On 6 June 2024, Canon announced the Speedlite EL-10, its second Speedlite to cater to the multi-function shoe. Small and portable, the feature-rich new clip-on flash offers an accessible entry point to users starting their flash photography journey.
An easy-to-use, feature-packed flash for users of all levels
With their excellent high ISO speed performance, EOS R series cameras produce high-quality images even in dim scenes. However, what if we told you your images could get even better?
Light is crucial for photographic expression. Having sufficient light changes the results. That’s where a Speedlite like the Speedlite EL-10 comes in. More powerful and versatile than a built-in flash, it is filled with features that increase creative possibilities. Through its fast and stable communication with the camera via the multi-function shoe on Canon’s latest cameras like the EOS R6 Mark II, EOS R8, and EOS R50, users can also look forward to efficient, reliable flash control throughout their shoots.
Speedlite EL-10: Key features at a glance
- Maximum guide number*1: 40
- Flash coverage: 24-105mm (14mm with wide panel)
- Multi-function shoe support
- Wireless control: Radio (sender/receiver)
- Supported features include: bounce flash, high-speed sync, smartphone app control
- Flash power: 1/1024 to 1/1
- Recycling time*2: approx. 0.1 to 2.2 sec (quick flash); approx. 0.1 to 2.5 sec (normal flash)
- Continuous flashes at full output: approx. 55 times or more*2
- Maximum flash count: approx. 210-1400 times*3
- Batteries: AA/ LR6 batteries x 4
*1At ISO 100 and flash coverage 105 mm
*2 At flash coverage 50 to 105mm. Number of consecutive full flashes up to level 1 flash intensity, when using a new AA/LR6 alkaline batteries. Based on Canon’s testing standards. using manual flash.
*3 Using new AA/LR6 alkaline batteries (Canon testing standards).
Powerful output, excellent continuous flash firing
More powerful than your built-in flash
With its high flash power of up to guide number 40, the Speedlite EL-10 will ensure sufficient light on your subjects, achieving bright and beautiful pictures even for full-body portraits and group pictures shot from some distance. You can also adjust the flash coverage from 24 to 105mm automatically or manually to suit your lens focal length. With the wide panel, coverage extends to a wider field of view of 14mm*1.
Built-in flash
(Guide number: approx. 6*2)
EOS R10 / FL:100mm /
Built-in flash (manual flash)
Speedlite EL-10
(Guide number: approx. 40)
EOS R10 / FL:100mm /
Speedlite EL-10 (manual flash)
*1 Not compatible with the shooting angle of view of the EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye and EF8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
*2 With the EOS R10
Keeps up the rhythm in fast-paced shoots
While the Speedlite EL-10 uses versatile AA batteries that can be easily obtained, it is capable of more continuous flashes at full power than the Speedlite 430EX III-RT due to improvements to its heat dissipation system and the optimisation of continuous firing times.
At flash coverage 50mm, the default zoom position for bounce shooting, approximately 55 flashes can be fired at full power— more than twice the number of flashes on the Speedlite 430EX III-RT. This number increases further when firing at half power. It will be sure to keep up with the tempo of fast-paced shoots.
Continuous full flashes in under 2.5 seconds
Supports bounce flash: Softer, more natural lighting
The Speedlite EL-10’s rotatable flash head lets you fire from different lighting angles—including up at the ceiling, wall, or any other suitable surface for bounce flash photography. The bounced light is softer and more diffused than a direct flash, achieving lighting that looks more even and natural. With E-TTL II and E-TTL autoflash, beginners don’t have to worry about complex calculations. Since the Speedlite EL-10 is native to Canon’s camera system, it works seamlessly with the camera and lens to automatically achieve the best output for the scene.
Built-in flash
While the resulting shot is bright with accurate colours, the light quality is hard with harsh shadows.
Speedlite EL-10 (bounce flash)
The resulting shot is bright with vibrant colours. The light from the flash is more diffused, resulting in softer light and more natural results.
3 directions of bounce possibilities
The Speedlite EL-10’s flash head rotates 90° up, 150° left, and 180° right, providing more flexibility for achieving the bounce angle and direction you need.
Give voice to your imagination: A wide variety of flash modes
The Speedlite EL-10 is equipped with a variety of output modes to cater to different scenes and desired expressions.
