Macro Ring Flash Advice

[C.S.I.]

Hello again,

Im just getting started into macro photography......Just bought a Sigma 105mm 2.8, and Im probably gonna buy some extension tubes and a ring flash this week.
Anyone know about ring flashes....ie some affordable ones? I know with glass you always get what you pay for, but.......The Canon ring flashes are in the $600 USD range, Sunpacks in the 250 range. I have seen Vivitar/Pheonix ring flashes for like $90.....Im assuming theyre crap, but you never know until you ask.
Im doing this for hobby work, insects flowers etc, nothing professional (yet). So I figured for $90 how can you go wrong.....since Im not using a flash at all at the moment.

Thank you as always,
Bill


Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains. - Winston Churchill


_______________________
300D
Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX
Sigma 105 2.8 macro EX

[Tomsk]

How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthread.php?t=7451

[C.S.I.]

How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthread.php?t=7451





Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding :shock: ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

[FlipsidE]

Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding :shock: ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

- I'm in the same boat here as I do enjoy Macro shooting, but my 420EX just cannot put enough light on the subject when I'm only a few inches away.

I'd love to have some ring light advice if anyone can offer it.

Thanks

FlipisdE

[CyberDyneSystems]

Look at the macro twinlight too.. that rig is a bit better than the Canon ring light.. it is much more flexible in how you can use it and can give better results.

[Tomsk]

How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthread.php?t=7451





Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding :shock: ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

You could always cheat. :D

Buy a USB hub or two that has lots of extra ports.
Buy a load of USB lights that are powered from the hub - the sort that are sold for lighting up laptop keyboards with the flexible necks.
8)

[Jesper]

Look at the macro twinlight too.. that rig is a bit better than the Canon ring light.. it is much more flexible in how you can use it and can give better results.

You mean this one (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=239656&is=USA) ? It also costs US$ 650...

[Groundworxs]

I have the vivitar I needed one for a week. It works fine it is much lighter than the canon but it is also lighter on your wallet. The ring flash produces a nice even light. This is also a great flash for shooting portraits it almost has a soft box effect. Mine is going to be for sale with a 10d and an A2 and some lenses.

Some high end stores have products you can rent and try them out you may want to check into it.

Good luck

[iwatkins]

Sigma recently announced their macro rng flash, the Sigma MACRO EM-140 DG. Might be worth a look.

Ian

[boone]

If you already have a standard flash, like the 420ex, you could try to build a butterfly bracket (instuctions here (http://biology.fullerton.edu/people/staff/rlallen/photography/butterfly-bracket/)...not as complicated as that homemade ringlight). This will let you angle the flash to get it to point toward your macro subject. You could buy a commercial macro flash bracket, but they're expensive from what I've seen.

I'm a member of BugGuide.net (http://bugguide.net), a group of amateur bug photographers, and the consensus there seems to be that ringlights create unnatural-looking lighting. But you could certainly try a cheap ringlight to see if it does what you want.