Benefits of Off-Camera Flashes

If you own a digital SLR, then you have most probably come across pictures that were ruined by the on-camera flash. There are many reasons for this, and all these reasons results in a lack of creative control.
When I first started using a digital SLR, there were many situations where the on-camera flash was either too weak to be useful, or resulted in odd effects that took away from the moment I was trying to frame.

Several years of using my Olympus E-510 have finally allowed me to appreciate how an off-camera flash, such as the Olympus FL-50R, is FAR superior to settling with the on-camera flash.
The three main advantages of having a flash off-camera with your Olympus SLR are autofocus benefits, mobility, and power.

If you take pictures in low-light environments with your Olympus camera, then you have faced autofocus issues. Olympus off-camera flashes, such as the Olympus FL-50 or the Olympus FL-36, come with red lights that help increase the subject contrast, thus drastically improving your Olympus autofocus capabilities.

Another drawback, which you only realize once you start to extensively use the flash, is that you have ZERO control with the position of your flash. Light is sent in only one direction in every picture, and will ALWAYS hit your subject straight in the face. An off-camera flash tilts and swivels and allows you to use the walls and ceilings to help create more realistic lighting.

Furthermore, if you invest in a flash cord, you can move your flash away from your camera, which gives you amazing control over how the flash lights up the room and strikes the subject. The camera-flash combination becomes a real pleasure to use!

Last but not least, however, is that the strength of your off-camera flash is much better than your on-camera flash. Olympus flashes allow you to light up the entire room without sacrificing shutter speed, and give you the capability of freezing the moment while providing enough light to capture the details.