In an electronic flash device of the type in which depending upon the exposure conditions an electronic flash lamp converts into light the energy stored on a main flash capacitor or the energies stored not only on the main flash capacitor but also on an auxiliary flash capacitor, a switching element which is turned on or off so as to permit or interrupt the discharge of the auxiliary flash capacitor is controlled by a simplified control circuit comprising a switching element control circuit which delivers a low voltage supplied from a low-voltage power source to the switching element as a turn-on signal and a detection circuit which controls the switching element control circuit in response to the exposure conditions such as a distance to a subject or a selected aperture. Therefore, an inversion circuit which is used in the prior art electronic flash devices can be eliminated.