Cheap Alternative for Ring Flash

Looking for cheap alternatives in a versatile ring flash for use with Canon 100mm EF macro on a 10D. Don't want to spend over 300 bucks... are there any 3rd party flashes that are compatible with E-TTL?

-dave-

i doubt you will find a non-canon ringflash that has e-ttl.

you could try looking at sunpak and centon for cheap alternatives but you wont get e-ttl with them

well , ETTL as well, then the best alternative is to get a flash braket (to get close to the front of the lens) and 420 or 550EX, useful for both macro and normal photography, you need an extensionthough.
I actually have to admit that it worked for me until I got the MT24EX, man it chages the macrophotography concept ...
good luck

Homebrewed pair of 220EX's for macro use...

Check the sticky at the top of the Fred Miranda Macro World forum...
One of the folks used a pair of "inexpensive" 220EX's and modified an off camera cable to use both at once...
There are also directions for homebrewing articulated extension arms to place the flash heads up at the business end of the lens...

It all fun and games but I'm lusting after a 24EX also... Handholding at 180mm with all that stuff waving around just doesn’t seem easy to me… A tripod shooter might have a different take on it…

BTW... (Opinion) Tom Hicks is the mod at FM Macro... Nice seeming person and pretty good crowd... Advanced amateur/pro to new kid on the block in a well-moderated mix...

Thanks for the response guys... yeah currently I have an elaborate flash "arm" consisting of three tiny ball tripod heads stacked together so i can put my 420ex anywhere. It works, but my arms are so sore after a day of dragonfly hunting (no tripod).

-dave-