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Are off camera fllash cords interchangeable? Olympus/Canon?
- Thread starter jimboyvr
- Start date
ginsbu
Senior Member
Canon cords work on Olympus.
Olympus cords don't work on Canon.
Olympus cords don't work on Canon.
DLBlack
Forum Pro
Cords are ok, canon cords work between olympus flashes and bodies. But do not mix the Canon flashes with Olympus bodies. They will not work right, the connections have different values and voltage. Might cause some trouble, even break the camera, flash or both.
Same goes the other way around: no oly flashes on Canon!
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
Same goes the other way around: no oly flashes on Canon!
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
Kuva-Lehto & Lehtokukka photography
Lehtokukka on pieni, henkilökohtaisesti palveleva Nokialla toimiva valokuvausyritys. Pääasiassa teemme muoto- ja lapsikuvauksia sekä perhejuhlien kuvauksia. Lehtokukka is a small, personally serving photography company, working at Noki
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
That's a bit dire. But I suspect others here have use Canon flashes on Oly/Pana in the past and survived. If the units cannot communicate due to speaking different protocols the of course no TTL or auto zoom etc, but the centre trigger contact still is a trigger contact so the foreign flash in auto mode will usually work perfectly fine.
We need feedback from those who have played with Canon flashes. Anyone?
In my case Nikon flashes on Oly/Pana and they are very useful. The little contacts either are ignored of don't line up with Nikon so I never tape the comms contacts. The big advantage is that the actual max flash sync speed for my E-PL1 of 1/320 sec can now be used.
So to be safe and sure with Canon or other brands then a short bit of Scotch Magic Tape fixes any problems...
In fact the tape is the way to get faster sync speeds with an Oly flash, but of course it needs to be in auto mode.
Regards...... Guy
Gregm61
Forum Pro
They do. I have been using a Canon off-shoe cord II since I sold my Canon 10D outfit back in 2006 and switched to Olympus. Everything from an E1 DSLR to the E5 to a Panasonic FZ50 to the Olympus E-M5, it communicates everything using both my FL50, FL50R and FL600R flash units.
The tape solves the problem. The trigger part is safe, the other contacts are not.
I have not tested canon or Nikon TTL-flashes on Olympus, nor I'm going to... But the electronics and processors behind those contacts may get the problem. But I'm sure the problem will be found on the first try.
Anyhow, there is little to win with mixing the flashbrands/ sure compatibility. If you need flash simultaniously in different bodies, why not get suitable ones? Or, if you are going to use them in non-ttl-mode, just some old and cheap ones, or new and cheap ones with safe trigger voltage? I use some old T32-flashes as light and portable studio lightning - and also together with Fl-50 flash on my camera, when I need some extra power in large rooms. Thank Good E3 has the pc-cord output...
I still don't advice to try Canon or Nikon TTL-flash on Olympus - or otherwise.
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
I have not tested canon or Nikon TTL-flashes on Olympus, nor I'm going to... But the electronics and processors behind those contacts may get the problem. But I'm sure the problem will be found on the first try.
Anyhow, there is little to win with mixing the flashbrands/ sure compatibility. If you need flash simultaniously in different bodies, why not get suitable ones? Or, if you are going to use them in non-ttl-mode, just some old and cheap ones, or new and cheap ones with safe trigger voltage? I use some old T32-flashes as light and portable studio lightning - and also together with Fl-50 flash on my camera, when I need some extra power in large rooms. Thank Good E3 has the pc-cord output...
I still don't advice to try Canon or Nikon TTL-flash on Olympus - or otherwise.
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
Kuva-Lehto & Lehtokukka photography
Lehtokukka on pieni, henkilökohtaisesti palveleva Nokialla toimiva valokuvausyritys. Pääasiassa teemme muoto- ja lapsikuvauksia sekä perhejuhlien kuvauksia. Lehtokukka is a small, personally serving photography company, working at Noki
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
If you want TTL so everything communicates 100% Canon only works with Canon and the Olympus with Olympus. The Olympus cord with also TTL to Panasonic.
I found another solution that works for me and that the Gary Fong collapsible light sphere. So no TTL cord or bracket needed. Just flash directly on hot shoe and use this diffuser. I turn the flash head in such a way that when you go to a vertical shout you flip the camera and rotate the flash head in one movement.
Other than that I like the brackets from Custom Bracket and use a short collapsible version that fits into a camera bag.
I found another solution that works for me and that the Gary Fong collapsible light sphere. So no TTL cord or bracket needed. Just flash directly on hot shoe and use this diffuser. I turn the flash head in such a way that when you go to a vertical shout you flip the camera and rotate the flash head in one movement.
Other than that I like the brackets from Custom Bracket and use a short collapsible version that fits into a camera bag.
