FL36 external flash is slow?

Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Singapore

i find that the FL36 flash is rather slow in recharging in between flashes. Is it because that I am using alkaline batteries with it? Does rechargeable batteries make a difference in the charge up speed?

Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 60 Location: Texas

Wow... 60+ people have checked out this thread and still nobody has gotten around to answering? Come on guys! This is sad... PT has some great forums, does the Olympus group really have to be the lame, half-dead backwoods of PT?

Okay, rant over. As for the FL-36, the recharge time can be somewhat slow. Definitely don't go with rechargables, they will slow you down even more. After some trial and error, and a lot of forum browsing, I get the best results with something like Energizer's e2-Titanium (which is an alkaline battery.) You may find that they won't last as long, but the recharge time will be quite a bit faster. Once they start to slow down significantly - toss them and go with fresh ones.

You do just have to accept though, that recycle time and range are the weaknesses of the FL-36. If you want to be able to constantly fire without thinking about it - get the FL-50. The FL-36 won't fit eveyone's style of shooting. It is a great flash though. Some people are just much better suited to the FL-50.

Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 38

I am looking into getting one of the two flashes Mike just mentioned. If the only significant difference in the flashes the recharge time? I ask because there is a huge $ difference between the two and I want to make sure I get what I pay for. This will be the first time I have ever purchased a external flash for a camera so I always happy to get as much feed back as I can.

Oh one more thing would using a CR-3 volt lithium battery speed up recharge time more than using alkaline batteries?

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:25 pm

wool wrote:

i find that the FL36 flash is rather slow in recharging in between flashes. Is it because that I am using alkaline batteries with it? Does rechargeable batteries make a difference in the charge up speed?

I will have to disagree with Mike on this one and his opinion on the recharables. I use a FL-36 all the time and think it is a great flash for the money. I have even used it for weddings with success. Get some good NIMH re-chargables but don't get ones with low mAh such as 1800 to 2000. They make them @ 2400-2500 now and they will work the best and better (IMHO) then any alkaline batteries.

The Fl-50 would have a faster recharge time and will put out more power if that is what you need.

Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 268

Alkaline batteries will give you the worst performance. Good quality nimh as already mentioned will work better. I also carry a spare pack of high output alkalines, they wont last as long as regular alkalines but they have faster output.

Then again, I did switch to an FL-50 with external battery packs for even better performance.

Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 38

I did end up getting the Fl-36 as a graduation gift so I will put this advice to good use. I have only played with it a little bit but it seems to be a great flash that has made a noticeable improvement in my photographs. Thanks again for the additional advice on this flash.