Oly FL-36 Flash and E-520

I need feedback.I'm looking for information on anyone using the FL-36 + E-520. How does this combo work? Does it give positive results? all the time? sometimes? Most of the time? Would you recommend using the FL-36 with the E-520? any alternatives? Are these alternatives more costly or cheaper?

Thank you in advance and Merry Christmas to ya all!

FL-36 or 36R?

--
Visualize Whirled Peas.

FL-36......

It works very well.
A couple of shot with the E-520, FL36 and ZD50







--



Jeff.

I'd go for the 36R if you are able to... off-camera flash is so much better for most subjects....

Kind regards,
Alistair
--
http://www.al-pasha.com/./gallery2/main.php

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twonker/

carizi said:

I need feedback.I'm looking for information on anyone using the FL-36
+ E-520. How does this combo work? Does it give positive results?
all the time? sometimes? Most of the time? Would you recommend using
the FL-36 with the E-520? any alternatives? Are these alternatives
more costly or cheaper?

Click to expand...

It should work just great. The one thing that the FL-36R has that the FL-36 doesn't is the ability to use the flash in wireless mode. For most people, this is a nice to have but not a needed feature.

The usual complaint about the FL-36/FL-36R is that it takes 8 seconds to recycle. For most social situations (other than shooting back to back shots at a wedding), 8 seconds is probably fine. Compared to the FL-50, I find I prefer the FL-36 on my E-510 with kit lenses, because the flash is lighter and doesn't make the camera so top heavy (but I prefer the FL-50 when using heavier lenses or the heavier bodies).

Some time ago, I put together a list that covers all of the flashes that I had heard about which work with Olympus DSLR cameras in TTL mode (where the camera and flash work together to get the shot). If at all possible, the important features IMHO are the ability to tilt, swivel, use fp-ttl (or high speed sync) mode.
http://www.the-meissners.org/olympus-flash2.html

Somewhat related to this, what are people's opinions about the Metz 48 AF-1? From the specs, it seems to be preferable to the FL36 - the price for it is just about the same as the FL36/R, and it seems to be more powerful, faster cycling, etc. It apparently supports the Olympus wireless mode as well - has anyone tried this, compared with the FL36?

Unfortunately I can't seem to find it (or the FL36 for that matter) for anything less than about $250, which means that I will probably have to wait a few months to save enough for it...

Cheers
--
--Wyatt
http://photos.thecave.homeunix.org

Great flash unit. Prior to Olympus I owned Canon gear and I can remember one of my frustrations were the inconsistency of the Canon flash units....

With the Oly its a totally different world....consistent well exposed and easy to use.

Best

Siegfried

--
Community of Photographers
http://www.photographyisfun.ch

Michael,

Do you know if Metz 54 MZ-4i with Sca-3202 would be able to use the focus assist light (the red beam) in the flash with the newer E-systems E-3/E-x20/E-x10?

There was one with Olympus adapter on e-Bay recently but I refrained from bidding once I know that FP would not work. After I saw your list and find out that the fill flash does not work either, I am glad I did not bid on it.

The Big One said:

Somewhat related to this, what are people's opinions about the Metz
48 AF-1? From the specs, it seems to be preferable to the FL36 - the
price for it is just about the same as the FL36/R, and it seems to be
more powerful, faster cycling, etc. It apparently supports the
Olympus wireless mode as well - has anyone tried this, compared with
the FL36?

Click to expand...

Metz 48 is great flash. More power, faster recharge, great price etc. It's lack only one thing - portability. For me 100g lighter (without batteries) and smaler FL36R is worth paying almost the same as Metz.

--
clorox

I use the FL-36 with a e-400.

It works fine, the communication with the camera makes for a great combo. All kinds of flash modes are available, if there's anything that can be done with a flash the FL-36 can do except for wireless. Also nice is the af assist, which you can use even when you set the camera not to fire the flash. The FL-36 is also rather light and compact, no reason to not have it with you.

If you use the FL-36 at full power, the recycle times can be a few seconds and that might be annoying when time is an issue (almost always with portraits of any kind, people wonder why you wait). Full flash power in real life only happens when bouncing in situations where bouncing is only just possible or if you use an omnibounce. Strong power rechargeables also make a difference.

Most of the times the FL-36/olympus camera combo is so well balanced that you can flash straight forward and still not have flashed-out flat pictures. Adjusting flash power is just a turn of the knob on the back away.

That's my experience... I'm happy with it but if I were a pro I'd go for two FL-50rs.

FFS said:

Michael,

Do you know if Metz 54 MZ-4i with Sca-3202 would be able to use the
focus assist light (the red beam) in the flash with the newer
E-systems E-3/E-x20/E-x10?

Click to expand...

I recall there were a lot of unhappy Metz54/SCA-3202 users, and that Metz went through at least 5 generations of the 3202, so if you are buying on ebay you might get an older adapter. I don't remember if the focus assist light worked on the Metz.

FFS said:

There was one with Olympus adapter on e-Bay recently but I refrained
from bidding once I know that FP would not work. After I saw your
list and find out that the fill flash does not work either, I am glad
I did not bid on it.

Click to expand...

.....consider the Oly FL-50R.....it is almost twice the price of the FL-36R where I live.....but after using the FL-36R for a little over a year now its amazing what you can miss with the recycle time. Dont' get me wrong, the FL-36R is light and performs "top shelf".....but here is a pretty typical example of how recycle time can get you, even when not doing "fast action"

I shoot mostly family stuff so I really didn't think recycle time would be an issue .....At my son in laws college graduation, I was able to shoot him shaking the Deans hand, but my flash did not recover in time for me to catch him getting his diploma....instead I got a nice shot of the back on his head as he left the stage.

So...my main aquisition for 2009 will be an FL-50R.

--
John K
(Oly E510, E520 & rest of gear in profile if interested)