The Olympus FL-50R Flash is a fully-featured and powerful shoe mount flash that also offers wireless flash operation. Control is possible directly from the camera without the need for cables. This flash unit is the ideal accompaniment to the Olympus E-3, which features a newly-developed RC Data Transfer System that transmits data optically. This significantly reduces the power consumption of the built-in flash when being used as the system commander. Flash control is available in three groups, allowing flash mode and compensation settings to be set independently for each group - thus enabling ultra-precise illumination. Four remote control communication channels can be set by the user to avoid interference with other peripherals in the vicinity.

The FL-50R flash offers all the features a professional wants to produce professional-caliber results. Along with the standard bounce and swivel capability, power zoom and a full range of TTL Automatic, Automatic and Manual flash modes, the FL-50R offers the Super FP Mode. This allows for flash sync at speeds up to 1/4000th second so fill-flash can be used in the brightest of situations. This is achieved by the flash's ability to fire before the shutter opens and stay illuminated until after the shutter closes. Designed specifically for digital photography, the FL-50R flash also has more even illumination with less corner fall-off than traditional film flashes.