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Binding: Electronics
Brand: Olympus
EAN: 0050332160750
Item Dimensions: 29072075390
Label: Olympus
Manufacturer: Olympus
Model: 260116
MPN: 260116
Publisher: Olympus
Studio: Olympus
Features:- High Power Bounce and swivel Flash
- TTL Dedicated
- TTL Auto, Auto, and Manual
Accessories:
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
The FL-50R is an external flash unit that allows wireless flash settings to be controlled from the camera body. Wireless flash transmission channel settings enable selection of flash/no flash for groups of multiple flash units. In addition it allows TTL auto, auto, and manual modes to be set; offers a bounce and swivel head; and flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the image area when zooming. The FL-50 provides GN28 at a 12mm focal length (equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera; ISO 100) and GN50 at 42mm focal length (equivalent to 85mm on a 35mm camera; ISO 100). Along with the standard bounce and swivel capability, power zoom and a full range of TTL Automatic, Automatic and Manual flash modes, the FL-50R offers the Super FP Mode enabling flash sync at speeds up to 1/4000th second so fill-flash can be used in the brightest of situations. This is achieved by the flash's ability to fire before the shutter opens and stay illuminated until after the shutter closes. Designed specifically for digital photography, the FL-50R flash also has more even illumination with less corner fall-off than traditional film flashes. Four remote control communication channels can be set by the user to avoid interference with other peripherals in the vicinity. Photographers also have the option to control wireless transmission distance by choosing between three signal strengths - for a range of up to 33 feet. Choice of four channels to avoid interference Extendable transmission distance TTL Auto, Auto, and Manual modes Flash coverage is automatically adjusted in several steps to correspond to the focal length of the lens when zooming For Olympus E DSLR
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
I purchased this flash to go side by side with my Metz 58. Originally I felt that there was some issues with underexposure. Originally thinking there may be faults with the flash, I checked online for some tips on using this flash unit, sure enough the issue was me not setting it up right. The flash works flawlessly. I feel it works much better with my Olympus cameras than my Metz does.
The RC operation has worked perfectly, don't have any issues to report. I would like to get a 2nd FL50r to have a 3 light kit. If you're using an Olympus DSLR capable (or incapable, all you need is some pocket wizards) of using the wireless flash capabilities, I recommend using these flashes.
Rating: -
Wish I would have bought the stronger one, BUT for the price you can't beat this. It still gets the job done. Only thing I wish it had was rechargeable battery system with quick refresh. being broke and a college student makes for very slow picture taking via rechargeable AA :)
Rating: -
Very good flash, I would recommend that you also use Lithium batteries with this flash to improve the re-fresh rate. Great flash.
Rating: -
After tiring of lens shadows and not enough light from the built in flash of my E-520, I decided to take the plunge and purchase this expensive flash. Well i'm glad I did. I no longer have to stress and strain for lighting in the indoors.
I use the remote feature more than I mount the flash and get great light effects. The stand that it comes with is adequate for most tasks and it comes with a bounce cap that I find to produce better soft light than a fancy diffuser kit that I bought.
This flash saved my winter indoor shooting!
Rating: -
Summary: If you have an Olympus Four-Thirds System Digital SLR camera, this is the flash to buy for it.
My Background: I am an accomplished amateur, with quite a bit of experience. I got my first "real" camera as a teenager in the 1960's. My last one before my current camera was an Olympus OM-2n. I have won awards in both the photo contests I have entered. I enjoy the technical aspects of photography. I didn't just read the manuals that came with my camera and flash, I studied them.
My camera: My newest camera is an Olympus e-520, which has all the communication capability necessary to use the FL-50R's features. Some features may not be available with your camera, so you should check your camera's manual and the flash unit's manual to be sure. [Aside: I was unable to find a download for the FL-50R manual anywhere, so I e-mailed Olympus support. They sent me a link that worked for me, but is no longer valid. I suspect that if you e-mail them, you can get the manual in PDF format, as I did.]
Pros:
* Absolutely the best feature of this flash (for me) is its power. At ISO 400, with the lens at f4, the auto flash will shoot out to 25 meters. That's 82 feet! Switch to ISO 800 or f2.8 and you can shoot a subject over 100 feet away. The GN (Guide Number) for this flash is 50 (in meters). If you do your calculations in feet, the GN is 164!
* The flash zooms in and out automatically with the camera lens, up to a point. It has an equivalent focal length range of 12-42 mm (24-84 equivalent in 35 mm). This is exactly the range of the standard lens on my camera. There is a wide angle diffuser panel built in so you can use wider lenses if desired. You may zoom the flash manually in some modes.
* My camera uses its built-in flash to illuminate dark areas when auto-focusing. With the FL-50R mounted, it uses the auto-focus emitter on the FL-50R. This is a separate, relatively low-intensity, red emitter. It is much, much faster and much, much less annoying to people than the camera's built-in flash.
* If the flash is mounted on the camera, when you turn the camera off, the flash also turns off. (Actually it goes into SLEEP mode, but the result is the same.) When you turn the camera back on, the flash comes on as well. This will save your flash batteries.
* While you can use the Olympus lithium battery ($10), this flash works extremely well with NiMH rechargeable batteries. The manual says NiMH batteries will take about 200 photos. I took about 250 flash photos of various power levels before recharging my 2700 mAh, NiMH batteries, but the LOW BATTERY indicator had not come on yet. With NiMH, the flash charging time (time from turn on until you get a CHARGE light) was 4.8 seconds with fresh batteries. This increased to 6.8 seconds after about 60 flash photos at various flash intensities. Even after 250 flashes, the charging time never got ridiculously long.
* There is an FP AUTO mode that allows you to use the flash even at high shutter speeds. This allows use of fill-in flash for backlit subjects on bright day.
* The flash has a LIGHT button that illuminates the flash's control display. How nice that someone thought that you might be using a flash because the light was dim. The display will also illuminate on a signal from the camera.
Cons:
* The manual warns not to use this flash on non-Olympus cameras. (Page 49)
* This unit is big. I don't find it uncomfortably large, but that's mostly because I am willing to deal with the extra weight and volume in order to get the features this flash supplies. When it's mounted on my camera and it's hanging from the neck strap, the camera flops down and is difficult to carry easily.
* There is a limit to the number of flash emissions you are allowed in a given time. This is difficult to use in real life. The limit is 10 full-power flashes in 10 minutes, or 20 half-power flashes in 10 minutes, etc. Since you don't know the power of any given flash emission in any of the AUTO modes, you must estimate the usage and curtail flash photography as required. The reason is that the light unit gets hot, as do the batteries.
* The attachment for the reflector adaptor is seriously hokey. Basically, Olympus uses the equivalent of a rubber band to strap the adaptor to the flash. About the only good thing you can say about this is that the reflector adaptor doesn't seem to be very useful, so you'll probably leave it in a drawer anyway. There is no place to stow it on the FL-50R.
Additional Notes:
* The RC (Remote Control?) mode allows you to mount the FL-50R on a small stand (included), or a light stand, or a tripod. The flash can be controlled by a compatible camera. The drawback to this is that the FL-50R must be able to "see" the camera's flash (which is used to control ... Read More
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