Benefits of using an Off-Camera Flash: The Olympus FL-50R

Let's face it, the on-camera flash is EXTREMELY easy to use. We'd like to think that it doesn't negatively affect our pictures.

When the room is dark, it pops up automatically. That's great.

The problems arise when we actually look at our pictures and compare them to more professional photographers. Some of you may think that it's their talent that results in amazing pictures. That is true, but only to a certain extent. Lighting, and in this case, lighting from your flash, is extremely important.

Your on-camera flash does not move, which means that the light hits the subject in exactly the same way each and every single time you take a picture. This may result in things like a washed out image, or in red-eye.

Furthermore, your on-camera flash is not very strong. Once you use an off-camera flash, you will understand what I mean. When I used the Olympus FL-50, I was shocked at how far reaching it was. I could light up an entire club in my regular nightclub photography sessions.

The most important part of having an off-camera flash is the creative freedom it provides. This comes in several parts.

The first is that it improves your autofocus capabilities. If you have an Olympus e-510, as I do, the autofocus is weak in low-light environments. The Olympus Flash FL-50 improves this by providing a red light system that aids your autofocus.

The second is that having an off-camera flash allows for extreme versatility in movement. You can tilt or swivel your flash, thus bouncing light of the walls or ceiling, which results in softer and more realistic lighting.

If you have an flash chord, then you can also physically move your flash OFF the camera, and hold it anywhere you want. The creative doors this opens is amazing, and I've ended up creating fascinating portraits because of this.

The last feature is the flash strength. Using the Olympus FL-50 has allowed me to light up the entire club without sacrificing shutter speed. This is extremely important since it prevents blurry pictures. This was impossible with the on-camera flash.

The bottom line is, if you are looking to improve the lighting used with your digital SLR, then an off-camera flash such as the Olympus FL-50 is a must.

Good luck, and most importantly, when using your digital SLR, have fun!