Problem changing flash setting

[slippery slope]

Hi all, new member here and new to Olympus and micro four thirds.

I have recently taken delivery of my E-M5 Mark II, and very pleased with it I am too. However, my flash mode is currently set to off, and I cannot seem to change it to any other mode. I can select the flash icon on the SCP but when I press OK again it does not bring up any other flash options to select. I am only using the small flash that came with the camera at present. I can select all the other functions in the SCP and change mode, but not the flash. I wonder if I have inadvertently changed a setting when generally exploring the various menu options. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Which MODE have you got the camera set to

[slippery slope]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

I have it on Aperture priority at moment but have also tried it on manual.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

With the flash attached and raised (this effectively, switches it on)

The options available and the order in which they are displayed vary depending on the shooting mode.

You will get more options in P & A mode than you will with M & S

To use the flash to "command" external units (FL-600) you will need to turn this feature on.

[slippery slope]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

I have the flash attached and on, and now tried changing flash setting when in P, A and M modes, and still cannot access the other flash options. I press OK to bring up the SCP, highlight the flash icon (which shows the flash turned off icon), press OK again to try to bring up the different flash options, but nothing comes up. Is there another way of changing flash settings?

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

I have the flash attached and on, and now tried changing flash setting when in P, A and M modes, and still cannot access the other flash options. I press OK to bring up the SCP, highlight the flash icon (which shows the flash turned off icon), press OK again to try to bring up the different flash options, but nothing comes up. Is there another way of changing flash settings?

The other way is to highlight the flash symbol in the SCP & just rotate the front wheel. That will cycle through all the flash settings available (for the mode you're presently using). You also need to check in Menu, Camera 2 & scroll down to RC Mode & make sure it is OFF for normal on camera flash use. RC Mode is only for controlling off camera flash(es) by using the supplied flash (or other compatible models) by Remote Control & by itself won't show in the frame (in RC Mode).

[slippery slope]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Hi Ross, and thanks for the info. I will try this tonight when home from work.

[PaulB]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Hmmm, with or without the flash attached if I use the SCP and highlight the flash and press OK I can adjust the flash setting. Ross' method is quicker and I get all the options.
If in RC mode a different flash menu pops up when OK is pressed and to get the SCP you have to then press INFO.
If all else fails might be worth resetting to factory defaults in case you've altered something unintentionally and giving it another go.

[ian p]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Have you set your shooting mode to Silent Shutter? With the little heart?
That will probably stop you switching the flash to ON. It had me scratching my head too.

[PaulB]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Have you set your shooting mode to Silent Shutter? With the little heart?
That will probably stop you switching the flash to ON. It had me scratching my head too.

Good call Sir! Just tried it and any heart drive mode disables the flash mode settings. You can see the SCP flash symbol change to flash off as you select each heart drive mode .

[slippery slope]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Have you set your shooting mode to Silent Shutter? With the little heart?
That will probably stop you switching the flash to ON. It had me scratching my head too.

Goods call indeed! many thanks, that has solved my problem. And thanks to everyone else who took the trouble to try to help.

John

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

<snip> thanks to everyone else who took the trouble to try to help.

John

As a group the collective "wisdom" often gets there in the end...

[Olybirder]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Congratulations to ian p for solving this tricky problem. However, I can't help thinking that there should be a note somewhere in the manual warning about this conflict. Or perhaps there is?

Ron

[Ross the fiddler]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

Congratulations to ian p for solving this tricky problem. However, I can't help thinking that there should be a note somewhere in the manual warning about this conflict. Or perhaps there is?

Ron

One could say, "If all else fails, read the instructions!", but it seems maybe it has been overlooked to include that bit of information in the manual.

[ian p]

Re: Problem changing flash setting

It seems you can't get 1/16000th shutter speed without the little heart. Another cause for confusion. As it just stops at 1/8000th.

They could offer to switch on/off the silent shutter for you, when you try to switch on the flash or choose a higher shutter speed. Or just provide an informative pop up like the "Info" button does in the menus.