FL-36....ugh :(

[Rhino95]

Bought the FL-36 today just in time for a low lit anniversary party. THIS THING EATS BATTERIES LIKE CRAZY! Is it normal to go through 8 Energizer batteries in two hours?

And the RECHARGE TAKES FOREVER! It's a little frustrating taking a photo of a group, then having to wait and wait and wait for that little light to come on to take the second. I don't know how many times tonight I apologized for the wait. It's going to be returned tomorrow. I'll just save for the FL-50 as I heard the recharge is MUCH quicker.

Good results, but still!

 

[JoeyCinSC]

I had the Fl-36 for awhile and had good results with it. I had the best recycle time with Eneloops and they seemed to last quite awhile. I don't know how many shots you are getting per pair, but I would typically only have to use two pairs for a few hundred shots.

Recently I sold my FL-36 and FL-40 - then upgraded to the Metz 48 AF-1. I much happier with this new flash than I ever was with either FL-36 or 40. The actual result is not a great different, but recycle time is much improved due to the 4 AA's and they seem to last quite a long time.

If you are content with the output of the FL-36, I would recommend going for the Metz as an upgrade. I bought mine from B&H for about $210 if I remember correctly. If you need more output, then the FL-50 or Metz 58 might be a better way to go. But remember that they are significantly bigger flash units.

--
Joe - Philadelphia, Pa (although I am in Kauai until May)
http://joecorvaia.zenfolio.com/
http://joecorvaia.zenfolio.com/p495244172/ - Kauai specific gallery

 

[djbrom]

The CRV3 batteries give good life and mostly recharge faster than the AA's. There are some AA's that give good flash recharge but the CRV3's are much more consistant. I also have teh fl36 and though it does take a while to recharge when there has been a full power flash, i find it a great flash. The fl-50 sounds like an awesome flash but i couldnt justify the price considering the amount of flash work i do.

The CRV3's are about $20 in australia but they last well and provide good recharge times.

 

[cosmoxl]

it'll go through old alkaline batteries like crazy. you must use NiMH rechargeable....and as the other replier said, the newer hybrid NiMH are the best.

 

[Twiddle D Dum]

. . .the better choice. I have the -36 as well and often times took 100+ shots on one pair of rechargeables . . . 2300mah.

The -50 recharge time is MUCH better and I still get 100+ shots with 4x2300mah batts. In fact, I have yet to need fresh batts during a shoot so I don't really know how many I would get.

For me, the -50 is well worth the extra $$$.

Paul
Vancouver, WA . . . (USA)

galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spdavis/just_between_us_

 

[AlanF]

If you're shooting in quick succession then you need to go manual (Flash intensity, Exposure,Wide open ) and bump the ISO as high as you dare.

I wish there were a camera+flash setting that let you say 'repeat the last shot' -- first one could be automtic exposure AND flash -- then re-use those settings.

Secondly, I wish you could have a flash-ready setting (ISO 100, WB 5000) and flash-unready (ISO 1600, Custom WB) setting, so you get SOMETHING on every shutter press.

[Forgot to say -- better batteries, but 4 others jumped in ! ]

 

[Theresa K]

. . .the better choice. I have the -36 as well and often times took
100+ shots on one pair of rechargeables . . . 2300mah.

The -50 recharge time is MUCH better and I still get 100+ shots with
4x2300mah batts. In fact, I have yet to need fresh batts during a
shoot so I don't really know how many I would get.

For me, the -50 is well worth the extra $$$.

I have been the not so proud owner of the FL-20, FL-36, FL-40 and FL-50. I was totally frustrated with the recycling times and lack of power with the FL-36. I have yet to find a complaint about the FL-50 and I rarely have to change batteries.
--
Theresa K
E-3, E-300, 14-54, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

 

[Ron Goodenow314865]

First of all, don't use alkalines. Next, don't buy anything and expect it to work up to your expectations without some practice. Third, just give it a couple of seconds and fire away. I have found there is no need to make it go through its official recyle time. But that said, 3-4 seconds for a good recharge is something most of us can live with. When I am worried about that I use it on my 330 which has an onboard flash that can be used at any time, even with the 36 on top. Oh, and I easily get over 100+ shots with Eneloops. Probably far more than that but I change to be on safe side.
--

Take photos not pixel counts....

