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Quote: Auto flash delays can alter a fair bit depending on lighting and so on, I think you would be better off setting the flash for fill, less hassle
Paul, how many times before you hear me - I have tried using fill flash (read what I have said) I've tried using all the flash options and the only one that works for my bees in flight work is manual flash.
That works for me and I'm more than happy that others find they get the results they want using fill-flash or whatever suits them.
Strange as it seems, I have been using flash successfully for this style of photography for over 5 years and simply asked others if they saw what I did, ie: that was a difference between manual flash and other flash modes when using the kit flash on the OMD EM-5
The answer is, as has been demonstrated, there is more lag in modes other than manual flash - QED
Yes but not as much as half a second as you reported Brian.
Used correctly there is no more delay using the Olympus system than Canon, Nikon or anything else.
Quote: CB, do you ever sleep...... I mean you're on epZ at 3.12 in the morning????
Sleep is over-rated. I make some of my most important decision in life in the early hours of the morning. 
.................................... probably accounts for a lot! 
Lol! 
I thought it may be helpful to collate the measured test results thrown up during this discussion (who knows, it may even help someone in future
Josh's results, using manual pre-focus:
Quote: I've set the camera to manual focus, so all I'm measuring is shutter lag, from pressing the button to the picture being taken. I half press the shutter button, as that's how I always tend to take photos.
Flash off: 0.1 second or less to take the photo.
Auto flash: 0.2 seconds to take the photo.
Red-eye flash: 0.9-1.0 seconds to take the photo. (due to multiple pre-flashes)
Fill-In flash: 0.2 seconds to take the photo.
Manual flash (Full): 0.1 second or less to take the photo.
This was shooting in P, shutter speed 1/60 to 1/100, f/3.5, 14-42 MK I kit lens, Firmware 1.1 (body and lens)
These results are repeatable and consistent.
Imaging Resource results
Full Autofocus,
Center AF mode
Auto Flash Enabled
12-50mm kit lens
Time from fully pressing shutter button to image capture, with the lens already at the proper focal distance setting, Auto flash enabled.
shutter lag = 0.438 second
Prefocused
Auto Flash Enabled
Time to capture, after half-pressing and holding shutter button, Auto flash enabled
shutter lag = 0.190 second
Quote: Sleep is over-rated. I make some of my most important decision in life in the early hours of the morning
Yep this I believe, like taking a pee
Quote: I thought it may be helpful to collate the measured test results thrown up during this discussion (who knows, it may even help someone in future
A lot of fuss over nothing Brian, just run a few test using the G2, the pre flash is so brief I found it impossible to time.
At the end of the day its down to user error, you can`t fault the lighting system, for macro your better off using a dedicated unit fit for purpose or switching to full manual.
In certain flash modes using the on board flash depending on light sometimes there is a pre flash sometimes there isn`t.
Also tested using one of my FL50R`s, again depending on settings and lighting, sometime you get a pre flash sometimes you don`t.
To guarantee no preflash set the flash to auto, not ttl and it fires every time without using pre-flash.
These onboard flash units are pretty basic and more difficult to control, preflash is more likely to happen in good light, not bad.
Quote: preflash is more likely to happen in good light, not bad.
Your ignorance is astounding. Do you understand what a pre-flash is for?
I'm baffled then. Why is it (pre-flash) more likely to happen in good light not bad?
Because its trying to balance the light available along with the flash, move back inside I found no pre flash, just a single burst.
Strange but that`s what I found, looks like the reason for Brian missing his bee shots.
First time I`ve tried auto ttl in years
When you say 'move back inside', just to be clear, are you talking about it being darker inside at this point?
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