Ringflash for weddings?

[BlueTreePhoto]

Does anyone use a ringflash for wedding photography? I was wondering when it would work best and how heavy it may be... I have seen the results of it in portraits and was thinking of getting one, but I mainly do weddings.

[tim]

After looking at your website I can confidently say flash is the least of your worries. Try capturing great moments from good vantage points then come back in a couple of years when you've gotten competent at that.

[BlueTreePhoto]

Well I wasn't asking your opinion on my photography I was asking your opinion on using a ringflash. There is no call for being insulting here.

[EdBray]

Funnily enough I have been researching the same thing today.

[BlueTreePhoto]

Funnily enough I have been researching the same thing today.

Any luck?

[RandyMN]

Ring flash mainly benefits you when taking extreme close ups or just wanting less sharp shadows from subjects further from the camera.

I personally have a ring flash that I purchased primarily for macro photography, and I have thought about using it at weddings for the rings and other shots, but the fact is that rarely do I have time to be switching during fast paced weddings, so I use only one flash throughout the entire wedding.

If it's worth it to you to make the investment for only a few close up shots, then by all menas go ahead and purchase it. I think a more powerful flash with a battery pack is much more essential than a ring flash.

[BlueTreePhoto]

Ring flash mainly benefits you when taking extreme close ups or just wanting less sharp shadows from subjects further from the camera.

I personally have a ring flash that I purchased primarily for macro photography, and I have thought about using it at weddings for the rings and other shots, but the fact is that rarely do I have time to be switching during fast paced weddings, so I use only one flash throughout the entire wedding.

If it's worth it to you to make the investment for only a few close up shots, then by all menas go ahead and purchase it. I think a more powerful flash with a battery pack is much more essential than a ring flash.

Yea, I was wondering about how time consuming it would be to switch over.

Can you tell me what battery pack set up you have? I am looking into one of those too. Currently I just use a few sets of rechareables in a night.

[RandyMN]

I have three setups.

1. A Metz flash with spare lithium batteries that fit into the handle.
2. A Quantum battery that carries on my belt and connects via coiled cord directly to power the flash.
3. Battery packs made by Canon that hold eight AA batteries each and connect directly to flash.

I find the Metz to be the easiest to use while the quatum works second best while moving around using the stroboframe.

The Canon battery packs work well when using a tripod as the velcro can strap around any surface. I also can strap this to the Stroboframe.

[BlueTreePhoto]

I will have to look into those. I use a 580 EX and want as little added bulk as possible. Thanks RandyMN

[EdBray]

Large ring flash (as opposed to macro ring flash) is commonly used in fashion photography in outdoor work. We are talking about much larger powered units than macro flash units which typically have a guide number in the 8-20 range (at ISO 100).

The units I am thinking off are those similar to the Elinchrom Ranger RX (http://www.theflashcentre.com/elinchrom-ranger-ringflash-i422.html), or the Alfa (http://www.alfaflash.co.uk/alfa-ringflash.html)

[RandyMN]

That thought had crossed my mind, and in that instance the lighting would have less harsh shadows and the ring flash would replace the normal flash.

Pricey though!

[BlueTreePhoto]

That was what I was thinking, the kind used for fashion photography. Of course they would most likely add a lot weight and drain power, no? I guess I better just stick with my 580EX and 80/20 setup...

[Ballen Photo]

OK Folks, Can we please stick to the question asked, and try to not be insulting? Everyone has their own ideas as to what composition looks good, and what doesn't. That is not the topic of this thread.
Thanks, Bruce

[René Damkot]

Does anyone use a ringflash for wedding photography? I was wondering when it would work best and how heavy it may be... I have seen the results of it in portraits and was thinking of getting one, but I mainly do weddings.

Not weddings, but there's a guy shooting Nightclub shots like a Ghostbuster: Click (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=381362&highlight=ghostbuster)

[EdBray]

Looking at this, anybody any thoughts?

Ringflash Outfit (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=250353395728&Category=3860&_trksid=p3907.m29&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2)

[engsetr1]

After looking at your website I can confidently say flash is the least of your worries. Try capturing great moments from good vantage points then come back in a couple of years when you've gotten competent at that.__________________


Your photography looks just fine to me!

[Yola]

Ring Flash too me means MACRO.. or" DEXTER the series "for blood analysis .

A ring flash also hurts the eyes .

Good Q thanks ............made me think.

[BlueTreePhoto]

__________________


Your photography looks just fine to me!


Thanks.



Thanks to all who responded to my question... :cool:

[EdBray]

Ring Flash too me means MACRO.. or" DEXTER the series "for blood analysis .

A ring flash also hurts the eyes .

Good Q thanks ............made me think.

No, ring flash is often used on Fashion and Glamour shooting by professionals using large powered units. The units are not cheap either, cheapest I have found is the one in the ebay link I posted earlier about £400 inc shipping. The Elinchrom and Arca versions are much more expensive, see earlier posts in this thread for details.

Lencarta Ringflash promotional release (http://www.lencarta.com/UserFiles/ringflash.pdf)