Macro Ring Flash Advice

Hello again,

Im just getting started into macro photography......Just bought a Sigma 105mm 2.8, and Im probably gonna buy some extension tubes and a ring flash this week.
Anyone know about ring flashes....ie some affordable ones? I know with glass you always get what you pay for, but.......The Canon ring flashes are in the $600 USD range, Sunpacks in the 250 range. I have seen Vivitar/Pheonix ring flashes for like $90.....Im assuming theyre crap, but you never know until you ask.
Im doing this for hobby work, insects flowers etc, nothing professional (yet). So I figured for $90 how can you go wrong.....since Im not using a flash at all at the moment.

Thank you as always,
Bill


Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains. - Winston Churchill


_______________
300D
Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX
Sigma 105 2.8 macro EX

How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthrea​d.php?t=7451

Tomsk wrote:
How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthrea​d.php?t=7451

Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

photopig wrote:
Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

- I'm in the same boat here as I do enjoy Macro shooting, but my 420EX just cannot put enough light on the subject when I'm only a few inches away.

I'd love to have some ring light advice if anyone can offer it.

Thanks

FlipisdE

Look at the macro twinlight too.. that rig is a bit better than the Canon ring light.. it is much more flexible in how you can use it and can give better results.

photopig wrote:

Tomsk wrote:
How about some DIY?

Make your own LED ringlight - http://www.digi-darkroom.com/showthrea​d.php?t=7451

Eeeeep!

I WISH I was mechanically inclined to do it, but I think Id rather put pins in my eyes (just kidding ).

Thank you anyway!
Bill

You could always cheat.

Buy a USB hub or two that has lots of extra ports.
Buy a load of USB lights that are powered from the hub - the sort that are sold for lighting up laptop keyboards with the flexible necks.
8)

You mean this one? It also costs US$ 650...

I have the vivitar I needed one for a week. It works fine it is much lighter than the canon but it is also lighter on your wallet. The ring flash produces a nice even light. This is also a great flash for shooting portraits it almost has a soft box effect. Mine is going to be for sale with a 10d and an A2 and some lenses.

Some high end stores have products you can rent and try them out you may want to check into it.

Good luck

Sigma recently announced their macro rng flash, the Sigma MACRO EM-140 DG. Might be worth a look.

Ian

If you already have a standard flash, like the 420ex, you could try to build a butterfly bracket (instuctions here...not as complicated as that homemade ringlight). This will let you angle the flash to get it to point toward your macro subject. You could buy a commercial macro flash bracket, but they're expensive from what I've seen.

I'm a member of BugGuide.net, a group of amateur bug photographers, and the consensus there seems to be that ringlights create unnatural-looking lighting. But you could certainly try a cheap ringlight to see if it does what you want.