Elliott Design Loc: West Tennessee

Been watching from the bleachers for a while but think it's time to join the players on the field. I've "played" around with cameras for over 50 years and picked up a few tips here and there but never really got serious about it until a few months ago. Had several SLR's all through the 70's and 80's, bought my first digital around 1996, an Olympus 1.2 MP, then a couple years later a 2.5, then an E-10 and an E-20 that has served me well for the type shooting I needed, mostly product photography for catalog, brochure and web work and casual personal shots. Just acquired a Canon T3i with the 18-135 IS and this really sparked my interest to improve my skills and learn some new ones. Found the link to UHH at the Strobist site and looks like between the many experienced shooters at both places it will keep me busy jsut trying a few of the many ideas presented.
I'll be posting a few images along and hope to get some critique from the pros.

Zerbphlatz Loc: Southern New Hampshire

Welcome to the fray! :) :lol:

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

Welcome to the Hog.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

just curious why did you jump ship from olympus to canon? ( I am actually a nikonian and have no dog in the fight, but just curious when people switch)

thermo58 Loc: Iowa

Hi Elliott, Welcome to UHH

Shakey Loc: Traveling again to Norway and other places.

Welcome, Elliott. You'll have a great time here, lots of excellent information, plus a few who like to give sharp comments. You look as though you can handle that! Enjoy

pjreed Loc: Tonopah, Arizona

Welcome to the UHH :thumbup:

Elliott Design Loc: West Tennessee

Sinatraman, missed getting back to view my original post, I thank you and all the others that welcomed me here. Things get a bit out of hand at the shop and I don't always get around to making prompt replies.
As for the change from Oly to Canon, I was looking for a system that had more affordable lens. My previous Oly's were fixed lens, an E-10 and an E-20. They would allow attachment lens and I had most every add-on lens I could find, but the tele's were not very sharp. The old Oly's took pretty good images for their small megapixel size because the non-removeable lenses were very high quality. I chose the Canon T3i as my next step up in digital cameras because of the 18mp image and its video ability, I still need to get some good glass but the 18/135 kit lens is fair for the type photography I currently do for my business and was a step up in image quality from the E-20. I still use the E-20 as a backup but find that its technology is way behind that of the T3i especially in the ISO ranges but that is to be expected, there's 10 years difference in them. You can never stay ahead of the technology game, what's high-tech today is outdated tomorrow.

Shoot 'em up.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

If the flash will fit and work properly. I will stand to save $300.00. I can use it on both cameras and will not have to load up on more equipment. I love Olympus and have nothing but good to report from my years of owning one.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

If the flash will fit and work properly. I will stand to save $300.00. I can use it on both cameras and will not have to load up on more equipment. I love Olympus and have nothing but good to report from my years of owning one.

Elliott Design Loc: West Tennessee

[quote=dimondon]

I use my old Olympus FL40 flash with the T3i but not on the camera although it will fit and fire but does not meter on E-TTL like dedicated Canon flashes do, the pins do not align with the Canon hot shoe but the center pin and edge connection makes contact to fire the flash. You have to manually set the flash power on the FL40, mainly I use them for off camera flash with radio triggers. The Yongnuo triggers for Canon works great and will fire them from well over a hundred feet away. I knew they were supposed to have a good range but found out by accident just how far. I had set up two flash units on tripods at my hummy feeder and my wife called me away to photo some deer at the back of the yard. Forgot to turn the triggers and the flash off and saw that while I was taking pics of the deer the flashes were firing back the feeders.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

[quote=Elliott Design]

Thanks for the information. My new FZ200 has been shipped. As soon as I get it I will check to see if the pins line up. If the FL35 flash will not work I will order the the FL350. I think it is possible the FL35 flash will work on the FZ200. I do hope so.

Elliott Design Loc: West Tennessee

Dimondon,
Your flashes will probably work. I would do an internet search on flash shoe voltage to be sure it doesn't throw more current back into your camera than it is rated for. Most cameras are rated for up to 12 volts and most flash units are less than that — but some units put out as much as 250 volts and will fry the camera. Google "flash output voltages" and you'll find charts with all major flash units listed. Your camera manual should give you the shoe voltage for your camera, if not contact the manufacturer.

dimondon Loc: Georgia

I contacted the manufacturer and was assured the Bower flash unit I purchased is compatible with the FZ200 Panasonic and the E-500 Olympus. It is also less that $100. I just received notice that it has been shipped. Its brand is "Bower" and looks just like the one that cost $250.00. That one which supposedly will work on only the E-500 Olympus. I do not know the difference but I will soon find out.
I also have an Olympus flash for my Olympus camera and a camera attachment holder. It is the FL35 and was bought with my Olympus E-500. I think I paid around $200.00 for it. It will be interesting to see if the new flash will work in it. Thank you for your reply.