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. I'm now in the process of adding more flash units. Watch this space, but not too
often.
| Feature |
|
Olympus |
|
Mecablitz |
|
YongNuo YN-560 |
|
Cactus AF-45 |
|
Cactus AF-50 |
|
Vivitar DF-383 |
| Shortest focal length (35 mm) |
|
16 |
|
24/18 |
|
24/18 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
24 |
| Longest focal length (35 mm) |
|
85 |
|
135 |
|
105 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
85 |
| Overheating protection |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
| Guide number 16 mm equiv |
|
18 |
| Guide number 50 mm equiv |
|
40 |
|
42 (B&H) |
| Guide number 85 mm equiv |
|
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45 |
| Guide number 105 mm equiv |
|
50 |
|
58 |
|
58 |
|
|
|
50 |
| Guide number (unspecified FL) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45 |
| 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, unspecified) |
|
|
|
|
|
3 s |
|
9 s |
|
9 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/20,000 s |
| Maximum flash duration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1/1000 s |
| TTL auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
no |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
| Auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
no |
| Manual mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
| FP TTL auto mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
no |
| FP manual mode |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
no |
| Supplementary reflector |
|
? |
|
yes |
| 2nd curtain sync |
|
? |
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
yes |
| automatic fill-in flash |
|
? |
|
yes |
| AF assist |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
|
yes |
| Strobe mode |
|
? |
|
yes |
