more details on flash options for Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds cameras
Olympus dedicated external flash functions:
NB. only the auto & manual mode flash functions below are possible if using a non-dedicated flash unit
flash exposure modes:
TTL auto exposure:
ie. camera determines external flash light output amount
camera must be set to a non-Manual exposure mode
external flash must be set to TTL-auto mode
flash auto mode:
ie. external flash unit determines its own light output level using its inbuilt sensor
camera can be set to any exposure mode but best set to either Manual or Aperture mode
external flash is set to one of its auto modes which gives a ISO + aperture setting
set camera to the ISO & aperture setting as indicated on the external flash setting
flash manual mode:
ie. external flash gives off a set amount of light, it is up to you to determine the appropriate aperture/ISO setting on the camera
camera can be set to any exposure mode but best set to either Manual or Aperture mode
external flash is set to one of its manual modes
flash charge ready indication in viewfinder or LCD screen
flash zoom function:
external flash red eye reduction:
external flash slow sync 2 mode:
external flash auto-off or sleep mode:
flash multi-burst mode:
external flash AF-illuminator to assist auto-focus:
Super FP TTL/Manual:
built-in modeling light:
wireless remote TTL:
For TTL control with Olympus digital cameras:
(Not all features below are available on the Olympus C8080 eg. AF-measuring flash)
| Metz 44MZ-2 | Metz 45CL-4 | Metz 54MZ-4 | Metz 60CT-4 | Metz 70MZ-4 | Metz 70MZ-5 | Olympus FL-20 | Olympus FL-36 | Olympus FL-50 |
GN (m) | 34 (44 @50mm) | 45 | 40 (54 @50mm) | 60 | 50 (70 @50mm ) | 50 (70 @50mm) | 20 @35mm | 36 @85mm | 28 (50 @85mm) |
secondary light | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | N | N |
built-in slave | N (opt) | N | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N |
tilt vert/horiz | 90/0 deg | 90 / 360deg | 90 / 270deg | 90 / 270deg | 90 / 270deg | 90 / 270deg | N | | 90 / 270deg |
AF-measuring flash | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | Y (not 8080) | |
Stroboscopic | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | E1 only |
Modeling light | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | N |
NiCd | Y (85) | Y (50) | Y (60) | Y (160) | | Y (60 flash) | | | |
NiMH | Y (205) | N | Y (120) | N | | Y (100 flash) | Y | Y | Y |
Alkaline | Y (240) | Y (100) | Y (180) | N | | N | | | |
recycle time | 0.2-4s | 0.3-7s | 0.1-5s | 0.25-5s | | 0.1-5s | | | |
apertures | 12 | 6 | 12 | 8 | | 12 | | | 9? |
partial light levels | 8 | 2 | 25 | 25 | | 25 | | | 6? |
External flash units directly mounted on camera:
External flash units remotely connectable to the hot shoe mount:
-
for non-TTL use:
see general points
above, in addition, need to either:
connect the PC sync cable of the flash (if flash does not have a PC sync cable, then need to buy an adapter for it's hotshoe connection that provides a cable) to a hotshoe-PC sync adapter set on the camera hotshoe, or,
use a slave trigger connected to the flash & trigger it from the inbuilt camera flash with camera flash set to SLAVE and setting = 1 or higher.
ie. you don't need to buy the expensive TTL cables & adapters, but you do lose TTL capability and all the other dedicated flash functions
flash unit recommendations for bounce flash, etc off the camera:
Metz flash guns (can also connect via Metz SCA 3202 adapter and connection cable SCA3000C for TTL auto):
for safety, maximum dedicated functions, and versatility in aperture/power output settings, use the new MZ series which have a safe trigger voltage of < 5V
45CL-4:
has 14-17V but direct PC connect to hotshoe seems to be safe.
readily available on Ebay for $A300-350 (retail ~$A550)
rapid recycle time, secondary flash, easy to use
do NOT use the older Metz CT-1 or CT-2 models as their trigger voltage is way too high and risk destroying the camera, although the CT4 & CT5 models should be OK
Metz 45 series flashguns: