photo:microfourthirdsflash
TTL flash for Micro Four Thirds cameras
introduction
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in addition, there are some unique flash accessories designed for Olympus Pen cameras
most Olympus cameras allow optical remote TTL with Olympus flash units with “R” as a suffix to their model number, while Panasonic add the “L” suffix
Panasonic cameras prior to the Panasonic GH-3 do not support remote TTL flash
at least the older Panasonic cameras have limited TTL flash capabilities as they appear to assume legacy lenses are f/2.8, and they stop you from using shutter speeds higher than flash sync, I am not sure if this has been addressed with the GH-3.
when buying a flash unit, perhaps the most important feature for anyone other than TTL compatibility, size and price, is the ability for the head to swivel AND tilt to allow bounce flash of walls and ceilings.
in the past I have recommended it is best to stick with the Olympus branded flashes, BUT now I would strongly advise looking at radio remote TTL models such as Godox or Cactus.
flash photography for Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds cameras tends to be a LOT simpler than Canon flashes on a Canon, but still needs a revamp of the macro capabilities.
as with all mirrorless cameras, TTL flash on Micro Four Thirds cameras introduces a shutter lag as the camera must first measure the light output of the preflash on the main sensor, not a dedicated light metering sensor as in dSLRs
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after using Canon’s 580EX II flagship strobe, the Olympus flash units are FAR simpler to adjust – no need to memorise arcane Fn Ctrl settings to put it in “Auto” mode instead of “TTL”, etc, and, for Canon users, you can use your Canon off-camera cord with these units and still have TTL.
the latest Micro Four Thirds cameras now have a 4 + central pin hot shoe instead of 3 + central pin hotshoe, with the extra pin being a power supply and in the same position as the extra pin on Canon flashes - I would NOT use Canon flashes on these new cameras as the power surge may damage the flash!
adding a PC sync port
most Micro Four Thirds cameras do NOT have a PC sync port fo use with manual off-camera flash units or studio strobes
this is easily fixed by buying a hotshoe adapter with a PC sync port built in such as:
those with TTL pins and a TTL hotshoe so can also use your Olympus flash mounted:
plain single pin hotshoe adapters
radio remote flash transmitter units
flash units with built-in radio remote TTL functionality
Godox X1 radio remote TTL compatible
hähnel Viper radio TTL compatible flashes
A Viper TTL radio controller can be used from the hotshoe to control single flash units or up to three groups of flash units at a range of 100m/330ft, and can operate in full TTL, manual or strobotic modes with DCM (Digital Channel Matching that locks the transmitter and receiver together once they are connected, to reduce the possibility of interference)
hähnel Modus 600RT flash for MFT
announced May 2018
similar design to the Godox TT685 flash, and much of its specification with the Godox V860II
lithium ion battery can produce 600 full-power bursts per charge with only a 1.5-second delay for recycling
GN 60m/197ft at ISO 100
built-in radio TTL transciever
Nissin NAS radio wireless compatible flashes
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triggered wirelessly via hotshoe mounted camera brand-specific Nissin NAS Air transmitter module (Air 10s or Air1)
non-NAS flash units can be triggered by attaching them to a Nissin Air R Receiver module
Nissin MG10
announced May 2018
large hammerhead style powerful flash with bounce/zoom head covering 24-200mm (18mm wide) in full frame terms
GN 47.5 @ 35mm / 80 @ 200mm
recycle time: 1.5s (ext. power) / 2.8s (Lio-ion) / 3.5s (AA)
flash duration: 1/400 - ~1/20,000th sec
battery: 2x 26650 Li-ion or 8xAA
modeling light but no AF assist
975g
Cactus V6 II radio TTL compatible flashes
Olympus radio remote TTL flash units
Olympus finally introduced their own weathersealed 2.4GHz radio remote TTL flash system in 2019 denoted by WR suffix
it is compatible with most Olympus MFT cameras introduced 2015 and later (ie not the E-M1 first version!)
FC-WR radio remote flash main controller
FR-WR radio remote receiver to attach to a remote Olympus-compatible flash which does not have radio receiver capability to give TTL function, or via its PC socket for triggering manual output radio flash such as for studio lights
Olympus FL-700WR
introduced 2019
3 group, 15 channel, 2.4GHz radio TTL range of 30m
weathersealed; 100lux at 1m LED video light; unit is compatible with old optical RC remote TTL flash;
GN 42m ISO 100 using 75mm lens (GN 27m with 25mm lens)
zoom range 12-75mm (wide angle panel gives 7mm)
4AA batteries; recharge 1.5-2.5sec; 303g w/o batteries;
can be used with HiRes, Focus bracketing and focus stacking modes
older non-radio flash units with tilt and swivel for bounce flash
Olympus FL-900R
Olympus FL-600R
GN 50m at ISO 200
faster recovery than FL-36R and FL50R
built-in LED light for movies and AF assist
the first Four Thirds/Micro Four Thirds external flash of reasonable flash output which sync at 1/250th sec and can act as a master for remote TTL flash
introduced Feb 2012 with the OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera
Panasonic DMW-FL360L
Olympus FL-50R
this was the flagship model for Olympus, the R designation is the newer version which allows optical remote TTL flash, this has now been replaced by the FL-900R.
