This is a page I wrote in late 2008 or early 2009, when I was thinking of buying an Olympus
FL-50 or a Mecablitz 58 AF-1 O flash unit. It compares specifications gleaned from multiple
sources. It's now completely out of date.
Feature |
|
Olympus |
|
Mecablitz |
Shortest focal length (35 mm) |
|
16 |
|
24/18 |
Longest focal length (35 mm) |
|
85 |
|
135 |
Guide number 16 mm equiv |
|
18 |
Guide number 50 mm equiv |
|
40 |
|
42 (B&H) |
Guide number 85 mm equiv |
|
50 |
Guide number 105 mm equiv |
|
50 |
|
58 |
Flash count (full power, alkaline) |
|
150 |
|
150 |
Flash count (full power, NiMH) |
|
170 |
|
180 |
Flash count (full power, Li) |
|
220 |
|
|
Flash count (full power, external) |
|
|
|
430 |
Flash recovery before recharge |
|
10 s |
Recovery time (full flash, alkaline) |
|
6.5 s |
|
5 s |
Recovery time (full flash, NiMh) |
|
4 s |
|
5 s |
Recovery time (full flash, Li) |
|
5 s |
Recovery time (full flash, external) |
|
|
|
2.5 s |
Minimum flash duration |
Maximum flash duration |
TTL auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
Auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
Manual mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
FP TTL auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
FP manual mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
Supplementary reflector |
|
? |
|
yes |
2nd curtain sync |
|
? |
|
yes |
automatic fill-in flash |
|
? |
|
yes |
AF assist |
|
yes |
Strobe mode |
|
? |
|
yes |