Need a common flash for a Nikon and an Olympus...is there any?

[The Ever Optimist]

Hello to all!
I have a Nikon F80 and an Olympus UZ 750 ( which fully supports the high end Olympus flash).... i need to buy a flash gun ( a powerful one) to replace their in built flashes....is that possible???
Btw my budget is MAXIMUM 200 euros .... 150 would be perfect!!...am i asking for too much : )

I dont mind sacrificing some of the high end features but at least want to use it properly enough with both of them...is this possible?

Thanks in anticipation!
Kunal

[Clemmie]

Metz, made in Germany, can do it. They build a range of flash heads, with a line of modular foot adapters, that you can 'mix and match' to cover just about any need. The flash unit itself is readily movable from one module to the other.

Have a Metz dealer look up exactly which 'SCA Modules' it would take for your cameras, and start figuring from there. The book I have here shows that an SCA-3402 module for your Nikon, and SCA-3202 for the Olympus, will allow a choice of four flash units - the 44 MZ-2, 54 MZ-4, 45, and 70. The 44 and 54 are hot-shoe mount, while the 45 and 70 are side-grip mounts. Serious stuff!

I am not sure just how this will mesh with your budget - you will have to explore that. The Metz units are somewhat premium priced here in the U.S. - but I understand they are priced more in line with others within Europe. So you may have to possibly bite the bullet and raise the budget a bit, to accomplish all you wish to -- but if you're able to get a Metz outfitted equivalent to one manufacturer's premium flash for about the same money, then take that same capability to the second camera for just the cost of the extra SCA module, then it can be quite a good deal overall.