Olympus FL-50 Electronic Flash for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras

Manufacturer: Olympus Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours List Price:$549.99 Our Price:$335.93 Features: Electronic Flash for Olympus E1 Digital SLR Camera Full range of TTL Automatic, Automatic and Manual flash modes Flash sync at speeds up to 1/4000th second More even illumination with less corner fall-off Description:

Reviews:

Olympus FL-50 Flash Review
I purchased this flash for the Olympus E-510 DSLR and it is a good unit. Many dedicated flash manufacturers units seem to be made from pretty much the same mold, with variations between camera models and makes. The flash is very versatile for titling up and to each side. I recently purchased the unit and have only used it on automatic modes, which it does nicely about 90% of the time. Perhaps I am old school but I remember the Vivitar 285 with the same zoom features that went originally for less than $100. Users should be aware that, like the old 285 that needed a metal shoe put on, the top heavy flash could pull on the flash shoe and break or damage the shoe. The recent $80 rebate and comparative low price from Amazon told me the time to buy was now. Potential purchasers may wish to review Sunpack and other third party brands prior to purchasing this flash. I would also recommend the Tiffen Strobo Frame Flip Flash Bracket (flash and bracket stay fixed - camera moves vertical or horizontal) and the dedicated flash cord to connect the camera and flash, both available from Amazon


Expensive but worth it!



Outstanding flash unit & easy to use
Several previous reviewers have provided specific technical details regarding the FL-50, so I'll limit my comments to saying simply that the FL-50 is a powerful, reliable, highly adaptable tool. I've used it with my Olympus E-500 in small rooms, in large meeting rooms, outdoors as the primary light source and for fill, while shooting both dynamic and static subjects. It's definitely improved my flash photography, plus it's given me the confidence to shoot with a flash in circumstances I'd previously have avoided.

For anyone who hasn't used a full-featured, dedicated flash unit before, the FL-50 comes as a revelation. Flash-camera communication is very fast so there's no delay shooting action or in changing circumstances. The FL-50's on board controls are extensive, integrate smoothly with the camera's, and allow a range of adjustments to tweak light output. Response time is very good. Only once in a while after shooting a burst of images have I had to pause for the FL-50 to catch its breath (using Sanyo Eneloop NiMH batteries).

Based on my experience with the FL-50, I suggest you think about also picking up a flash diffuser (I use the Sto-Fen Omni Bounce). The FL-50 goes a long way toward reducing the sometimes harsh front lighting or sharp shadow lines that plague flash shooting, but it can't eliminate them. Adding a diffuser gets you further down that road.


Wow!
I just bought(today) FL-50 to replace FL-36 after I use it for about a year. This is a much better light with better photo results and fast recharge time. The disadvantages are the unit is big and heavy.

update:
used it a few times in the house. The range of the light is amazing. I could light up the room better than FL-36.
One other function I like is that once the light is connected to the camera, it will turn on when the camera is turned on. Unlike Fl-36 which you have to manually turn it on if the camera is off for a while.

Update II:
This flash unit is incredible. I have not received my rechargeable batteries so I used the regular batteries to try it out. First set of 4 new batteries lasted 120+ indoor shots with no or min recharge time before they died on my. With my old fl-36 I usually have to change the batteries after 25-30 shots.

Update III: (Jan, 2008)
I took this flash unit with me on vacation. I noticed if I use burst mode the unit will not be able to catch up on the 4th shot and will be okay again on the 5th picture(using Sony 2500 mAh AA Rechargeable Nimh Batteries). Other than that everything is great outdoor or indoor. Each set of batteries will last a while.


Powerful, easy to use, stunning pictures, bulky
So you got your high-dollar D-SLR home, and took a picture of your child that evening using the pop-up flash. The shot has an over-bright smiling face surrounded by almost pitch darkness in the room - in fact it looks remarkably like you took it with a point-n-shoot.

When you get this flash, you will not fear indoor photography ever again. Tilt up the head and shoot off the (white) ceiling, and the whole room is flooded with even and bright light. The results are completely stunning if you are used to snapshots coming out of a compact. A tip I read that also works well: bounce the flash off your white t-shirt if you want to keep some of the party "atmosphere".

