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Which flash for em5

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I'm using a Metz 48 cost £100 has ttl, high speed sync etc very reliable
 
And I use a Metz 58, a bit more money but very powerful!
 
doto41 said:
Looking for reliable cheap ttl flash. Only manual as second option. Would love to hear opinions.
Click to expand...
Hi Dov,

Many seem to use the Meike 320 for M4/3, so search for that one.

It would help to know what you need. Do you need the FP mode so you can do fill flash at higher than normal max sync speed? Do you need a dumb slave mode or a smarter RC menu controlled slave?

In my case a few flashes of various sizes but the one that is always in the bag (but never used much) is the Olympus FL-300R, tiny but works well if prepared to raise the ISO a little at times.

Regards.... Guy
 
Guy Parsons said:
doto41 said:
Looking for reliable cheap ttl flash. Only manual as second option. Would love to hear opinions.
Click to expand...
Hi Dov,

Many seem to use the Meike 320 for M4/3, so search for that one.

It would help to know what you need. Do you need the FP mode so you can do fill flash at higher than normal max sync speed? Do you need a dumb slave mode or a smarter RC menu controlled slave?

In my case a few flashes of various sizes but the one that is always in the bag (but never used much) is the Olympus FL-300R, tiny but works well if prepared to raise the ISO a little at times.

Regards.... Guy
Click to expand...
AS usual you ask many questions showing me I don't know enough :). I need a flash with tilt ability to shoot in low light rooms when there is a little movement and the slow shutter speeds are not adequate. I would like to be able to use it as a fill flash when shooting in daylight too, but that's a second priority as most of the time I won't be carrying it during the day. Is the small flash that came with the camera good enough for that?

I don't intent using it as a slave, as this will be my only flash?

Heard good thinks about yungnou 560, do you know anything about it?

all the very best
 
The Nissin i40 is not the cheapest option but it's a very good compact flash.

Used bounced to the right (to balance window light from left)

945390b389ac4d87a566ce2ca7ca3d4b.jpg

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucdeschepper/
 
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Folks seem to like the Nissan 40. I've never used it or seen it, but it might be worth doing more research. If I were buying right now I'd probably buy the Metz 52. It might be more than you want to spend? One thing I've found is that in smaller indoor areas, I'm often pointing my strobe behind me and off to one side. Creates a very nice, soft, directional light with subtle definition but not harsh shadows. So I'd suggest looking for one that can be directed in pretty much all directions and which has sufficient power to work effectively as a bounce flash. I think strobes are a bit like tripods. The first time or two we buy one we try to go inexpensive. And eventually we might invest in the real deal. Now, if you're just looking for something that will give a little direct light indoors... I have the Olympus 600 and it works well and is fine for most of what I do. But there are times I wish I had more power.
 
SkiHound said:
Folks seem to like the Nissan 40. I've never used it or seen it, but it might be worth doing more research. If I were buying right now I'd probably buy the Metz 52. It might be more than you want to spend? One thing I've found is that in smaller indoor areas, I'm often pointing my strobe behind me and off to one side. Creates a very nice, soft, directional light with subtle definition but not harsh shadows. So I'd suggest looking for one that can be directed in pretty much all directions and which has sufficient power to work effectively as a bounce flash. I think strobes are a bit like tripods. The first time or two we buy one we try to go inexpensive. And eventually we might invest in the real deal. Now, if you're just looking for something that will give a little direct light indoors... I have the Olympus 600 and it works well and is fine for most of what I do. But there are times I wish I had more power.
Click to expand...
 
I have the MCOPLUS MCO320, which is nice and small (assume a clone of the Meike 320). I received it as a gift recently, so not too familiar with it yet, but seems reasonable for the price point. I also had bought an old used Olympus FL50 on THAT online auction site (paid $75). It is a really nice flash, only downside is it is pretty large and heavy. My auction came with the off camera flash frame, so that helps both in the light angle and the balance. I strongly recommend that flash if light weight is not a top priority or you need the high power, but if you want small and light, I like the MCOPLUS 320 and I hear very good things about the Nissan i40 and I have never gone wrong with a Metz over the years, so sure the recommended ones work just fine as well.
 
I see the Meike is only two batteries, is that a powerful enough flash, will it help in a large room, or hall, and outside at night at reasonable distances?
 
doto41 said:
I see the Meike is only two batteries, is that a powerful enough flash, will it help in a large room, or hall, and outside at night at reasonable distances?
Click to expand...
That's similar to my Oly FL-36R with only two AA inside. It works OK for domestic situations and shorter distances outside and could recycle more slowly than the 4 battery types.

Raising the ISO to 400 or 800 certainly makes the flash "bigger" and recycle faster. If you use auto ISO with flash the screen always shows "ISO 200" but the actual exposure could go as high as 3200 (unless limited lower via the custom menus). Recycle time also seems better using the Sanyo/Panasonic Eneloop batteries.

In my case only some Oly flashes FL-50, FL-36R and FL-300R plus an old Nikon SB-26 which works well as an auto flash but no TTL of course.

