Maybe the 580 EXii wouldv'e been better, it was Canon's flagship model 16 years ago, it can swivel the same, it's much lighter, you can use high capacity eneloop pro batteries, you can buy a plastic case to hold them so they don't "roll" around in your car, 4 batteries in the camera and another 4 spare will easily see one photographer through a 8 hour shoot, the 580 EXii is about half the weight of the EL-1, this is important for all day shooting, the 580 EXii has a powerfull flash, more than enough for most people and besides all that, you can buy them used for much much cheaper than the EL-1, the 580 EXii eceb has a modelling light, just something for people to think about before shelling out tons of money on something they might only use as a hobby.
I had a 580 EXII and it got a pint spilt on it at an event which fried it. I got sent a 600 EXII by the insurance company as a replacement which stood up to weather a lot better. But when I needed a studio flash I swapped over to the Godox 860III and AD400 pro. Both really well built however I have not yet been in the position where the 860 has been subject to the same abuse as the 600. Having said that as a value proposition so far its been fantastic.
Thanks for the great review. I have 4 Canon 600 EX II-RT flashes and had purchased 4 Godox V1's as well as 2 AD300 Pro's. My intention was to replace the Canon units with the Godox. I like the round head, magnetic adapters and the fact that they can trigger the AD300's which I use outside when I need to light that wedding party in the mid day sun. I still have not sold the Canon units as the Godox still have not pushed me over the edge. While they have the lithium batteries that last all day and I find the menu system is easier for controlling off camera flash and the AD300's have great power, I have found issues. The Godox are not weather sealed like the Canon's are. The Canon's are built like tanks and a little smaller, but heavier. I never have a trigger issue with my off camera flashes, but have had some issues with the Godox units going to sleep and not waking up, or a Profoto unit of another photographer being triggered by my V1's. One last thing though, is the canon units are nice and solid in the hotshoe. The V1's tend to be a little loose and move around some and that too has caused the occasional misfire. I was already to sell the Canons and keep the Godox, then with the issues was thinking of keeping the canons and selling the Godox. Now the EL-1 adds a new wrinkle to the equation. Do you find it powerful enough for using it outside for wedding party photos when competing with the sun? Thanks
Hi Steve. Great feedback and info. I've never used Godox but a lot of my collegues do. I love the EL-1 and the ability to have a "natural light" option anywhere. Depending on my distance from subject to flash, it's amazing. Worst case, I've ad an OCF if I need the distance and my on camera doesnt reach. Hope that helps!
I have the same issue on my Godox setup. The trick I found was that the sender on the camera will not communicate with the camera if the camera sleeps. Process is to mount the trigger, turn the trigger on then the camera. Prevent the camera from sleeping that will break the connection. It's SUPER annoying but once you cotton on to that's what's causing the issues then it's more manageable.
Thank you for your review, it would be helpful to record a film on how to work the flash, no one has done a tutorial on best practises with the view of not liking flashes in the first place - I never liked them as well.
Hi Matt! I do have a quick video showing easy set up for it.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-J4Nn0D081Ns.html maybe not what you’re looking for but thought to share!
Why is it obvious not to use them outside? Really curious. They are weather sealed, and I don't see a reason not to use them outside at all. I use mine outside, but not all the time, as mine are not weather sealed, and 1/10 of the price of these.
Thanks for sharing your EL-1 review! I'm a wedding photographer as well, and currently use several 600EX-RTs. Two questions, if you don't mind: 1) Even when using fresh batteries, manually selecting the strongest channel, and setting the flashes to not go to sleep, the connection from the on-camera to off-camera flashes periodically drops. Have you seen the EL-1 radio connection be better than the 600EX-RTs? 2) Have you seen any improvement in flash exposure accuracy over the 600EX-RTs? Thanks so much... there aren't enough EL-1 in-depth reviews from pro wedding photographers now, and I really appreciate your insights!
Hi Michael! We love them so much we are selling all of our EX-RT IIs... we just shot a 4 hour reception and they never went to sleep. Even when we went to eat dinner. There's only been 1 time this entire time of having them that the connection dropped and we think it was interference since we were in an industrial basement wedding venue. Outside of that, the connection is incredible and the flash exposure accuracy is soo much better. And I'm a photographer that hated flash previously... it intimidated me, frustrated me. Now I can't wait to use it, play with it, test new methods with it. The sheer fact of not having to deal with batteries mid-reception is game changing. I hope that helps!
@@LivingRadiantPhotography Thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback with me. It sounds like the EL-1 is a great product. Wishing you the best, Mike.
Thanks for this review. I have never been a flash photographer. But I'm going to jump in now. I am ready to pay the heavy price for the EL-1, however I am not ready to buy 2 or 3 units. Can you achieve great results with only 1 flash? Or would it be more beneficial to go a cheaper route and get 3 flash right off the start?
Awesome! So the best part is you can buy one and I will still communicate with other flashes. You’ll have to just see which ones it will work with. We use EX-RT II 600S and had no problems. We are actually selling of few of the 600 ex rt ones if you’re interested!!
@@LivingRadiantPhotography Did you find that the EL-1's did not work well with the 600 EX-RT version 1's?? I cannot get my two EL-1's to talk correctly to my two 600 EX-RT ver 1's for the life of me. They drop links within minutes after days of testing and with CPS. Everyone is stumped. Did you by chance have this issue???
I currrently use an EX 430 III-RT flash and was looking at the EL-1 as an upgrade. My biggest gripe with the 430 is that its hard to focus with some lenses using my M50 Mark II. The EL-1 modelling lamp would solve the issue by giving more light so the camera could focus when I'm using my very flexible kit lens (18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM).
Hey there ! First off, thank you so much for making this video ! I'm a real estate photographer mostly, but I do do some portraits every now and then, and I, contrary to you ;), LOVE using flashes ! I actually prefer using flashes than ambient light since it allows me more control on lighting, mood, special effects, etc. I've been looking at these new flashes for awhile now, but no store here seems to carry them : it's only special order, so unless I buy one, I can't really check them out and the vendors had never seen them or handled them, so they couldn't answer my questions. So, would it be possible for you to answer mine ? :) First off : you specify they connect with the 600 EX-RT, which is awesome ! I currently have a 580 EX II and a 600 EX-RT, and I always need to use Pocket-wizards with them, so this option is great ! However, do you know if it only works well with the 600 EX-RT II or would it work just as well with the first version ? (just in case there are firmware issues or whatever). Also, have you noticed a difference in power between this new one and the 600 EX-RT ? Or is it just the same power with more functionalities ? Now, if I were to get one, I'd use the EL-1 as main, and my 600 EX-RT as a fill flash - so does the EL-1 respond well as a slave if the 600 EX-RT is the master ? Do you use the E-TTL function most of the time, or do you actually measure the light with a lightmeter ? And if you use a lightmeter, do you use one that is compatible with radiotriggers ? The one I use is able to sync with my pocket-wizards so when I measure the light, it triggers my flashes ; hoping I can do the same here. I've heard that there was a photocell in the EL-1, which would allow it to fire if it detects another flash firing - is that true ? Finally, regarding batteries, you say it uses the same charger as the R5 ? I have a 5D Mark IV - would it be the same battery charger ? Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, and if there's anything else you feel I should know, please let me know ! :)
Uses lpe6 charger, new batt is longer, but will just hang off old charger. Should work the same. Works with 400 500 and 600s I believe. Any slave/master combo should work fine. Power is maybe a bit greater, but still in speedlight category.
So sorry for the delay, we've had a crazy summer! So yes, the power, it's connection, everything works soo much better. I have not had a single regret yet with the EL-1s. It does still fire regardless of another flash. I shoot with sometimes 1 on camera and 2 Off camera and my husband who shoots alongside me also has 3. All can go off without impacting the other. We have difference channels of course. Same charger, different batteries. The amount of money we've saved on batteries is unreal... being able to recharge is wonderful. BUT they ARE different than the camera battery, just same CHARGER. Thanks so much!
I just got back from the Canon service centre and they've informed me that the 600EX-RT's spare parts have been discontinued. I'm sitting on a couple of these and are unable to get them repaired and i'm forced to get into the EL-1. However i won't be able to connect to the 600EX-RT since i can't repair them. It's just too expensive to get a whole new set and i'm forced to move to a Godox system instead.
hey do you need a tranmitter and a receiver to use it wireless? if yes could you please share the compatible transmitter and receiver? i do not know how to use it wirelessly...
