Macro Newbie Help Please

[Paul Miller]

I cannot help but be inspired by the stunning photographs on this forum. Macrophotography is something that has always interested me, but without ever getting heavily involved with it. My experiences are really only using the close-focus facilities of my zoom lenses, and in the dim and distant past (25 years ago), I had a reversing ring for one of old 42mm thread standard lenses. (Am I showing my age now ?)

I drifted away from photography (except for POS cameras) for many years but in the last 5 months I have invested in my first DSLR (350D) with a Sigma 17-70 & Sigma 70-300 zooms and a Kenko 1.5TC.

However, reading this forum has resulted in me getting my credit card out again and buying a Sigma 105 Macro lens, and it looks likely that I’ll be spending again on a flash – probably a straight choice between the Canon 430 EX Speedlite and the Sigma EF500 Super DG. Can anyone specifically recommend one of these flashguns over the other ??

Additionally, I have seen many of the fascinating Macro set ups that people are using. Can anyone recommend a good flash bracket which enables the flash to be directed at a macro subject ? The Delta Flip looks interesting, but is it available in UK ?

If I can get some photos that vaguely come close to the ones I’ve seen here I will be more than happy.

Your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Paul

[LordV]

I'd get the 430EX over the sigma- I've been through 2 of the sigmas and they seem to be a bit unreliable- saw the 430EX recently for about £169 mailorder.
I'll leave the flash bracket for others to answer but you can make one fairly easily from a generic vidcam light bracket (2 fittings one on side and one on top) by fitting a Jessop's miniball to the top fitting. You'll also need an off camera flash cord. last time I looked Jessops were selling their one half price for 14.99 which is a bargain (I use the same cord).
Brian V.

[Dalantech]

Back when I was using a diffused 430EX flash I never bothered putting it on a flash bracket -I just left it on the camera. Lumiquest makes a mini soft box that works extremely well as a diffuser: http://www.lumiquest.com/lq951.htm

[racketman]

Delta bracket is not available in the UK - you could order from B&H I guess. I believe it suffers a bit from 'creep' which would be annoying.
As Brian states you will need an off shoe adaptor:
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s402/0/Sync-Leads/Jessops/TTL-Off-Camera-Flash-Cord-For-Canon/details.aspx?&comp=n

[dpastern]

The delta bracket is good, but as a user, it's very annoying in many aspects.

1. the hotshoe is very poorly made

2. It suffers badly from creep after extended usage. It's still usable, but just annoying.

3. Can't really mount it on a tripod...

Dave