Help!--weird 2 second delay before EM-10 iv flash fires

[Mephistopheles*]

I started using my EM-10 iv and its built-in flash with my 60mm macro lens as a compact solution to shoot bugs that come into my moth sheet at night. The first 3 nights I tried it it worked brilliantly. But the 4th night, for no apparent reason, it developed a c. two second delay between the time I press the shutter button and when the flash fires and a picture is taken. This is very annoying since in that 2 seconds the bug may have moved and/or wind may have blown the sheet, so it is no longer in focus.

I have no idea why the two second delay started happening. I'm not aware of changing any settings. The delay does not happen when I do not use the flash.

Any ideas?

Jim

 

[pipituni]

rear curtain sync?

 

[David5833]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68467763

 

[Mephistopheles*]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68467763

Thanks for the prompt response. But the settings referenced in your link don't seem to be the problem. I am using the mechanical shutter of course, and have multiple exposure settings set to single exposure anti-shock. (I just tried changing to single exposure without anti-shock, and it made no difference.) In iv there is a separate setting for 2s anti-shock delay, self timer, etc. I don't have those selected, and you can't select them if you select single exposure anti-shock (i.e. with the diamond icon).

--
My m4/3 bird, travel, and insect photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/35716495@N08/albums

 

[Mephistopheles*]

rear curtain sync?

Thanks for the prompt response. Not sure what you're referring to though. I am using the mechanical shutter. I have multiple exposures set to single exposure anti-shock (not silent). I tried changing to single exposure without anti-shock, and that made no difference.

 

[David5833]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68467763

Thanks for the prompt response. But the settings referenced in your link don't seem to be the problem. I am using the mechanical shutter of course, and have multiple exposure settings set to single exposure anti-shock. (I just tried changing to single exposure without anti-shock, and it made no difference.) In iv there is a separate setting for 2s anti-shock delay, self timer, etc. I don't have those selected, and you can't select them if you select single exposure anti-shock (i.e. with the diamond icon).

The fact that it doesn't happen without the flash makes me think that some kind of flash "charge time" might be involved, but I don't know how that might work on the 10iv. Other than that, I've got nothing. Have you tried a full reset?

 

[Mephistopheles*]

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/68467763

Thanks for the prompt response. But the settings referenced in your link don't seem to be the problem. I am using the mechanical shutter of course, and have multiple exposure settings set to single exposure anti-shock. (I just tried changing to single exposure without anti-shock, and it made no difference.) In iv there is a separate setting for 2s anti-shock delay, self timer, etc. I don't have those selected, and you can't select them if you select single exposure anti-shock (i.e. with the diamond icon).

The fact that it doesn't happen without the flash makes me think that some kind of flash "charge time" might be involved, but I don't know how that might work on the 10iv. Other than that, I've got nothing. Have you tried a full reset?

Thanks. I haven't tried a reset, but I've used three different olympus flashes (others are STF-8 and FLM-3 (sp?)). They've all proven unreliable; while Godox flashes I've used, both powered by their own batteries, have worked flawlessly. I'm beginning to suspect Oly/OM cameras simply lack the power and/or electrical system to reliably power flashes that don't have their own power source.

 

[David5833]

...Thanks. I haven't tried a reset, but I've used three different olympus flashes (others are STF-8 and FLM-3 (sp?)). They've all proven unreliable; while Godox flashes I've used, both powered by their own batteries, have worked flawlessly.

Are you saying that the battery-powered flashes now fire without a delay but the FL-LM3 does have a delay?

I'm beginning to suspect Oly/OM cameras simply lack the power and/or electrical system to reliably power flashes that don't have their own power source.

My E-M10ii and E-M5iii fire the FL-LM3 perfectly reliably and without a delay unless I program one and they both use the same battery as yours. In any case, unless other flashes fire without a delay, I suspect that you have programmed a delay that somehow you just aren't finding in the settings or that there is a glitch that might be resolved by a full reset.

 

[Mephistopheles*]

...Thanks. I haven't tried a reset, but I've used three different olympus flashes (others are STF-8 and FLM-3 (sp?)). They've all proven unreliable; while Godox flashes I've used, both powered by their own batteries, have worked flawlessly.

Are you saying that the battery-powered flashes now fire without a delay but the FL-LM3 does have a delay?

I'm beginning to suspect Oly/OM cameras simply lack the power and/or electrical system to reliably power flashes that don't have their own power source.

My E-M10ii and E-M5iii fire the FL-LM3 perfectly reliably and without a delay unless I program one and they both use the same battery as yours. In any case, unless other flashes fire without a delay, I suspect that you have programmed a delay that somehow you just aren't finding in the settings or that there is a glitch that might be resolved by a full reset.

My experience with the other flashes is on the EM-1 ii and OM-1. I have had the same experience with multiple flash units of those models of flashes. With the FL-LM3 the problem is it frequently fails to fire and I have to shoot again; also it burns out after a few years of use. Some people don't have this issue; others do.

 

[David5833]

...Thanks. I haven't tried a reset, but I've used three different olympus flashes (others are STF-8 and FLM-3 (sp?)). They've all proven unreliable; while Godox flashes I've used, both powered by their own batteries, have worked flawlessly.

Are you saying that the battery-powered flashes now fire without a delay but the FL-LM3 does have a delay?

I'm beginning to suspect Oly/OM cameras simply lack the power and/or electrical system to reliably power flashes that don't have their own power source.

My E-M10ii and E-M5iii fire the FL-LM3 perfectly reliably and without a delay unless I program one and they both use the same battery as yours. In any case, unless other flashes fire without a delay, I suspect that you have programmed a delay that somehow you just aren't finding in the settings or that there is a glitch that might be resolved by a full reset.

My experience with the other flashes is on the EM-1 ii and OM-1. I have had the same experience with multiple flash units of those models of flashes. With the FL-LM3 the problem is it frequently fails to fire and I have to shoot again; also it burns out after a few years of use. Some people don't have this issue; others do.

Sorry to hear that...I've heard that before, so I guess I've been lucky so far. Just watch, now that I've said that, one of them will surely go bad.