Macro photography introduces all kinds of tricky challenges into the process, including trying to get even light. The new STF-8 Macro Flash from Olympus uses a pair of external flash units—one to each side of the front lens element—for even illumination. It’s a fairly common setup for macro flash, but this one is built to be dustproof, splash proof, and freezeproof for use in the field.
Olympus has been making it abundantly clear lately—especially with the release of its new flagship OM-D E-M1 camera—that it wants a big chunk of the outdoor and adventure photography market, so the emphasis on ruggedness makes total sense.
The flashes can be fired together or individually depending on the desired lighting effect you want on your subject. Each head can be repositioned for optimal light coverage.
The STF-8 Macro Flash is compatible with three different macro lenses in the Olympus system, including the M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm f/3.5 Macro and 60mm f/2.8 Macro, as well as the 12–40mm f/2.8 Pro.
The retail price at launch is $479, which does give it a bit of a premium, but if you spend a lot of time shooting out in the elements, that rugged build could end up being very important. Expect it to start hitting shelves in early 2017.
The STF-8 Macro Flash is compatible with three different macro lenses in the Olympus system, including the M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm f/3.5 Macro and 60mm f/2.8 Macro, as well as the 12–40mm f/2.8 Pro.
The retail price at launch is $479, which does give it a bit of a premium, but if you spend a lot of time shooting out in the elements, that rugged build could end up being very important. Expect it to start hitting shelves in early 2017.