Flash info needed for E-M5 and FL-300R

Here's a silly question: do you see a difference if you don't stop down the FL300 R?

 

Did you turn the flash on?

If you set it to -1.3 wouldn't that make it hard to see the difference?

Try it in dark conditions to check it is working.

 

Try +1.3 and see what happens.

 

Do you have it set to fill flash? Or are you using TTL with -1.3? Here's the menu on my E-M10 for fill:

 

Try cleaning the flash shoe and flash bottom contacts first.

I do not have the FL-300R flash units, but do have 2 of the FL-600R. With the Oly system there is flash compensation on both the flash head (almost invisible) and the camera itself. Changes on either affect the other. Also when the flash plus+/- setting in the camera menu is on, flash exposure will be be added to the camera exposure compensation. All of these setting have to be set properly for the flash to work and the manual, as you said, is really no help. As difficult as it is, Nikon flash is a bit easier to implement, as they at least provide a few flash guides, Olympus gives you nothing.

So zero out all the compensation settings. Next make sure the flash is mounted to the camera or TTL will not show up on the back of the flash screen. Put the flash in the A mode with TTL. (On my flash there is no BL or fill-in setting, but there is on the camera). Select the SCP on the camera lcd and choose flash compensation here only. You should go at least 2 full stops either way, but remember, the camera is going to adjust the aperture, ss and possible ISO settings (if you have it set up that way) to compensate for a more/less powerful flash. You should be able to see a difference.

If the above doesn't work, suggest you go all manual for a moment, both camera and flash, and try that to see if the flash power changes with the same ISO, SS and aperture settings. My Oly flash adjusts from full power to 1/128, which is a 7 stop range. Going from FP to 1/32 is only 2 stops and that should be clearly visible in your photos, unless you were shooting outside in sun.

This is why I shoot manual flash 99% of the time, I am in control of the flash, not the camera. Once you learn the basics it is a lot better than TTl.