Olympus / Panasonic flash compatability

<p>Looking for a definitive answer to this. Do any of you know if the flashguns from these manufacturers are completely interchangeable with each camera system? </p>

<p>As I've been told, flash compatibility is part of the standard. They should be brand-agnostic. Either will work with both.</p>

<p>I've also been told that some of the Panny flashes are just re-branded Olympus flashes with reduced feature-sets.</p>

<p>Thanks Peter, that is good to know. </p>

<p>I'd still love to hear from someone who has ACTUALLY mixed and matched and KNOWS it works.<br /><br />Because if you mix and match lenses, some of the cameras features don't do everything they do normally (like Olympus' CA correction doesn't happen with Panny lenses and vice versa).</p>

I use the Olympus FL 36R and the FL50 on my two Panasonic bodies and have no problems with the usual flash functions, including slave and TTL and ETTL and Auto and Manual. I am not sure about the remote function modes for all, because I do not use it / Prefer radio triggering off off camera flash. Never used a branded Panasonic flash, they are pretty much twins from what I can tell though.... Using Canon ( the work too) off camera cables as well, the synch points line up and they transmit OK)l. I would venture an e mail to Olympus to ask. They answered me back on another question. Definitive maybe not, but in my opinion, they are compatible if we are talking about recent flashes and recent cameras. I have a chart somewhere on what works with what with the few exceptions. The functionality of the focus light is a question, but I have not found it to be operational problem with cameras that do not use the flash focus light.... I would not bet money on full total in all cases functionality for such things as focus beam if it comes to that.

 

Anyone have a link to post from the companies re the four thirds state of flash workability between brands?

<p>Thanks again folks, that's all good information.</p>

<p>I have an Olympus FL600R that I have used both on-camera and off-camera in RC mode with my Panasonic GX7. No issues.</p>

<p>I'll just add to the definitive proof: regarding micro 4/3 equipment, the brand name on the camera or lens or flash is not important. They all work together without issue. I have used the FL-50R on my Panasonic various micro 4/3 cameras, and it functions 100%. The only caveat is that since Panasonic cameras don't have remote flash capability, even though the Olympus camera has a remote receiver, so remote flash with the FL-50R doesn't work. It's like the joke of the patient asking the doctor if he will be able to play piano when his hand heals. His doctor replies that he will, to which to patient responds, "Really? That's amazing, considering that I couldn't before!" Considering their naming scheme, I'd go so far as to say that except for Olympus' built-in remote flash capability that was added on, the Panasonic and Olympus flashes are completely identical regarding circuit boards and other internal parts.</p>

<p>Additionally, this question was already answered here last fall:<br />http://www.photo.net/olympus-camera-forum/00cley<br>

Buy whichever flash you find cheaper. Panasonic jacks up their prices, so I'd pick up the Olympus in most cases.</p>

<p>Thanks Ariel, that all sounds good to me :-)</p>

<p>I have a Metz flash with a foot described as being for Leica and Olympus, and it works great on all three.</p>

<p>I wonder if a Leica SF 20 would work on these...</p>

<p>Barry,<br /><br />I seriously doubt it would work "fully". It's not a µ43 system flash. It's for the R and M system.</p>

<p>I was thinking on what Bill Pearce said. But I guess its worth looking around a bit to see if anyone done it. First I have to find it :)</p>