Canon Speedlite EL-5 Ver. 2 Flash is available to preorder for $379, with 164-foot wireless range and recycling as quick as 0.1 second.
A rechargeable hot-shoe flash for portraits and events
The Canon Speedlite EL-5 Ver. 2 Flash is a hot-shoe flash with Canon E-TTL and E-TTL II exposure control. For portrait and event photographers, it combines automatic flash exposure with a rechargeable battery system, plus wireless capability for multi-flash setups. Automatic exposure control reduces the need to adjust flash output manually as shooting conditions change.
Canon identifies the rechargeable lithium-ion battery and modeling lamp as features borrowed from its flagship flash. The high-speed charging circuits also come from that model. The clear change from the original version is the longer wireless range.
Wireless range increases from 98 to 164 feet
Canon lists wireless range of up to 164 feet for Ver. 2, compared with 98 feet for the original model, a 67% increase. That gives the newer flash a longer rated operating distance for a wireless setup. It does not mean the flash will illuminate a subject 164 feet away; wireless communication range and lighting output describe different things.
The added range matters when the camera needs to stay farther from an off-camera light, such as for a wider portrait composition. The light can remain near the subject while the camera moves back. The flash also has 15 channels. Channels concern wireless communication, rather than the amount of light produced or the spread of the flash beam.
Recycling, battery endurance and continuous firing
Canon rates recycling at 0.1 to 1.2 seconds, with a full-power recycle time of 1.2 seconds. Recycling is the interval needed to replenish the flash after firing, not the time needed to charge its battery. At full output, that interval matters when expressions or movement change between frames.
The rechargeable Canon LP-EL lithium-ion battery is rated for up to 350 full-power flashes on one charge. That is a battery-endurance figure, not a promise of unrestricted back-to-back firing. It is useful for planning a session, but it should not be read as a continuous-burst specification.
Canon separately lists approximately 95 or more continuous flashes at full output, even though the EL-5 Ver. 2 has no fan. Keep that separate from the 350-flash battery figure: one describes continuous firing, while the other describes the potential total from a charge.
24–200mm coverage and flash exposure modes
Coverage runs from 24 to 200mm in full-frame terms, extending to 14mm with the wide-angle adapter. Coverage describes the spread of the flash beam. A wider setting spreads light across a wider view; the 200mm setting concentrates it into a narrower area.
Canon quotes a guide number of 60 meters at 200mm and approximately ISO 100, using full 1/1 manual output. The 200mm condition matters: that number applies at the narrow end of the stated coverage range. It is not a promise of a 60-meter subject distance at every aperture.
Canon E-TTL and E-TTL II provide automatic flash exposure control. High-speed sync and stroboscopic modes are also listed. High-speed sync allows flash use above a camera’s normal flash-sync shutter speed, useful when balancing flash with bright ambient light. Stroboscopic mode fires a sequence of flashes during an exposure, allowing repeated positions of a moving subject to appear in one frame.
Modeling lamp and EOS R-series controls
The modeling lamp helps preview the effect of the flash’s light, including where shadows will fall on a subject. For a portrait, that can help judge a change in light position before taking the next frame. It is a placement aid, not a substitute for checking the actual flash exposure.
The joystick and high-definition LCD are also shared with Canon’s flagship flash. With an EOS R-series camera, Canon lists the ability to assign flash functions to the control ring, use quick flash group control and set up multi-flash shooting. Assigning an adjustment to a camera control can reduce the need to reach for the flash while working.
Size, charger requirements and $379 preorder
The EL-5 Ver. 2 measures 5.5 x 4.9 x 3.2 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds with the battery. That weight matters in an on-camera setup, since it sits on top of the camera rather than in the bag. The dimensions are useful when checking space in a flash compartment.
The flash is compatible with Canon’s LC-E6 Battery Charger, which is not included. Account for the charging setup along with the flash rather than assuming a charger comes in the package.
The Canon Speedlite EL-5 Ver. 2 Flash is available to preorder from Unique Photo for $379.
Prices at Unique Photo
- Canon Speedlite EL-5 Ver. 2 Flash: $379.00 (preorder)
Prices as of October 27, 2026. Browse more: On Camera Flashes, Canon at Unique Photo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Canon Speedlite EL-5 Ver. 2 Flash cost?
It costs $379 and is available to preorder.
What changed in the EL-5 Ver. 2 wireless range?
Wireless range increases from 98 feet for the original model to up to 164 feet. Canon lists that as a 67% increase.
How fast does the EL-5 Ver. 2 recycle?
Canon rates recycling at 0.1 to 1.2 seconds. Full-power recycling takes 1.2 seconds.
Does the EL-5 Ver. 2 include a battery charger?
The compatible LC-E6 Battery Charger is not included. The flash uses a Canon LP-EL lithium-ion battery pack.