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Home Cameras Flashes & Lighting Hotshoe Flashes

Reviews for Olympus FL-36 Digital Camera Flash Light

TTL, Automatic - MPN: 260113

|10 reviews

Product Reviews

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By member: SteveM61 - Apr 25, 2007

Excellent compact flash for Olympus E-system DSLRs!!!

Strengths: VERY compact & lightweight • Excellent power output • Seemless integration with E-system DSLR cameras • Outstanding user interface • Intuitive operation

Weakness: Slow maximum flash sync speed in non-FP modes • Corner shadows (vignetting) can be bad at 14mm focal length • Tendency for underexposure when used with E-330

Overall, this is an excelent compact TTL flash for Olympus E-system DSLR cameras. Similar to it's big brother, the FL-50, one design flaw of the FL-36 is that in non-FP modes, even Auto and Manual, the maximum flash sync shutter speed is limited to 1/180 sec, even though the E-1 (and presumably other E-DSLRs as well) can safely sync at 1/250 sec. FP mode overcomes this flash sync limit, allowing the use of shutter speeds as high as 1/8000 sec, but at the cost of significantly reduced power output. One very nice feature of the FL-36 is that exposure compensations can be made via a dial on the back of the flash. Overall, it's a great flash with only a few weaknesses (noted above).

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By member: souman - Mar 6, 2007

Perfect for Evolt E-500

Strengths: Uses AA battery

Weakness: Pricy

Bought the flash to use with my new Evolt E-500 camera. Didn't want to go with the expensive since I am still new to DSLR. Pictures are surely amazing using the flash than the integrated one.

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By member: chlee - Oct 9, 2006

Could have been a great little flash unit...

Strengths: Richly featured for an inexpensive unit.

Weakness: long recycle times

Based on function this flash is a great little unit and an excellent compliment to the entry level four thirds DSLRs. All the modes useful for the enthusiast photgraphers are supported.

That said, this flash has a serious flaw. One can't expect great power output from a flash at this price range but with only 2 AA cells the Flash Interval times (5.5~7.5 sec) and the number of flashes (140~320) pending battery type just are not good enough when chasing kids indoors. Many shots will be missed while waiting for the flash to recharge.

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By member: esprod - Jun 17, 2007

FL-36

Strengths: Great Flash, highly suggest!

Weakness: Nothing!

I highly suggest this flash for everyone that desire better pictures in low light condition. The FL-36 can achieve beautiful photographs that appear to be taken in natural light. You have to spend some time with the manual to fully utilize its features. This flash reach more than 20mts long. They're cheap, easy to carry and can be recharged quickly with a fast-charger.

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By member: otisbig2000 - Oct 26, 2005

Olympus FL36 Flash

Strengths: Full interface with Olympus cameras. E-300 in particular. Great TTL features.

Weakness: Perhaps not the most powerful output.

The compatability with my Olympus E-300 was the main reason for the purchase. It allows use of the camera flash with the FL36 and you can use the focus assist feature with and without trigering the flash.

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By member: bballcards - Jun 7, 2006

Great Complement for an Olympus EVOLT E-300.

Strengths: Sleek, stylish, and a perfect addition for an EVOLT E-300. Fits directly on the hot shoe and syncs perfectly with the camera.

Weakness: Price. $179.99 seems steep for just a flash.

When I started snapping shots with my Olympus EVOLT E-300, I noticed that many of them seemed quite dark. The E-300's built-in flash is simply inadequate for anything but the simplest indoor shots. The FL-36 corrects this shortcoming, producing a flash that lights up a room. I like the fact that it syncs perfectly with the E-300, including the picture-shooting mode selected on the camera. This flash also offers manual controls that you can change with the knob on the flash itself. Compared to the FL-20, Olympus' lower model flash, this flash simply seems more "in tune" with the shot. The light that it produces seems appropriate for the situation (as opposed to the FL-20, where many shots seemed too bright). Conveniently, this flash is powered by simple AA batteries.

The flash also comes with a fancy leather drawstring pouch. In looking at the overall design of the flash, it just screams "high end technology."

The largest shortcoming of this flash is its price ($179.99 on a good day). In addition, the power button can be annoying, as it's not especially stiff and is slightly depressed below the surface of the rest of the plastic housing.

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By member: Primapapa - Feb 3, 2007

Olympus FL-36 Flash for Digital Cameras

Strengths: Quickly recharges, possibility to bounce light off the walls or ceiling, TTL Auto mode is practically full-proof.

Weakness: the wheel is stiff (maybe because it is new)

I own this flash for about two weeks now - great addition to my Olympus E-500. I spent almost an entire evening pointing it in different directions and and watching how it changes the picture. It recharges pretty quickly, possibly because the re are only two cells in a battery. If you really want to use it well - study the manual.

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By member: dawu1996 - Jan 5, 2008

it does make different

Strengths: full function with olympus camera, good price.

Weakness: flash range is less than fl50

I did lot of tests these three days using my olympus e510. The result was totally different from taking picture using built-in flash. The picture looks more natural, more professional, exposure much better than built-in flash. plus you can choose different angle to meet what exactly you want. it is worthy. I recommend it to everyone who want to get quality picture, especially indoor picture.

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By member: iddy92 - Aug 7, 2007

Good All-Purpose Flash

Strengths: small size, can rotate, requires only 2 AA batteries. excellent choice for bounce flash, price

Weakness: not enough firepower for direct-flash, but in most instances, adequate.

this is a great portable unit for your olympus evolt camera. i use this mainly for bounce flash and the result comes out great. much better than the built-in flash. this is certainly a great flash to use for in-door. color looked more natural and realistic.

highly recommend!

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By member: pmolitierno - Jul 11, 2007

Nice alternative to the pricier FL-50. Does what you...

Strengths: Amount of flash available. Runs on AA batteries, syncs with my E-410 camera flawlessly.

Weakness: shot to shot recharge time. (only two batteries)

This flash has significantly improved the quality of the pictures that I take indoors as the flash is capable of providing light in the direction you need it thanks to the swiveling head and tilt mechanism as well as the flash zoom. A must have for any photographer novice to professional.

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