Macro Flash Question

[Flyball Rebel]

This may seem a silly question :oops:, but, I will be buying a Macro lens soon, and if anyone out there has any experience with the Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX Flash I would like to read their comments. I know this gun is meant for close ups, but, could it be used, only at a pinch, for a quick piccy of your cat sitting say 8 feet away for instance. Any input or picture samples would be welcome. Regards [F.R.] :) :)

[robertwgross]

What camera?

Most Canon EOS cameras have a built-in flash, and they are fine for short distance non-macro subjects, like a cat at eight feet, unless the cat is black. Then it seems that no amount of flash will do it justice.

---Bob Gross---

[Loekito]

Using macro ring light will make your macro photography a kids-play.

For sure, the price are quite high than other brands, about the same price as the lens it self (if you buy Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro USM), but it's maybe because it's the only E-TTL macro ring light. Other available brands are TTL.

The ring light are consisting 2 separate half-circle light, so you can differentiate between the left and right light so it will make more dramatic result to the object.

It's a very good choice to consider if you a serious macro photographer. Also for close-up jobs.

regards,

Loekito

[PekkaM]

I've been thinking of using my 550EX for macro photography. I'm thinking of shooting "still life" type of scenes and use for example white sheet paper to diffuse the light, maybe the off-the-shoe cord to make things easier if I happen to come across one.

Any experience of this?

[robertwgross]

I have used my 550EX for macro photography once or twice. But you really have to "shut it down" to a small fraction of its normal intensity. I was trying to photograph some one-inch rock samples, and I had my camera lens sticking into a white box from a range of just 2-3 inches. I had the flash stuck back a couple of feet. That distance, coupled with reduced intensity on the 550EX control, got the job done.

---Bob Gross---

[PekkaM]

Oh, by the way: What was the fastest exposure time the 550EX and 300D could handle? Was it 1/250 or could this flash do this "series of smaller flashes"-thing to cover entire frame even though the curtains are not fully open at once at any given moment?

I want to try some of those drop-falling-into-bowl-of-water type of images when I get my macro and I understood that short exposure is important in freezing the motion.

I'm also planning to do some makeshift reflectors and diffusers from white paper and shirt hanger wire and use flash in manual mode with them ;)

[Flyball Rebel]

Hi Pekka, I'm pretty sure it is 1/200 sec. (see page 81 of your Manual). Sounds as if your up to some really high tech stuff there mate. Regards [F.R.] :wink: :wink:

[Myrmecos]

Just a suggestion- consider the Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite instead of the ring lite. It's a bit more flexible, and gives a more realistic-looking lighting than the ring flash.

[robertwgross]

Oh, by the way: What was the fastest exposure time the 550EX and 300D could handle? Was it 1/250 or could this flash do this "series of smaller flashes"-thing to cover entire frame even though the curtains are not fully open at once at any given moment?


Shoot with the flash in high speed sync mode, then you can go as fast as the camera shutter.

---Bob Gross---

[Greg Brakefield]

I recently purchased a Tamron 180mm Di (unbelievable lens!) and have been using my 550EX lens w/ flash bracket as described in this article by John Shaw http://www.photosafaris.com/FlashinFlutterbys.asp to do handheld macro shots.

In the article he recommends using a film speed of ISO 50. That is not possible with my 10D, but I have been using a slightly modified technique. Basically, I set the camera to manual and use ISO 100, f16 (aperature), and use the top sync speed of 1/200 second. I then set the 550EX Flash to +1 stop for middle tone subjects - this can actually very from +1/3 stop to + 1 2/3 stop depending on tonality of subject and working distance. I have to use the histogram to judge the exposure because you cannot rely on the built in meter will always be blinking at -2 indicating the shot will be severly underexposed. It works GREAT!

Greg

[leony]

I've been using the ring light (MR-14EX) as a ring-light for both macro and on-location fashion stuff. It's small, light, fits on the camera. You can get a metal ring from canon to mount flash on a 58mm or 72mm filter threaded lens - if yours is an odd size, use step up/down rings. The adaptors from canon are about $30.

The flash is not very powerful, but at full output 10 feet away i get an f/8.0 at ISO 100 - which is not bad for a battery powered ring flash.

Alternative to this one is Sunpak 14R flash (check the name, but this should be close). It's TTL ONLY and will not meter with D-SLRs. You can still use it in manual mode, but unless you've got a ruller/table/calculator/tripod/time to calculate the exposure, canon's E-TTL does wonders. In addition, MR-14EX will work as a transmitter for canon's wireless TTL with 550EX or 430EX (maybe 420EX - the newer one of the two).

Like I said, I've been using mine as "shadow-less fill" for location fashion/beauty stuff as well as macro of flowers, bugs, etc.

Images that were shot by me with the ring-flash as the flash + whatever ambient light was there:

Images © Léon Yerenburg http://www.a-leon.net

http://www.a-leon.net/v2/portfolio/07.jpg
http://www.a-leon.net/v2/portfolio/05_1.jpg
http://www.a-leon.net/v2/portfolio/05_2.jpg
http://www.a-leon.net/v2/portfolio/18.jpg

Hope this helps.