High-speed sync: Creating bokeh in backlight
When shooting with a flash, to ensure that light reaches the whole image sensor, you normally cannot set a shutter speed faster than the flash sync speed (usually around 1/200 to 1/250 seconds depending on the camera).
High-speed sync is a mode that lets you use a shutter speed faster than the flash sync speed (read more about it in: [2-Light Technique] Achieving Edgy Outdoor Images in Broad Daylight). This is especially useful when you want to open up the aperture and create background blur when shooting backlit scenes in broad daylight: a fill flash would be necessary to brighten the subject’s face, whereas a fast shutter speed would balance out the wide aperture and prevent overexposure.
When exposure is set for the face, contrast and colour adjustments are difficult to achieve without clipping highlights in the background.
As the shutter speed is limited by the flash sync speed, it’s not possible to use an aperture wide enough to blur out the background.
High-speed sync achieves both brightness in the face and background blur. It’s now possible to take full advantage of large aperture lenses!
Second-curtain sync
By default, the flash is fired right after the shutter opens (first-curtain sync). However, we can get the flash to fire right before the shutter closes by using the second-curtain sync mode. This changes the direction of motion blurring in slow shutter photography.
1/1024 micro flash
The Speedlite EL-10 is capable of output as low as 1/1024 of the full power, making fine control possible in situations where lighting needs to be as subtle as possible. One example is when the flash is being used for fill lighting in a low-light, high-ISO scene.
On the Speedlite EL-10, 1/1024 of the full power translates to a flash duration of approximately 1/21190 seconds. That’s equivalent to an extremely fast shutter speed of approximately 1/21190 seconds in complete lights-out situations where the flash is the only source of light.
Find out more about flash duration and how it can be used to freeze motion in:
Beyond Shutter Speed: Using Flash Duration to Freeze Motion
Custom flash modes
Three custom flash modes (C1, C2, and C3) are available. These modes allow users to register frequently used flash settings such as radio transmission wireless settings, flash mode, flash functions, and other custom functions for easy accessibility. They can also be linked with the custom shooting modes (C1, C2, and C3) on the camera.
For example, if you link custom flash mode C3 with custom camera mode C1, selecting C1 on the camera will automatically switch your flash settings to what you have registered for custom flash mode C3.
Expand off-camera flash possibilities through wireless radio transmission
The Speedlite EL-10 supports wireless off-camera firing through radio transmission, and can act as both sender and receiver. Radio transmission is less affected by obstructions and does not require a “line of sight” between the sender and receiver, allowing more flexibility in the placement of lighting equipment. If there are no obstacles or interferences between the sender and receiver, transmission is possible within a 30m radius*.
When acting as sender, the Speedlite EL-10 can control up to 15 receiver units, with individual group control possible up to 5 groups. These advanced off-camera flash control capabilities are similar to those on higher-end Speedlites such as the Speedlite EL-1 and EL-5.
*Weather and environmental conditions, obstacles, and other factors might reduce the transmission radius.
Radio transmission capability with existing devices
*Linked shooting only
The Speedlite EL-10 can receive signals from other Canon flashes and flash triggers with radio transmission sender capabilties.
Efficient control from the Camera Connect app
You can use your smartphone to configure wireless flash settings, fire the flash, check shoot outcomes, and adjust flash angles and output levels via the free-to-use Camera Connect app. It’s perfect for:
- Self-portraits
- Multi-light setups
- Shoots where you’ve rigged your Speedlites in hard-to-reach places
- Solo operator shoots
- Shoots with a skeleton crew
Other key features
Intuitive operations with menu direct and selection dial
A: Menu direct (can be operated with the flash or the camera)
B: Exposure compensation/ Flash exposure compensation
C: Flash mode
D: Wireless/linked shooting settings
E: Select dial
The Speedlite EL-10 supports the menu direct feature, where the Speedlite settings can be adjusted from the camera. The selection dial and cross keys allow intuitive access to features and easy setting adjustments.
Designed for the multi-function shoe
Designed to work with the multi-function shoe, which is capable of stable, high-speed communications, the Speedlite EL-10 promises advanced, reliable control.
Cameras with the multi-function shoe
EOS R3 / EOS R6 Mark II / EOS R8
EOS R7 / EOS R10 / EOS R50
(as of June 2024)
