Canon Speedlite EL-100 external flash is compact yet powerful

For newer canon bodies the nissin 40 is useless. Starting with the 80D it does NOT work anymore in ttl. The 60 Works on my 80D but not on my 200D anymore. I will not buy another nissin anytime.

3 days agopermalink

XeroJay

They might as well just openly say this flash is for people who have somehow not heard of the Godox TT350. You'd have to reaaaaally like Canon to choose one of these for double the price.

3 months ago*permalink

Forward compatibility is MY keyword. Even after updates several of my 3rd party flashes are useless with newer bodies or only work in manual. Using canon Nikon oly and Fuji.

3 days agopermalink

Chief Kurtz

Jesus, would someone devote some time to developing a fast zoom for EF-M mounts?

3 months agopermalink

Canyongazer

Well Shortie, since you asked so nicely, I'll look into it.
Love,
Jesus

2 weeks agopermalink

Battersea

Now we know where the Mode Dial from the EOS R went.

3 months agopermalink

jonby

Good to have a compact option that still has tilt and swivel, but not at that price.

3 months agopermalink

happyballerino

Could anyone can tell if this speedlite is for the full frame only? Its spec zoom range states 24/50mm switched manually.

3 months agopermalink

jonby

I presume it will work on APS-C fine, with zoom coverage for 15mm and 31mm focal lengths.

3 months agopermalink

happyballerino

Thank you

3 months agopermalink

GriffinClubMerv

"a minimum recycling time of 5.8 seconds" - translation "No thank you."

4 months agopermalink

Its The MAX recycling time at MAX output.

3 days agopermalink

dpfan32

199€ ... there it is... too expensive...

4 months agopermalink

Pphotosweden

Thought the same, I just got a V860 brand new for under 150 euro....

4 months agopermalink

David Doron

I think that the Godox TT350 series is a better deal. GN 36, 2 batteries, about the same weight, wireless. There are models for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus and it costs about a half. I use it regularly with my Panasonic LX100. It goes everywhere with me.

4 months ago*permalink

lumenite

yes. a combination of Godox flash TT350 + transmitter X1T-C is cheaper and more powerful than Canon's latest one. :)

4 months agopermalink

Ben Herrmann

At one time you really had very few choices when it came to flash units. So instinctively, you wound up getting the OEM models (by whatever brand). But now, with so many superb 3rd party makers out there (i.e. Godox, Nissin, and many more), you have a myriad of choices and much, much lower prices.

At this recommended $199 USD retail pricepoint, to me...it's not worth the effort on this flash. Now unless it is capable of giving some great he_d on top of its speedlight duties, I'm passin' this one by!

4 months agopermalink

Really there is much more to it Ben. Using several system and MY take is to use OEM. Main reasoning is I do not want to buy a new flash when upgrading. Even the (limited) upgradable series are meh after buying the newest camera. Using canon Nikon oly Fuji kits and some. I always buy OEM now. Future proof is my priority.

3 days ago*permalink

OPTICAL???

LOL Get this trash outta here.

Sounds like the marketing geniuses don't feel low end consumers can use the benefit of radio....just wow.

INCREDIBLY STUPID decision making by canon.

4 months agopermalink

PhilipY

I agree. Both this new speedlite and the 470EX-AI are ONLY optical wireless...this is severe crippling as far as I'm concerned!

Thanks but no thanks. I'll stick with my trusty 430EX III-RT for now until Canon comes to its senses.

4 months ago*permalink

https://www.canon.co.uk/cameras/speedlite-flash-el-100/specifications/

The AI is only optical?

WOW....i had no idea...that's just terrible. I love my 600ex's x2, but it can be painful sometimes without a AF beam. I was thinking of getting the 470 RT to replace the st-e3.

4 months agopermalink

PhilipY

Yes, the 470EX-AI is only optical...I think this is just plain stupid on Canon's part. Not only that, the full auto bounce feature works with only a select number of their DSLR's and mirrorless cameras (it won't work on my M5, sigh).

For now I'd stay with the 430 and or 600 EX series speedlites. Radio wireless is miles ahead of optical. Again, dumb for Canon to do this with their new speedlites.

4 months agopermalink

Sacher Khoudari

I assume this GN it measured at a focal length of 24mm in FF?

4 months agopermalink

FrancoD

"maximum guide number" that would indicate the GN on the 50mm setting of the (manual) zoom head .

4 months ago*permalink

Svein Eriksen

If you look at Canon's site you'll see GN is 26 (m) at 50mm setting, ISO 100

Not what I'd call a powerful flash, but it's not really bad either. It's incredible though that a site like dpreview would list a GN without info about the zoom setting.

4 months ago*permalink

keeponkeepingon

Big question for me:

Does the AF Assist beam work with Canon's Mirroless system (Unlike the AF Assist beam on my EX-580)

It would seem that it does? So perhaps they've "cracked the code" on that issue?

What say yee dpreview???????

