Reading mode: Light Dark

Inexpensive TTL bounce flash for the LX3: DL-20

Go to last post
Do all three grades of the Panasonic flash units work well in TTL mode with the LX3?

In any event, I think finding a lightweight flash bracket will be needed to help balance the weight of a high guide number TTL flash on an LX3. I used a Canon TTL on my old G-7. It normally resides on a 30D. It was an adventure in balancing on the G-7.

Heading out to catch a film -- Thanks again, for any response

--
Mike C.,
Denver, Colorado
 
--

Just got the flash from ebay. Say's it's Olympus and Panasonic ttl compatible on the packaging but it simply doesn't work. It goes off maybe once every 20 shots even though the ttl icon is displayed on the screen. It really sucks. I guess you really get what you pay for.
 
SayJaiBow said:
Just got the flash from ebay. Say's it's Olympus and Panasonic ttl
compatible on the packaging but it simply doesn't work. It goes off
maybe once every 20 shots even though the ttl icon is displayed on
the screen. It really sucks. I guess you really get what you pay
for.
Click to expand...
If it goes off once every 20 shots or so, then it does work... some times. Are the pics well exposed when it does actually work?

What needs to be investigated is why it only works some time. The reason could be due to some of the reasons below:

1) Faulty flash unit.

2) Loose mount contact.

3) Auto Flash mode is not forcing the flash to fire because camera thinks exposure is good enough without flash. Try using Forced Flash mode (press right function key to activate it) OR try shooting in extremely dark/low light conditions in appropriate Scene Modes or P,S,A,M Modes.

Let me know if this helps you to find out the reason why flash unit behaves the way it currently does. I'd also appreciate a few pics to see the benefit of the flash when it does fire.

--
Click

 
Basically it either fires so low power that you barely can even see it flash.. or so bright at full power that it whites out the entire room. The ttl doesn't work at all. I tried forced flash.. tried in totally dark room.. af assist on or off.. a bunch of different ISO settings.. and different situations..pretty much anything setting related I can find to change I changed to see if I get anything different. Even if I hit the flash test button on the unit itself it sometimes barely discharges, or doesn't discharge at all or discharges at full blast. Occasionally the room is properly exposed but like I said it's rare that it does. Sometimes when it does decide to go off it's not timed right and goes off too early or too late. I'd say pretty much a crappy unit.

Later I found this on the olympus forums

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&message=30519949&q=targus+flash+ttl&qf=m

If I saw that earlier I wouldn't have bothered with this brand of flash...
MrClick said:
SayJaiBow said:
Just got the flash from ebay. Say's it's Olympus and Panasonic ttl
compatible on the packaging but it simply doesn't work. It goes off
maybe once every 20 shots even though the ttl icon is displayed on
the screen. It really sucks. I guess you really get what you pay
for.
Click to expand...
If it goes off once every 20 shots or so, then it does work... some
times. Are the pics well exposed when it does actually work?

What needs to be investigated is why it only works some time. The
reason could be due to some of the reasons below:

1) Faulty flash unit.

2) Loose mount contact.

3) Auto Flash mode is not forcing the flash to fire because camera
thinks exposure is good enough without flash. Try using Forced Flash
mode (press right function key to activate it) OR try shooting in
extremely dark/low light conditions in appropriate Scene Modes or
P,S,A,M Modes.

Let me know if this helps you to find out the reason why flash unit
behaves the way it currently does. I'd also appreciate a few pics to
see the benefit of the flash when it does fire.

--
Click

Click to expand...
 
I received the Targus TG-DL20C flash from Adorama yesterday. The TTL does not work as has been told by others. I have tried every setting I can think of and it totally overexposes. if you tilt the head it is somewhat better, but very inconsistent. It also does not fire when the ready light is on and indicates that it is ready I was very frustrated trying to get the settings to properly expose, but I have decided to send it back and wait for the new Panasonic coming out soon. Don't waste you time with this flash.
 
Well you make it two folks who have now sounded off their disappointment vs the guy on Clubsnap who liked his DL-20. I'm sorry this isn't working out. My intent in starting this thread was simply to flag folks here about a thread elsewhere which indicated that an inexpensive third party TTL flash for the LX3 was out there. Such is the internet :(

My Metz 20 C-2 compact bounce flash is scheduled for UPS delivery today. (Again I'd ordered this before I discovered the DL-20 Clubsnap thread and started this thread.) Manual only but others have uniformly posted that what it does it does well vis-a-vis the LX3. I would have preferred TTL but given both the meager cost for this flash and my minimal needs I should be just fine.

--Bob

 
One thing I can think of that could be causing the problem is maybe the firmware version? I recall one of the fixes for the version 1.1 was allowing the use of the Panasonic add on flash or changed behavior on the factory Panasonic add on flash. Panasonic compatibility with this Targus flash might have been based on the original firmware instead of the modified ones? Maybe that's why it worked for the other guy on the other forum. Too bad the firmware isn't downgradable so that I can test this. I'm on the latest v1.2.
 
As noted by Bob A above, thanks for playing the guinea pig on this one. I was about to pull the tirgger and order one of the flashes, but decided to wait until some feedback was provided. Thanks for putting in the resources to do this. (I'm still hopeful that the problem will be resolved and that the flash will end up being a good deal.)

Thanks again.
--
The older I get, the better I was....
 
Hello,

I've received my Targus DL20 and also mine cannot be used in TTL mode. So, what is the best way to use this flash? It is my first external flash, and it's is my first week with the LX3. Any suggestion will be really appreciated!

Thank you
Mattia
 
dtp said:
I received the Targus TG-DL20C flash from Adorama yesterday. The TTL
does not work as has been told by others. I have tried every setting
I can think of and it totally overexposes. if you tilt the head it is
somewhat better, but very inconsistent. It also does not fire when
the ready light is on and indicates that it is ready I was very
frustrated trying to get the settings to properly expose, but I have
decided to send it back and wait for the new Panasonic coming out
soon. Don't waste you time with this flash.
Click to expand...
Are you sure that you bought the Panasonic version? There seems to be different versions of this flash made to fit Canon, Panasonic and so on.

Doesn't the 'C' in DL20C stand for Canon?
 
How do you set the flash on the LX-3? Do you set it on manual or 2.8? Also what is your preferred camera setting? Do you bounce the flash or use it straight? Thank you for your help.
 
This is also exactly my experience when using my gh1 with the targus dl-20p (confirmed to be the one for olympus/panasonic) that I got from adorama.

Maybe they have really bad qc issues, which would explain why some people get decent working flash, while others are just griping about it.
SayJaiBow said:
Basically it either fires so low power that you barely can even see it flash.. or so bright at full power that it whites out the entire room. The ttl doesn't work at all. I tried forced flash.. tried in totally dark room.. af assist on or off.. a bunch of different ISO settings.. and different situations..pretty much anything setting related I can find to change I changed to see if I get anything different. Even if I hit the flash test button on the unit itself it sometimes barely discharges, or doesn't discharge at all or discharges at full blast. Occasionally the room is properly exposed but like I said it's rare that it does. Sometimes when it does decide to go off it's not timed right and goes off too early or too late. I'd say pretty much a crappy unit.

Later I found this on the olympus forums

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1022&message=30519949&q=targus+flash+ttl&qf=m

If I saw that earlier I wouldn't have bothered with this brand of flash...
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top