 BetterPhoto Member |
Flash for Olympus C3000 Can anyone suggest a replacement for FL-40? This flash is too expensive! Many thanks
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John A. Lind |
Kheim, A friend at work also has an Olympus for which the FL-40 was designed. He also suffered from "sticker shock" at its price. Not only that, but it requires the flash handle and a cord, neither of which is very inexpensive. Metz just created a module (SCA 3202) that is compatible with any of its flash heads that use "SCA 3000" series modules. While some of the more powerful of these flash heads are also expensive, the MZ32-3 can be found inexpensively used. Unfortunately, according to Metz, you still need the Olympus flash handle and cord to use it, but at least it makes the flash head itself less expensive. -- John
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Bradley D. Benjamin |
I have this exact camera (Oly C-3000). I have pretty much found out that in order to use an external flash, you HAVE to buy the Olympus cord and handle which retail for about $100 for the pair. Once you have those, you can use most flashes with it, but you won't get TTL metering unless you buy the Olympus flash. I have a flash with my other camera made by Promaster that can accept different modules for different cameras. I simply bought a single pin module and use it with my Olympus. I have just under $200 into the flash and 2 modules. The flash was about $140 (it's bounce/swivel and zoom), the Canon EOS module was about $40 and the generic single pin module was about $20. This setup works fine for me on the C-3000, you just have to manually compensate for the flash in your settings, the camera won't meter it in.
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John A. Lind |
The Metz SCA 3202 module provides for TTL metering. That's the purpose of the SCA 3202; it is designed specifically for use with most of the Olympus "C" digitals (any of them that can use the FL-40 will work with it). Most of the Metz system flash heads are designed with interchangeable modules so they can be used as a "dedicated" flash with very nearly any camera made and function as such, including TTL metering, transfer of auto-focus data, aperture settings, transfer of zoom lens setting, and anything else fed to the flash through the hot shoe. New camera systems are not on the market for long before Metz has an SCA 300, SCA 3000 or SCA 3002 series module for it. Which module series it falls into depends on camera system, not their current flash heads which can use any of these series. A used MZ32-3 in "excellent plus" condition can be easily found for about $100 to $120. Add the $50 cost of a new SCA 3202 module to that, plus the cost of Olympus bracket and cord. I doubt seriously the modules will be found on the used market yet as they were just released by Metz. -- John
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