MACRO: flash or macro lites for insects ?

just a question about whats the best flash or macro light i should get for macro on small insects.

is flash better than macro lights or led lights?

anyone suggest a cheaper alternative than the expensive mt24 twins etc.

my current in built flash is ok when useing jut the sigma 105 but soon as i add extension tubes the picture is very dark and really hard to focus .

also how do u guys manage to focus with extension? as i noticed my viewfinder is dark and hard to focus when useing extension tubes on small insects.

thanks

Hi - you'll see from this thread https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=142566 that many of us use normal flash guns often mounted on brackets. However from your question I'm not sure if you are asking about a focusing light rather than flash ?
LEDS make reasonable focusing lights but are not powerful enough to be used instead of flash.
Another question- are the ext tubes you are using fully auto ie you have control of the aperture ?- I really only had focus light problems with ext tubes when I was using manual ones and was stopping the lens down manually thus making the viewfinder rather dim.
Brian V.

hi LordV the extention tubes are these ones

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …3D3%26frpp%3D50​%26fvi%3D1

the main trouble is when useing extension tubes the the viewfinder is dark so focusing is really hard, also noticed picture is quit dark even when useing built in flash so guess im going to need a cheapish flash or macro light. maybe i need a better flash than built in one or a focusing light ?

jjcool wrote in post #5971935
just a question about whats the best flash or macro light i should get for macro on small insects.

is flash better than macro lights or led lights?

anyone suggest a cheaper alternative than the expensive mt24 twins etc.

my current in built flash is ok when useing jut the sigma 105 but soon as i add extension tubes the picture is very dark and really hard to focus .

also how do u guys manage to focus with extension? as i noticed my viewfinder is dark and hard to focus when useing extension tubes on small insects.

thanks

I am not sure this is the right forum for this question, probably should be in the flash forum.

Hmm, macrolights are flash guns, so I am not sure what you are getting at here.

Both the Canon macrolights have a built in focus assist lamp, this is an incandescent light (bulb) not an LED AFAIK. In the case of the MT-24EX this focus assist lamp can be controlled from the shutter button (they only stay on for 20 seconds or until the gun fires). These focus assist lights can be very useful and I would say essential for the MP-E 65mm, at least for me.

There are I understand white LED ring lights made by 3rd parties, I have no experience of them.

Alternatives the MT-24EX: The only Canon one (other than an ordinary flash on a bracket) is the MR-14EX ring flash. Still a capable flash, but lower power with flatter lighting, less control over the lighting and no shutter control over the focus lights from the shutter button. Other issues with ring lights are ring shaped highlights in reflective subjects. There is I think a Sigma or other 3rd party ring flash, some of which are meant to provide TTLII metering – I would stay away from this as Canon do not publish their electrical interfaces and this has caused problems in the past.

Other alternatives are an ordinary flash or two on a bracket. Although this can produce good results, I have found to be very bulky and awkward when I used this arrangement on my Canon FD film system many years back. It makes economic sense if you need ordinary flash for other photography. Personally I hate flash other than for macro so I only have a MT-24EX and a couple of old flashes from my film days which I almost never use.

Light loss is always an issue with macro, the focus technique is to move the whole camera towards and away from the subject to place the plane of focus.

You might find this page of help with Canon macro equipment http://www.zen20934.ze​n.co.uk …raphy/Macro_Equ​ipment.htm

Personally I think the MT-24EX is the only way to go. I use it with my 100 macro and mp-e 65 and LOVE it! Nothing gives you more control of the lights in such a small package!