Small body, flash too big?

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Unfamiliar with all those, but I can comment on Olympus flashes if there's a way to see them compared to others in size.

In use at various times (apart from those Nikon flashes I talked about to you)...

• FL-300R, tiny but useful flash, always in the camera bag but I rarely use flash anyway. The pop-up flash on my E-P5 gives huge lens shadows with the 12-40mm so the FL-300R rises above that and gives good results. Raise the ISO to make the flash "bigger". Same sort of size as my Nikon SB-30.
• FL-36R, medium size as far as M4/3 is concerned. That or FL-600R size would be as big a flash to use to keep it comfortably balanced.
• FL-50 left over from my 4/3 DSLR days, big brute, too top heavy on the small M4/3 bodies. Same sort of size as my old Nikon SB-26.

So, for me the FL-300R is always carried, the FL-36R only taken when I know that I need a bit more serious flash. The FL-50 carried with difficulty if I need a flash for a hall or bounce in a large room.

Regards..... Guy

Guy Parsons wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Unfamiliar with all those, but I can comment on Olympus flashes if there's a way to see them compared to others in size.

In use at various times (apart from those Nikon flashes I talked about to you)...

• FL-300R, tiny but useful flash, always in the camera bag but I rarely use flash anyway. The pop-up flash on my E-P5 gives huge lens shadows with the 12-40mm so the FL-300R rises above that and gives good results. Raise the ISO to make the flash "bigger". Same sort of size as my Nikon SB-30.
• FL-36R, medium size as far as M4/3 is concerned. That or FL-600R size would be as big a flash to use to keep it comfortably balanced.
• FL-50 left over from my 4/3 DSLR days, big brute, too top heavy on the small M4/3 bodies. Same sort of size as my old Nikon SB-26.

So, for me the FL-300R is always carried, the FL-36R only taken when I know that I need a bit more serious flash. The FL-50 carried with difficulty if I need a flash for a hall or bounce in a large room.

Regards..... Guy

Thanks Guy. Olympus flashes are more expensive than what I had in mind.  Useful information. Nonetheless..

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Pretty much any flash will look or feel big on a very small camera, the trick is not attaching it to the shoe and in this case no flash will be too big.

Look at buying flash according to how you want to light, don`t simply go by what will look or feel good in the flash shoe, thats just being a little narrow minded.

kli wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Just me. But you need to a) consider things other than size/weight, b) figure out how you plan to use this flash, and c) get a bigger budget.

Flash can be far more transformative to your photography than a new lens. Budgeting accordingly is not stupid.

All three of the budget flash models you listed are what are known as "manual-only" flashes. I would not recommend them to a new user as a first flash. All settings have to be adjusted on the flash itself. The camera cannot control the flash other than to fire it. You will be limited to 1/250s and lower shutter speeds (no HSS). You can't have automatic meter-based power-adjustment for the flash (TTL). Or any settings controls through the camera menus.

Manual-only flashes are universally compatible because they only have the one pin on the foot to do the one electronic signal that is specified by ISO standards: the one for firing the flash in sync with the curtains opening/closing. All other camera/flash signalling doesn't happen.

They can be good for off-camera use, but as a first/only flash, they're very limited. Also, tdoay, you can get models with radio triggering with power control built-in.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

They're all full-sized speedlights, sized for dSLRs/SLRs, that might be bigger/more topheavy than you'd want to use on a mirrorless body. Some folk have no difficulty with them, others do.

The four general recommendations I've seen for small TTL-capable flashes for mirrorless are the Meike MK320, the Godox TT350, the Nissin i40, and the Metz M400. But. They're more expensive than what you're looking at, and less powerful than the full-size speedlights. So it really depends on what you plan to use the flash for that will determine if they're appropriate for you.

You may also want to decide if on-camera or off-camera features are more important to you.

Frankly, I'd recommend looking at a Godox TT350-O ($85) or a TT685-O ($110) as your first speedlight, if you have to go cheap. But you may really want to save up for a used FL600R/FL360L, if you want to do things like use your pop-up flash as a "smart" optical master, have factory service, decent resale value, and guaranteed future/backwards compatibility.

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Possibly, but it looks very low-powered and doesn't swivel.

Power output on a flash is like maximum aperture with a lens. The more you have, the more you can do, but the bigger/heavier/more expensive the gear gets. A regular-sized speedlight is already kind of like an f/3.5-5.6 lens in the lighting world. A smaller flash is more like an f/6.3-f/8 lens.

The main technique people use for on-camera flash (where the speedlight is attached to the camera, and not on a stand in a studio lighting setup), is to bounce the flash. This is where you point the head of the flash at a reflective surface (wall, ceiling), and use the reflected light as your illumination. It removes that "deer in the headlights" look of direct flash, where the light is coming from very near the lens's position.

But bouncing requires that you can swivel the head (preferably the full 360º around), and have enough light to lose some on the increased distance and scattering that bounce causes.

See also: this stackexchange Q&A on what features to look for in a flash .

I'm still inclined to go for a cheap flash, before I get the better TTL flash. I mostly shoot in manual mode, with old manual lenses. It'll take some time to figure things out, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

So I'll probably need to get a bracket for these flashes or find a smaller model.

Thanks. Now I know what model to get next...

Paulmorgan wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Pretty much any flash will look or feel big on a very small camera, the trick is not attaching it to the shoe and in this case no flash will be too big.