GN 50m at ISO 100 at maximum zoom setting of 42mm (= 85mm in 35mm terms)
350g, 4x AA batteries, tilt and swivel including 7deg tilt down for macro, AF assist beam, supports Super FP flash (high sync flash)
built-in flip out wide diffuser to cover focal lengths 8-12mm
?2.5-6sec sec recycle time from full output
no modeling light – but then I have not found this useful anyway on a portable strobe
it’s exposure compensation (up to +/- 3EV) is additive to camera flash exposure compensation setting.
as with all portable strobes, it must be rested for 10min after high burst rates – at full power, rest after 10 shots at 1sec intervals, or at 1/8th power, rest after 80 shots at 0.2sec intervals.
optional high voltage pack (HV-1) allows recycle time to be reduced to 1.3sec for full output, and allows up to 40 frames at up to 8fps at 1/8th power instead of 5 frames without it.
optional FP-1 power grip with 4x C cell batteries allows elevated flash position to reduce red eyes, extended battery life and shorter flash recycle time, but can ONLY be used with the FL-50, FL-50R and the macro flash set, although allows use of the HV-1 pack for even faster recycling
the cheaper, discontinued FL-50 is identical but does not support wireless remote TTL flash.
Panasonic re-badge the FL-50 as the Panasonic DMW-FL500E
Olympus FL-36R
similar to 50R but more compact (260g), less powerful than the 50R, but only has 2x AA batteries and thus longer recycle times.
tends to be preferred for Micro Four Thirds, or for travel but now superseded by the faster recycling FL-600R.
GN 36m ISO 100 at maximum zoom
has swivel and vertical tilt for bounce flash photography
see Wrotniak on the FL-36
Panasonic re-badge the FL-36 as the Panasonic DMW-FL360E
Metz dedicated units
Metz Mecablitz M400
announced sept 2016
GN 40 (ISO 100)
LED video light
OLED display
Metz 64 AF-1 digital
Metz 58 AF-2 digital
tilt and swivel
motor zoom, flip out reflector, integrated wide diffuser
twin flash with automatic fill flash
remote TTL, HSS, stroboscopic mode
similar feature set to Olympus FL-50R but adds a 2nd smaller flash for auto fill-in flash
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Metz 50 AF-1 digital
tilt and swivel, motor zoom, flip out reflector, integrated wide diffuser
replaced model 48 AF-1, new metal base, remote TTL, HSS.
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Metz 44 AF-1 digital
old Metz models with TTL compatibility
Metz SCA 3002 digital units
requires SCA 3202 adapter with latest firmware – see Metz info
non-handle style MZ’s can be used off camera via the SCA 3008A connecting cable
can use Metz P-76 power packs
Metz 45CL-4 digital – digital version of the old handle style flash with no zoom, no fill flash, no 2nd curtain flash, requires SCA 3045 connection cable
Metz 76 MZ-5 digital – but no auto fill flash
Metz 54 MZ4i digital – twin flash, bounce, zoom, but no auto fill flash
Nissin i60A flash
introduced 2016
GN 60m at ISO 100, 200mm
1/3rd EV increment control down to 1/256th sec
radioTTL and NISSIN AIR SYSTEM (NAS) remote for Sony, Canon and Nikon but not Olympus?
Kenro Nissin i40 flash
introduced 2014
similar design to Olympus FL600R but:
dials to control settings instead of buttons and LCD screen
seems it cannot be a master for remote TTL
can be used in remote TTL with most camera manufacturers (presumably need a camera-specific model)
GN 40m at 105mm focal length
covers 24-105mm, built-in diffuser extends this to 16mm
built-in LED video light with 9 steps output
tilt-swivel head - 180deg R/L and 90deg up
2 control dials
remote TTL, HSS
4x AA batteries
203g, RRP $US338
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MeiKe MK320
Vivitar flash
Vivitar DF-383
Bower SFD926O Digital
Bower SFD290 Digital
Opteka EF-790 DG Super
Opteka EF-600 DG Super
Polaroid PL-144AZ Studio Series
Bell & Howell Z480AF-OP
non-radio TTL flash units without tilt and swivel
Olympus FL-300R
tilt but no swivel
GN28 but at ISO 200
covers the angle of view of a 14mm lens but a built-in wide panel allows the flash to be used with 9mm ultra-wide lenses such as the M.Zuiko Digital 9-18mm f/4-5.6, albeit at reduced effective GN.
