Thank you for purchasing the OLYMPUS Electronic Flash (FL-36). Before use, please read this instruction manual to ensure your safety, and keep it handy for future reference. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (Be sure to read and observe the following.) This instruction manual uses a variety of common symbols and icons to assist you in proper handling and usage of this product properly, and to warn you of potential hazards to yourself and others as well as to property.
CAUTION If you notice any abnormalities such as leakage, discoloration, deformation, overheating, or odor, stop using this device. Continued use could result in fire, overheating or explosion. Remove the batteries carefully to avoid burning yourself and to prevent exposure to gas or dangerous fluids that may be released. For repair, contact Olympus. Always remove the batteries when you don’t expect to use the electronic flash for a long period.
■ Improper use of batteries may result in fluid leak, heat generation and/or damage. Sweat and oil smudges may cause battery contact failure. To prevent this, remove any stain completely with a dry cloth and insert the batteries by observing the +/– polarity. ■ In general, battery performance will be temporarily reduced as the ambient temperature drops. When using batteries in a cold place, keep them warm by keeping the electronic flash in cold protection gear or clothing.
CHECKING THE PACKAGE CONTENTS CONTENTS • Selecting the control mode ................ 34 AUTO ................................................. 35 MANUAL ............................................ 37 Checking the Package Contents .................. 9 Nomenclature ............................................. 10 • Control Panel Indicators ............................. 12 • Loading Batteries ....................................... 14 • • Checking Batteries .....................................
NOMENCLATURE Bounce lock release button (left-right direction)(Page 40) Wide panel (Page 43) AF illuminator light-emitting area When the subject is dark or lowcontrast, the built-in AF illuminator emits light to facilitate focusing. The AF illuminator can also be defeated. (Page 47) • The AF illuminator only works with the Olympus Four Thirds System digital SLR camera. It does not work with other cameras.
CONTROL PANEL INDICATORS FP emission (Pages 29 & 32) Control mode (Pages 20 & 34) Light intensity adjustment (Pages 23, 26, 28, 31 & 33) FOUR THIRDS (Page 47) Wide panel warning (Page 43) Zoom mode (Page 42) Close-up flash shooting (Page 41) Zoom value (Page 42) ISO speed (Page 25) Lens iris (F) (Page 47) Guide Number (GN) (Pages 52 & 54) Feet (Page 47) Meter (Page 47) Setting display (GN, ISO, F, light control range, optimum shooting range, and light intensity adjustment value) Notes on This Ma
LOADING BATTERIES How to load the batteries The batteries are available separately. Always use one of the following battery combinations. • AA (R6) alkaline batteries (LR6 type) ................................... x 2 • AA (R6) Ni-Cd batteries ....................................................... x 2 • AA (R6) Ni-Mh batteries ....................................................... x 2 • AA (R6) Ni-Mn batteries (ZR6 type) ..................................... x 2 • AA (R6) lithium batteries (FR6 type) ..
Flash Interval and Flash Count CHECKING BATTERIES After loading the batteries, check the remaining battery capacity by turning the electronic flash on. 1. Press the Power button to turn the electronic flash on. • The control panel lights up and battery charging starts. 2. Ensure that the Charge lamp lights up. • Replace the batteries if the time taken for the Charge lamp to light up is longer than the values specified below. Alkaline or Ni-Mn batteries: 30 sec.
How to remove ATTACHING TO THE CAMERA/REMOVING FROM THE CAMERA Confirm that both the camera and electronic flash are off. Attaching or removing the electronic flash while either the flash or the camera is on may result in malfunction. 1. Loosen the lock ring completely, then slide the electronic flash out of the hot shoe. How to attach 2. Attach the hot shoe cover to the camera. 1. Place the light-emitting section in the standard position (horizontal, front).
PICTURE SHOOTING USING A DIGITAL CAMERA WITH COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY Flash control mode 1. Turn the camera on. 2. Turn the electronic flash on. The batteries are recharged when the Charge lamp lights up. TTL AUTO AUTO 3. Press the Shutter button of the camera gently to start communication of shooting information including ISO speed, lens iris and shutter speed between the camera and electronic flash. 4.
Light intensity adjustment The flash light intensity can be adjusted between +3 and –3. In this mode, pre-flash is performed to measure the optimum flash intensity and then actual flash is performed. TTL AUTO indicator ZOOM indicator Displayed according to the focal length of the lens. The light intensity adjustment must be set to ON in the custom setup operation (page 47). • The indicator appears in the control panel. 1. The control panel shows the light control range according 1.
