topic Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun! in Speedlite Flashes

Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:57:41 GMT

I've had my brand new EL-10 for about a week and every time it fires, it makes a clicking sound, I'm not sure if this is normal across all EL-10's or if mine is just faulty. I've owned many Canon flashguns in the past and none of them made a clicking sound when fired. I did phone Canon this morning to ask them and they said it is normal for this particular model, but I'd thought I'd ask here to see if somebody has got the same flashgun and is experiencing the same sound, thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:45:38 GMT

Show us a video of this clicking sound. Sometimes the flash will make a buzzing sound when the AF Assist Beam is firing. As the flash tube is strobed rapidly for AF Assist.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:12:56 GMT

Thanks for helping out, I have filmed a little video on my phone but I can't seem to upload it, this forum wants a URL and the video is only on my desktop, it isn't being hosted anywhere so I can't see how I can show it to you.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:17:10 GMT

Do you have Google Account? You can upload it to Google Drive. Then you can post the link in the forum. Make sure that you allow people in the forum to watch it. Also make sure the sharing permissions are set to people with the link.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:34:08 GMT

I've uploaded it to YouTube so hopefully people should be able to see it ok.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:36:04 GMT

Don't worry about the dragon in the background, he won't hurt you. This is the sound the flashgun makes when fired, either handheld as I'm doing it in the video or attached on my camera. I've been told it's perfectly normal and all EL-10's do it, but I just wanted a second opinion, I've owned lots of Canon flashguns and none of those made a clicking sound when fired.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:55:49 GMT

Does it make the same sound when the AF Assist Beam is firing. Or just when you hit the test button.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:11:27 GMT

Yes, makes the same sound if it's being fired on the camera.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:19:16 GMT

I haven’t heard a speedlite make that sound before. Usually people report the buzzing sound a speedlite will make when the AF Assist Beam is firing. Though I’ve never seen the EL-10 fire an AF Assist Beam before. I’ve seen the EL-5 and other Canon speedlites fire an AF Assist Beam before. Have you seen this Speedlite fire an AF Assist Beam before. I would think the sound would be more pronounced if it fired an AF Assist Beam.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:26:26 GMT

The flashgun itself can't fire an AF assist beam as it doesn't have that feature, it's for use with Mirrorless Cameras. I've been told it's normal but it seems odd to me.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:31:34 GMT

Yes it does have an AF Assist Beam. Set the camera to One Shot AF. With the AF Assist Beam enabled on the camera and on the flash. Then put the lens cap on and see what happens. Record a video of what happens and post it. What camera are you using the EL-10 on.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

p4pictures — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:31:18 GMT

My Speedlite 430EX III-RT also emits a similar clicking sound when it is fired. Given that the EL-10 is similar but an updated version of the 430EX III-RT then I don't think the clicking sound is a problem. My 430EX III-RT has certainly been used a lot without any troubles for many years.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:35:14 GMT

So does the 470EX-AI it’s based off of the 430EX III-RT. I had to test it out to see if would react the same way.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:49:59 GMT

It's still the same, makes the same sound. It's hard to record the flashgun firing on camera because you'd hear the camera shutter sound as well.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:51:15 GMT

Thanks for replying, it seems rare I'd be unlucky and get a bad copy. It seems it makes a clicking sound and that's that.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

adam461 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:51:51 GMT

Looks like it's normal then, thanks for trying out your 470EX-AI.

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:04:56 GMT

Also your flash does have an AF Assist Beam. The main flash tube emits a burst of strobes (Intermittent Flash Firing). All of Canon’s flashes do this old and new. Even old ones with an IR AF Assist Beam. Some even have a choice between IR and Intermittent Flash Firing such as the 470EX-AI. Even when set to IR the Flash uses Intermittent Flash Firing on the EOS R Series. Page 39 describes operation of the AF Assist Beam for your flash. In the video the flash being used is the old 550EX. Which you wouldn’t think has working AF Assist Beam on the EOS R series. But it does have a working AF Assist Beam. The camera being used is the EOS R5. Canon EOS R series AF Assist Beam

Re: Clicking sound with Canon EL-10 Flashgun!

deebatman316 — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 17:31:35 GMT

Just be aware of the AF Assist Beam in dark environments. The speedlite may fire the AF Assist Beam in poor lighting conditions. Leading your subjects to believe that the picture was taken. When in fact it wasn’t.