What kind of external flash works with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200?
Asked 6/4/2017
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I’m new to external flash and want to add one to my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200. What should I look for when choosing a compatible flash? I’d like to understand the difference between getting full automatic flash operation and using a flash manually, including whether off-camera use is possible.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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If you want full TTL (automatic) flash with the flash mounted on the camera's hot shoe or connected to the camera's hot shoe via an off-shoe cable: you need a "dedicated" Panasonic flash. The Olympus flashes for 4/3 and µ4/3 systems use the same pin arrangement and protocol as the Panasonic flashes and are generally said to be better and cheaper than the Panasonic flashes. Any third party flash "made for Panasonic" or "made for Olympus" should also work.
If you want manually controlled flash, either on or off the camera: pretty much any flash with a center pin that has a trigger voltage your camera or wireless trigger can tolerate will work. The trigger voltage is important! If the flash has a higher trigger voltage than the camera can tolerate the voltage applied by the flash to the hot shoe can fry your camera's electronics!
For more, please see:
Can I use non-Panasonic flashes on the FZ1000's hot shoe?
Can vintage strobes damage wireless receivers?
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For full TTL/automatic flash on the FZ200, look for a dedicated Panasonic-compatible flash. Olympus Four Thirds / Micro Four Thirds flashes generally use the same hot-shoe communication and should also work, as should third-party flashes specifically labeled for Panasonic or Olympus.
If you’re happy to use flash in manual mode, compatibility is much broader: most flashes with a standard center pin can be used on-camera or off-camera. In that case, the key thing to check is trigger voltage. The flash (or wireless trigger) must have a trigger voltage your camera can safely tolerate; an excessively high trigger voltage can damage the camera hot shoe.
So the main choice is:
- TTL convenience: buy a Panasonic/Olympus-dedicated compatible flash.
- Manual flexibility: a standard manual flash can work, but verify safe trigger voltage first.
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