It is so easy to use. Plug in. The camera turns it on, and detects what you are doing with the head. If you point the head straight at the subject, the flash "zooms" itself to match the zoom setting on the lens. And when you shoot, it does TTL metering to get a beautifully even shot. You can access fill-in flash mode from either place, but the flash makes this slightly easier.

This is a big unit. In volume it is as big as the E-510 body (although a different shape). But this is what it takes to make a powerful flash: lots of battery, a big capacitor, big projector, and big diffuser. This is the only downside of buying the FL-50 over the smaller FL-36, which I imagine is just fine for domestic photography and fill-in flash. But the FL-36 is not extensible, so you can't upgrade to the monster handle and shoot your friend's wedding. If I need a more compact flash, I can get the FL-36 later.

EDIT 1: I don't want to sound like a sales guy, but there is a great rebate in play right now. It is a fine opportunity to get the big flash instead of the small one, if the price difference is the sticking point.


Evolt FL-50 Flash
This is large lightning for the Evolt 500. It made possible for me to take clearly photos brightened even in the darkness. I bought vague (atomizer) for him and educated him even more versatile talented. Recommend in high of degrees this product.


Olympus FL-50 flash
A little top heavy with the Olympus E-510 considering its height and 4 AA cells, but has a decent recycle rate and plenty of power for ceiling bounce. The red-dot auto-focus aids help eliminate lens focus hunting in low light, and produces nice, natural looking images without that burned out "flash photo" look. Just wish it could run fully auto on the end of the FL-CB05 flash extension cable to allow full auto TTL with a generic flash bracket.


Great dedicated flash
This has been as useful as any other dedicated flash I have used, and more. I especially like the easy way you can adjust the flash output. I will be using this for years. Great product!


Olympus FL-50 Flash for Digital SLR Cameras
I hesitated, if I decided whether one buys the smaller FL-36 or the FL-50, but, to reading off many reports of the fulfilled customers for both lightnings, I went with the FL-50 because of its longer distance, more efficiently and the renew-guessed/advised between lightnings. Even with fresh reloadable batteries, there can still be some seconds of the convict time between shots and a shot can be missed. Like that I am I bought the FL-50 gladly, because I think that I renew rate on the FL-36 over the longer would have been disappointed. The FL-50 is a larger sharp unit than the FL-36, but it fits friendly above on my Olymp E-500 with or without the sharp support angle. The FL-50 forms a large tube flashlight on one lightstand with an umbrella also for a small mobile lighting attitude. Recommend in high of degrees this lightning for its TTL sharp ability, high quality seat and end and faultless enterprise. There is a small learn-circles for new ones, therefore one does not intimidate, if one reads the manual. It is so efficient in the small attitudes, which I must use vague (atomizer) definitely not to manufacture shade. SHE found to SCHLAUCH example of, as one its own vague (atomizer) from soft white foam rubber paper forms, you at the Fertigkeitspeichern received and it functions large for smaller than a dollar to form.


FL-50 for FZ-50
I bought the Olymp FL-50 lightning, in order to use on my Panasonic FZ-50 camera. The Olymp lightning looks and works exactly like the more expensive Panasonic version. Up to now I was extremely lucky with this acquisition.


Fabulous Flash
I do not think that you could drean, so that a better sharp unit connects with a camera, which is capable of informing with it. Fair sentence lightning to one of the self modes (TTL, etc.....) and it reads your camera focusing and supplies the straight right quantity of the light. I can present only me that it would function evenly in addition in the manual work mode. O think, it a little spendy are, but, it examined it, value to me that is.


I said you that the FL-50 IMPROVEs the FOCUS speed and PRECISION? Even in total DARK?....
Si, ya muchos otros han DICHO bastante sobre las capacidades de esta unidad de Flash, pero muchos andan en busca de MEJORAR (como yo) las capacidades de ENFOQUE tanto en rapidez como en precision de los LENTES que vienen con mi KIT de e-500.

Recordemos que el enfoque tanto en su rapidez como en su precisión son CARACTERISTICAS que NORMALMENTE vienen con las lentes que adquirimos.

