Canon
Canon Speedlite EL-5
$349
Best Camera Flashes · head-to-head
Canon Speedlite EL-5 vs Nikon SB-700
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Nikon SB-700 is cheaper at $299.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Nikon
Nikon SB-700
$299.95Cheaper
Which is better: the Canon Speedlite EL-5 or Nikon SB-700?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Nikon SB-700 is the cheaper at $299.95.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Canon Speedlite EL-5 | Nikon SB-700 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $349 | $299.95 |
| Brand | Canon | Nikon |
| Released | — | — |
| Guide number (m) | 60 | — |
| Zoom range (mm) | 24-200 | 24-120 |
| Recycle time sec | 1.2 | 2.5 |
| Full power flashes | 350 | 160 |
| Color temp kelvin | — | — |
| Wireless system | 2.4ghz-radio | optical |
| High speed sync | Yes | Yes |
| Ttl support | Yes | Yes |
| Battery type | li-ion | 4xaa |
| Head rotation (°) | 180 | 180 |
| Round head | No | No |
| Weight grams | 491 | 360 |
Sources — Canon Speedlite EL-5: cam.start.canon (verified 2026-07-11). Nikon SB-700: nikonusa.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Canon Speedlite EL-5 and Nikon SB-700?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.
- Zoom range (mm): Canon Speedlite EL-5 24-200 vs Nikon SB-700 24-120
- Recycle time sec: Canon Speedlite EL-5 1.2 vs Nikon SB-700 2.5
- Full power flashes: Canon Speedlite EL-5 350 vs Nikon SB-700 160
- Wireless system: Canon Speedlite EL-5 2.4ghz-radio vs Nikon SB-700 optical
- Battery type: Canon Speedlite EL-5 li-ion vs Nikon SB-700 4xaa
- Weight grams: Canon Speedlite EL-5 491 vs Nikon SB-700 360
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Canon Speedlite EL-5
No sourced tester review yet.
Nikon SB-700
Only one whitelisted tester (TechRadar's Matthew Richards) yielded readable hands-on text: he rates the SB-700 the best value in Nikon's own Speedlight line, praising its 24-120mm motorized zoom, full wireless commander/slave modes and 2.7-second full-power recycling on NiMH, while flagging infrared-only wireless, no programmable repeat mode and output that trails some cheaper independent rivals. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: High-end feature set: powerful 24-120mm motorized zoom plus full wireless commander/slave modes; Fast recycling at 2.7s full-power on NiMH, roughly twice as quick as the SB-500; Best value / most bang per buck of Nikon's own Speedlight range.
Flagged: Wireless is infrared-only; no radio-frequency option like the SB-5000; No programmable repeat / multi-flash mode; Maximum output trails some cheaper independent flashguns at similar prices.