OM SYSTEM OLYMPUS CABLE FLASH FL-CB05

I'd had trouble getting the Olympus FL600 flash to work off-camera using what Olympus calls 'wireless' or 'RC mode' operation (although semantically correct, this is not wireless in the usual sense but relies on the remote flash detecting the light from the on-camera flash. 'RC' means 'Remote Control', not 'Radio Control'.). The instruction manual is unhelpful, and I couldn't get TTL-AUTO or FP TTLAUTO. The best I could do was AUTO, with unreliable results. In addition, during wireless operation, the AF illuminator /LED window flashes every few seconds, and this can't be turned off. (The consensus on the Internet forums seems to be that the best or only way to turn this annoying 'feature' off is to tape it over.)I took a chance with the FL-CB05, because Olympus have discontinued it. I found a second-hand, unused one through Amazon. In an act of exemplary service, the vendor, Snail's Books, emailed me to point out it had no instruction manual and to check I still wanted to buy it. I did, and the cable arrived in New Zealand a couple of weeks later in perfect condition.The FL-600R flash works perfectly with this cable on the EM-1 MkII. I have access to all the functions including the TTL modes, and the AF illuminator/LED does not blink. I'd still prefer not to have to use a cable, but this is a good solution to the problems of off-camera flash with the MkII. I use it for macro photography, holding the flash in my left hand, and the cable is more than long enough to give me enough extension. It contracts easily so it mostly stays out of the way when I have the flash close to the lens. If you want to use the flash more than about a metre-and-a-half from the camera, you're out of luck.

This is a necessary piece of equipment if you want to mount your Olympus flash on a bracket to raise it high enough to make the shadows drop off behind the subject. It is not as sturdy as I would like it to be; I had one snap in two between the flash and bracket connection in the middle of a wedding (during the processional!) and had to punt for the rest of the event. Fortunately they are not horribly expensive. I recommend you have two of these so you have a back-up in case one decides to break during an important shoot.

It works, but for the price, I wish it was more robustly made. The hot shoe feet are made of plastic as are the locking knobs. You feel that you can't really cinch them up tight without risking breakage, and have to be careful with slinging it around so the flash doesn't break the mount. But, it worked better than any of the 3rd party ones I bought, so that's a plus. Expensive, but it works on my EM1. What can I say?The problem for me with 3rd party off-camera flash cables for Olympus was that they would transmit flash (TTL) and lens info back and forth to the camera, but with my EM1, the flash refused to fire when I released the shutter. They did everything right except the most important thing! On my EM5, the 3rd party cables worked fine. What da heck? Anyway, this Olympus cable works. Don't ask me what it does differently, but it works. :-)

I'm a pro news photographer and having an off-camera flash is key for getting those low light or fill flash shots with more punch and drama. This cable is durable, long enough to use with my outstretched arm (I'm a big boy) and is an Olympus product so it is compatible with the E series equipment. Very nice product.

I have an Olympus E-410 camera and a FL-36 flash. I also ordered the Olympus FL-BK01 Flash Bracket to go with it. It works wonderfully. I can move the flash off the bracket when need to get a fill light at in a different direction.

This is a great sync cable that allows all TTL functions to be used. I use it on an Olympus E-500. My only complaint is where you mount the flash to the unit, it is very difficult to tighten the flash down to the sync mount due to there being minimal room to get your fingers in there. Granted I have big hands, I am 6' 7" in the mid 200 weight range, but they still could have designed this to allow just a bit more room for tightening the flash to he sync mount. Other than that it is a wonderful accessory! I purchased to use with a Vello CB-200 bracket.

This cable allows an Olympus flash to be mounted on Olympus E-P1/2 cameras. I use it on my E-P2 with the tiny Olympus FL-14 flash, to get shadow control and/or bounce flash. But this cable alone weighs as much (3.5 oz) as the whole FL-14 flash does. The miniaturization whizzes at Olympus need to design a lightweight cable to go with their new micro 4/3 cameras. In the meantime, this bulky thing (or the cheaper Chinese knock-offs) will have to suffice.

Works great. No problems at all.

Meine Geräte: OLYMPUS E3 mit Original-Objektiven und Blitzgerät FL-50R.Das wesentlich preiswertere Alternativkabel erwies sich im Gebrauch als völlig unzuverlässig und damit ungeeignet. Ich habe anschließend das Originalkabel OLYMPUS FL-CB05 erworben. Mit diesem Kabel ist einwandfreier und zuverlässige Verwendung garantiert. Die Kabelführung ist ausgezeichnet, leider ist die Kabellänge sehr eingeschränkt.Fazit: Lieber teuer und sicher als billig und schlecht!

Arrive within one week. I was really surprise with the quality, as we know that is original Olympus product.Happy with it, thank you.

Funktioniert an sich ganz gut. Mithilfe einer Blitzschiene und diesem Kabel konnte ich aus dem Mecablitz 64 AF-1 einen Stabblitz an meiner Oly machen.Aber böse Falle: der zweite "Hot Shoe" am Kabel geht sehr stramm. Man glaubt irriger Weise, der Blitz habe bereits eingerastet, bevor der Sicherungsstift in die dafür vorgesehene Öffnung gesprungen ist. Dabei sind Original-Oly-Blitze (ich hab's aus Neugier mit dem FL-300 getestet) besonders schlimm. Folge: der Blitz lässt sich zünden, es findet aber kein Datenaustausch mit der Kamera statt, weil die kleineren Kontakstifte die Kontakte am "Hot Shoe" noch nicht berühren. Der Blitz brennt dann "volle Pulle" und erzeugt total überbelichtete Bilder.Also vor dem Knipsen erst prüfen, ob der Sicherungsstift in den "Hot Shoe" des Kabels wirklich eingerastet ist!!! Dann geht alles klar.Aber auch die Gebrauchsanweisung ist verbesserungswürdig: * auf die oben beschriebene Gefahr wird nicht hingewiesen, * das Manual ist völlig überholt und redet von einem Blitz FL-40 aus dem Jahre 1999, der von Olympus seit langem nicht mehr gemacht wird.Olympus, Olympus! So eine Nachlässigkeit bei dem hohen Kaufpreis!Deshalb nur 4 Punkte. Die hat es verdient, denn Qualität und Verarbeitung sind top.Grüsse: Toivo Willmann

works as it says on the tin - could do with longer cord. Didn't realise dispatched from Hong Kong .