Asi pues, cuando tratamos de tomar fotos por ejemplo en bodas, XV años o cualquier otra evento que se lleva a cabo en LUGARES cerrados como salones o carpas, nos enfrentamos con el DILEMA.

Ya que por ejemplo mi KIT de lentes tienen un fstop maximo de 3.5 en el wide open.

Lo cual quiere decir que cuando trato de tomar fotos bajo las condiciones de luz que prevalecen en los salones de eventos, la rapidez de la exposicion anda en ordenes de 1/5 o incluso mas de un segundo o dos.

Esto, aunado a que la NATURALEZA de tales eventos requiere que manejemos la camara sin ayuda de estorbosos tripies o monopodos, hace que SEA EXTREMADAMENTE DIFICIL TOMAR FOTOS QUE NO ESTEN MOVIDAS O DESENFOCADAS unicamente con las lentes que vienen con el KIT.

Por supuesto, UNA SOLUCION es adquirir lentes MAS RAPIDAS por ejemplo en mi caso podria adquirir el Zuiko 14-54 f2.8 asi como el 11-22 f2.8.

Pero SIENDO REALISTAS... estamos dispuestos a gastar 1000 USD mas solo para TRATAR de tomar algunas buenas fotos con poca LUZ?

Por otro lado, se de varios usuarios que poseen ya lentes mas rapidaz que las mias y que de todas formas se quejan AMARGAMENTE de lo dificil que es tomar fotos DECENTES con poca luz.

SIN EMBARGO GRACIAS AL CIELO Y A OLYMPUS, existen las unidades de flash FL-36 y el
FL-50.

Cualquiera de las DOS unidades MEJORARA de forma DRAMATICA la capacidad del SISTEMA camara-lente-flash para ENFOCAR.

Una de las principales diferencias entre ambas unidades radica en que la FL-36 unicamente acepta DOS pilas AA, lo cual hace que el TIEMPO DE RECARGA sea mayor que con el FL-50, y tambien repercute en el numero de veces que el flash puede dispararse sin tener que cambiar de pilas.

Tambien por supuesto el FL-50 tiene un numero guia de 50, lo cual quiere decir que tiene mayor potencia, ademas de ofrecer modos como el Super FP y otras monerias que son bastante utiles para los que quieren tomar fotos PROFESIONALES.

Pero como decia. Para mejorar las capacidades de enfoque del sistema AMBAS unidades funcionan.

Yo elegi el FL-50 porque mis ambiciones asi me lo dispusieron, aumque he de confesarles que en efecto no fue facil el desembolso de 400USD mas envio.

Pero NO ME ARREPIENTO y creo que VALIO LA PENA cada peso que gaste.

De hecho el dia que recibi mi unidad FL-50 la probe en la noche en el traspatio de mi casa, tomandole una foto a mi perro salchicha....

Quede SORPRENDIDO ante la RAPIDEZ (en primera) del enfoque, y tambien con la PRECISION (en segunda) del mismo.

De ahi en adelante he tomado fotos de eventos sin mayor problema, asi esten con BUENA luz, con LUZ de Penumbra o INCLUSO en casi total obscuridad.

Como comentario al calce... si se deciden a comprar alguna de las unidades de flash ya sea la FL-36 o la FL-50. NO SE OLVIDEN de adquirir UNO o DOS paquetes de PILAS RECARGABLES NiMH de 2500 o mas capacidad, claro... con su respectivo cargador.

Ya que de lo contrario si usan pilas comunes, a la vuelta de los meses la cuenta del gasto en pilas PUEDE SER CONSIDERABLE.

Para los que adquieran la FL-36 una MUY BUENA opcion son las pilas RECARGABLES de Litio CRV3, que ademas de pesar MENOS que las pilas comunes y las NiMh, duran un poco mas.

Este tipo de pilas en GENERAL no son buena opcion para el FL-50 ya que estas pilas por lo general poseen un chip que detecta picos de carga (como los que genera el FL-50) y DESCONECTA el suministro de la pila (ya que el chip cree que la pila puede estar en corto).
A menos que encuentren un proveedor de este tipo de pilas que NO tenga este tipo de chip, es mejor que para el FL-50 se queden con pilas NiMh recargables que son bastante economicas y durables.

