Macro photography lighting

[marksw]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to choose some new macro kit, but could do with some input from anyone with some experience.

To date, I have been using 28-105mm lens with the EF25 extension tube, and an old Speedlight 200E on an off-camera shoe.

This has worked OK, but the magnification isn't as great as I would like, and holding the flash in one hand while using the camera with the other isn't really practical.

My new plan is to get a second flash, and use them together on one of those flash arm pairs that I have seen pictures of. I am also going to get the 100mm macro lens from Canon. This setup presents me with two questions:

1) Where can I get the flash arm things from? I’ve hunted around but to no avail. (I’m based in the UK).

2) How can I fire two flashes at once? Will I loose the auto TTL metering of the flash that I have become so used to? I don’t really want to have to start calculating flash exposures while on my hands and knees in a wood…

I’d appreciate any feedback you have :)

Thanks,

Mark

[figment]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to choose some new macro kit, but could do with some input from anyone with some experience.

To date, I have been using 28-105mm lens with the EF25 extension tube, and an old Speedlight 200E on an off-camera shoe.

This has worked OK, but the magnification isn't as great as I would like, and holding the flash in one hand while using the camera with the other isn't really practical.

My new plan is to get a second flash, and use them together on one of those flash arm pairs that I have seen pictures of. I am also going to get the 100mm macro lens from Canon. This setup presents me with two questions:

1) Where can I get the flash arm things from? I’ve hunted around but to no avail. (I’m based in the UK).

2) How can I fire two flashes at once? Will I loose the auto TTL metering of the flash that I have become so used to? I don’t really want to have to start calculating flash exposures while on my hands and knees in a wood…

I’d appreciate any feedback you have :)

Thanks,

Mark
Refer to the system chart PDF:
http://www.canoneos.com/syschart081103.pdf
I use the Flash tranmitter ST-E2 to fire multiple 550 units. If you set the units up into zones, you can adjust the flash proportion too. You can use E-TTL with the flash transmitter.
The 100MM macro is a great lens.

[ChrisNardone]

http://www.adoramacamera.com/BG3278.html?searchinfo=macro%20flash%20bracket&ite m_no=1

http://www.adoramacamera.com/SB300600DX.html?searchinfo=macro%20flash%20bracket &item_no=3

Those are a couple. I assume you can order from them in U.K. If you don't go wireless, You will also need off-camera shoe adapter and chords etc. You didn't mention what camera or flashes, but Canon makes several accessories for EX line of flashes

My solution is cheap. I just bought a Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce for my 550ex. It softens and spreads the light. It works great with my Tamron 70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD. That's 1:2 magnification which with a +1 +2 +4 close-up filter set, I can get some decent 1:1 macro shots.

http://www.adoramacamera.com/SFOMCA6.html

[marksw]

Thanks for the links Chris - they are exactly what I have been looking for. If I find a supplier in the UK I will post details here for anyone else that may be interested.

Re. the 'Flash Zones' described by figment, can anyone describe how this works/what this is? :?

Thanks,

Mark

[iwatkins]

Mark,

In the UK, the Manfrotto Macro flash bracket thingy can be had from: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/

Go to: Photographic | Tripods | Manfrotto | Photographic and it is about 2/3s of the way down.

Cheers

Ian

[marksw]

That's great, thanks Ian! I've never come across this company before - they appear to have loads of stock :)

Anyone ever had problems with them?

Thanks again,

Mark

[marksw]

Wow! The prices on that site seem great too! It says they include VAT, and if this is really the case then I think Mr. Credit Card will be rearing his head shortly....

[iwatkins]

Mark,

Warehouse have been great for everything I've ordered from them, three seperate orders in total (IIRC). Not had any problems.

They are quite big and have won a few awards as well. They usually have 2 page adverts in the UK photo mags. so that made me more trusting.

Yeah, their prices are very keen as well. 8)

Cheers

Ian

[gyelland]

UK's largest online photo retailer,
I have bought loads of stuff from them
all with no problems and next day delivery.

I bought the Kirk flash bracket from them
very stong, well made and light

For macro I use
Canon 10D
Teleplus x2 converter (increases magnification without focusing distance)
28-105 Canon lens, at 105 with pre focus at min distance
+4 Jessops close up filter
With a single canon 430ez flash on manual mode with a home made soft box

Can get bigger than 1:1, but critical on focus then, just fire multiple shots and usually one is spot on handheld, or use a tripod.

