OR am I the only one? I love my camera, but whenever I want to buy accessories for it I am stuck. I am on a TIGHT budget so I need to buy used or buy from someone besides Olympus, but it seems everything is geared toward canon and nikon.

Anyone here have any suggestions as to what to buy and where? I am still VERY green and could use any and all suggestions and tips.

Currently I am wanting to buy an external flash for my camera, but don't want to spend  a whole heck of a lot of money, but I will if I need to. Any suggestions?

TIA

Brandy

Hi Brandy

I use an Olympus E500 and also have an E410.  I bought a FL36 flash because just like you have very limited funds.  I also got a cord to use the flash off camera on a bracket which I had when I use a film camera.

A few days ago I was bidding on Ebay on a FL36R which you can use off camera without a cord on manuel but did not get it as I was outbidded.

I bid a max of $165.00 and someone got it for about $170.

Try Ebay on digital cameras and select Olympus and you can find some good deals at very reasonable prices.

Iggie

Thanks Iggie

It is nice to know that I am not alone with my olympus. I have an E-510.

What kind of lens do you use?

I <3 Olivia, my E300....she's my fave that I've ever had....

BUT...

you're right on accessories....

BUT..,Iggie's right, Ebay is the place to look..

 We've got a whole slew of Oly dSLR's!  From E-1's to E-3's...

What are you looking for, accessory wise? 

Iggie:

A few days ago I was bidding on Ebay on a FL36R which you can use off camera without a cord on manuel but did not get it as I was outbidded.

Just an FYI, as for as I know, only the E3 is able to take advantage of the off-camera capability of the "R" series flashes... 

 Actually E-3 - onwards.. so 520, 420, and one of new compacts can do it too.

(unless you just looking for optical slave triggering. then anything really can use them)

But. But. Trust me on this one - new R stuff is not as great as some think it is. 

However there is one new cool feature of R flashes that no one seems to ever mention - they now got 1/3 Ev stop power adjustments.. :)
Old series got full ones only.
 

--

 
Why would you go on ebay to get FL36R for 170$ if you can buy it from SHOP for that much - is beyound me, though. How hard is it really to look at the amazon.com? Then you getting new stuff, with warranty and all bonuses you can shake the stick at..

PS: i do own Oly gear. Quite a lot of it,bc E- is me primary system nowdays. 

I get mine from ebay or B&H.

What are you looking to get? I guess i should ask what are you shooting too? I started off with a smaller external flash, the Fl-36, but it was no where near as good as the Fl-50 (but it's a bit more.) I have my old Fl-36 I'd be willing to sell if your interested, but I'm sure there are a ton on ebay since the new Fl-50Rs have come out.

I am shooting portraits, mostly outdoors, my on camera flash is usually sufficient, but i don't want sufficient, i want excellent. You know? I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for really. Like I said before, I'm still new at this, and I want everything all at once, new lenses, new flashes, etc, etc. I am not 100% sure what to get, which is one reason I don't want to spend a whole heck of a lot, just in case I get something that maybe isn't exactly what I needed.

Thanks for all the responses.

Thanks Sergei!  I didn't realize they'd added IR to E-X20's.  Appreciate the heads up...   :o)

TxMensan:

Thanks Sergei!  I didn't realize they'd added IR to E-X20's.  Appreciate the heads up...   :o)

NP :)

But seriously though - i got 2 FL36R  to play , and i cant say i am entirely happy with whole remote TTL/control thing when its done by on-camera flash. Its too.... flashy :) Also if you have complex setup  - like trying to shoot someone sitting in the car, in garage - you getting all sorts of problems b/c flashes wont see each other  and you got to bounce them like crazy so things will talk to camera, blah blah.. and of course - you getting hotspots from that wee on-camera flash.. Ugh.

I think remote TTL is about only useful  when you dont have real time to think and put lights and do few test shots.  Then you got to rely on TTL and RAW.

Overwise - you better off with few flashes and Pocket Wizards.
 

(that said - i LOVE new 1/3 EV power adjustments.. that may convince me to buy another R - FL50R to replace my FL50 in about year or so). 

Bjane Photography:

I am shooting portraits, mostly outdoors, my on camera flash is usually sufficient, but i don't want sufficient, i want excellent.

generally - on camera flash is a toy. Only real thing its good for - to "ignite" some remote slaves, and that is about it, really. You should hide it and never show to people you shooting :)

 
probably your best bet - get yourself 36R (please.. do not get sucked into whole "buy older vivtar flash for 90 bucks  + 360 bucks worth of trancievers for your first light, instead of 170$) , and use it as part of two-flash setup, if you havent yet figured out what you really want. 36 is pretty powerful thing, and if you feel later on like you need more power - there is 50R.

If you will ever get told that you need "real studio light" tell them to get stuffed. 150W studio stobe aint doing much more than you wee portable (and it is VERY LIGHT AND SMALL) 36R. It just recycles faster (and not always, btw).  And you can do hell of the lot more with it on most occasions.

Go and read articles on portable light, check Strobist.com , check HonlPhoto.com  ... then you can start thinking about what you really want to do and why. 

I'm bringing this back after doing a search for Olympus flash units.  I desperately need an external flash but can't spend the $200 currently required for a FL36R.  If anyone is willing to sell an Olympus compatible, I'm interested.

Thanks!

I have both the fl-36 and the fl-50. What are you wanting to use the FL-36 for? If it is for any professional work...weddings ect...I would not go with the fl-36 anyway. You would want the faster more powerful fl-50. Someone else maybe can offer help with a cheaper alternative.

BTW, I know this is an older post but I shoot with the Olympus e-3.  I started out with the e-300.