Olympus FL-50R Wireless Flash

Forget dealing with cumbersome cables when wanting to get perfect lighting for your photographic subjects. Thanks to the new Olympus remote control (RC) wireless flash units FL-50R and FL-36R, cordless lighting set-ups are a convenient reality.

Both are ideal for use with the Olympus E-3 professional D-SLR which enables the control of up to three different flash groups directly from the camera no separate commander unit is required. Photographers benefit from extreme flash unit versatility and never again need to be hindered in the studio or in the field by troublesome wires.

Giving professionals the freedom and control they need to operate effectively in the studio or in the field, the FL-50R and FL-36R flash units enable flash photography minus the complication of cords and inconvenient set-ups. Control is possible directly from the camera without the need for cables.

These units represent the ideal accompaniment to the Olympus E-3, which features a newly-developed RC Data Transfer System that transmits data optically. This significantly reduces the power consumption of the built-in flash when being used as the system commander. A wide range of flash-related settings can also beeasily accessed and adjusted using the camera's LCD panel as the user interface.

Moreover, flash control is available in three groups, allowing flash mode and compensation settings to be set independently for each group thus enabling ultra-precise illumination.

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 10m. And both flash models incorporate adjustable heads which can be swivelled without impeding their ability to communicate.

Using their slave function, the FL-50R and FL-36R can also be used with other Olympus SLRs with manual flash facility and Olympus SP series cameras capable of slave mode operation. Furthermore, both models can also be interlocked with a large strobe in the studio.

The irradiation angle of each flash unit can be set either by automatic zooming according to the interchangeable lens used or manually. Thanks to a built-in wide panel, the expansive irradiation angle required with a focal distance of 8mm (equivalent to 16mm in 35mm terms) is covered.

The high-performance FL-50R boasts multiple adjustment modes including TTL Auto and manual, high-speed synchronisation in Super FP Mode up to 1/4000th sec and also features fast recycle intervals which can be as little as less than 1.3 sec. when using the SHV-1 Flash High-Voltage Set. The FL-50R boasts GN28 performance at a 12mm focal length (equivalent to 24mm on a 35mm camera; ISO 100) and a very powerful GN50 at a 42mm (equiv. to 84mm; ISO 100).