See results here
http://www.clownloach.net/Gallery/15062003/pages/garden_011.html
http://www.clownloach.net/Gallery/10012004/pages/milk_020.html
http://www.clownloach.net/Gallery/01022004/pages/amerillis_5918.html

Gary

[marksw]

gyelland, I love your milk photo! It is slightly off topic, but could you tell me how you achieved this?

Thanks,

Mark

[iwatkins]

Gary,

Would also be interested to hear that info. too. I could certainly tell Mark how not to do it though. :P

When I saw you post that image a while back I was inspired to have a go there and then. Needless to say, the kitchen table got a good few pints over it and my camera bag I'm sure has a wiff of cheese to it now. :?

Cheers

Ian

[marksw]

I've been looking at the costs of two different options. Prices quoted are from Warehouse Express Online.

Option 1) Use a MT-24ex Macro Twin Lite Flash. This is only really useful as a macro flash as it is not that powerful. The distance between the flashes is perhaps not ideal, and I am not sure how easy it would be to add off-the-shelf diffusers. Cost: £599.00

Option 2) Buy bits separately:

TTL Hot Shoe Adaptor 3 £55.95 x 1 55.95
Off-camera Shoe Adaptor £19.95 x 1 19.95
TTL Distributor £39.95 x 2 79.90
Connection cord 0.6m £38.95 x 2 77.90
420 EX Sppedlight £179.00 x 2 358.00
Manfrotto Macro Bracket Flash £39.95 x 1 39.95

Total cost: £631.65

So on the face of it it will cost an extra £32.65 to do it the way I had planned. I guess this will at least give me two flash guns that I can use for other work, but it is surprising how expensive little connectors and cables can be!

The components listed in option (2) are all Canon branded. There may be cheaper alternatives around, but these things seem to be really badly documented.

Thought you may find this interesting...

[gyelland]

The milk drop:
The trick is to get a really thin layer of milk for it to work. The milled edge of a coin is just enough to hold the right amount of milk.

Put a coin on an unturned glass then stand on a BIG tray, small milk drop travel miles.

Set up camera and flash on a tripod, about f11 macro, move flash close to coin, you should be able to reduce you flash to about 1/16 power.

Then get a straw put it in the milk, put your finger over the end to store the milk. Hold it about 2 feet above the coin already covered in milk. Then at the same time let several drops fall and press the shutter for about 8 frames, flash should fire for every frame.

After about 500 shots you might get 5 that are good !! :shock:

Have a go

Gary

[marksw]

It was suggested on another forum that I try the wireless flash route as a third option. Apparently some flashes can co-operate together wirelessly, and the ideal combination would be this:

Canon 550 EX Speedlite (master) x 1 = £259
Canon 420 EX Speedlite (slave) x 1 = £179

Total = £438


This is MUCH cheaper (nearly £200!) than getting all the connecting cables and adapters, and would leave me with two useful flashguns too :-)

Does anyone know how well the wireless flash system works? Does the (E-)TTL flash metering work in this manner?

[triumph]

If you go with the two EX flash guns then for macro photography you should get the off camera cable else you will have one flash gun on top of the camera which isnt much good for macro photography.

also note that 550ex cameras are available at park cameras for...

Speedlite 550EX + 5 packs Kodak AA(4) Alkaline Batteries £242.99*

http://www.parkcameras.com/

regards

Ian

[marksw]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for that info. I have an 'Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2' which should do the job nicely :)

Thanks for the link too - I don't live too far from them so I can pop in and have a browse 8)

All the best,

Mark

[cowman345]

This is what I use, it may not benefit you, but it's pretty versitile:

I shoot macro (at the moment) with one flash. I have an old flat flash bracket that i've mounted a small compact sunpak tripod ball head on, and on top of that one another, and another for a total of 3 ball joints. On top of that I mount the flash and can put it where ever I want in relation to the lens.

Furthermore, I made a homemade velcro-on reflector card that straps onto the top of the flash out of milk-carton-like plastic spray-painted white. This gives me a bit of a bigger light source.

I shoot with direct/indirect sunlight as a fill for the flash as my key light.

Here's a sample:

http://www.photoblink.com/imageview.asp?imageid=81298&cid=0&groupby=authorid &value=2753&page=1

-dave-