 

[GreatLaker]

Secondly, I wish you could have a flash-ready setting (ISO 100, WB
5000) and flash-unready (ISO 1600, Custom WB) setting, so you get
SOMETHING on every shutter press.

On my E-510 I use My Mode to do that. I save the settings I want to use for non-flash shots (ISO, WB, focus point etc.) in one of the My Mode settings, and set the Fn button to My Mode. Then when the camera is set up to use flash, I just hold the Fn button down while clicking the shutter to take a picture without flash.

With Eneloops the FL-36R will recycle in about 6 seconds. I can bang off 10 full power flashes in 66 seconds. The recycle time lengthens very little until the batteries need charging. Have not counted number of flashes per charge though.
--
BruceMcK
http://www.pbase.com/brucemck

 

[Godfrey]

I fitted the FL36 with a set of Energizer AA Lithium disposables.

• Most of the time, it recharges instantly. The most I've waited on one occasion, with maximum output for bounce flash, was 3 seconds.

• I've made 250+ exposures on the initial set of batteries I fitted.

Works great whether I'm using it on the E-1 or L1. It was a good choice for my needs.

Godfrey

 

[BigScooter]

I was using old sets of 1600mah rechargables in the fl36 and it was taking 5-6 seconds to recycle and going through them fast. I bought some new 2500mah (energizer) and it really cooks now, it recycles in a 1/2 second but I haven't had any shots that required going all of they way through the battery cycle to a recharge. I would suggest some good rechargable
-
And now for something totally different
Tim

 

[Joesiv]

As others have said, start using some higher capacity batteries. I use NiMh's and they're a bit erratic in terms of recharging and such, but if I can successfully charge them, I can get over a hundred shots on a charge (I typically don't run out during a shoot so I don't know exactly how many I can take).

I've heard great thing about sanyo enelopes, I'd look into them, they reportedly don't self discharge, and are a lot more predictable in re-charging.

The FL36 is a good flash, I really like mine, I don't think the 50 would look very nice on my wee little 510, and I even find the recycle time when bouncing off the ceiling to never get in the way of my shooting style.

If you do full discharges, the recycle time hits you, but often the recycle time keeps up, I've been very impressed.

Good luck, and have fun, and use some bounce flash, it's much nicer Oh just don't forget that you're bouncing when you flip to portrait
--
Cloverdale, B.C., Canada
Olympus e-510
http://joesiv.smugmug.com

 

[AlanF]

On my E-510 I use My Mode to do that. I save the settings I want to
use for non-flash shots (ISO, WB, focus point etc.) in one of the My
Mode settings, and set the Fn button to My Mode. Then when the camera
is set up to use flash, I just hold the Fn button down while clicking
the shutter to take a picture without flash.

On the E1 and E300 there's no way to turn the flash off from the camera. Can you do that on a 510?

 

[jfinite]

--



http://www.pbase.com/jfinite

 

[JoannaK]

Also.. Is you are having E-300 or E-330 you can use cameras internal flash to boost the light and give nice catchlight while bounsing the FL-36 .. IIRC those are the only Olympus modes with this nice feature.

As a sidenote.. I do hope that you have read those warnings about overheating and breaking the flash with too fast operation. I'm quite sure it's not going to blow immediately if it's used more than specified, since I have never heard about those units broken on normal use.

If you're shooting in quick succession then you need to go manual
(Flash intensity, Exposure,Wide open ) and bump the ISO as high as
you dare.

I wish there were a camera+flash setting that let you say 'repeat the
last shot' -- first one could be automtic exposure AND flash -- then
re-use those settings.

Secondly, I wish you could have a flash-ready setting (ISO 100, WB
5000) and flash-unready (ISO 1600, Custom WB) setting, so you get
SOMETHING on every shutter press.

[Forgot to say -- better batteries, but 4 others jumped in ! ]

 

[Knight Palm]

The FL-36(R) is extremely powerful for it's size, and has almost all capabilities of it's big brother FL-50(R). Due to it's low-voltage electronics, it runs on two batteries only, which it does very well, if one learns to read the manual. RTFM remember.