Compatible AF System:
Phase-difference AF in viewfinder shooting, Quick mode in Live View shooting and movie shooting
Effective Range (Approx.):
At center: 13.1 ft./4.0m
With the illumination angle at 24mm, without bounce

4 months agopermalink

Kostas L

IR AF assist beams won't work with mirrorless cameras, since mirrorless AF systems are protected by a IR/UV (hot mirror) filters.

4 months agopermalink

keeponkeepingon

So even though it (and the 600's) say they will work with liveview and movies the AF asssist lamp won't work with mirrorless EOS-M or EOS-R??

4 months agopermalink

Kostas L

The AF assist lamp (the white one) works on any camera in all modes. But the IR AF assist lamp will not work with mirroless or with dslr in live view

4 months agopermalink

Mateus1

With Canon R you have 3 dials. This looks more sophisticated then power-on dial on the R.
I think this flash is underpriced.

4 months ago*permalink

tangbunna

can i use it with this Nokia phone ? https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/circuitbreaker/2018/9/7/17830792/nokia-hmd-penta-lens-camera-zeiss-pureview-rumors

4 months agopermalink

Chaitanya S

No, you will need a flash that has "dumb" optical slave mode which can be triggered from cellphone's flash(led as well).

4 months agopermalink

sergiotous

Who uses optical transmission nowadays? You can find way cheaper radio, thus more reliable, flashes from other brands.

4 months agopermalink

its a weird, sick joke by canon hamsters.

4 months agopermalink

Tom Holly

Nice! I might buy this to replace my 480

4 months agopermalink

just get a 600 already.

its only been on the market for years and years.

4 months agopermalink

Tom Holly

I’d like a compact little one, for basic bounce flash.

4 months agopermalink

Then you can get the 470 iii RT. The 600's are admittedly big, so that's the only real choice.

4 months agopermalink

aljen

Looks like the Olympus flashgun (the one supplied with every M1.2 and M5.2) on steroids. For me, this one looks like „kein Fisch und kein Fleisch“, as we say in Germany. To weak for what I expect from an external flash to do. Too big for an everyday carry item.

4 months agopermalink

FrancoD

Do you know of a smaller flash that has more power than this one ?

4 months agopermalink

Price it at $100, Canon, and you can bag 50% of the people purchasing Chinese flashes.
But anyway, this is the most interesting first-party speedlight released in ages. Godox and Yongnuo must be hurting Canon's sales like mad for them to be this generous (and I can't imagine how few units the other camera makers move...)

4 months ago*permalink

Optical triggering is....LAME.

4 months agopermalink

Well, I happen to use it casually quite often. It's fine. Radio triggers are necessary for more ambitious things, but for product shots or portraits inside the house, optical is good enough.

4 months agopermalink

Ebrahim Saadawi

That should be added to all Canon camera "kits".

4 months agopermalink

SmilerGrogan

A $200 speedlight that controls three groups!!?!?!?!!! Darn them!!!! I would have to spend double that or more to get a Nikon speedlight with the same capabilities.
Can’t wait for the review.

4 months agopermalink

kelstertx

Can't the Godox TT600 do that for about $67?

4 months agopermalink

Critical Thinker

Godox is Nikon?

4 months agopermalink

kelstertx

They make flashes that work on Nikon. I wasn't sure if you meant ONLY Nikon brand, or something compatible with Nikon. ie, a "Sony lens" could be a Tamron lens for FE mount, not necessarily a Sony brand lens...

4 months agopermalink

gaul

Does this new flash in any way benefits from the additional controls of the new mirrorless full-frame from Canon (EOS R)?

For somebody buying the EOS R, is there an advantage in choosing this new flash? I.e. compared to the existing Canon Speedlite series...

Cheers

4 months agopermalink

Holscen

Aren’t all flashguns external?

4 months agopermalink

BrightTiger

Until you swallow them.
Clearly, ingesting one of these will harm both you and the unit, hence the explicit "external" modifier.
DPReview is very careful to provide descriptions to ensure continued subscribership.

4 months agopermalink

fredmason

That would be shocking.

4 months agopermalink

Holscen

A little light lunch!

4 months agopermalink

FrancoD

Aren’t all flashguns external?
not the built in (internal) type....

4 months agopermalink

gaul

Which existing model in the existing Canon Speedlite series does it compare to?

4 months agopermalink

Prairie Pal

None. This one is peerless.

4 months agopermalink

TheDigitalDonbavand

It is like the 270EX II but with addition of rotating as well as tilting head and optical transmission, looks like nice little flash and quite good value to me

4 months agopermalink

Tapani Tarvainen

Yes: 270EX II has tilting but not rotating head and optical transmission but as slave only. The EL-100 adds rotating head and master mode.

4 months agopermalink

ozturert

Minimum 6 seconds recycling time?

4 months agopermalink

TMHKR

Because only two batteries

4 months agopermalink

Probably for full power - at lower power levels it'll recharge faster.

4 months agopermalink

ozturert

Kharan it says "minimum", that's why I am surprised.

4 months agopermalink

Sharlin

I guess it's "minimum time to full charge", that is, the time with optimal batteries.

4 months agopermalink