Macro flash advice

[Pvapour]

not overwhelmed with my 3D Fuji camera I got for Christmas so I'm looking at changing it for a Ring flash or similar for Macro work

I'm leaning toward the Canon twin head unit as it seems to be popular among macro enthusiasts but its allot of £ for a flash, dont mind if its the only way to get best results but keeping an open mind to alternatives.....

Using a Canon 450, so if anyone has got any advice it'd be much appreciated

[14-7]

You can pick up Marumi ringflashes for around £100.

I think yellabelly uses one.

Have a look through the macro thread.

[4hero]

Are there any alternatives?

The MT-24EX is an excellent flash to be honest, the fact that you can adjust each head to suit (angle and amount of light) is lovely. I tried both canon (ring and twin head) when I went to buy mine, and preferred the flexibility of the MT-24. It is a lot of dosh, but worth every penny in my opinion.

What lens are you using again?

[Pvapour]

ef 100 (non IS) but 14-7 advice got me thinking.....

£100 ring + Canon MP-E 65mm

maybe that's a better combo from my starting point?

does sound like THE flash to have from what you say and what i've read, maybe better to learn proper flash control before progressing to the Canon MP-E 65mm....

Edited by Pvapour on Tuesday 29th December 17:01

[SamHH]

Do you already have a flashgun? If so, you don't need any sort of special macro flash to take fantastic photos. All you need is a bracket and an off-camera trigger cord.

Have a look at this guy's photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/

This is his flash set-up:

[Yellabelly]

As 14-7 mentioned I use a Marumi Ring flash

This is my full setup with the Marumi Ring Flash, Tamron 90mm Macro, Kenko Tubes etc on A Nikon D200, but mainly use the Tamron and Ring Flash hand held, also attached are a variety of images.

Obviously this is nowhere near what Neil acheives with his setup but 'yer pays yer money...!











YB

[Pvapour]

have read a fair few reviews on things now, the twin lite is very highly regarded as is the Canon Mp 65, thing is, budget wont stretch to both, so options are....

Option 1
save alot of cash and go with the Marumi ring and the Mp-e 65 but i'm unsure if i'm making things hard for myself with the new lens and i wont get the reults i'd want which would really annoy having forked out £800 for the lens.

Option2
Get Sigma or Tamron equivalent to the Mp-e 65(if there is one) which is a little cheaper + the Canon twin lite?

Any suggestions on lenses that could compete with the Mpe-65? its a 3 year old lens now so would have thought someone has produced something?

[M-J-B]

SamHH said:

Do you already have a flashgun? If so, you don't need any sort of special macro flash to take fantastic photos. All you need is a bracket and an off-camera trigger cord.

Have a look at this guy's photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/

This is his flash set-up:

I've seen quite a few of his photos and they are without doubt the best macro I've seen

Interesting to see his set-up.

[SamHH]

Pvapour said:

have read a fair few reviews on things now, the twin lite is very highly regarded as is the Canon Mp 65, thing is, budget wont stretch to both, so options are....

Option 1
save alot of cash and go with the Marumi ring and the Mp-e 65 but i'm unsure if i'm making things hard for myself with the new lens and i wont get the reults i'd want which would really annoy having forked out £800 for the lens.

Option2
Get Sigma or Tamron equivalent to the Mp-e 65(if there is one) which is a little cheaper + the Canon twin lite?

Any suggestions on lenses that could compete with the Mpe-65? its a 3 year old lens now so would have thought someone has produced something?

There is no lens equivalent to the MP-E 65. AFAIK the only thing that is similar (or even better probably) is old fashioned macro bellows like this:



Did you look at the link I posted? That guy uses an MP-E 65 with an ordinary flashgun and gets fantastic results. That would be my choice.


EDIT: These are the photos taken by the camera above and an ordinary flash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser/

Edited by SamHH on Sunday 3rd January 22:28

[Pvapour]

SamHH said:

Pvapour said:

have read a fair few reviews on things now, the twin lite is very highly regarded as is the Canon Mp 65, thing is, budget wont stretch to both, so options are....