♠♠♠ One-Use Disposable PhotoLithium Batteries for FL-36 max performance
♥♥ Sanyo Eneloops and Similar Low Self Discharge Batteries

♣ A set of 2700mAh NiMH-batteries will do in most cases, provided they are all new or conditioned in good shape, and using a good recharger to keep them that. Otherwise, go for either one-use disposables PhotoLithiums or LSD's.

♠ One-Use Disposable PhotoLithium Batteries:
============================
• Energizer® e2® 1.5V AA Lithium Batteries
• CR-V3's (Olympus LB-01E) - 3V Lithium battery

♥ Low Self Discharge (LSD) Batteries:
=======================
• AccuPower: Acculoop
• AmondoTech: Titanium Power Enduro
• Ansmann: maxE
• GP (Gold Peak) Batteries: ReCyko
• Hähnel: Synergy
• Kodak: Pre Charged
• Maha/Powerex: IMEDION
• NEXcell: EnergyON
• Panasonic: R2 Technology
• PowerBase: Instant
• Rayovac: Hybrid
• Sanyo: Eneloop
• Uniross: Hybrio
• Vapextech: Instant
• Varta: Ready2Use

REF:
===
• Rechargeable Battery Information - Steve's Digicams
http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html
• Thomas Distributing - Battery Supply
http://thomasdistributing.com/
• Battery University
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm

 

[acwalbur]

I easily get 80 + shots out of a pair of regular old AA's on my FL-36, but you need to know a couple of things:

Get out of ISO 100. ISO 200 minimum, maybe ISO 400.

Don't bounce straight up without a better bounce card. Even if using a BBC, you should stop at the last setting before straight up (75 degrees?)

Open your aperture. f/5.6 on the kit lens, f/4.5 on the 14-54. Enjoy that extra DOF from the 4/3 sensor!

Drag that shutter. One the E-510 with IS this should be cake. I even do it on the old E-500. Set your flash to SLOW2 and your shutter to 1/30, let some ambient light in with your flash, so it doesn't work so hard.

Finally, and this is my preference, get out of TTL. Unless I'm doing fill outside, or FP-TLL fast shutter speed work, I never use TTL. It always runs the flash at full power trying to illuminate the whole scene (which may or may not be possible). When I have time to plan a shot, a quick set shot on manual and check the histogram will quickly let me set my flash settings. If I don't have time, I just stick the little bugger on plain old AUTO - the sensor seems to have much more tolerance for ambient than TTL.

A little more on that last point. In TTL you're going to be constantly dialing up and down FEC (flash exposure compensation) - which is a lot of work, kind of just like setting your flash on manual!

And finally (finally), none of the above may apply to you. It sounds like you want to do paparazzi style TLL blasting (which is fine). Get the FL-50 then - you won't be disappointed in it.

Good luck! Let us know where you end up.

--
Good shooting.

• Adam

Equipment in plan

 

[Big Ga]

I have yet to find a complaint about the FL-50
and I rarely have to change batteries.

Theresa .... all this means is that you're not shooting hard and fast enough ;-)

The time will come. Trust me!

G.

 

[Michael Meissner]

I was using old sets of 1600mah rechargables in the fl36 and it was
taking 5-6 seconds to recycle and going through them fast. I bought
some new 2500mah (energizer) and it really cooks now, it recycles in
a 1/2 second but I haven't had any shots that required going all of
they way through the battery cycle to a recharge. I would suggest
some good rechargable

And a decent charger to charge the batteries. Most of the overnight chargers are junk, and don't fully charge the batteries. I would look for chargers that charge any number of batteries from 1-4 instead of chargers that charge batteries in pairs, since batteries could each be at a different charge level.

 

[Big Ga]

Bought the FL-36 today just in time for a low lit anniversary party.
THIS THING EATS BATTERIES LIKE CRAZY! Is it normal to go through 8
Energizer batteries in two hours?

If you're going through 8 batteries in two hours, thats a LOT of flashing.

An FL50 is going to let you shoot faster and with more power. But at that rate its also going to let you fry the tube in no time. the FL36 is almost imposing a self limiting factor into the equation!

There is a reason shooters who do a large amount of flash photography buy something like a big Metz or a Quantum T5D. Its not just about the power, its about not killing your flash.

G.