OM-D Flash Settings

For Flash Hardware information, see this page Choosing a flash

There is more than one way to get to the Flash Menu on the PEN and OM-D cameras. One way is Super Control Panel -> Flash Symbol

The Flash Menu (E-M1)

The icons from left to right are:

- Fill-in Flash
- Red eye reduction flash
- Flash Off
- Second curtain flash
- Manual Flash Power Control (only valid and available if the connected flash unit allows the body to control flash power manually from the camera body)

For the tedious details of what each of the icons does see Details on specific flash menu options

There are two flash lighting approaches.

- Use the flash as a fill-in, the ambient light is the key light.
- Use the flash as a key light

There are four combinations of exposure automation

- Custom Menu F (Flash) > Exposure Compensation + Flash Compensation > Off - allows separate control of the Flash Exposure Compensation.
- Super Control Panel > Flash Compensation offers Minus 3 EV to Plus 3 EV range for flash compensation
- This affects both the free supplied flash unit / built in unit as well as an external unit like the Nissin Di 466

Custom Menu F (Flash) > White Balance sets whether WB is toggled for Flash or ambient light

- Custom Menu F (Flash) > Slowest Shutter Speed > 1/60th sec (default) sets the slowest camera chosen shutter speed for some of the TTL Flash modes in the table above.

The fastest sync speed for silent is 1/15 sec.
In fact it appears like the only way to activate flash with a TTL flash model with silent shutter is to activate Focus Bracketing.
The minimum number of exposures you can set here is three, the shutter speed will be fixed at 1/13 sec. and the flash is fixed at Manual 1/4. (from Hans van Veluwen)
If you use a non TTL flash (no electronic contacts except the centre contact) or a non TTL radio trigger, the flash symbol will be dimmed but the flash will fire.