Whatever flash you buy, it always seems to happen that for some situations a small flash is good, other times a big flash is best, so you end uop with 2 or more eventually.

The little FL-LM1/2 accessory is a tad weak for general use and also casts big shadows with fat lenses like the 12-40mm or any long tele lens, a flash head that sits higher works better. Its main use for me is just a commander for RC control of the FL-36R and FL-300R.

Regards........ Guy
 
doto41 said:
I see the Meike is only two batteries, is that a powerful enough flash, will it help in a large room, or hall, and outside at night at reasonable distances?
Click to expand...
 
Metz do a range of flashes compatible with Olympus TTL.

Check out their range to see if one suits your needs. Click on each flash, then select the data sheet tab and then select the Olympus version in the bottom left corner for specific Olympus features.

The Nissin i40 is also worth a look. The 4/3 version indicates Olympus compatibility.

--
Regards,
Peter
'Keep taking the photos'
 
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doto41 said:
Guy Parsons said:
doto41 said:
Looking for reliable cheap ttl flash. Only manual as second option. Would love to hear opinions.
Click to expand...
Hi Dov,

Many seem to use the Meike 320 for M4/3, so search for that one.

It would help to know what you need. Do you need the FP mode so you can do fill flash at higher than normal max sync speed? Do you need a dumb slave mode or a smarter RC menu controlled slave?

In my case a few flashes of various sizes but the one that is always in the bag (but never used much) is the Olympus FL-300R, tiny but works well if prepared to raise the ISO a little at times.

Regards.... Guy
Click to expand...
AS usual you ask many questions showing me I don't know enough :). I need a flash with tilt ability to shoot in low light rooms when there is a little movement and the slow shutter speeds are not adequate. I would like to be able to use it as a fill flash when shooting in daylight too, but that's a second priority as most of the time I won't be carrying it during the day. Is the small flash that came with the camera good enough for that?

I don't intent using it as a slave, as this will be my only flash?

Heard good thinks about yungnou 560, do you know anything about it?

all the very best

--
As always... original size :(
Dov
LX5, FZ8, FZ50, Olympus EM5, panny 20mm 1.7, panny 14mm 2.5, oly 45mm 1.8, oly 40-150, minolta 0, raynox 250, oly c-180, oly b-300 (and hoping for more :))
My Flickr
Click to expand...
the yn 560 are my work horse flashes they are excellent, only manual, but very easy to use. I also have the oly 36 r which is very good ttl flash and off camera flash.

cheers don

--
Olympus xz1, e-pL5 , EM5 my toys.
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/9412035244
past toys. k100d, k10d,k7,fz5,fz150,500uz,canon G9.
 
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doto41 said:
Guy Parsons said:
doto41 said:
Looking for reliable cheap ttl flash. Only manual as second option. Would love to hear opinions.
Click to expand...
Hi Dov,

Many seem to use the Meike 320 for M4/3, so search for that one.

It would help to know what you need. Do you need the FP mode so you can do fill flash at higher than normal max sync speed? Do you need a dumb slave mode or a smarter RC menu controlled slave?

In my case a few flashes of various sizes but the one that is always in the bag (but never used much) is the Olympus FL-300R, tiny but works well if prepared to raise the ISO a little at times.

Regards.... Guy
Click to expand...
I don't intent using it as a slave, as this will be my only flash?

Heard good thinks about yungnou 560, do you know anything about it?
Click to expand...
The yungnou 560iv is the latest version of this flash. It has no TTL capabilities. It is a manual flash.

It has built in RF remote capabilities and can act as a master flash or slave. Note the remote control system is entirely independent from the Olympus RC system. You can't use the camera to control remote flashes. Control is achieved by buttons on the back of the master flash.

The yungnou RC system is actually better than the Olympus one. It is RF, rather than optically, based and can control the flash head zoom position, which the Olympus one can't .

If you don't need TTL this is a good flash to start with as you can add off camera flash capabilities simply by buying another one. If you need TTL look elsewhere.

It is cheap but is generally reliable.
 
The FL36R is a good compact flash for Micro Four Thirds that has all the bells and whistles including high speed sync. If you want to go any bigger than that you will have to get the camera flash off your body with an E-M5.
 
doto41 said:
Looking for reliable cheap ttl flash. Only manual as second option. Would love to hear opinions.

Thanks

--
As always... original size :(
Dov
LX5, FZ8, FZ50, Olympus EM5, panny 20mm 1.7, panny 14mm 2.5, oly 45mm 1.8, oly 40-150, minolta 0, raynox 250, oly c-180, oly b-300 (and hoping for more :))
My Flickr
Click to expand...
I had the Meike 320 briefly; would recommend highly if you want something incredibly cheap and light. I eventually replaced it with the Nissin i40 which is also great (about 2.5x the price here) for more power, high speed sync which will help with fill flash outdoors and as it can articulate fully and bounce backwards (Meike only went to the sides, and one doesn't go all the way). If money and weight aren't an object, you could also consider the newer i60.
 
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Nissan i40 is really good value and gets the job done, the FL600r is nice but more money and does nothing the Nissin can't .
 
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