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