Orbis $169 - This is a new product but it looks promising. It also requires a hotshoe flash. The only problem is it can not be mounted to the camera. The website is promising a mounting option early next year.
Go with the alienbee. Up until last year, you couldn't get a ringflash for any less than $2K. The ABR changed the game. The others are novelties and poor approximations at best.
If you want real ring performance, get a Zeus pack and Zeus ring flash.
Yes, I have used a Profoto Acute ring flash, but I don't use it often.
The ring flash is the most over-used-and-abused light source. Good for certain things and really, really bad for others.
If you want to try a ring flash get a real one. The ABR800 is inexpensive and should be no problem to sell if you don't like it.
BTW you will have to keep a constant distance from the person you are shooting as the light is mounted to the camera and not a stand. Not hard to do you just have to remember.
BTW2 The Profoto Acute cost well under $1,000.00 two years ago. If I remember correctly this one sold for $799.00. You can get the Acute ring flash for under $920.00 today. Check B&H's price to see how far under.
c.d.embrey wrote:
BTW2 The Profoto Acute cost well under $1,000.00 two years ago. If I remember correctly this one sold for $799.00. You can get the Acute ring flash for under $920.00 today. Check B&H's price to see how far under.
True, but without an Acute pack to go along with it, it's useless. Hence $2K.
Jonathan H wrote:
True, but without an Acute pack to go along with it, it's useless. Hence $2K.
Well if you want to look at it that way, an Acute2 1200R sell for $1,900.00. Plus the cost of the ring flash. So you are either more than $1,000.00 over or more than $1,000.00 under
If you go on strobist right now there is a review (or overview) of the orbis. If I was to buy an add-on ring flash accessory I would go with the Ray Flash. The orbis looks to cumbersome especially if you are going to use a hot-shoe flash. On youtube there is a overview of the ray-flash by Dave Cross that is pretty good. But of course this is just for the "ring light" type add-ons.
c.d.embrey wrote:
Well if you want to look at it that way, an Acute2 1200R sell for $1,900.00. Plus the cost of the ring flash. So you are either more than $1,000.00 over or more than $1,000.00 under
Math has never been my strong suit. That's why I went into photography
c.d.embrey wrote:
So you are either more than $1,000.00 over or more than $1,000.00 under
I guess that would depend on whether you're selling or buying.
Speaking of buying, for well under the price of a RayFlash or Orbis you can buy a real ring light from Phoenix, and probably from a number of other no-name brands as well.
Works fine, but it is TTL only. I use camera in Manual and FEC to tweak.
BTW, the Rayflash is getting up towards Canon's MR series, which are really nice units but outrageously expensive.
I use ring flash very sparingly, even with studio strobes. I mainly use for macro work or portraits up close against interesting backgrounds.
Other than that they make a pretty over-priced, and rather mediocre, fill light IMO.
This info is given about the Phoenix Ringflash • Provides approx. 100-200 flashes Even if it self destructs after only 50 pops it would be worth the money. Think of the fun you could have shooting 50 pix of local kids and pets to post on People Photography. Where the only thing they hate more than portraits of young ladies with tats is ringflash highlights in the eyes. Extra points for shots of young ladies with tats holding a cute pet or child, all with ring highlights
On a more serious note, a Canon pop-up flash has a guide number of 43, so the Phoenix guide number of 46 makes it useable in noon-day sun.
I'm a great beliver in guerilla photography (permits, we don't need no stinking permits). Which is why I prefer cameras without grips (look like a tourist, instead of a pro). For only $129.95 how could I not buy one Lot less conspicuous than a Acute 600B slung over my shoulder.
Carmen Miranda wrote:
Speaking of buying, for well under the price of a RayFlash or Orbis you can buy a real ring light from Phoenix, and probably from a number of other no-name brands as well.
I threw one of those away a few years ago - possibly the worst piece of equipment I ever spent money on, and I think I spent $75 for it. Too small to give you the ringflash look, even for fill, diffuser is so thick and opaque that it soaks up a huge amount of the flash output, totally peters out after about 4' of flash distance. Might be okay for macro/medical photography but that's about it. Oh, and because it uses little plastic step-up/step-down rings to attach to the camera it might not fit your lenses - I think that my 50/1.8 is the only one it still fit.
Personally, I think ringflash is one of those things where you simply have to pay at least a certain amount to play, and Buff's model really lowered the barrier to entry. I wouldn't go any cheaper than his.
I have a the rayflash and can't fault it for what it is. It's portable for one thing. However, it's not the same as having a dedicated full-on ring-flash unit.
I recently hired a (£289) Bowens ringflash adaptor, which fits on any of their heads - that certainly gave a full-on ringflash fashion look. Only downside is you have to remove the modeling bulb when it's fitted.
ShutterLover wrote:
I have a the rayflash and can't fault it for what it is. It's portable for one thing. However, it's not the same as having a dedicated full-on ring-flash unit.
I recently hired a (£289) Bowens ringflash adaptor, which fits on any of their heads - that certainly gave a full-on ringflash fashion look. Only downside is you have to remove the modeling bulb when it's fitted.
How did that Bowens adaptor do? That is another possibility since my strobes are Bowens mount. The only problem I see is that if you use the adaptor, you can't really move around too much.
I have an AB ringflash. Works awesome, and has power to boot. I've barely ever moved it from minimal power. Also works great off-camera as another strobe as well (which is mostly what I've been using it for for a while, havent done many portraits lately, just band work).
Realmstalker wrote:
I have an AB ringflash. Works awesome, and has power to boot. I've barely ever moved it from minimal power. Also works great off-camera as another strobe as well (which is mostly what I've been using it for for a while, havent done many portraits lately, just band work).
Well worth the cash.
good to hear. I've got mine in the mail right now and can't wait to start playing with it!
I've got Hensel's, so this is my first try with AB products...hoping this ring is as much fun as so many say.
, an Acute2 1200R sell for $1,900.00. Plus the cost of the ring flash. So you are either more than $1,000.00 over or more than $1,000.00 under