Best handheld macro setup for newbie?

Hi guys, I need your expertise here... I want to get into flash macro photography, and I'm wondering what would be the best, cheapest, lightest way to set this up.

I already have a Canon 60D, a 100mm macro USM lens and a E-TTL cord, but no bracket to attach my flash in front of the lens. I did some research and came up with two affordable options:

1. Get a C-shaped bracket and mount the flash this way:

https://www.flickr.com​/photos/tobyjug5/70274​93575 (with a 430EX)
https://www.flickr.com​/photos/tobyjug5/19749​246058 (with a 270EX)

2. Mount the flash on the hood / front of the lens:

http://farm6.staticfli​ckr.com …7220454464_6d39​d10645.jpg (270EX on hood)
http://farm6.staticfli​ckr.com …5744500087_69f1​45cc66.jpg (270EX on a filter holder?)

Is either better than the other? I plan to shoot small plants, flowers, lizards, spiders, snails... And I want the setup to be light and easy to carry, not something cumbersome.

It's really up to you. Some don't mind heavy flash bracket but I personally prefer my setup to be light weight as I need to hike in the jungle for long hours.

My current setup is something like this. Just a light weight 270EX on hotshoe.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/dC2E​GS

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tg88​Hj

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/toMN​mJ

Here is a thread about macro setups. I am just getting started with this. My setup is at the bottom of page 70 & top of 71. It took 5 minutes to put together and total cost is about $5, not counting the Canon equipment.

https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1425​66&page=70

orionmystery wrote in post #17658289
My current setup is something like this. Just a light weight 270EX on hotshoe.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/dC2E​GS 20121217_233132-copy by Kurt (Orionmystery) G, on Flickr

Oh, I didn't know you went back to placing the flash straight on the hotshoe. Last time I checked your blog, you were still putting the 270EX right at the front of the lens. If it works just as well from the hotshoe, even better! Your samples look great, as usual.

All the macro setups I've seen till then placed the flash as close to the front of the lens as possible, so I thought that was the only way to do it right.

I like the simplicity of your setup. I may just as well copy it

GeoKras1989 wrote in post #17658344
Here is a thread about macro setups. I am just getting started with this. My setup is at the bottom of page 70 & top of 71. It took 5 minutes to put together and total cost is about $5, not counting the Canon equipment.

https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1425​66&page=70

Thanks, I've browsed that thread before. That's where I got the ideas I mentioned in my original post. Your double speedlight setup is cool, but more than I need.

cedm wrote in post #17658439
Thanks, I've browsed that thread before. That's where I got the ideas I mentioned in my original post. Your double speedlight setup is cool, but more than I need.

Thanks, I got my idea from the thread, also. I like the double setup because it allows me to vary A:B lighting. That is rather difficult with one light. It all depends on just what you want to accomplish.

cedm wrote in post #17658436
Oh, I didn't know you went back to placing the flash straight on the hotshoe. Last time I checked your blog, you were still putting the 270EX right at the front of the lens. If it works just as well from the hotshoe, even better! Your samples look great, as usual.

All the macro setups I've seen till then placed the flash as close to the front of the lens as possible, so I thought that was the only way to do it right.

I like the simplicity of your setup. I may just as well copy it

For the MPE65 or any lens without internal focus, it is still better to place the speedlite at the front of the lens.

The light is amazingly soft - what was 270's setup?

Manual, TTL, with/without correction?

I'm a complete newbie - and such wonderful light for me is very interesting, I only manage to get it rather harsh:

I'm a big fan of getting the flash as close to the subject as possible to keep the flash duration as short as possible (to help freeze motion and get sharper images). This winter, time permitting, I'm gonna turn my attention toward finding a way to mount the 270EX II at the end of a Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens, off center (light centered with the lens looks "flat" to me). Also hoping that Canon announces a replacement to the MT-24EX macro twin flash soon. I'm currently using the twin flash in a "key and fill" configuration to get light that partially wraps around the subject. Sample image:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/zE2b​PM