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FL-600R. Come on, Olympus ! GN50 ? Really ???

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goblin

goblin

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While being quite disapointed that the promised FL-600R flash seems to have no infrared AF illuminator, relying on the epileptic flash illumination instead, I was happy to read " GN50 " and " faster recharging times than the FL50R " put together.

Then again, the size of that head didn't ring anywhere near GN50 to me.

Reality check...Olympus website:

... Guide Number 50 at ISO 200; Guide Number 36 at ISO 100 ..."

Ok. So what we have is an FL-36R with no IR illuminator, but using four batteries, as the FL-36R should have always been, at 1.5 the price. FYI
 
Well, it makes sense in that 200 is the base (and lowest) iso for the new E-M5. Still, it's misleading if they quote GN 50 without the accompanying ISO value.
 
They do, but most independent press releases just go for the 50gn thing without further details.

It is just annoying that Ol dropped the naming convention which allowed to easilly know what we're dealing with, and switched to fantasy names.
 
FL-36R is not IR AF-assist anyway... just a red LED

the FL-600R have a white light LED that act as a AF assist or full time video light

but yes the 36 GN @ ISO 100 is disappointing
 
There are lots of flashes that will work.

Metz makes some nice ones. There's the FL50 (GN 50 meters at ISO 100 at 45mm FOV, or something) if you want power from an Olympus brand flash.

This new flash isn't as powerful as the FL50. So?
 
Dharma
 
Entropius said:
There are lots of flashes that will work.

Metz makes some nice ones. There's the FL50 (GN 50 meters at ISO 100 at 45mm FOV, or something) if you want power from an Olympus brand flash.

This new flash isn't as powerful as the FL50. So?
Click to expand...
Yeah this. I see the FL36 and FL50 displayed in the OM-D system photograph along with the new flash.

--

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AFAIK, the infrared illuminator does not work with CDAF (please correct me if I'm wrong here). The FL-600R was clearly designed for Micro 4/3rds as well as video (as it obviously should be), not 4/3rds DSLRs - for them, hang on to your old flashes.
 
ljmac said:
AFAIK, the infrared illuminator does not work with CDAF (please correct me if I'm wrong here). ...
Click to expand...
The FL-40 has a red focus assist light that works great with the CDAF on Camedia cameras like the C-8080. I still have both of these. The CDAF on the C-8080 does not work with the quick cross hatch of red lines that occurs with the FL-36, FL-50 and the R versions of these. The light just doesn't stay on long enough to allow the camera to focus. The FL-36 and FL-50 work great on Olympus DSLRs. I have several of the FL-50 and Alien Bee CyberSync radio triggers.

If the FL-600 recycles as fast as the Fl-50 but only has a guide nuber of 36, that's still an improvement over the FL-36, which recycles very slowly.
--
Dave
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I see LED as modelling light like a studio flash, and good for video and focusing. I like it!
 
Based on what I've seen on the B&H site, it appears that the new flash is GN36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 8mm, whereas the FL-36R has a GN of 36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 42. In other words, it appears that the new flash is actually significantly more powerful than the FL-36R. At 12mm, the FL-36R only has a GN of 20. If the B&H stats are correct, the new flash may provide in the vicinity of FL-50R power.
goblin said:
While being quite disapointed that the promised FL-600R flash seems to have no infrared AF illuminator, relying on the epileptic flash illumination instead, I was happy to read " GN50 " and " faster recharging times than the FL50R " put together.

Then again, the size of that head didn't ring anywhere near GN50 to me.

Reality check...Olympus website:

... Guide Number 50 at ISO 200; Guide Number 36 at ISO 100 ..."

Ok. So what we have is an FL-36R with no IR illuminator, but using four batteries, as the FL-36R should have always been, at 1.5 the price. FYI
Click to expand...
 
DElliott said:
Based on what I've seen on the B&H site, it appears that the new flash is GN36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 8mm, whereas the FL-36R has a GN of 36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 42. In other words, it appears that the new flash is actually significantly more powerful than the FL-36R. At 12mm, the FL-36R only has a GN of 20. If the B&H stats are correct, the new flash may provide in the vicinity of FL-50R power.
Click to expand...
Well, for fill. Sometimes people want most of the flash to go forward (ex. for wildlife).
 
I'm afraid I don't understand. From the specs I see and quoted in my original message, the FL-600 should be more powerful than the FL-36, and perhaps similarly powerful to the FL-50, at all focal lengths. At longer focal lengths, the GN of the flashes are higher (perhaps due to the flashes zooming capabilities - not sure).
Entropius said:
DElliott said:
Based on what I've seen on the B&H site, it appears that the new flash is GN36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 8mm, whereas the FL-36R has a GN of 36 at ISO 100 at a FL of 42. In other words, it appears that the new flash is actually significantly more powerful than the FL-36R. At 12mm, the FL-36R only has a GN of 20. If the B&H stats are correct, the new flash may provide in the vicinity of FL-50R power.
Click to expand...
Well, for fill. Sometimes people want most of the flash to go forward (ex. for wildlife).
Click to expand...
 
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