Inexpensive light weight manual flash

[sstalker]

Hi all,

I am looking for a pair of manual flashes for my macro rig. I don't need TTL, etc. Adjustable power would be nice but not necessary. Guide number of 60 would probably be more than adequate.

I have looked on B&H and Adorama, but very little is available. I have larger flashes (285HV & 283), but just too much weight for what I want.

Does anyone have a source or knowledge of flashes that would meet my need?

Thanks in advance

Steve - Toledo

[troypiggo]

I'd steer away from attempting manual flash for macro. I tried it a while ago, and it's simply not practical.

As you'd know, flash power is a function of a few things, distance being one of them. For normal photography working distances, you can be a little closer or a little further from the subject and because the subject is relatively so far away from the flash it has negligible effect on exposure.

But for macro, because you're so close to the subject, you only need to be a little bit too close or further away, or as the bug moves and you change focus, relative to the distance of flash to subject this can be significant enough to affect the exposure.

The other thing I noticed using my 580EXII or 430EX, is that manual flash minimum power of 1/128 etc is still too powerful for macro working distances.

If you shoot ETTL, it's capable of much lower power outputs than the manual settings.

Sorry if this isn't the response you were after. Just offering my thoughts to possibly save you some money.