Olympus Macro Flash STF-8

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Olympus Macro Flash STF-8
– Probably one of the best Macro Flash for Micro Four Thirds Systems
– Review by AL Lee, Posted by Melody Tan, Sub-Editor
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Image: The Olympus STF-8 Macro Flash mounted on an OM-D EM1 Mark II.

 

02nd November 2019, Singapore – While most of us are really contented using the regular flash with a home-made diffuser for close-ups and macro, there’s a macro flash that many had not used or tried – the Olympus STF-8 Macro Flash. I’ve long heard about this super flash and had wanted to try using it.

The STF-8 is designed to give a guide number of 8.5 when both flashes are used or 6 when a single flash is used.  This flash came as dust-proof, splash-proof & Freeze-proof so you can use it in any shooting environment. Both flash can be adjusted to your preferred angle and you can control each flash’s output manually which is perfect!

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Image: The Left Knob allows the user to control the output of the flash while the Right Knob let the user control the distribution of power to either or both flashes.

 

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I am very impressed too with the supplied diffuser for each flash using a snap-on design that allows the user to quickly adjust the flash angle without having to remove the diffuser by just sliding open the diffuser. This is a genius design! See below slideshow!

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Slideshow: The Snap-on diffuser opens up easily without having to remove it for adjusting the flash angle, this is brilliant!
The STF-8 weights only 283gm it is probably the lightest macro dedicated flash – when when used with Olympus’s macro lenses – the overall setup is probably just the weight of a regular DSLR Body – yeah just the body. It’s that light really!

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5.jpgImage: Editor AL used a Four Thirds 35mm Macro lens via the MMF-3 adaptor and mounted to an OM-D EM1 MarkII.

 

And as expected, I ended up at Gardens by the Bay (again) which had been touted as my “Favorite Review Venue” or “FRV” by the editorial team. For some strange reasons, I like flowers more than anything, weird as it seems for a middle-aged Uncle, flowers tells no lies and are “Smiles from Nature.” OK Enough of nonsense, I like Gardens by the Bay because it has air-conditioning.

 

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Image: Editor AL before the review shoot commences.
 

 

The next image shows how close I was to the subject and how the STF-8 “wraps” up the subject.

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And for the shot from above? I did 02 shots. The first shot below – I adjusted the power of the flash – the Left Flash at Full Power and the Right Flash at 1/4 Power. It created a shadow that mimicks the 4pm sun. Awesome.

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Image: The Left Flash at Full Power and the Right Flash at 1/4 Power.

And on the same flower, the next shot I adjusted the flash to be 1:1 – equal power for both flashes. Which one do you like? For me, I prefer the 1:1 as my style is usually less moody but more towards ambient presentation.

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Image: Both Flash balanced at 1:1 – equal output for each flash.

 

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Honestly I am impressed with this macro flash. My close-up images of flowers became much dramatic and the light casted from the flash gave a strange alluring feel to it. Simply love it! Since I am armed with a macro lens and this STF-8, I went on a shooting spree hunting for tinier-than-life flowers!

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By the way, inside the retail box for the Olympus STF-8 you get 01 x Flash case, 02 x snap-on diffusers, 02 x ring adapters (φ46mm, φ62mm), 02 x joints, 01 x Flash head with 02 x Flashes, 01 x instruction manual & a Warranty Card.

 

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Without realizing, I had fallen in love with this macro flash since I use Olympus most of the time these days. The STF-8 has proven to be a very competent macro flash and it allows a lot of lighting configurations to suit the photographer’s intended use.

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I will be posting more images from this review over my FB Photo Album, do pop over if you are keen to view how I used the STF-8 to my advantage and getting the results that I want, in brief, Get this Flash People! (If you are using Olympus M4/3 system of course!)

OK people, Buy your Olympus STF-8 or the Olympus MMF-3 Adaptor from our Accredited Merchants to experience this excellent Macro Flash for yourself!

More information on Olympus STF-8 here.

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Reviewer: AL Lee
Chief Editor / Visionary & Brand Ambassador for Olympus Imaging Singapore
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Contributing Editor – Melody Tan
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Loves quiet walks along beaches, has a mind of her own and decides everything in life in either black or white with nothing in between. Her priority these days revolves around her 2 lovely kids & teaching them music or photography. A lover of yoga and an avid traveler, Melody aims to visit at least 30 countries before she reach 40 years old – from what we know, she had completed 27 as of 2018.
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About Editor AL

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