Ring Flash - Canon vs. Sigma

I am exploring the idea of getting my wife a ring flash for use with the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens. For macro, she shoots mostly insects, spiders, and flowers. She shoots a 20D.

The Sigma EM-140DG is nearly $100 less than the Canon MR-14EX ($360 vs. $450). Both appear to have similar features, and both are E-TTL II. I am leaning towards the Sigma only because of price.

Does anyone have experience with both flashes? If so, can you tell me which you like best, and why?

If you have either one, do you wish you had gotten the other? If so, why?

I really don't mind spending the extra $90 for the Canon, but only if there is a good reason.

Thanks in advance.

Roger

Didn't know Sigma had one. I'm curious now.

Its here on the Sigma site, and here on B&H.

Not really related to what you're looking at but I've wet my feet in the macro world (only by a small amount compared to the countless other macro fans on this board) but the one thing that suprised me was that many of the great macro shooters on POTN prefer to use a 580 or 430 along with an off camera cord (not to say that many aren't getting fantastic results from a ring flash). I'm not suggesting that the ring flash wouldn't work great but only trying to give you some other options you may not have thought of. From my experience, I use a 580 and an off camera cord and IMO that combo gives a person a lot of control over the light. One can choose exactly what angle the light comes from and it's actually quite soft and pleasing when used very close. Here's a quick example that I have on hand using a 580...

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

If I understand this correctly the Canon ring flash can be used to trigger a slave like the 430EX? Does anybody know if this is also the case with the Sigma?

the company site says the ring flash's wireless setup will trigger the sigma ef500 flash...and since that 500 will trigger canon slaves, i'm willing to bet somebody's else's money that your answer is 'yes'.

lowcrust wrote in post #4378688
If I understand this correctly the Canon ring flash can be used to trigger a slave like the 430EX? Does anybody know if this is also the case with the Sigma?

john dm wrote in post #4383320
the company site says the ring flash's wireless setup will trigger the sigma ef500 flash...and since that 500 will trigger canon slaves, i'm willing to bet somebody's else's money that your answer is 'yes'.

I can confirm that.