RESUMIENDO.

Recomiendo mucho la adquisicion de alguna de las unidades de flash de olympus tanto la FL-36 como la FL-50.

SI... es un poco cara (sobre todo la FL-50), pero creanme.... VALE LA PENA.

Desde Mexico D.F.

Ciao.



Get this for your Panasonic Lumix FZ50 camera!
Panasonic sells this same unit under their brand for substantially more money. If you dig real deep on the Panasonic site under "compatibility," you'll learn that Panasonic and Olympus teamed up on Panasonic's new high end camera.

The collaboration, it appears, has been going on for some time: this unit is the same as the Panasonic DML-FL500 and works perfectly with the Lumix FZ-50. So if the price of the Panasonic unit has held you back, get this one.

It is worth it.

Today I shot pictures of the grandkids at a children's museum. I had excellent flash lighting in TTL AUTO mode from about 25 feet away. Shots of people within five feet or so of the lens are over-exposed, so just dial in -0.7 stop correction on the FL-50 and everything is fine. You can go plus or minus 3 full stops on the flash itself.

You can set the flash mode (i.e., auto flash with redeye pre-flash) from the FZ-50.

Overall, this is a superb smart flash that is fully compatible with the Lumix FZS-50 at a substantially lower price. You will not regret this purchase if you're serious about your photography. The head rotates practially 360 degrees, swivels almost 240, is powerful and has a built-in diffuser for super-wide angle lenses. It uses AA batteries.

Full manual control when you want it.

A very sweet package.

Jerry


Olympos FL-50 Electronic flash
A wonderful unit. Versatile and very effective. Works beautifully with my Olylmpus E-300. If there is a drawback its that it eats up batteries real fast. Rechargeables are essential. Also, for an old codger like me, it's darn near as complicated as my camera itself. In fact the instruction manual is larger! Nevertheless I like them both.


FL-50 is part of a system, not just another spedlite
If you read this far on the FL-50, you should read also mine report on the FP-1 (search for Olymp fp-1) - a lateral grasp, which is sketched, is around with the fl-50 to be gone and it to be accelerated is cycle time. Now you know that the FL-50 is flagship lightning of Olymp - however there are more, which should know you about this certain lightning. First - there are 4 exra pins in a row under a rubber cover. 2 of them gets into adjusted 6V (as in 6,000 V) and the other two, probably upward of 300 V for the loading of the main cap come in on those pins with a special signaling system, that by (I believe), are spoken high voltage adapter HV-1 (later) in second place - the FL-50 is also the basis for the doublesharp control desk of lightning and the ring. Some things keep changed - the red objective is blackened out, because other lightnings (at least ring lightning) can focus and see have a modelling of the lights thus you, where the sharp "star" or "the bang" terminates above in your photo (or even receives it from your photo!) That is not to say that you can loose-hook your Flashtube of your FL-50 and form ring lightning expensive desk simply - its, which and controls and the LCD are very familiar plastics to you, if you macro lightning later in the life (none of "upper" lightnings function up well, if your topic is tariff of the objective filter), more on the HV-1 receive. Hidden deep within the FL-50's "brain" is a remarkable ability to correspond to process with the OLY HV-1 supplying material. What forms soo the HV-1 well? Well first away, it has 2700 milliampere hour a battery set. -- you say, probably - I can 2700 milliampere hour nimh cells into the FL-50 insert -- I energize you completely do in addition. The FL-50 holds 4 2700 milliampere hour of cells. The HV-1 starts with 6 and gives it the 50% tension increase, plus the present increase on those. That is, the HV-1's is battery supply material compared really high speed also, which you can do with 4 AA nimh cels. Now is here the best part! FL-50 with 4 2700 NIMH AA cells - full reloading - approximately 6 or 7 seconds of FL-50 with HV-1 and EMPTY battery room on the FL-50, the same conditions - 1 sec.. Strikes that is, uses FL-50 with HV-1 and that 2700 milliampere hour of NIMH within it - the FL-50 BOTH its internal inverter and the HV-1 as pair to again-load to as fast as possible. (OH- yea - and we know with such a very large condenser like the FL-50 that we will not thus empty it each time, its more probable the reloading times, are breaks of one second.) And now we built that up whole mentioned above. Our best 2700 milliampere hour of AA cells - which adapter HV-1 (also on ring lightning and double lightning and modelling the lights works) - we place the "MODE" to switch on our Evolt cameras on sport mode, switch the assumption on of lightning - which happens! If you are fair with lightning for abundance - them can hold for the rate above with the sport, shoot! I used one sandisk 4GB E-III 133x map, a compressed illustration and Kriegsgefangen Kriegsgefangen Kriegsgefangen Kriegsgefangen Kriegsgefangen, which held her to fire so long as I down-held the shutter. At ISO 100. Inward. Natural light. It sum up so above - if you are content to wait that lightning goes through a cycle, or you, the system FL-50 shoot that wobbly 1 second exposure illustrations and HV-1 forget you. Receive simply a FL-36 and you store alot from $. however - IF - and only if - you think that you preceding, for a sharp __ SYSTEM __ it with the FL-50 will then begin. They can by the HV-1 later (I) - and then, if you receive some good objectives and you wish ring lightning for high close and smooth a modelling of the work, all co-operate your sharp parts! They do not possess straight speedlight, but a mobile Studioroehrenblitz - with TTL measuring - and you go never everywhere without the combination HV-1/FL-50. If 10 cells charge your battery in place of 4, them sharp taking to a new condition.


