DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Looks like the GX9 has lost the flash power contact too

Started Mar 21, 2018 | Discussions
Helen
Helen Veteran Member • Posts: 7,606
Looks like the GX9 has lost the flash power contact too
1

I was playing with the matching simulator on the Four Thirds website and put the GX9 up.  The top view was the first time I'd seen one without the hotshoe cover on, and assuming it is accurate, it looks like the extra, gold power contact has been omitted from the hotshoe on this model (the GX8 and GX80/85 had it), so there is no longer the option to use the camera-powered tilt & swivel Olympus FL-LM3 flash on this model (after shaping the flash foot appropriately due to the slightly different front to back dimensions of an Olympus and Panasonic shoe), or more straightforwardly, the fixed-head one supplied with the GM5 and LX100.  The G9 also lost this facility (whilst the GH5 and GH5s have it) and so did the G80/85 (whereas the G7 has it).  Over at Olympus, the E-PL9 is the first model to lose the contact since the facility first appeared.

mjtalas New Member • Posts: 7
Re: Looks like the GX9 has lost the flash power contact too

I just pulled the trigger on a used Olympus FL-LM3 flash for my GM5.  Still waiting for it to arrive.  Even after reading about the mods needed to make it work on a GM5 it seemed like a nice replacement for the small flash provided since the Oly flash tilts and swivels.  It was no big deal when I realized my older GX7 and G6 did not include the fourth pin for powering the flash, but I just assumed any newer body I purchased would have it.  Still glad I bought the FL-LM3, but now I know to be careful when I buy a new body if that power contact is important to me.  I need to go check out that matching simulator...

 mjtalas's gear list:mjtalas's gear list
Canon PowerShot ELPH 330 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-G6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 +8 more
Helen
OP Helen Veteran Member • Posts: 7,606
Re: Looks like the GX9 has lost the flash power contact too
1

mjtalas wrote:

I just pulled the trigger on a used Olympus FL-LM3 flash for my GM5. Still waiting for it to arrive. Even after reading about the mods needed to make it work on a GM5 it seemed like a nice replacement for the small flash provided since the Oly flash tilts and swivels. It was no big deal when I realized my older GX7 and G6 did not include the fourth pin for powering the flash, but I just assumed any newer body I purchased would have it. Still glad I bought the FL-LM3, but now I know to be careful when I buy a new body if that power contact is important to me. I need to go check out that matching simulator...

If you haven't handled an FL-LM3, you'll be amazed at how tiny it is - the styling makes you assume it will be unwieldy but it isn't!

Sadly, Panasonic have been quite keen to remove that extra contact - probably because they don't want people to use the Olympus flash on their cameras - especially the ones that don't even have a built in flash and don't come with a flash in the box either.

tt321
tt321 Forum Pro • Posts: 13,854
Re: Looks like the GX9 has lost the flash power contact too

Helen wrote:

mjtalas wrote:

I just pulled the trigger on a used Olympus FL-LM3 flash for my GM5. Still waiting for it to arrive. Even after reading about the mods needed to make it work on a GM5 it seemed like a nice replacement for the small flash provided since the Oly flash tilts and swivels. It was no big deal when I realized my older GX7 and G6 did not include the fourth pin for powering the flash, but I just assumed any newer body I purchased would have it. Still glad I bought the FL-LM3, but now I know to be careful when I buy a new body if that power contact is important to me. I need to go check out that matching simulator...

If you haven't handled an FL-LM3, you'll be amazed at how tiny it is - the styling makes you assume it will be unwieldy but it isn't!

Sadly, Panasonic have been quite keen to remove that extra contact - probably because they don't want people to use the Olympus flash on their cameras - especially the ones that don't even have a built in flash and don't come with a flash in the box either.

Yes. Also inexcusable for ones with a built-in flash which can not serve as a commander.

They try to sell you a compact battery-powered bounce flash. For very large money.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads