FL-36 or FL-50 for macro

[Phira]

hi all,

i have a panasonic FZ-50 but i'm planning to get a olympus flash for it. Just wondering, if my needs are for photographing at close distance, is the FL-36 sufficient? i've read many posts of ppl selling or exchanging their FL-36s for FL-50s, so i'm just abit unsure.

also, if i use the FL-36 at close distance, what are the recycling times like?

any info would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by Phira hi all, i have a panasonic FZ-50 but i'm planning to get a olympus flash for it. Just wondering, if my needs are for photographing at close distance, is the FL-36 sufficient? i've read many posts of ppl selling or exchanging their FL-36s for FL-50s, so i'm just abit unsure. also, if i use the FL-36 at close distance, what are the recycling times like? any info would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

If its for macros, than the FL-36 is more than sufficient. I suppose the GN is 36. I am using GN of 28, and diffusing it will give good lighting effect.

[NatureTTL]

Hi Phira,

The recycling time for FL36 is too.. looong..., from 6-8 sec to 10+ sec depending on the battery power. Recycling time is slightly better with alkaline batt. as compared to rechargable batt. However, this long recycling time will only be an issue if you are always firing at full power where the capacitor was drained out after every one or two burst and need to be fully charged before next firing.

I fully agreed with ChuanYe, FL36 with GN 36 is more than enough for marco work as we normally don't fire at full flash. For me, I don't really count since it dosen't bother me, but one full charge of my FL36 can fire at least 3 to 6 time. I like its small, compact and lightness as compared to its bigger brother.

Btw, I think distances does not directly related to recycling time.

Cheers..

[Phira]

wow cool, thanks for the quick reply. Guess i'll get the FL-36

oh sorry, what i meant was if i use the flash for taking macros, using the correct output and stuff, how fast does the flash recycle. Coz i take mostly bugs, so i really need to snap fast! haha.

and... may i know what price i should aim for? lol

[say123]

Originally Posted by Phira wow cool, thanks for the quick reply. Guess i'll get the FL-36 oh sorry, what i meant was if i use the flash for taking macros, using the correct output and stuff, how fast does the flash recycle. Coz i take mostly bugs, so i really need to snap fast! haha. and... may i know what price i should aim for? lol

if u leave the flash head at the normal position, it will calculate the correct output in FP mode. If u choose to bounce the flash then the recharge time will be longer.

U can consider to get a DSLR and a ring flash for serious macro work.

[Phira]

haha... believe me, i've considered. But since my budget isn't really high, infact not high at all, i decided to get a prosumer instead. Guess the fact that lenses may cost as much or even more than the body itself put me off, i mean i even have trouble deciding whether i should get a external flash that costs around $300.

Besides, i think the FZ-50 is pretty good, with the DCR250 i can get pretty awsome bug macros, guess i only have trouble getting fast moving bugs. I just want a ext flash to enhance the photos and maybe allow me to shoot a little faster.

can check out some of my first few photos with the FZ-50 here http://www.flickr.com/photos/buglover

[holidaydom]

I've used the FL-36 for about half a year before upgrading to the FL-50.
(Main reason is for the noticably faster recharge times on the FL-50.)

However, if you're mainly shooting MACRO then the FL-36 will more than suffice.

The FL-36's head can be tilted downward (by about 5 degrees) to trigger the flash in "close-up" mode.

Put a bounce card over the head and flip down the wide-angle diffuser and you'll get pretty decent lighting from a hot-shoe flash. (As opposed to a decidated lens-mounted macro-flash)

But be aware that if you're shooting really close to the lens, the lens may result in a shadow being cast onto your subject.

In this case you've got 3 options...
1) Get a dedicated macro-flash
2) Get creative with reflectors to bounce the light
3) Get a cable/wireless trigger to move the flash off camera

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by NatureTTL Btw, I think distances does not directly related to recycling time.

Distance is indeed highly related to recharge time. Usually less light is needed for shorter distance and that means the flash does not have to discharge as much as with longer distance between the flash and the subject. The more the flash is discharged the longer it takes to recharge it.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Phira hi all, i have a panasonic FZ-50 but i'm planning to get a olympus flash for it. Just wondering, if my needs are for photographing at close distance, is the FL-36 sufficient? i've read many posts of ppl selling or exchanging their FL-36s for FL-50s, so i'm just abit unsure. also, if i use the FL-36 at close distance, what are the recycling times like? any info would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

I don't know about the Pana... Is it compatible with Oly in flash protocol? If not, why get an Oly flash at all? If you still want to go for Oly for some reason, remember FP, as someone suggested will not work, nor will TTL. Other than that, I think if you are not limited by budget you should get the FL-50. That flash is more flexible and much higher, so in many cases you will be able to use the flash on top of the camera without vignetting. It gives you much more freedom to be creative and lets you use of indirect flash. Remember that adding a reflector to bounce the light reduces the light and thus the discharge will need to be more powerful. That in turn may require longer recharge times and with only two AA batteries you may get very long recharge times.

If money is an issue, I would get a powerful non-Oly flash, maybe an older one. Those are cheap and work just fine. Usually you can get a very powerful one for less than the price of FL-36 on eBay.

[Phira]

FL-36 does work with panasonic, the ones panasonic sells are exactly the same, but for some reason they sell it more expensive

i've read from forums that everything works just fine, ttl and all. and i think a softbox should solve the problem of vignetting if there is any.

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Phira FL-36 does work with panasonic, the ones panasonic sells are exactly the same, but for some reason they sell it more expensive

What? Is there such thing as more expensive flash than Oly?

Originally Posted by Phira i've read from forums that everything works just fine, ttl and all. and i think a softbox should solve the problem of vignetting if there is any.

No, forget it. Soft box does not do any magic about vignetting. If the lens casts shadow over the subject tha shadow may become softer but definitely not removed by a soft box. Anyway, if you want to move the flash from your camera, use Canon shoe cord 2 and not Oly original. Canon cable is half price and works just as well. Also remember that if you intend to use FP mode than the guide number is considerably reduced.

So, if the question is FL-36 or FL-50 for macro, I would not hesitate a minute. FL-50 and you are not going to regret that. It is also very useful in many other situations where you'd appreciate more GN and faster recharge. It is definitely a much more powerful flash than the FL-36.

[Phira]

hey thanks for the advice OlyFlyer.

i'm certain panasonic sells their flashes at a higher price...lol

I guess no one can ever regret buying the FL-50, it being the best flash olympus sells. But i'm on a tight budget and only just got into photogrpahy. I don't think the FL-50 is worth my money since i'm still schooling and only have time for serious photo taking on weekends - if i'm free from study and homework...

and i guess if i stick to macro photography, the flash recharge times shouldn't be a problem... right?

cheers!

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by Phira hey thanks for the advice OlyFlyer. i'm certain panasonic sells their flashes at a higher price...lol I guess no one can ever regret buying the FL-50, it being the best flash olympus sells. But i'm on a tight budget and only just got into photogrpahy. I don't think the FL-50 is worth my money since i'm still schooling and only have time for serious photo taking on weekends - if i'm free from study and homework... and i guess if i stick to macro photography, the flash recharge times shouldn't be a problem... right? cheers!

You are welcome. Than actually the question was not about "FL-36 or FL-50 for macro" but "Is FL-36 good for macro?" And the answer from me is: probably. But if I was on a tight budget I would get two ordinary, third party second hand flashes, operated on 4xAA batteries each and use those two in parallell. Lighting would be improved and charge time also. You'd also save more than half of the FL-36's price and that money could be spent on other stuff, or just saved for the future. That way you'd learn what you need for a cheaper price. The only three functions you'd loose are the AF assist, TTL and the FP. Those are useful but not a requirement for flash photography. AF assist can not be used in macro at close range anyway, Manual and Auto modes are still available and the use of non TTL flash is actually not very difficult. Once learned, no problem at all. eBay is full of very good and cheap flashes, just watch out for trigger voltages.

[holidaydom]

You can also get one of those 3rd party slave flashes and use them on/off camera.

That way - you can trigger the slave using your on-camera flash and still have the relative freedom to position the slave to experiment with different lighting positions.

A relatively good slave from METZ can be bought at less than S$200.00 I think...

OR - you can just buy an old flash and get a slave trigger for about $15.00

[anakmelayu]

ermm wanna ask something.. how long recycling time for FL50?? and what battery are you guy using

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by anakmelayu ermm wanna ask something.. how long recycling time for FL50?? and what battery are you guy using

From fully discharged to fully charged about 4 seconds. Due to its high GN this is not needed very often. Most of the times I have around 1-2 seconds for people and less than 1 second for stuff that is near (less than 1 meter from) the camera. I use almost exclusively indirect flash, flash head pointing at roof or some kind of reflector.

4 x 2700mAh GP batteries are my main, I also have 8 x 2500mAh that I use if the 2700mAh are discharged.

[anakmelayu]

Originally Posted by OlyFlyer From fully discharged to fully charged about 4 seconds. Due to its high GN this is not needed very often. Most of the times I have around 1-2 seconds for people and less than 1 second for stuff that is near (less than 1 meter from) the camera. I use almost exclusively indirect flash, flash head pointing at roof or some kind of reflector. 4 x 2700mAh GP batteries are my main, I also have 8 x 2500mAh that I use if the 2700mAh are discharged.

erm.. i using sony 2300mAh and can only shoot about 20 time.. after that my recharge become poor 20 sec or more.. y eh?? .. are the batteries is a feak?

[holidaydom]

Time to get new batteries - your 2300s are probably not holding their charge as well as they should be...

[OlyFlyer]

Originally Posted by anakmelayu erm.. i using sony 2300mAh and can only shoot about 20 time.. after that my recharge become poor 20 sec or more.. y eh?? .. are the batteries is a feak?

I am talking about FL-50. If you do that too, than I suggest you get new batteries. Please remember, new, high capacity batteries may need new charger too, if yours is not the latest model. More modern ones keep better control of charge levels and charge each battery individually. Older ones charge in pair or all four or none. Not very good charging technique.

[anakmelayu]

maybe your all are rigth..maybe go n find another batteries