Yep. Isolating the center contact, as long as the trigger voltage is OK should work fine when using non dedicated flashes. I've picked up a few older Minolta auto flashes (with low trigger voltage) and took em' apart and disconnected the 'other' wire (same as what the tape does only more permanent) and they work fine. Have a Canon cord too, and although I haven't tried it yet, since I don't have an Oly TTL flash, from all I've read the Canon cord will work just like an Oly.Guy Parsons wrote:
That's a bit dire. But I suspect others here have use Canon flashes on Oly/Pana in the past and survived. If the units cannot communicate due to speaking different protocols the of course no TTL or auto zoom etc, but the centre trigger contact still is a trigger contact so the foreign flash in auto mode will usually work perfectly fine.
We need feedback from those who have played with Canon flashes. Anyone?
In my case Nikon flashes on Oly/Pana and they are very useful. The little contacts either are ignored of don't line up with Nikon so I never tape the comms contacts. The big advantage is that the actual max flash sync speed for my E-PL1 of 1/320 sec can now be used.
So to be safe and sure with Canon or other brands then a short bit of Scotch Magic Tape fixes any problems...
In fact the tape is the way to get faster sync speeds with an Oly flash, but of course it needs to be in auto mode.
Regards...... Guy
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Last edited:
ginsbu
Senior Member
When it comes to cords, this is incorrect. TTL works fine using a Canon cord to connect an Olympus body and flash. (An Olympus cord won't allow TTL with Canon gear, though.)
MrPhotoBob
Veteran Member
I have two OMD E-M5 bodies and I have used both of my FL-600Rs on them off camera using a Canon off-shoe cord II. The FL-600s work great together with my OMDs using those cords and I was able to purchase all three of my Canon off-shoe cord II used and looking like new at a really great price.
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
Have no fear about using Nikon flashes on Olympus or Panasonic. I very regularly use the tiny Nikon SB-30 on my E-PL1 and Pana LX3, also sometimes the big Nikon SB-26 - they work perfectly fine in their auto or manual modes, I just need to match settings on camera and flash.
I even have used the SB-26 as a slave triggered by the RC mode of the E-PL1 and the trick works as long as the SB-26 is in auto or manual delayed slave mode and delivers half or less power. At full power flash that trick will fail.
In any case when I use flash I always seem to use camera manual mode to get full control of what's happening. Naturally the Nikons (without taping) give me up to 1/320 sec shadow free on the E-PL1 and of course up to 1/2000 sec on the LX3 with its in-lens shutter.
As the Canon flash comms contacts do line up with the Olympus/Panasonic contacts then it would be advisable to tape the camera as shown above.
The only requirement is that the flash have an auto mode or at least a selectable power manual mode. My flash table for the LX3 covers which flashes may be worth trying, also see Michael Meissner's excellent list. All of Olympus, Panasonic (& some Leica?) use the same flash logic if the camera has a hot-shoe.
In order of usefulness to me, I find #1 the SB-30 - because it's small, #2 the Oly FL-36R where everything works fine but is bigger to carry, then #3 the Nikon SB-26 because of its big output and the slave mode trick, then #4 the Oly FL-50 - big output but no slave mode so a bit of a dud for me now.
Regards........ Guy
Guy Parsons
Forum Pro
Yes, Canon cables work with Canon, Olympus and Panasonic.
Olympus or Panasonic cables work with Olympus or Panasonic but definitely not with Canon if wanting TTL.
The Canon cables have 4 comms contacts and a central trigger contact, the Panasonic and Olympus cables have 3 comms contacts in the same positions as the Canon and the central trigger contact.
Heck I've even used Nikon extender cables on Olympus but of course that works only for the central trigger for auto or manual flash use, no TTL. The comms contacts don't line up or at least do not have any effect on proceedings.
Regards....... Guy
You have been brave enough to test. Now I'm a believer :-D
I, on the other hand, use flashes mostly in TTL or RC-modes. Works fine for me.
The T32 flashes are mostly used on flashstands with umbrellas or other modifiers, and triggered mostly either with radio-control or flash-light-sensors - and on manual mode, metered basicly by a separate flash meter and a test. About any flash can be used that way.
The setup I wrote earlier (for extra power in churches or some other large rooms) is like this:
1. FL 50 on camera hotshoe, TTL-mode: adjusts the final exposure. Sometimes with an softener, if I need to shoot close-ups.
2. T32 on OM-power bounce grip, (extra batteries!) on the left side of E3, aimed mostly to the ceiling. Full power (mostly). Triggered with a pc-cord.
- We usually have white ceilings here in Finland, so the ceiling behaves quite well as a reflector.
- every (powerful) flash that can be triggered with a cord somehow would be useable like this, with some flash grip. I just happen to have these...
- softens the shadows in the background, adds some naturally reflected light to the shot, highlights the hair in changing situations...