Olympus FL-50 Electronic Flash
I used the FL-50 on my Olymp Evolt E-300 for approximately one month, and I am very much fulfilled. The battery life and prepare time are been very good up. I took a number of photos in the self mode; Ttl automobile, automobile and FP automobile. The FP mode rather well they worked Ttl automobile showed excellent exposure to all interior and night photos for in free filling out lightning and with higher ISO for activity flashes.


Amazing quality for amazing images...
I, the Oly C8080 CR to possess and decided up, which for one upcoming wedding to use lightning. IchWAR in the term, which is glad now there FL-36 to buy and I, which for the FL-50 one rises, I, paid the small point additional expenses to I for it! It is a large piece of equipment. Photography mostly is over learning to steer the bright in order to receive, which you wish. And with the impact, the Schwenker and the energy, which will contain in this lightning, you are capable of some really large shots. One of the first things, which, I except, was how largely my interior shots came out, the FAST prepares time considered. Even if I have a character string of the activity of shots, to above to join the sharp Unterhaelte. And any good 2300 - 2500 milliampere hour rechargable AA batteries holds you to flash for nearly 300 pictures without a misfiring. The only thing, which I do not like, is that the focus light of lightning is not made possible with the C8080 (only on the e-category systems). But its usableness does not shorten. Large areas, in free abundance lightning -, low or high-cover... make it not it accomplish still like a champion out.


Expensive... but worth it!
I know, I know... you're looking at this Olympus flash and thinking "Oh ____ (substitute your particular phrase here)... I can't afford that, why would Olympus do me like that... I just shelled out good money on my E-500 or E-330 and I don't want to pay that much for a freakin' flash unit". We've all been there. So you start looking at the FL-36 (I own one too and like it) and you start rationalizing that well, maybe you don't need the biggest/"bestest" flash on the planet... Maybe you've even taken a glance at the FL-20 (got that one as well, not bad for portability)... well, just stop already. Start saving your change from the store and save and BUY THIS ONE... why? Because it is everything a flash unit should be. Big. Bright (guide # is 164 feet people!). Full control. and best of all, it recycles fast, fast, fast. I just couldn't believe how quickly I could hit that shutter button a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th time (careful not to go too far... all flash units can be damaged if you overtax them). It was awesome... practically no waiting as I do with my FL-36 (my only real complaint about that unit, otherwise it is excellent). Lastly, I suggest you purchase an Omni Bounce cap to fit over (Sto-Fen makes a large line of them). Once you have, you will have rendered the darkness impotent against you and your mighty Olympus FL-50... after all, you and I are after the same thing, right? GREAT PICTURES. The FL-50 helps get you there. No doubt it is one expensive flash unit... but worth it in the end.



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--end of Olympus FL-50 Electronic Flash for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras