Olympus OM-2n, flash sync with generic flashes.

[zanxion72]

You can't go wrong with a T20. Turn the calculator panel round on the back so it says "for automatic use with OM2" and let the TTL flash metering take care of the rest.

Word of caution though: the Olympus manuals and literature from the time make such a big deal about the freedom of being able to just fire away at any distance or any aperture and the TTL flash metering will always take care of it. This is true to an extent, but there are limitations. If you shoot close-up with the lens wide open, the shots still risk being over exposed on anything but really slow film. At the other extreme, expecting it to put out enough light to illuminate something 15 feet away with the lens at F/8 or smaller is also likely to lead to disappointment unless you use fast film. As always, the key phrase is 'use common sense'.

Thank you for the awesome tip! So far it has been fine using that manual flash with the distance/iso/f stop calculator at its back, but I would love some TTL auto.

 

[baachitraka]

Txx are good flashes but you will never go wrong with Metz CT xx too.
https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_odk....H0.Xmetz+CT+32.TRS0&_nkw=metz+CT+32&_sacat=0

https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_odk...Xmetz+sca+321.TRS0&_nkw=metz+sca+321&_sacat=0

The weakest area in Olympus OM-1/2 series are flash shoes and CT's guide numbers are not so attractive if you use them as bounce.

 

[zanxion72]

I can see that many of them are listed as Nikon or S300. Are their shoes camera specific? Should I be looking for one made for Olympus OM cameras?

--- Edit ---
Got it! Just saw the second link with the adapters.

 

[baachitraka]

SCA 320/321 is for olympus. There is a generic shoe called SCA 300 which have just one pin.

 

[wiltw]

Metz 60CT/60CL3 or -4, or Metz 45CL/45CT3 or -4, or 32CT are all compatible with the OM series TTL-capable cameras when used with the SCA321 for TTL flash control

Both the OM-1n and OM-2n use the Accessory Shoe 4, The flash ready light will be available when used in conjunction with a dedicated flash/Accessory Shoe 4 because it automatic choses to use (not FP sync) X-sync with Shoe 4, regardless of the position of the FP/X switch on the camera body.

The OM-2n requires 1/30 sec. flash sync speed (or slower), In fact, the OM-2n will prevent flash use when shutter speed is faster than 1/30, the flash will NOT FIRE due to its 'incorrect flash prevention' system! It is odd about 1/30 limit as documented in the user manual for OM-2n, as the OM-1n had a 1/60 limit and the coloring of the shutter speed scale reflects that.

 

[nsurit]

At the risk of getting my hand slapped, I will say send me a PM if interested in either a T20 or T32 and/or the proper hot shoe. Long time OM collector/user. Bill Barber

 

[MattKing]

It is odd about 1/30 limit as documented in the user manual for OM-2n, as the OM-1n had a 1/60 limit and the coloring of the shutter speed scale reflects that.

I'm just guessing here, but the 1/30 limit may have something to do with the off-the-film flash metering system.
I note that the OM-10 offers 1/60 flash synch.
Ironically, the OM-20/OM-G also offers 1/60 flash synch as well as off-the-film flash metering.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Ironically, the OM-20/OM-G also offers 1/60 flash synch as well as off-the-film flash metering.

Nope, they don't.
The manual for the OM10 specifically states that with the Manual Adapter one needs to set 1/30 for non T flashes.
The same for the OM20 and 30.
They all effectively had the same shutter.

 

[MattKing]

Nope, they don't.
The manual for the OM10 specifically states that with the Manual Adapter one needs to set 1/30 for non T flashes.
The same for the OM20 and 30.
They all effectively had the same shutter.

Page 54 of the OM-G manual - about half way down on the left:
EDIT: Trying to copy just that page from the pdf and it's not working - grrr
Here is a link to the entire OM-20 manual instead - on that multi-lingual manual it is on page 65: http://omesif.moosemystic.net/om-sif/bodygroup/manuals/om20.pdf

 

[Chan Tran]

I have to check mine out. If I remember correctly the flash should fire at any speed but of course it won't sync correctly at speed higher than 1/60.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Page 54 of the OM-G manual - about half way down on the left:
EDIT: Trying to copy just that page from the pdf and it's not working - grrr
Here is a link to the entire OM-20 manual instead - on that multi-lingual manual it is on page 65: http://omesif.moosemystic.net/om-sif/bodygroup/manuals/om20.pdf

Matt,
That page only states the X synchro speed at 1/60. As the manual for the OM10 states the same, but has a warning about non T series flashes, I assumed as the shutter is the same, they would be identical.
BTW, the only amateur OM to have OTF flash metering is the 40.

 

[MattKing]

So I have tried a few experiments, all with a Vivitar 4600 flash with the "simple" one contact shoe. I didn't try any experiments with a pc cord flash.
My OM-G will fire a manual flash in the hot shoe irrespective of the shutter speed set.
My OM-2s seems to be quite smart. In Auto it will fire with the shutter speed set to 1/60 but won't fire the flash with the shutter speed set to 1/125. In manual, it responds similarly. I didn't try it in Program mode.
My OM-2n may be suffering from its cracked Shoe 4 (I should probably swap it out with one of my backup Shoe 4s). Sometimes it performed like the OM-2s, and other times it would fire at 1/125. At no time would it refuse to fire at 1/60.
FWIW, I've always used it at 1/60 without problem, although most use has been with either Olympus T32, T20 or my Metz 60-CT2 with the Olympus adapter.