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Olympus STF-8 Twin Flash

BH #OLSTF8 • MFR #V326160BW000
9 reviews
Olympus STF-8 Twin Flash
Key Features
  • Compatible with Olympus TTL
  • Twin Flash Design with Adjustable Ratios
  • Guide Number: 27.9' at ISO 100
  • Coverage: 12mm (Micro Four Thirds)
Featuring a splash, dust, and freezeproof construction, the STF-8 Twin Flash from Olympus offers shooters a completely weatherproof macro flash option. Design with full TTL support for Olympus cameras, this twin flash will help users more easily illuminate their close-up subjects. Also, it features adjustable ratios to help control the contrast of the scene and how much light is coming from each side. The flash heads are designed to provide plenty of light, with a twin flash featuring a guide number of 27.9' at ISO 100 while a single head features a guide number of 19.7' at ISO 100. Additionally, it will cover a 12mm lens on Micro Four Thirds format camera and each flash head can be tilted from -40 to 60°.
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Olympus STF-8 Overview

Featuring a splash, dust, and freezeproof construction, the STF-8 Twin Flash from Olympus offers shooters a completely weatherproof macro flash option. Design with full TTL support for Olympus cameras, this twin flash will help users more easily illuminate their close-up subjects. Also, it features adjustable ratios to help control the contrast of the scene and how much light is coming from each side. The flash heads are designed to provide plenty of light, with a twin flash featuring a guide number of 27.9' at ISO 100 while a single head features a guide number of 19.7' at ISO 100. Additionally, it will cover a 12mm lens on Micro Four Thirds format camera and each flash head can be tilted from -40 to 60°.

As an advanced flash unit, the STF-8 is equipped with numerous features and settings that will help photographers. Shooters can use the STF-8 as a wireless master TTL flash to control up to 4 groups of flashes set up off camera. Also, the unit supports focus stacking and bracketing functions of select OM-D cameras. It runs on 4 AA batteries and the two included ring adapters allow it to be attached to select Olympus lenses.

Flash heads do not protrude past the lens in order to use the minimum working distance of the lens.
Splash, dust, and freezeproof to 14°F for completely weatherproof design.
Guide number of 27.9' at ISO 100 with two flashes and 19.7' at ISO 100 with a single flash.
Covers the angle of view of a 12mm lens on Micro Four Thirds cameras, or approximately 61° vertically and 72° horizontally.
Flash can be set to fire only one head or fire both with a ratio setting from 1:8 to 1:1 to 8:1.
Flash heads can be tilted upward from 0 to 60° and downward from 0 to 40°.
Flash duration of 1/1,000 second or faster.
Manual flash power settings of 1/1 to 1/128.
Comes with case, two diffusers, ring adapter, and joints.
Compatible with Focus Stacking and Focus Bracketing modes of select OM-D cameras.
Compatible Lenses
M.Zuiko Digital ED 30 f/3.5 Macro
M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro
M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO
UPC: 050332191242

Olympus STF-8 Specs

Flash
Guide Number27.89' / 8.5 m at ISO 100
Angle of Coverage72° Horizontal
61° Vertical
Flash Duration1/1000 Second
Recycle TimeApprox. 4 Seconds
Exposure ControlTTL via Separate Commander
Power Range1/1 to 1/128
Wireless
Wireless OperationOptical Pulse
Unspecified Range (Master)
Wireless Channels4
Wireless Groups4
Power
Internal Power4 x AA
General
MountShoe Mount
Lens Compatibility46mm/62mm Filter Threads (via Included Adapter Ring)
Dimensions (W x H x D)1.8 x 1.6 x 1.7" / 45.4 x 39.7 x 42.3 mm (Individual Flash Head)
2.6 x 2.3 x 2.7" / 66.9 x 59.1 x 68.5 mm (Controller)
Weight9.98 oz / 283 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight2 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)10.7 x 6.7 x 4.4"

Olympus STF-8 Reviews

Good Quality; Clever Design

By Theodore
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2021-01-21

The adjustability of the flash units and their output provides lots of creative possibilities.

