Bounce Flash for E-500

Hi

I am the new owner of a E-500. I am looking to purchase a bounce flash and was curious if the Olympus models are the only one's that work with this camera (I was looking at the FL-30)

Also where is the best place to get additional lenses ( price wise)

Thanks

Flashes compatable (and worth paying extra $ for) with the E-500 are the FL-36(r) and FL-50(r). The FL-20 is too small and doesn't bounce, the FL-40 old technology and not compatable.

The dedicated flashes provide TTL metering (and FP-TTL mode, for fill flash at any shutter speed), zooming along with the lens, and (importantly) an AF assist light.

However, if all you want is bounce flash, a generic flash like a Sunpak 383 ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/52799-REG/Sunpak_0383_383_Super_Auto_Flash.html ) can be used in Auto mode (i.e., the flash itself meters), and is powerful and inexpensive.

philamom said:

Hi
I am the new owner of a E-500. I am looking to purchase a bounce
flash and was curious if the Olympus models are the only one's that
work with this camera (I was looking at the FL-30)

Also where is the best place to get additional lenses ( price wise)

Thanks

Click to expand...

You also don't need the wireless versions of the oly flashes. you can get the fl-36 or fl-50 without the r at the end and bounce it off of the ceiling, etc.

--
-Anthony

http://cadguru.smugmug.com

Sorry I meant to type the F-36

Olympus original flash FL-36 or FL-50 is the ones to consider. I use FL-36 myself, and I'm very happy with it. It can be tilted up to 90 degrees, and swiveled 180 degrees sideways (one way, 90 degrees the other way), so you can pass the light in every direction. I use it to make sideways lightening, which can turn out quite pleasing. Here's an example (E-500, FL-36, 14-54 at 35mm, f3.2)

go to 'holiday savings rebate'...

http://www.olympus.rebateaccess.com/
--
Theresa K
E-3, E-300, 14-54, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

I guess I didn't look that closely, since I didn't buy any of the qualifying items.
--
Theresa K
E-3, E-300, 14-54, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

Promaster manufactures some nice ones too more affordable then the Oly ones.

Here is the flash page:

http://promaster.com/products/products.asp?CatName=Electronic%20Flash&CatSM=C_ElectronicFlash&SubCatName=Digital%20TTL%20&Page=SubCat&CatID=150&SubCatID=3&sm=sm2_1503

This is the correct module for the E-500:

http://www.promaster.com/products/products.asp?page=PROD&CatID=150&SubCatID=9&CatName=Electronic%20Flash&SubCatName=Modules&sm=sm2_C_ElectronicFlash&product=7154

I got mine from
http://www.penncamera.com/

I have been using Promaster flashes for years, first with my maxxum SLR film cameras then with my Olys (5060 and E-5060) and I have always been satisfied.

--
Equipment in profile.

Unfortunately Olympus US rebate action just ended (end of January) - I got my FL-50 for decent price $275. I couldn't decide between cheaper FL-36 and more powerful FL-50 but better recycle times convinced me. I don't have it yet but it should arrive to me (Europe) on Friday. As you I'm also owner of E-500 so I can do some test for you if you want.

And about the "R" versions - I'm satisfied with my E-500 (and I can't afford E-3 as a student) so I couldn't appreciate FL-50 R wireless control. But I can still bouce it by cable or by internal flash using this gadget ( http://cgi.ebay.com/Optical-Slave-Flash-Trigger-with-Sync-Socket-NEW_W0QQitemZ170192834692QQihZ007QQcategoryZ30086QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ).

I want to take some decent portrait pictures so maybe later I'll order umbrella and radio triggers (from eBay for few bucks) and also second flash (some older, manual, with power regulation).
It depends what do you like to take picterus of
And yes sorry for my English - I'm doing my best

---
Billy912
Keep on rockin'
http://photoz.webz.cz - my personal photoreports

Thanks.

So what is the major difference between something like the FL-36 and the Sunpak 383 (beyond price).

Also the only lense I have is the 14 - 45 mm. Is their another lense I should get?
I will be mostly using the camera for pictures of my kids and family.
If so what brand/type and where could I get it for a decent price?

Thanks !!

Either the FL-36 or FL-50 are the natural choices because of for-sure compatibility. If you're going to bounce your flash in especially large rooms then the FL-50 probably would be a better choice for power reasons. But I think it might be a bit top-heavy on your E-500. I own a FL-36 which serves me well. It gets it done pretty good in your average middle-class home(such as that in my family). I purchased it off the Ebay Olympus auction site and cut a pretty good deal.

As to your question on lenses. Well, the OLY 14-54 is a bit faster, being an F/3.5 on the long end versus F/5.6 for the 14-45. That will help your flash capture images a bit better as well as isolate your subject with a more narrow depth-of-field. Also, the 14-54 might be a bit sharper. But that's not to say you need to replace your 14-45 at this time. Why don't you get the FL-36 and see how things go. I'll go check the OLY Ebay site for you and report back if I see any flashes available. Talk to you in a bit.

Larry

Well, I'm back after checking the Oly Ebay site. Unfortunately the only flash I saw at this time on their site was a new(scuffed packaging) FL50 which they were only offering at a Buy it Now price of $495. They weren't offering it up for bids. I don't know if that's a mistake but I think that's well overpriced. I checked the Adorama site and they had the FL-36 and the FL-50 priced much better.

Larry

philamom said:

Thanks.

So what is the major difference between something like the FL-36 and
the Sunpak 383 (beyond price).

Click to expand...

The FL-36 is fully automatic in that in general you just have to put the flash on the camera and shoot. Thie is called TTL mode (through the lens, where the camera and flash work together to determine the exposure). Another thing the TTL flashes do is provide a red light for the camera to focus by, instead of using the flash pulses with the pop-up flash.

ith the generic flashes like the Sunpak 383, you have to set the camera in manual mode, set the flash in 'auto' mode, set both to the same ISO, and set the aperture to agree with the setting on the flash, set the shutter speed to determine how much ambenient light you want to capture. It isn't that hard, and usually you can set a My Mode to remember the settings when using the the flash. It just takes a little bit of learning. I must admit, my keeper ratio did go up when I went from an auto flash to a TTL flash.

philamom said:

Also the only lense I have is the 14 - 45 mm. Is their another lense
I should get?
I will be mostly using the camera for pictures of my kids and family.
If so what brand/type and where could I get it for a decent price?

Click to expand...

For normal family portraits, this is fine. If you want to photograph things at a distance you could go for a zoom lens like the 40-150mm. Note with the E-500, you will have to watch your shutter speed with a zoom lens to avoid camera shake unless you are shooting in bright sunlight. Again, it isn't rocket science, but you do have to watch what the settings are in the camera. There are lenses at higher cost that give you things like more zoom, a wider angle, shoot closeup (macro), or the ability to shoot in lower light without a flash.