Option 1
save alot of cash and go with the Marumi ring and the Mp-e 65 but i'm unsure if i'm making things hard for myself with the new lens and i wont get the reults i'd want which would really annoy having forked out £800 for the lens.

Option2
Get Sigma or Tamron equivalent to the Mp-e 65(if there is one) which is a little cheaper + the Canon twin lite?

Any suggestions on lenses that could compete with the Mpe-65? its a 3 year old lens now so would have thought someone has produced something?

There is no lens equivalent to the MP-E 65. AFAIK the only thing that is similar (or even better probably) is old fashioned macro bellows like this:



Did you look at the link I posted? That guy uses an MP-E 65 with an ordinary flashgun and gets fantastic results. That would be my choice.


EDIT: These are the photos taken by the camera above and an ordinary flash:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser/

Edited by SamHH on Sunday 3rd January 22:28

sorry Sam completely missed that! those shots are incredible

bellows would be a learning curve again I think, dont want to put too much on my plate at the mo.

seems then that the Mp-e 65 lens is definitely the way to go, I will opt for this and a cheaper remote flash or ring for the time being, as YBs & other results show, you can get amazing results. quite amazed that after 3 years there is no match for this lens, its like the Macca F1 of lenses

Into London shopping today then know of anywhere offering amazing January prices on equipment

Thanks for all your help guys, looking forward to experimenting when I get home and boring you all with my new results

[M-J-B]

These were taken with a 100mm F2.8, with Kenko rings and cheap ring flash bought off Ebay (rather than a ring, it has two flash elements 180 degrees apart)

The top of a pair of nail scissors



One of those small jumping spiders



The tip of a pin



This photo is of a bug trapped behind the glass of a painting at home - you can only take my word for it, but it's actually about the size of a pin head so I was impressed that I got anything at all!



And simply using the lens from about 1ft away

[4hero]

and a few of mine taken with the mp-e65 and mt-24 for comparison.

Edited by 4hero on Monday 4th January 11:07

[Simpo Two]

Some staggering photos photos there 4hero.

I read that the lens at max magnification has a working distance of about 40mm, so presumably you operate and focus the camera remotely?

[4hero]

Ta Simpo. All my shots are focused manually through the viewfinder, without the use a tripod. I do use live view rarely for focusing if the insect is out of reach. The maximum shooting distance is around 10cm, should have taken a minimum distance shot too.



and the shot:

Edited by 4hero on Monday 4th January 12:01

[Kermit power]

Just to set a different example up, these were taken with a Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro and Canon MR-14 EX ring flash.







I cheated with the wasp, as it was already dead when I found it, but the others are all manual and handheld.

[Rofly Lollers]

Kermit power said:

Just to set a different example up, these were taken with a Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro and Canon MR-14 EX ring flash.


I cheated with the wasp, as it was already dead when I found it, but the others are all manual and handheld.

Do you have/need a macrolite 67 adapter ring?
I have the Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro L with IS and Canon MR-14 EX ring flash, but I'm having trouble finding the ring in stock. (The flash won't fit otherwise!). Great pic of the wasp - I'm glad such good pics can be taken with this combo.

Edited by Rofly Lollers on Monday 4th January 12:12

[Simpo Two]

4hero said:

Ta Simpo. All my shots are focused manually through the viewfinder, without the use a tripod.

Final and obvious question then - how do you get so close to the insects without them flying off? That's why I thought you must use a remote setup.

[4hero]

Simpo Two said:

4hero said:

Ta Simpo. All my shots are focused manually through the viewfinder, without the use a tripod.

Final and obvious question then - how do you get so close to the insects without them flying off? That's why I thought you must use a remote setup.

Have the camera set up before going in for the shot, then slow movements towards the subject. It doesn't always work, but most of the time is fine. It amazes me how they can sit still with this contraption staring at them

Edited by 4hero on Monday 4th January 12:40

[Simpo Two]

4hero said:

Have the camera set up before going in for the shot, then slow movements towards the subject. It doesn't always work, but most of the time is fine. It amazes me how they can sit still with this contraption coming staring at them

Well there you go, simple is best.



I bet you find dead flies and bugs on the windowsill and just stick them in place...

[Yellabelly]

He's also very good at Pshopping things into different surroundings!