competent but not convenient

By Jeffrey
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2018-10-18

Oly did the bare minimum necessary to make this flash competent but nothing to actually make it usable on M4/3 bodies. I flash does work flawlessly and even well with focus bracketing but ergonomically it is a disaster and a tiny amount of attention from Oly could have solved that (if they cared). the screws holding the flash brackets on the adapter ring do not have slots and are basically impossible to turn with your fingers. I do realize that one does not change adapter rings often but at least enough that Oly puts 2 rings in the box and moving the mounts will leave you cursing Oly and their parents. See in the illustration how those thick curly cords are nicely separated from the flash. Not so much in real life. those enormously thick cords are a constant nuisance and are always in the way. for heavens sake, even Nikon uses a wireless interface on their ring flash.. any way if you plan to use this with the 30mm macro, good luck! it is a constant battle to get your fingers around the lens and honestly the 60mm is not much better even though it is a longer thinner lens. I rarely use this because it is such a hassle to deal with even though it does provide good results but it is just too annoying for any kind of regular usage and it really upsets me every time I do use it that Oly clearly cared so little about this not cheap accessory.

A flash of the superlatives, not all good

By Greg
Rated 2 out of 5
Date: 2018-06-05

This flash is amazing.� It is the most expensive unit I have ever bought, it is the weakest, it is the most complicated.� The guide number is only 8.5, which makes each head about half the power of the toy flash units supplied for free with the Pen series cameras.� Mounting the units on the ring is so complicated that I have never managed it in less than 5 minutes, and now I leave the heads on the ring.� And it only comes with two rings!� Even cheap units come with more than that.� And it doesn't even have a flash test button.� That may seem unimportant with a TTL flash, but TTL is not compatible with Olympus' focus stacking. I also have a Viltrox cheap ring flash (not sold by B&H), which cost me about 20% of the price of this unit.� By comparison, it works better, except for one thing: the TTL flash control.� But the lighting is more even, and it's so much easier to use that I hardly use the STF-8 at all. Not to be recommended.

Yes, I would go for it.

By Steve
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2017-10-15

It works well. The only negative is that the flash is not as powerful as I would like. It is great for insect photography or for really up close. Then the power is enough. I captured the image below by underexposing by about 2 stops. Did almost no post processing and think it came out quite well. I did try making my own difussers and using a small soft box on a handheld flash but prefer the twin flash. I would give it a 4.9 out of 5.

This flash takes my photos up a big notch!

By Diana
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-08-07

I took a big gulp at the price, but bought this flash because I love close up photography, and have found lighting to be challenging. I really love the many combinations of flash you can set for these 2 units, and the results are fantastic! They are a bit fiddly for bigger or arthritic hands, but once you get them set up, they are easy to use.

A must for Olympus micro 4/3rds macro shooters.

By Brian
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-03-22

I am so glad I purchased this as soon as it came available, and whether coupled with my 60mm macro or 50-200mm+25mm ext tube I am getting great well lit images first time out. The lighting permutations are extensive offering various ratios between the heads or manual outputs down to 1/125th. The clip on diffusers do a good job of softening the light and improving coverage at 1:1 magification. It comes in a well made case and Rings to fit the 60mm which I own plus the 12-40 & 40-150mm Pro lenses that I don't but with the purchase of an inexpensive step down ring it also fits my 50-200mm+25mm ext tube with no sign of vignetting.

dissapointing

By carole
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2020-04-05

I have had the unit for a couple of months now and still not able to get it to flash. Other flashes I have work fine but this one not at all.

Olympus STF-8

By James W
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2020-03-15

This twin flash is just what I needed to go with my 30 and 60mm Olympus Macro lenses with my Olympus EM 1 Mark 11. After reading the instructions, I attached it to my Olympus, set the flash and took some macro of a few thing. The photos were amazing !!!! Details were perfect !!!! No one could ask for a better combination that Olympus has provided than this, for Macro Photography. Jim, Charlotte, NC.

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