Look at buying flash according to how you want to light, don`t simply go by what will look or feel good in the flash shoe, thats just being a little narrow minded.

Don't  care much about looks, uneven weight distribution might be a problem, but the reason I asked is because I read somewhere, but can't find the link, that big flashes' weight could stress the flash mount...

Thanks

M_digicapt wrote:

Don't care much about looks, uneven weight distribution might be a problem, but the reason I asked is because I read somewhere, but can't find the link, that big flashes' weight could stress the flash mount...

I've used the bulky FL-50 with my Panasonic LX3, hopelessly top heavy, but then it's a case of the left hand mostly grasping the base of the flash to make it easier to handle.

The flashes are designed to break at the foot first, so any strain or accident will snap the flash base first and not the camera.

So strain on the shoe is not a problem, but the bulkiness and awkwardness of a big flash is a problem. I overcome that by using a small flash coupled with larger apertures and a higher ISO setting.

Regards.... Guy

I recently purchased a Godox TT350o and I love it. Just the right size for my EM1,1, with plenty of power for its size and great features. You can find it for less than $85 USD.

samtheman2014 wrote:

I have found that the Meike MK320 to be a reasonable size and decent performer it is very inexpensive

https://www.lightingrumours.com/meike-mk320p-review-7458

Thanks! Battery charging, pretty cool...

CharlesB58 wrote:

I recently purchased a Godox TT350o and I love it. Just the right size for my EM1,1, with plenty of power for its size and great features. You can find it for less than $85 USD.

Thanks, people keep suggesting this model. Can you sync at 1/2000 SS?

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

I use a Metz 26-AF2 with my GX7 and GX1. It's a nice, little pocket flash. With the GX7 I can use it as a slave with built in flash.

M_digicapt wrote:

Paulmorgan wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Pretty much any flash will look or feel big on a very small camera, the trick is not attaching it to the shoe and in this case no flash will be too big.

Look at buying flash according to how you want to light, don`t simply go by what will look or feel good in the flash shoe, thats just being a little narrow minded.

Don't care much about looks, uneven weight distribution might be a problem, but the reason I asked is because I read somewhere, but can't find the link, that big flashes' weight could stress the flash mount...

Nah pretty unlikely, no need to worry about stressing the shoe, the shoe part of the flash is generally the weakest part, lol i`ve fitted fl50`s/FL50`s to tiny G2`s, x10`s, GF2`s and bridge camera`s, a little cumbersome and very off balance but there is certainly no risk in breaking the hotshoe

The only concern that you should have is will the flash deliver enough power for your needs, pointless getting a flash simply for its looks and how it feels in the shoe if it can not deliver and light what you need to light.

Get your a little ttl flash lead, and pretty much any basic flash and use it off camera if its too big in the shoe, if your not needing high power and TTL a dinky little t20 or T32 can be had cheaply, sometimes $10 or less, these are sometimes good enough for me.

Or this chap

https://vimeo.com/194869208

Thanks

M_digicapt wrote:

CharlesB58 wrote:

I recently purchased a Godox TT350o and I love it. Just the right size for my EM1,1, with plenty of power for its size and great features. You can find it for less than $85 USD.

Thanks, people keep suggesting this model. Can you sync at 1/2000 SS?

HSS sync up to 1/8000

wolfychi wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

CharlesB58 wrote:

I recently purchased a Godox TT350o and I love it. Just the right size for my EM1,1, with plenty of power for its size and great features. You can find it for less than $85 USD.

Thanks, people keep suggesting this model. Can you sync at 1/2000 SS?

HSS sync up to 1/8000

Thanks!

Paulmorgan wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Paulmorgan wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

Pretty much any flash will look or feel big on a very small camera, the trick is not attaching it to the shoe and in this case no flash will be too big.

Look at buying flash according to how you want to light, don`t simply go by what will look or feel good in the flash shoe, thats just being a little narrow minded.

Don't care much about looks, uneven weight distribution might be a problem, but the reason I asked is because I read somewhere, but can't find the link, that big flashes' weight could stress the flash mount...

Nah pretty unlikely, no need to worry about stressing the shoe, the shoe part of the flash is generally the weakest part, lol i`ve fitted fl50`s/FL50`s to tiny G2`s, x10`s, GF2`s and bridge camera`s, a little cumbersome and very off balance but there is certainly no risk in breaking the hotshoe

The only concern that you should have is will the flash deliver enough power for your needs, pointless getting a flash simply for its looks and how it feels in the shoe if it can not deliver and light what you need to light.

Get your a little ttl flash lead, and pretty much any basic flash and use it off camera if its too big in the shoe, if your not needing high power and TTL a dinky little t20 or T32 can be had cheaply, sometimes $10 or less, these are sometimes good enough for me.

Or this chap

https://vimeo.com/194869208

Thanks

Thanks.

I rather go for big flash even if I have to use it off camera.

thinkinginimages wrote:

M_digicapt wrote:

Hi, I'm looking for a basic flash mostly for my E-M10 w grip, but also E-PM2. I will not have a chance to try flashes before I order.

Looking at these models: neewer TT560, Mcoplus/triopo TR950 & amazon basic flash.

Are they too big for the E-M10?

Also on eBay there's a Digital Concepts 528af flash that has TTL with older E and E-P bodies. Would it be compatible with my cameras?

Thanks

I use a Metz 26-AF2 with my GX7 and GX1. It's a nice, little pocket flash. With the GX7 I can use it as a slave with built in flash.

Thanks