-Function foot.

See full specification

Portraits

Add detail to your faces will fill-in flash
Weddings

Capture the blur of a dress with a slow-sync burst
Events

When you’re under pressure, capture the moment without delay
Creative

Control up to 15 Speedlites remotely with radio mode

Professional lighting with performance to match

Capture unmissable moments with a powerful GN60-rated flash with fast recycle times and long continuous busts, while a power level indicator gives reassurance on the LP-EL Li-ion battery charge.

Multi-Function Foot for advanced operation

Control the SPEEDLITE EL-5 direct from the camera thanks to Canon’s Multi-Function Foot¹, a new interface offering reliable connection with improved communication and features.

Feature packed for creative photography

Use FE Memory² for quicker setups and Manual mode for fine control down to 1/1024^th power^{2, 3}. Custom Flash Modes allow settings to be stored and linked to a compatible camera’s own Custom settings².

Multi-flash lighting for studio quality shooting

Control up to 15 Speedlites wirelessly with the built-in radio transmitter at up to 30m away and model the lighting thanks to a Dual White LED with brightness adjustment.

Intuitive interface and advanced handling

Control settings using the Speedlite’s joystick or from the camera’s LCD via the Speedlite’s (Flash) Direct Menu button, or remotely via the Camera Connect App. SPEEDLITE EL-5 can tilt upwards to 120° or sideways for bounce lighting.

Remote, reliable operation every time

Shoot with flash in all weather conditions thanks to weather resistant seals and an improved internal airflow design that helps to keep the flash head cool.

Guide number 60m

Light up distant subjects and large groups
Fast 0.1-1.2 sec recycle times

Up to approx. 85^* full power flashes in a burst

* Using a fully charged LP-EL battery under Canon testing conditions. Continuous flash count at full output until flash firing restriction Level 1.
Multi-Function foot interface

Reliable, fast communication with increased functionality
Rechargeable Li-ion battery

Up to approx. 350^* shots at full power

* Using a fully charged LP-EL battery under Canon testing conditions. Continuous flash count at full output until flash firing restriction Level 1.
Wide range of power levels

From full to 1/1024^* power, for maximum flexibility

* Minimum flash output is 1/128 for high-speed sync.
Built-in LED modelling light

With 5 brightness levels
Accurate battery level indicator

So you’ll know when to replace or recharge a battery
Weather-resistant construction

Work confidently in poor conditions

See full specification

Comparison

See how the SPEEDLITE EL-5 compares to the SPEEDLITE EL-1 and 600EX II-RT

EL-5

600EX II-RT

EL-1

Camera mount shoe supported

Multi-Function shoe¹

5-pin hotshoe

5-pin hotshoe

Flash Zoom coverage

(14mm) 24–200 mm

(14mm) 20–200 mm

(14mm) 24–200 mm

Bounce angle (max.)

-7° to 120° / -180° to 180°

-7° to 90° / -180° to 180°

-7° to 120° / -180° to 180°

Autoflash support

- / E-TTL / E-TTL II

TTL / E-TTL / E-TTL II

- / E-TTL / E-TTL II

Manual flash output setting range (high speed sync)

1/1 to 1/1024 (1/128)

1/1 to 1/128 (1/128)

1/1 to 1/8192 (1/128)

External flash metering sensor

―

Yes

Yes

Continuous shooting priority (CSP) mode

―

―

Yes

Custom flash mode

Yes (C1, C2, C3)

―

―

FE memory

Yes

―

Yes

Modelling lamp

Yes (white)

―

Yes (bi-colour)

Modelling flash (when mounted on a camera)

―

Yes

Yes

Optical / Radio wireless functionality

Radio only

Optical / Radio

Optical / Radio

Modelling lamp on/off (Radio)

Yes

―

―

Modelling flash (Radio)

As receiver unit only with a compatible camera and Speedlite as sender

Yes

Yes

Joystick control

Yes (customisable)

No

Yes

(Flash) Menu direct button

Yes

No

No

AF-assist beam

White LED

Infrared

Infrared

Recharge time (normal flash)

Based on Canon's testing standards.

Approx. 0.1–1.2 sec

Approx. 0.1–5.5 sec

Approx. 0.1–0.9 sec

Estimated number of continuous full power flashes (approx.)

