moikle Posted December 10, 2006 Share #1 Posted December 10, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am just about to purchase a Leica Digilux 3. I am never overly enamoured by built in flash units and prefer an external unit with swivel head (flash on a Leica....yes I know!). As Leica do not offer a unit I presume I can use either something like the Panasonic FL 500 or 360 but would prefer the Olympus FL 36. Is anyone able to confirm that the Olympus unit is compatible and would give TTL flash? Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 10, 2006 Posted December 10, 2006 Hi moikle, Take a look here Flash for Digilux 3 . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tomcat Posted December 10, 2006 Share #2 Posted December 10, 2006 Both the FL-36 and FL-50 should work with the Digilux 3 as they work on my L1. The only reservation I have is that there is a chance that some of the earliest batches of FL-36 may have a problem working with D3/L1. I certainly have had problem with my FL-36 but no problem whatsoever with the FL-50 on the L1. A FZ50 owner had also reported problems with his used FL-36 with an early serial no. of 1003xxx. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Maio Posted December 10, 2006 Share #3 Posted December 10, 2006 If you want just auto flash (not TTL) your options are wider. For those few times I've needed it, my Nikon SB-800 set to auto works pretty well. I just have to manually match the f/stop on the flash to the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
moikle Posted December 10, 2006 Author Share #4 Posted December 10, 2006 Steve, Thanks for the information I'll certainly sound out the FL-50. John, It did occur to me that I could use a quality flash on auto. Thanks for your information on the SB800. It just happens I've have one of those. :-) Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJLogan Posted December 10, 2006 Share #5 Posted December 10, 2006 Don't be too quick to dismiss the D3's built-in flash. Fully extended and facing forward, it's pretty grisly, but the bounce-flash position is fabulous in the right circumstances (shooting a horizontal image indoors in a room with a normal-height, light-colored ceiling. This is the third photo I took with my brand-new D3 on Thanksgiving, with all the settings at the camera's shipping default. The room was dimly lit by halogen bulbs reflecting off the artwork on the dark red walls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Maio Posted December 10, 2006 Share #6 Posted December 10, 2006 Mike, Actually, I got the idea from Sean Reid, who mentioned that he uses an old Vivitar 125 on his M8 in auto when doing weddings. Since thats an older design, he also uses the Wein "Safety Synch" on the hot shoe between the camera body and the flash. I shot "auto" for years when I did weddings using MF film with good results. You just have to work a little more thoughtfully when setting up - not a bad thing really Since, as Michael Logan says, the built-in flash, with its unique bounce position for this sized camera, works quite well on the Digilux-3, I wasn't about to spend $375 or so for an Oly flash that I might not use that often. Besides, I want to have some $$ left for whatever new 4/3 lenses that might come up next year. I'd really like a nice compact 35mm equivalent (17mm 4/3) at f/1.4 prime for street shooting with the Digilux-3! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted December 10, 2006 Share #7 Posted December 10, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) if AUTO might be your thing, that could be good, tho later flash might be an advantage you might like to think about Metz flashes i think they can TTL with Olys, so I see no reason why the D3 wouldnt live with that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted December 11, 2006 Share #8 Posted December 11, 2006 I totally agree with MJLogan. I have both the D2 and now an L1 (aka D3), and also have a Metz 40MZ-3i External Flash. All I can say is that the D2 and L1 inbuilt flash is "astounding". I have been uses flashes for 35+ years and have never seen 'on camera' flashes behave so magnificantly. For candid photography the inbuilt flash is better than my Metz. The only time I use the Metz is for large settings where I need more bounce light, and slight fill-in, which the Metz provide with it's twin reflectors. The D2/L1 flash when used "directly" produces better shots than my Metz in straight foreward flash. If your flash usage is not in a big setting, from my experience, save yourself some dollars and see how you go with the inbuilt flash. Particularly as the L1 and D3 are showing how good they are in the ISO 400-800 range, with a mild flash, may achieve your flash expectations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickR Posted December 11, 2006 Share #9 Posted December 11, 2006 What's nice about the FL-50 (and I think FL-36, also) is the ability to do daylight fill at any shutter speed using Super FP Mode. Fill flash in bright sunligh is worth something. And since the flashes and camera can talk to each other, you can use the FL in bounce mode and use the on camera flash straight on for highlights, a neat effect. To me, it seems worth it to spend a little extra and get the flash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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