I'm considering going into macro photography but the Canon flashes specific for macro are rather out of my budget.
There are some ring flashes on ebay that sell for about $100. Have any of you tried these?
Would they produce similar results?
What difference would they have with the Canon original aside from price?
Thank you.
Jay
May 12, 2008 at 05:13 AM
bacilonur Offline Image Upload: Off
Ebay Macro Flashes
Is it manual or ETTL? Even with the third-party ETTL implementations (Sigma, primarily), it can't beat Canon's for reliability and accuracy. And if it's manual, you can still live with it, you'll just have to bracket more and be thinking about your power settings. Basically, you'll probably lose plenty of shots that you'd have gotten if it was an MR-14/24.
May 12, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Badtz Offline Image Upload: Off
Ebay Macro Flashes
While I don't completed agree with the above, do you currently have a flash? I get good results from a hotshoe flash and off camera cord, much cheaper (since I already had the flash) then another flash.
May 12, 2008 at 08:40 PM
cwebster Offline Image Upload: Off
Ebay Macro Flashes
If you post over on the Macro forum, you'll get plenty of advice on how to use a plain strobe off camera to get great macro lighting. Dedicated macro ring lights can be useful but seem to have lost favor amongst the serious macro shooters.
<Chas>
May 12, 2008 at 09:21 PM
cgardner Offline Image Upload: Off
Ebay Macro Flashes
Ring lights for 35mm cameras were originally created for medical documentation where the goal was shadowless illumination. The flat lighting they produce isn't particularly well suited for applications where normal 3D modeling is required. I don't shoot bugs very often, but when I do I light them the same as any larger subject with a pair of flashes. These were all done with a pair of Vivitar 285HVs. By no means the epitome of macro, but they illustrate what can be done with a couple of very cheap flashes, one on a flash bracket and another off camera
It's also possible to use a single tethered or wireless triggered flash as backlight by using a flat or V shaped white reflector around the lens:
Chuck
May 12, 2008 at 10:09 PM
jepong Offline Image Upload: Off
Ebay Macro Flashes
Thanks for the great advice people.
Especially to you Chuck .. very detailed ... thanks for the time to answer.
Badtz ...looks like I will be taking your advice. I have a 580Ex ... so looks like I will getting the OC-2 and a bracket ... maybe a Hakuba ....
Ebay Macro Flashes
