Flash vs no flash

Canon 60D
100mm macro (non L) with 12mm extension tube
Hand held for both

1. No flash, F/8, 1/100, ISO 1600

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/lenzfreak/91866​15775/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/lenzfreak/91866​14613/

the point of using flash is to keep your shutter at 1/250. This pretty much eliminates hand shake and allows you to use smaller apertures. Also you can easily shoot iso 100, 1600 is overkill with a flash especially.

calypsob wrote in post #16082275
the point of using flash is to keep your shutter at 1/250. This pretty much eliminates hand shake and allows you to use smaller apertures. Also you can easily shoot iso 100, 1600 is overkill with a flash especially.

Thanks for the comment, i admit i still fall into the realm of a "noob" when it comes to insect macro, In the first shot 1600 was essential, in the second i went 1250 mainly because of how dark the shot really was, i've been toying with this "homemade diffuser" for about a week now and have slowly been getting rid of the hot spots, i took many shots at varying ISOs and 1250 looked the best IMO, pretty much 0 PP in the second shot.

the flash shot looks better, J.D.,but I never shoot above ISO 200 with flash.no need to.
you could use noise removal ,as the BG is noisy due to the high ISO.

mandokid1 wrote in post #16082347
the flash shot looks better, J.D.,but I never shoot above ISO 200 with flash.no need to.
you could use noise removal ,as the BG is noisy due to the high ISO.

Thanks Denis, i tried ISO 200 but in manual it drops my EV 3 full stops so the pics come out real dark, As you've seen i'm really new to trying out the flash on insects, so maybe my diffuser is killing too much light? At a real head scratching point with all this, possibly up the exposure compensation on the flash?

correct me if im wrong, I probably am

you choose the aperture you want, say f8 and a reasonable shutter speed 1/125, don't you adjust the iso to whatever is necessary for the look you want.
I try not to have black backgrounds so sometimes a higher iso is necessary as the flash will only be lighting the subject??

I live in Lancashire we don't get much sun

slicemydrive wrote in post #16082570
correct me if im wrong, I probably am

you choose the aperture you want, say f8 and a reasonable shutter speed 1/125, don't you adjust the iso to whatever is necessary for the look you want.
I try not to have black backgrounds so sometimes a higher iso is necessary as the flash will only be lighting the subject??

I live in Lancashire we don't get much sun

Same principle i typically run by, and yes i may be "wrong" as to the status quo of settings as well, but my goal is to make it look good as i am far from a professional in this area. But i would like to get better

I definitely like the eye without the specular highlight as demonstrated in #1, however, overall it does not appear as sharp. That's my noob opinion.

billyendo wrote in post #16082620
I definitely like the eye without the specular highlight as demonstrated in #1, however, overall it does not appear as sharp. That's my noob opinion.

And i agree with you, the blowout in the eye in #2 is what i'm working on trying to get rid of, it drives me crazy.

I actually prefer the natural light shot.
Getting that hexagon shape on the eye when using flash does indicate more diffusion is needed and/or you need to get the diffusion head nearer the subject.
Brian V.

LordV wrote in post #16082982
I actually prefer the natural light shot.
Getting that hexagon shape on the eye when using flash does indicate more diffusion is needed and/or you need to get the diffusion head nearer the subject.
Brian V.

Excellent, thanks Brian, i'll give that a shot.

Seems like some good help given there JD

Fredan wrote in post #16083965
Seems like some good help given there JD

Indeed sir, and apply it i shall

Go with the flash