External Flash for e410?

[LauraSAnne]

I got my first dSLR, an e410, last Christmas. I've been wanting to move on to better lighting but I find the whole lighting world to be extremely confusing. So I thought maybe some of you might have some suggestions for me.

What I'd like, is an external flash that I can activate with a slave (at least that's what I think it's called)--as in, I'd like to be able to set my built in flash to the lowest setting to activate the external flash. If I could use the external flash in my hot shoe, that'd be a double bonus!

So what do I need? What flashes are compatible with my camera? Does it even matter if I want to activate it via slave and is there a specific slave I need to get? I am so lost--help! (and thanks!)

[KodiakStar]

Don't know much about all the slave settings.
But for Oly there is the FL-36, and the FL-50. They come in "R" modes as well that stands for Remote, but you have to have a E-520, or E-3 to control them wirelessly without using after market things.

From what I have read the FL-36 is nice for just basic flash work, but has a very slow recharge time. (how quickly it can fire again). The FL-50 seems to be the best one, but is very expensive.

There are also a few Metz flashes that work with Oly's but don't have the same movement in the flash to aim it.

http://flickr.com/groups/olympusesys.../?search=flash

Olympus E System Community has quite a few threads about flashes, there is one that I linked to. Do a search there to find out more Oly specific information

Both the FL's and the Metz flashes (Oly Specific) work with the hotshoe.

[BarbV]

I have an e520 and just received the FL-36R (I think its just the wireless version of the 36 - I haven't figured out what that gets me yet).

As the previous post said, it seems to work fine, but the charge time is a little slow. I'm only just starting to play with it and am hoping that perhaps it will improve once I understand the settings better.

But you can get real expensive, real fast - you can easily spend as much on a high end flash as you would on a good entry level camera.

[KodiakStar]

You are right, the R version is just wireless, You *should* be able to control the flash, with the flash off the camera on its own stand/tripod, with your camera. As far as syncing the flash with the camera shutter etc.