no manual mode
2 x AAA batteries
97g
in remote TTL mode has 2 groups A/B to allow 2 groups of flashes to fire and can be used as a master or a slave
Olympus FL-20
compact 74g vertically styled flash but no bounce, tilt or zoom,or Super FP mode. GN 20m ISO 100
Panasonic re-badge the FL-20 as the Panasonic DMW-FL220E
Olympus FL-14
ultra compact 84g horizontal styled flash for Micro Four Thirds cameras with GN 14m ISO 100
no bounce, tilt, zoom nor Super FP flash mode.
see manual (pdf) hosted on Biofos.com
Panasonic FL70
Olympus FL-LM2
Metz 36 AF-5 digital
Metz 24 AF-1 digital
Nissan Di466
Rokinon D870AF-OP D870AF
GN 26m
tilt but no swivel
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Other brand flash units
Promaster
Soligor
Cullman
Phoenix
Vivitar eg. Pro 648
Macro TTL flash units
Olympus STF-8 Macro Twin Flash
designed for Micro Four Thirds, compact, lightweight, weatherproof
dual output control dials
Supports focus stacking and focus bracketing of Olympus E-M1 and E-M1 Mark II
cap diffusers but these may need to be supplemented by a bigger diffuser
angle of the flash heads can be adjusted -60 to 40 degrees, and the position of the flash heads along the ring adapter can be adjusted as well.
can be used as the commander flash during multiple-flash photography in RC mode
supplied with 46mm and 62mm ring adapters which allows use on:
4xAA batteries
283g excl. batteries
$US479
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Olympus Ring flash SRF-11
a nice simple ring flash, which unlike the Canon version is full circumferential, but annoyingly, it only fits certain lenses as it does not use filter threads to attach.
no Super FP mode
fits the ZD 14-54mm lens
designed for the first version of the ZD 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 lens but does not attach to the new SWD version
requires the FR-1 clip on adapter to use on the ZD 50mm f/2.0 macro – but adapter is so nice, I use it as a lens hood on the lens all the time!
Olympus FR-2 adapter allows attachment to 46mm filter threads such as on the
Olympus m.ZD 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, and of course you can use step up and step down rings for other lens sizes
hopefully Olympus will make one for 58mm filter threads
Olympus Twin flash TF-22
uses the same control unit as the Ring Flash, and unlike the Canon equivalent, comes with diffusers which are essential for this style of photography.
uses same lens adapters as the SRF-11 ring flash
Metz 15MS-1 digital macro "ring" flash
supports IR remote TTL of Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Four Thirds, Micro Four Thirds (requires firmware v3 or higher), and Sony
wireless manual exposure mode with “learning” capability to ignore on-camera pre-flashes
manual mode the total output can be set to from full power to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 or 1/64th full power
clip on plastic diffuser
2 x AAA batteries
one of the lightest “ring flashes”
each flash unit is able to be angled by 20deg within the ring frame and variable output from each flash via the ratio setting
modeling light
AF assist light
adapters to fit lens filter threads of 52mm, 55mm and 58mm;
adapter rings in the sizes 62, 67 and 72 mm are optionally available
comes with a on-camera flash IR pass clip to prevent that flash causing shadows on macro subjects
PC sync outlet
USB port for firmware updates
GN 15m ISO 100
only weighs 190g excl. batteries
standard 1/4-20 tripod socket on the bottom for tripod mounting
generally sells for $US399
it's size, weight and ring adapter sizes make it well suited to Micro Four Thirds, and as a fill in flash, it is to be preferred over the Olympus Ring Flash, as it is lighter, does not occupy the hotshoe and thus you can still use remote TTL flashes as your main and kicker flashes.
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issues:
lighting from above with the flash diffuser on is still quite harsh for macro work
angle of flash is limited to 50mm focal length lenses on APS-C cameras
requires latest firmware to work with Micro Four Thirds
Underwater flash
Olympus UFL-1 flash
Olympus UFL-2 flash
Sea & Sea YS-01
Inon S-2000
TTL off camera cables
hot-shoe to hot-shoe
Olympus FL-CB05 cable
Canon OC-E3 Off Camera Shoe Cord 3
fully pin compatible with Olympus older TTL flash and cameras as well as Canon EOS - but obviously will not give TTL flash with mixes of Canon flash on Olympus camera and vice versa.
NOTE that the latest Olympus cameras have an extra hotshoe pin which can supply battery power to the flash - this may be an issue when using such cameras with Canon flashes on camera or via this cable.
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FP-1 power grip to hot-shoe
Olympus FL-CB02 cable
TTL off-camera power grips
Olympus FP-1 power grip
uses 4x C cell batteries
allows elevated flash position to reduce red eyes, extended battery life and shorter flash recycle time of 2.5sec on full charge
and allows use of the HV-1 high voltage pack for even faster recycling of 1.3sec
requires a TTL flash cable to connect to camera such as the FL-CB02 which connects to a hot shoe
can ONLY be used with the FL-50, FL-50R and the Olympus macro flash set
optionally can use a RG-1 release cable to allow the shutter release to trigger the camera
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photo/microfourthirdsflash.txt · Last modified: 2019/04/21 01:04 by gary1