Anyone please reply if you know the following: 1. Does the ATG AF assist beam come on using R3 or mirrorless camera? 2. Does it [you will need two flashes (600 & EL-1) do wireless radio ETTL and wireless IR ETTL at the same time? 3. Does wireless radio work in ATG Auto2? 4. Does it do wireless remote camera shutter trigger like 600EX-RT series? 5. Still overheat & shut down when using ATG or Quantum Turbo battery? How many 1/1 pop?
@@LivingRadiantPhotography Can you see if the EL-1 can wireless radio & IR TTL. And if you have 2 EL-1 please check to see if it can do radio ATG Auto2 mode. Do you have or use extra battery pack like me and pros for #5?
Not being a flash photographer is like saying you’re a race car driver in a pinto. Just my opinion but those people that do the high key where the people are practically white and the skies are completely blown out looks like crap. Not using flash at its best you can call a style, at its worst it’s just laziness. Photography is the manipulation of light and while natural light can and does look amazing…limiting yourself to it and not using strobes or flashes is missing out on more than half of your craft. I personally think the EL-1 is the flash we've all been waiting for from Canon. It makes those who are scared of learning flash techniques have a much easier entry by having amazing ettl that coordinates with eye tracking in the R series cameras. I ordered one and while I have a lot of experience using flash for events, this one just flat out makes it easier. So stop being lazy, get this flash, it will change your world and help make you exposures and photos sooooo much better!
I totally agree with what you say about flash. I find that there are soooo many photographers that I know that are wedding photographers and they use the term "not a flash photographer" which simply means, they favor natural light. Well of course... I love natural light. I used to hate flash... why... because I didn't know how to use it, I was afraid of it, and I couldn't replicate the same lighting scenarios at home like they were at a wedding. But my husband who is my business partner really challenged me reminding me that flash photography is art, it's numbers, it's powerful. He too HATES blown our skies... so you'll see in our work, we mix that aesthetic... if it's beautiful sunset, you better believe we are using flash. What you said about the EL-1 being the flash we've waited for is 100% true... it's made me WANT to learn it. Between the time that I made this video and now... gosh, i love it even more. And yes, we have a handful of them for our team we love them that much!
@@LivingRadiantPhotography That's an awesome testimonial...flash just makes the subject pop in a great way, even when there is enough natural light to argue you don't need it.
canon too late to the party they eallly copy GODOX lol. however GODOX is kings I can literally buy me 4 v1s @ $200 each canon speed lights are dead too late to the party. GODOX is almost the industry standard now there really are amazing and mind blowing
Not true, GODOX have color temp issues and reliability is a concern, you get what you pay for. I had to trash all my GODOX and move to Canon and Westcott.
@@zamorafotography2079 I still have and use 3 860 VII speedlights and 2 AD2OO'S also have the original triger all bought in 2017. Thats reliable in my book. As fast as color problems never experienced it myself. All my lighting cost about $200 more then this one flash. With the exception of power control (which I find a gimmick 1/8000+ power how is that useful) Canon is just barely catching up.
I’ve always been a canon fan, I use all their products and have determined to master them. If there’s ever been an issue ive informed canon of it. I’ve been using canon for over 20 years. The beauty of photography is art and creating it with exceptional products regardless of the brand. GODOX may be awesome. I’ve just always used canon and I’m loyal to them and biased. I also gotten to where we are because of the quality of gear we use and master. I honestly don’t hear enough things about GODOX gear in my Wedding world but I’ll have to check it out!
@@LivingRadiantPhotography I'm surprised you've not heard much about Godox. There's no doubt Canon makes reliable products. I've been using their cameras for more than a decade and not had any problems. My problem with Canon and other brands is that there accessories are way over priced a speedlight light at 1K$ is just one example of many.
@@geru2000 Totally understand. I haven't heard about them in my network of wedding photogs or it's not talked about. I'm not doubting, I just am unaware of the products and their capabilities.
