Desperate for a ring flash .......

Does anyone know of a quality ring flash at a reasonable price? Im in the UK, and the only units i've found are rather expensive. Im not overly keen on e-bay etc either.

Any suggestions?



(please, nobody suggest i work weekends....i already am! )

www.alienbees.com

you have to call them for international orders.. i think they charge like 10 bucks for a 220 volt conversion + your warranty isnt the same as a US one.

They dont usually do international sales, but will accomodate you if you dont mind their warranty... I forgot the details tho, but AlienBees is going to be your cheapest bet.

sigma's is ETTL.

Are you looking for a ring flash for glamour ring flash, or a macro ring flash?

If you want round catchlights in the eyes, forget the little units that surround the lens of your camera unless you don't mind using a wide angle lens and shooting from two or three feet away from your subject. If you use a portrait lens at the normal shooting distance of 6 to 10 feet with those little ring lights you will get a catchlight that looks like you used on camera flash.

Benji

I was hoping for a unit that surrounds the lens, im not overly fussed about round catchlights, just minimal shadows for portraits.

Eyelikedurt wrote in post #2707933
I was hoping for a unit that surrounds the lens, im not overly fussed about round catchlights, just minimal shadows for portraits.

And now we are back to alienbees....

check them out.

Eyelikedurt wrote in post #2707933
I was hoping for a unit that surrounds the lens, im not overly fussed about round catchlights, just minimal shadows for portraits.

Actually you want shadows in your portraits. Shadows show depth and dimension.

I will post two images of the same girl. One with a ring flash (flat lit) the other with portrait lighting.

Benji

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Benji -- those are good photos, but calling her broad and short is perhaps cruel.

DavidEB wrote in post #2708692
Benji -- those are good photos, but calling her broad and short is perhaps cruel.

Benji

hopefully this wont steer away from the topic too much but....

may I ask what the purpose of a ring flash is (when used for shooting fashion). Like what is the resulting difference compared to say a 580EX??

NZFritz wrote in post #2708905
may I ask what the purpose of a ring flash is (when used for shooting fashion). Like what is the resulting difference compared to say a 580EX??

A ring flash will give you nearly shadowless images. An on camera flash like the 580EX will leave shadows behind the subject unless there is the same amount or more light on the background than what is on the subject. On camera flash may also leave shadows on the subject depending on the pose.

Benji

Benji wrote in post #2708951
A ring flash will give you nearly shadowless images. An on camera flash like the 580EX will leave shadows behind the subject unless there is the same amount or more light on the background than what is on the subject. On camera flash may also leave shadows on the subject depending on the pose.

Benji

Thanks heaps Benji, just to clear something up, is a ring flash is used off camera or on camera?

NZFritz wrote in post #2709560
Thanks heaps Benji, just to clear something up, is a ring flash is used off camera or on camera?

Ring flash is at the lens position... in other words the lens is inside the ring, so I guess you would call it on camera.

forkball wrote in post #2710557
Ring flash is at the lens position... in other words the lens is inside the ring, so I guess you would call it on camera.

Thanks, however, I think your talking about the macro type... any ideas about the type used for fashion... I have seen it use on camera (above), is this the way it is usually used?