What flash do you use with your Olympus OM D E-M10?

[scarlet knight]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

 

[f8_accpmpli]

[No message]

 

[darrinlingle]

 

[hisoy86]

 

[Guy Parsons]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

In my case the E-P5 and its pop-up is useless because I have the 12-40/2.8 on it and it delivers horrendous lens shadows, so the carry-everywhere flash is the tiny FL-300R as it is light and so slim and small it fits nicely out of the way in the camera bag, and sits higher when used so no lens shadows. Plus of course it can be used as RC mode when the pop-up now becomes useful to trigger it.

I like the little FL-300R so much I bought a second one with the intent one day to make a frankenbracket to hold the two flashes for a macro setup.

If I need more power or a faster sync speed then I call on my FL-36R or my old FL-50 from 4/3 days. But in all cases flash is rarely used now as the high ISO plus good IBIS largely makes flash not a lot of use anymore.

Whatever flash then use some Eneloop batteries or equivalent slow self discharge types as they seem to recycle faster plus of course they don't go flat sitting still so the flash still works even if you have forgotten to use it for a long time.

One thing I recently realised is that they are now sold as Panasonic Eneloops as obviously they must have bought out that side of Sanyo.

Regards........ Guy

 

[Alex Ethridge]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

I have the OM-D E-M1 and the E-M5 II but not the E-M10. But the use would be the same. I use the Metz Model 36 AF-5 when I want more power/reach. Purchased 12/08/2015 from Adorama $130.00 and it has proven itself worth every penny.

 

[Martian Flatcat]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

I have the OM-D E-M1 and the E-M5 II but not the E-M10. But the use would be the same. I use the Metz Model 36 AF-5 when I want more power/reach. Purchased 12/08/2015 from Adorama $130.00 and it has proven itself worth every penny.

+1 on the Metz brand. I have the 52 AF-1, and it supports all the modes of flash the camera can do. The 36 is probably a better choice unless you need even more reach. The 52 is as big as the camera.

 

[Fotoke]

I use a Nissin i40. It serves my purpose well.

 

[gotoole]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

I have the OM-D E-M1 and the E-M5 II but not the E-M10. But the use would be the same. I use the Metz Model 36 AF-5 when I want more power/reach. Purchased 12/08/2015 from Adorama $130.00 and it has proven itself worth every penny.

+1 on the Metz brand. I have the 52 AF-1, and it supports all the modes of flash the camera can do. The 36 is probably a better choice unless you need even more reach. The 52 is as big as the camera.

 

[TorsteinH]

A Metz AF-44. Works perfect with my E-M10II.

 

[atomgr]

Nissin I40

 

[Aberaeron]

I use a Nissin i40. It serves my purpose well.

I have one also and use it on Panasonic and the E-M10. Also use it off camera, using the pop-up as a trigger sometimes, although I have only done this with my G7 so far, so not sure if it works with the Olympus.

 

[atomgr]

I use a Nissin i40. It serves my purpose well.

I have one also and use it on Panasonic and the E-M10. Also use it off camera, using the pop-up as a trigger sometimes, although I have only done this with my G7 so far, so not sure if it works with the Olympus.

It works excellent as far as you remember not to put your hand in front of the sensor and check to see that is not turned off. (it happens)

Also in rc mode you loose ev comp control from the flash and can be done only by the camera.

Unfortunately when in RC mode you also loose fast menu.

Just remember to put the intensity of the control signal low enough in order for the on board flash not to contribute to the exposure.

 

[enossified]

I use the Lumix FL360L (same as Olympus FL600R). Some feel it's too large on an m43 body, but I'm fine with it.

You need to decide if you will need features like high speed synch (HSS) that lets you shoot at shutter speeds above 1/200 or the wireless (off camera) TTL system. Most of the sub $200 units do neither, but not everyone needs those features.

The Nissin i40 mentioned above does both, but as of today actually costs more than the Lumix although it is smaller.

 

[rsmithgi]

Metz 50 AF-1 (usually with the grip on the E-M10)

Panasonic FL-36R

 

[bobpetti]

Another vote for Nissin i40. Sized well to that camera, recharges quickly, and has enough power for most of the things I do (family stuff).

 

[koprol]

I know I have the pop up, but I would not mind something more powerful, but still small.

In my case the E-P5 and its pop-up is useless because I have the 12-40/2.8 on it and it delivers horrendous lens shadows, so the carry-everywhere flash is the tiny FL-300R as it is light and so slim and small it fits nicely out of the way in the camera bag, and sits higher when used so no lens shadows. Plus of course it can be used as RC mode when the pop-up now becomes useful to trigger it.

I like the little FL-300R so much I bought a second one with the intent one day to make a frankenbracket to hold the two flashes for a macro setup.

If I need more power or a faster sync speed then I call on my FL-36R or my old FL-50 from 4/3 days. But in all cases flash is rarely used now as the high ISO plus good IBIS largely makes flash not a lot of use anymore.

Whatever flash then use some Eneloop batteries or equivalent slow self discharge types as they seem to recycle faster plus of course they don't go flat sitting still so the flash still works even if you have forgotten to use it for a long time.

One thing I recently realised is that they are now sold as Panasonic Eneloops as obviously they must have bought out that side of Sanyo.

Regards........ Guy

I'd wish the (my) fl-50 was more intuitive to use. Most of the time I have no idea what settings the thing needs. It is very powerfull (much more than the fl-36), which is nice.

Do you have some tips where to look for some education on the fl-50?

 

[Guy Parsons]

I'd wish the (my) fl-50 was more intuitive to use. Most of the time I have no idea what settings the thing needs. It is very powerfull (much more than the fl-36), which is nice.

Do you have some tips where to look for some education on the fl-50?

No pages I can find or recommend, it's just a flash so nobody has thought to make a separate guide for it I guess.

So reading the manual and just using it gets you more familiar with it.

Usually it's a matter of setting it to TTL Auto and just use it. Or if you want a single flash pop to avoid subject blinks then use its self Auto mode.

If outdoors with higher shutter speeds than the max sync speed (usually about 1/250 sec) then you need to FP TTL Auto high speed sync mode.

Be aware that you may need to use flash compensation to taste, either in the SCP or on the flash itself. The SCP flash compensation and the on flash compensation will add together, so best get in the habit of only using one or the other, not both.

For many situations the flash is a bit cumbersome on M4/3 bodies so needs to be handled with care to avoid the risk of snapping the flash shoe off.

If using ceiling bounce then it also helps to add something like a white card on top to direct some of the flash straight forward to help avoid eye socket shadows etc.

Regards....... Guy

 

[darrinlingle]

Another vote for Nissin i40. Sized well to that camera, recharges quickly, and has enough power for most of the things I do (family stuff).

i love the nissin i40 and have one for my e-m1. the only problem i've had is the speed it recharges. it's a little slow. everything else about it is great.