`çãÄáå~íáçåë=çÑ=fpl=ëéÉÉÇë=~åÇ=äÉåë=áêáëÉë Åçåíêçää~ÄäÉ=áå=^rql=ãçÇÉ In this mode, the flash light intensity is controlled automatically according to the lens iris (F) setting and the amount of light input to the auto light receptor. AUTO indicator ZOOM indicator Displayed according to the focal distance of the lens. 1. The control panel shows the light control range according 24 control range. If not, adjust the lens iris (F) or the subject distance.
Light intensity adjustment The flash light intensity can be adjusted between +3 and –3. The light intensity adjustment must be set to ON in the custom setup operation (page 47). • The indicator appears in the control panel. In this mode, the flash is emitted according to the guide number (GN) setting. MANUAL indicator 1. Turn the select dial to choose a light intensity adjustment value. ZOOM indicator Displayed according to the focal distance of the lens. 0 → +0.3 → +0.7→ +1.0 ... +3.
Light intensity adjustment The flash light intensity can be adjusted between +0.7 and –0.7. The light intensity adjustment must be set to ON in the custom setup operation (page 47). • The indicator appears in the control panel. 1. Turn the select dial to choose a light intensity adjustment value. • In this mode, the flash uses Super FP emission to synchronize with high shutter speeds. • For details on using the camera’s built-in flash, see “Various Flash Shooting Methods” on page 45.
Light intensity adjustment The flash light intensity can be adjusted between +3 and –3. FP TTL AUTO indicator ZOOM indicator Displayed according to the focal length of the lens. 1. The control panel shows the light control range according The light intensity adjustment must be set to ON in the custom setup operation (page 47). • The indicator appears in the control panel. to the camera setup. 2. Confirm that the distance to the subject is within the light 1.
Light intensity adjustment The flash light intensity can be adjusted between +0.7 and –0.7. In this mode, Super FP emission is performed at the set light intensity. FP MANUAL indicator ZOOM indicator Displayed according to the focal distance of the lens. The light intensity adjustment must be set to ON in the custom setup operation (page 47). • The indicator appears in the control panel. 1. Turn the select dial to set the guide number (GN).
PICTURE SHOOTING USING A DIGITAL CAMERA WITHOUT COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY In this mode, the flash light intensity is controlled automatically according to the lens iris (F) setting. ISO speed AUTO indicator MZOOM indicator 1. Turn the electronic flash on. The batteries are recharged 1. Adjust Zoom according to the focal length of the lens. 2. While keeping the MODE button pressed, turn the select dial within 2 seconds to set the ISO speed.
Light control range in AUTO mode Firing angle (mm) ISO speed 8 (W panel) 10 (W panel) 3200 1600 800 400 200 100 50 25 16 (W panel) 20 (W panel) F8 F5.6 F4 F11 F8 F2.8 F2 F5.6 F4 F16 F11 F8 F5.6 F4 Lens iris F22 F16 F11 F8 F1.4 F2.8 F2 F32 F22 F16 F11 F8 F1.4 F2.8 F2 F5.6 F4 F1.4 F2.8 F2 F5.6 F4 F32 F22 F16 F11 F8 AUTO light control range (m) F2.8 F5.6 F4 F32 F22 F16 F11 F8 F5.6 F32 F22 F16 F11 F8 F32 F22 F16 F11 Guide number (GN) MANUAL indicator Upper row: FOUR THIRDS.
How to determine the lens iris (F), guide number (GN) and shooting distance 1. When the shooting distance and lens iris are already determined: OTHER OPERATIONS Bounce Shooting Determine the guide number (GN) with the following formula and set the GN on the FL-36. Bounce shooting refers to a method in which the light from the flash is bounced off the ceiling or walls. This allows the light to go all around the subject, resulting in a soft picture without harsh contrast or shadow.
Operation Close-up Flash 1. While holding the Bounce lock release button, revolve the 90˚ 180˚ 7˚ 90˚ Bounce lock release button (up-down direction) Bounce lock release button (left-right direction) light-emitting section in the up-down and left-right directions. The light-emitting section can be revolved in the range shown in the figure on the left. 1. While keeping the Bounce lock button pressed, tilt the flash down (7°) 2. The close-up flash indicator lights in the control panel.
Manual Switching of Firing angle (ZOOM) Using the Wide Panel The firing angle can be adjusted manually. Use the built-in wide panel in flash shooting when the lens focal length is set to a wider position than 12 mm. MZOOM indicator 1. Press the ZOOM button to adjust the firing angle. • The M ZOOM indicator lights in the control panel. • The firing angle can be set to one of 12, 14, 17, 25, 35 and 42 mm (24, 28, 35, 50, 70 and 85 mm with 135 type).
Wide panel indicator 3. Press the ZOOM button to select the firing angle from 8 Various Flash Shooting Methods mm and 10 mm (16 mm and 20 mm with the 135 type). The following flash shooting methods are possible according to the camera setup. • Some flash shooting methods may be unavailable depending on the function and design of the camera. • For details on operating procedure, refer to the instruction manual for your camera. 1.
3. Background screen sync CUSTOM SETUP Slow shutter is used and the flash is emitted immediately before the end of exposure period. This makes it possible to take pictures of moving objects such as car taillights with a streaming effect. Custom setup allows each user to customize flash setup to suit his or her preferences. Setup procedure 1. Turn the electronic flash on. 4.
Setup mode AF illuminator Only works with the Olympus Four Thirds System digital SLR camera. It does not work with other cameras. Flash cable Mode display Value display Dial A Dial B Function Default Wide panel switch disabling AF illuminator is activated according to the control from the camera. A Use this setting when not using the flash cable (clipping on to the hot shoe).
Setup mode ISO speed selection in AUTO mode Works with a camera without ISO speed setting communication capability in AUTO mode. Also works with a camera with ISO speed setting communication capability in AUTO mode when the ISO and F communication in AUTO mode is set to OFF. Mode display Value display Dial A Dial B Function Default CONTINUOUS FIRING Continuous firings make the light-emitting section hot and may cause it to deteriorate or malfunction.
GUIDE NUMBER (GN) LIST • FP TTL AUTO • TTL AUTO/AUTO ZOOM (mm) TTL AUTO/AUTO FOUR THIRDS 10 12 14 17 25 35 MANUAL Light intensity ratio 52 10 12 14 17 25 35 With 135 16 20 24 28 35 50 70 42 85 42 1/125 8.5 9.9 14.1 15.6 17.0 19.8 22.6 25.5 With 135 16 20 24 28 35 50 70 85 1/160 7.5 8.8 12.5 13.8 15.0 17.5 20.0 22.5 Full emission 12 14 20 22 26 28 32 36 1/200 6.7 7.8 11.2 12.3 13.4 15.7 17.9 20.1 1/250 6.0 7.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 14.
• FP MANUAL ISO100.m The following guide number (GN) figures have a 1/1 light intensity ratio. ZOOM (mm) Shutter speed FOUR THIRDS With 135 1/125 1/160 1/200 1/250 1/320 1/400 1/500 1/640 1/800 1/1000 1/1250 1/1600 1/2000 1/2500 1/3200 1/4000 1/5000 1/6400 1/8000 8 16 8.5 7.5 6.7 6.0 5.3 4.7 4.2 3.8 3.4 3.0 2.7 2.4 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 10 20 9.9 8.8 7.8 7.0 6.2 5.5 4.9 4.4 3.9 3.5 3.1 2.8 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 12 24 14.1 12.5 11.2 10.0 8.8 7.9 7.1 6.3 5.6 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.
• Digital camera without communication capability Control panel display Remedy Ref. Page Downward bounce in all modes The light-emitting section is set at 7° downward. Cancel this setting except for close-up flash photography. P. 41 Wide panel warning in all modes The wide panel is set. Pay attention to the distance to the subject since a lower guide number (GN) is selected. Warning details Warning details Downward bounce in all modes Wide panel warning in all modes P.
Q&A Q Is multi-flash shooting possible in the TTL AUTO mode? A No, it is not possible. Q When are test flash activation and auto checking effective? A Checking the optimum flash activation based on the AUTO CHECK lamp is particularly effective in bounce flash (in AUTO modes only).
Q When the Olympus E-1 digital camera enters the sleep mode, the FL-36 control panel displays A turn off. Is this normal? Yes, it is normal. When the E-1 enters the sleep mode, the FL-36 does as well. When the camera wakes up, so does the FL-36. MAIN SPECIFICATIONS Model Number Type Guide number Q Does the FL-36 also turn off when the Olympus E-1 digital camera is turned off? A When the E-1 is turned off, the FL-36 enters the sleep mode. When the E-1 is turned on again, the FL-36 also turns on.
AF illuminator Power supply Dimensions Weight Operating environment : Automatic firing at low intensity, possible only when a camera with communication capability is connected. Standard effective distances (Variable depending on the camera and lens in use.) 1 to 5 m (3.3 to 16.