3. This setup needs always some pre-testing to find the perfect shutter-speed - aperture - iso (->available light) combination. Setup is very useful in situation, where you can't exactly know where the happening / subjects are going to be, or you can't set up the flashstands (parties, all kind of happenings etc).
Cheers!
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
I, on the other hand, use flashes mostly in TTL or RC-modes. Works fine for me.
The T32 flashes are mostly used on flashstands with umbrellas or other modifiers, and triggered mostly either with radio-control or flash-light-sensors - and on manual mode, metered basicly by a separate flash meter and a test. About any flash can be used that way.
The setup I wrote earlier (for extra power in churches or some other large rooms) is like this:
1. FL 50 on camera hotshoe, TTL-mode: adjusts the final exposure. Sometimes with an softener, if I need to shoot close-ups.
2. T32 on OM-power bounce grip, (extra batteries!) on the left side of E3, aimed mostly to the ceiling. Full power (mostly). Triggered with a pc-cord.
- We usually have white ceilings here in Finland, so the ceiling behaves quite well as a reflector.
- every (powerful) flash that can be triggered with a cord somehow would be useable like this, with some flash grip. I just happen to have these...
- softens the shadows in the background, adds some naturally reflected light to the shot, highlights the hair in changing situations...
3. This setup needs always some pre-testing to find the perfect shutter-speed - aperture - iso (->available light) combination. Setup is very useful in situation, where you can't exactly know where the happening / subjects are going to be, or you can't set up the flashstands (parties, all kind of happenings etc).
Cheers!
Jouko
'The best camera in the world is the one you have with you when you need it'
Kuva-Lehto & Lehtokukka photography
Lehtokukka on pieni, henkilökohtaisesti palveleva Nokialla toimiva valokuvausyritys. Pääasiassa teemme muoto- ja lapsikuvauksia sekä perhejuhlien kuvauksia. Lehtokukka is a small, personally serving photography company, working at Noki
lehtokukka.smugmug.com
MKolmanovich
Member
Where do you get this info? Any support for your claim or is it just hearsay/your imagination? I see no way for either flash or camera to damage each other, even if there's a slight voltage difference.
From my own experience: Canon Speedlite 550EX works fine on OM-D in manual mode, no contacts covered, and I see no reason to.
Regards,
Mike
From my own experience: Canon Speedlite 550EX works fine on OM-D in manual mode, no contacts covered, and I see no reason to.
Regards,
Mike
Pretty well all camera flashes for digital cameras use the same mounts for flash except Minolta/Sony A mount being the odd one in the bunch with Sony being typical in making their gear not work with other camera. Their pins are VERY different on A mount cameras.
However, just because the pin outs look the same and the flash may mount, as I've mounted an Olympus flash on a Canon film SLR, while turned off, it does not mean you should mount them on your camera, the pins look similar but they are not identical and without beginning to understand electrical engineering I decided it wasn't worth it.
I would therefore suggest not mounting a Canon flash on an Olympus camera or vice versa, it might fit but it won't work and you may end up sending the wrong voltage to something. Remembering that these are high voltage items, it's not worth the risk. It may work, it might not, while I don't have the direct experience in looking at the difference in contacts when fitting my Olympus flash on my Canon film SLR I decided not to turn it on as I could not get all of the pins to line up/match.
As for the cords, yes, generic Canon TTL cables will work with Olympus. I picked up a generic 3metre one last year for around $20 on ebay and I have never had a problem with it. It does TTL and preserves all the functionality while allowing me to get a standard FL36 off my camera body.
However, just because the pin outs look the same and the flash may mount, as I've mounted an Olympus flash on a Canon film SLR, while turned off, it does not mean you should mount them on your camera, the pins look similar but they are not identical and without beginning to understand electrical engineering I decided it wasn't worth it.
I would therefore suggest not mounting a Canon flash on an Olympus camera or vice versa, it might fit but it won't work and you may end up sending the wrong voltage to something. Remembering that these are high voltage items, it's not worth the risk. It may work, it might not, while I don't have the direct experience in looking at the difference in contacts when fitting my Olympus flash on my Canon film SLR I decided not to turn it on as I could not get all of the pins to line up/match.
As for the cords, yes, generic Canon TTL cables will work with Olympus. I picked up a generic 3metre one last year for around $20 on ebay and I have never had a problem with it. It does TTL and preserves all the functionality while allowing me to get a standard FL36 off my camera body.
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Phil Rose
Veteran Member
I believe that statement overly generalizes the actual situation, considering the experience of many who have posted on this forum and elsewhere over the past few years. A common experience is that various 3rd party "Canon style" cables fail to support TTL mode with Oly flashes. Some seem to work, others not.
I also purchased one on eBay but it utterly failed to allow my FL-36 to be used in any mode of operation except for manual. No TTL.
So, you may get lucky, but don't get your hopes up too high. I finally decided that I really didn't need TTL, and that a Yongnuo radio trigger was both cheap and...far more convenient.
Phil
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