One of the saddest but acceptable parts of any photographic equipment is the ceasing of its production. Sometimes, it is due to the lack of buyers; other times, the company simply discontinues it to work on a better product. Then there is a third instance, where you do not really know the reason. When the report of Canon Japan discounting its two Speedlites hit the industry, there was little reasoning behind it. So, we reached out to Canon U.S.A., Inc. to understand the issue, and their response will surprise you, as it did to us.
It All Started With Canon Japan
According to Canon Rumors, Canon Japan has discontinued the Speedlite EL-1 and EL-100 without making many declarations. The equipment is unavailable on the websites of the largest camera-selling stories, such as MAP Camera, Kitamura Camera, Bic Camera, and Yodobashi Camera. However, they were not alone; Canon Japan’s official website shows the product as discontinued.
We reached out to Canon U.S.A., Inc. to confirm the news. In our email correspondence, the company stated: “Shipments of the Canon Speedlite EL-100 will continue until supply is depleted. Canon is experiencing supply chain issues with the Speedlite EL-1.” Just to clarify what the former statement meant, we emailed them back again, only to receive the quote.
It seems that the USA reps do not wish to officially use the word “discontinued” in their correspondence. While the reason for the move remains unclear, it is surprising that the EL-100 may never be available again. Moreover, on Canon U.S.A. Inc.’s website, the EL-100 is a placeholder, which means you can’t place an order yet. So, I wonder how the supply will continue if the device can’t be purchased. Perhaps there is a chance it will be replaced by a newer model in the future, but when that will be, we don’t know.
As for EL-1, the company clearly states that it is a supply chain issue, which means that if you plan to buy the device, it may be restocked again. Canon U.S.A Inc.’s website also lets users know when the stock is back. How soon that will be remains unclear.
The Rise of Third-Party Speedlite
The Canon EL-1 was launched in 2020 at a price of $1000, then as a higher-end weather-resistant flash. Considering that the EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera kit was priced lower, it proves how expensive the flash was. Perhaps that’s why Canon Japan discontinued it. In our review, we mentioned that while Speedlite is versatile, it is quite expensive and huge. “At that price, there are a few good strobes to choose from if you don’t need the light both on camera and off,” our Review Editor, Hillary Gregonis, wrote.
Then there is the EL-100, which was released two years before EL-1 and is the most accessible solution for smaller cameras such as the EOS M50. Since we haven’t tested it, we can’t comment on its performance.
However, while Canon’s speedlight offered weather sealing, third-party speedlites have gained better momentum, just like their lenses. Companies like Godox, Wescott, and Yongnuo offer great performance at much cheaper rates. Sure, they may have some cons, but overall, they make up for the price they are sold. Furthermore, if anyone needs an extra pair of Speedlite, they will likely choose the third-party offerings rather than the official ones from Canon, Nikon, or Sony.