Ringflash

[nogginthenog]

I seem to remember a thread a while back about afordable ringflash - or the lack of them. I have just bought one of these :

http://www.parkcameras.com/ProductDetails/mcs/prod...

available for Nikon or Canon. £100 for a ringflash is a major bargain!

[Jenx]

GN 14...is that enough for ring-flash?

Martin.

[Buster Bakdorzin]

Whoops.
Wrong thread.
Thought this was about sufferers who also accidentally backed into a flaming garden party torch...

[Simpo Two]

Jenx said:

GN 14...is that enough for ring-flash?

It's about the same as a built-in flash, so I suppose that for up to 2-3 metres it will work - but then, what's the light spread? It maybe intended for relatively close-up work (like your insects) where the flat lighting effect will be more evident. I haven't used a ringflash but it seems to me that the main benefit decreases with distance.

[nogginthenog]

yup - it turns out it is a little weedy! I have only had a bit of a play with it so far, but I think it will be good for close-up stuff. I'm not used to using on-camera flash, so GN No's are something of a mystery to me. My 'other' ringflash - the one I'm more used to using - is a 5000 joule Strobe ( ancient flash manufacturer ) one that is a good 40cm in diameter, and usually the problem with that one is getting the generator to a low enough setting or it washes out anything within 6 foot of the camera. Still - £100 - I will find a use for it one day.....

[paul.deitch]

most om camera units are gn14. this particular model is sold under several different brands, being a chinese import. nothing wrong with it though. used for its purpose, macro its fine, used for portraits not so fantastic.

[bramley]

Simpo Two said:

Jenx said:

GN 14...is that enough for ring-flash?

It's about the same as a built-in flash, so I suppose that for up to 2-3 metres it will work - but then, what's the light spread? It maybe intended for relatively close-up work (like your insects) where the flat lighting effect will be more evident. I haven't used a ringflash but it seems to me that the main benefit decreases with distance.

In my limited experience of them (a homemade ring flash) I found this to be the case. It served no benefit that I could see for taking an 'ordinary' shot. Only when I did close ups of faces/objects did it make a difference.