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Update 10/2010 this was written prior to the E3 and E5 both of which CAN control the flash for a spread of lighting by changing flash intensity (you'll need a HV-1 high voltage supply to be able to keep up at 5 flashes per second). This review says the flash is the only way to adjust light intensity which was true on the E300 prior to the E3 and E5's introduction. Now it can be controlled from the camera that's the only change. . Personally I've developed a liking for the twin flash for macro work after using both the ring and twin. The ability to angle the light and check for hot spots with the modeling light included prior to shooting the exposure is very helpful, while the ring light shows up in many shots as a ring of light in specular environments. Photoshopping it out isn't hard, just a pain. The twin can be adjusted to not overlight an area of the exposure. Now on with the review
Olympus manufactures two flash units, a GN36 ring flash and a GN22 twin flash system. Both use the FC-01 flash controller, however each can be angled uniquely. While the ring flash is directed out parallel to the lens, the twin flash can be adjusted over 45 degrees inward to the lens, and rotated horizontally or vertically. For hard to light scenes the twin flashes can be removed and attached to small tripods. The FC-01 controller, which must be close, can be extended using an FC-05 cable.
The difference in the TF-22 and the STF-22 is that the STF-22 kit includes the FC-01 flash controller. The Olympus TF-22 Twin Flash Head (Needs FC-01 Flash Controller, FR-1 & SR-1) is an add-on for existing SRF-01 owners.
The twin flash fits almost every lens made. On the 50mm prime lens, it does need the FR-1 adapter (as does the ring flash) but this protects the lens focus which extends nearly 50 mm from the lens body, so it's not a bad accessory to have.
On the 50-200 mm zoom and the 14-54 mm lenses, the ring flash simply mounts to the bayonet for the sunshade mount. The twin flash screws into the filter threads on these lenses for mounting.
One lens can not use the ring flash at all the 11-22 mm wide angle which is a good macro lens as well. The reason is that is spreads out to a 72 mm filter thread, much larger than the normal 67 mm thread. The TF-22 CAN be used with the 11-22 mm lense because it has a double threading, with the second for the 72 mm filter thread on the 11-22 mm lens making it an exceptional wide angle macro lens.
As a result the TF-22 works on everything the Ring flash does, and one more.
The FC-01 flash controller has unique operating modes depending on which flash unit is plugged in. On the TF-22 it gives you 16 steps to balance the amount of light sent to the "A" flash and the "B" flash. This can create interesting lighting effects. When used with the Ring Flash or Twin Flash, the FC-01 MUST be used to adjust your fine tuning illumination of the scene, as the camera can not keep up at the close distances. In effect, the +/control on the camera is deactivated using a macro flash, but the FC-01 has a +/3.0 adjustment on the flash itself, so you are able to get the perfect exposure. You have the option of TTL metering or using full manual control if you have gone to manual exposure on the camera.
In all cases, with all flashes, you have modeling lights that can be activated by a button on the FC-01. I find the best use for these is to predict where your image of the flash will appear in the final photo by looking for the modeling lights in the viewfinder prior to the exposure. The twin flash gives you the ability to angle the lights in such a way as to keep the glare out of the lens and keep spots out of your final picture. With the ring flash you end up moving the whole camera.
Note Due to the angles possible on the twin flash you MUST have clean filter glass or else every spec of dust will show up in your photo, expecially with the 11-22 mm lens due to its depth of field at high f stops.
ORDERING:
You only need ONE FC-01 flash controller for macro flashes, so olympus setup their ring/twin flash systems into both KITS and add-ons. If you buy the ring flash KIT (SRF-01) you can add on the twin flash later (TF-22) and have both options. If you buy the twin flash kit to begin with (STF-22) you can buy the ring flash add on later (RF-01) and have the same kit! Unless your FC-01 breaks, or you feel the need to have two macro flashes ready at all times on two backs, then don't buy two kits (beginning with S in the model number) or else you will double up on your flash controllers. The FC-01 can also be purchased separately.
As for compatibility, the FC-01 is a copy of the FL-50 and uses the same high voltage generators, such as the SHV-01 and the FP-01. In fact, you can combine the AA NiMH cells in the flash, the FP-01, and the SHV-01 all 3 at the same time to get sub 1 second cycle times with full flash intensity. Compared to the 7-9 seconds on the FL-50, sub second recharge times are great for sequence shooting
In summary
Macro Flashes are good from 6 cm to 6 meters
Ring flash is brighter than the Twin Flash
Twin flash is more controllable than the ring flash for extreme closeups
any product beginning with (S) (SRF-01, STF-22, SHV-01, etc) is a complete kit
The macro flash kits are in keeping with the long distance FL-50(R) flashes and make use of the same high voltage rapid flash supplies.
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