Continuous flash count at full output until flash firing restriction level 1. EL-5/EL-1: Using a new, fully charged LP-EL; 600EX II-RT: Using new AA/LR6 alkaline batteries. Set to manual flash and based on Canon measurement standards.

85

100

160

Flash count at full power (approx.)

Based on Canon's testing standards.

350²

100³

335²

Battery

LP-EL (Rechargeable Li-ion)

4 x size-AA batteries

LP-EL (Rechargeable Li-ion)

Battery level indicator

Yes

―

Yes

Dimensions (approx. width × height × depth)

80.2×139.9×123.3 mm

78.7×143.2×122.7 mm

84.4×149.0×136.4 mm

Weight (approx.)

Speedlite only, without battery

491 g

435 g

572 g

Weather resistance

Yes (equivalent to EOS R5)

Yes (equivalent to EOS-1D)

Yes (equivalent to EOS-1D)

Active Cooling

Enhanced passive cooling design

―

Yes

External power source socket

―

Yes

Yes

Sync terminal

―

Yes

Yes

Bracket attachment screw holes

―

Yes

―

Canon colour filters and bounce adapter supported

―

Yes

Yes

For use with compatible cameras with Canon's Multi-Function shoe, a firmware update may be required. Note, not all functions may be supported with all cameras (the EOS R5 C and camcorders with the Multi-Function shoe are not supported).
Using a fully charged LP-EL
Using AA/LR6 alkaline batteries

Gallery

Layout

Load More Collapse All

What's in the box

Speedlite EL-5
LP-EL Battery
Mini stand
Speedlite case
Shoe cover

POWER

Battery pack LP-EL

Specially designed for Canon Speedlites, the LP-EL is able to quickly discharge large currents and has a capacity of 1920mAh.

POWER

Battery charger LC-E6E

Charges compatible Canon LP-E6 series and the LP-EL batteries.

Speedlite Flash

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E10

Connect and control your compatible Speedlite flashes remotely with this small, convenient Multi-function shoe accessory.

Shop Now View details

Wireless Transmitter

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT (Ver.2)

Fire compatible radio-frequency Speedlite flashguns over distances of up to 30m. Additional remote features for the EL-1.

View details

Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R6 Mark II

Stills or video, action or portrait – the EOS R6 Mark II’s blend of performance and image quality lets your creativity thrive

Shop Now

Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R3

With speed at its core, this is the mirrorless camera that pro sports, news and wildlife photographers have been waiting for.

Shop Now

Professional Flash

Speedlite EL-1

An advanced Speedlite that delivers superb reliability and advanced high-speed performance in a tough weather-resistant body.

Shop Now

Professional Flash

Speedlite 430EX III-RT

A powerful and portable flash with radio triggering.

An action shot taken with a Canon Speedlite EL-1 shows a stunt rider cycling down stone steps, a spray of water droplets caught by the flash.

ARTICLE

Freezing fast-moving action with the Speedlite EL-1

Action sports photographer Dave Mackison shares the story behind the first pro shoot with Canon's lightweight, powerful professional flashgun.

A black-and-white image of a man in a dinner jacket eating a spoonful of cake, with the shadows on the wall behind him revealing more of the scene, making it clear that someone else is holding the spoon.

ARTICLE

How flash can enhance your reportage

Canon Ambassador Fabio Mirulla explains how the innovative flash techniques he uses for wedding photography can also apply to photojournalism.

A woman skateboarding, captured frozen in mid-air by a Speedlite on a tripod, her board flipping beneath her.

ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

How to use a flash for creative action photography

Discover the benefits of using a Speedlite flash in your action photography.

A portrait taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with the E-TTL balance setting on Standard.

FLASH

Speedlite camera flash basics

Learn how to calculate the flash power you need for perfect exposures, and how to use the autoflash options in Speedlites to do the job for you.

RF Lenses

EOS R System

L-series Lenses

A split image. Left, a photographer shooting with a Canon EOS R5 with Speedlite EL-1 flash in the hot-shoe; right: a stunt cyclist balances his bike on its rear wheel on an elevated handrail.

Speedlite flash

On-camera support requires a camera with Canon’s Multi-Function shoe and supported firmware - not all functions may be fully supported with all cameras. Not compatible with EOS R5 C.
With compatible cameras.
Minimum flash output is 1/128 for high-speed sync.