Lighting Macro - flash v constant.

[Rob Sims]

Quick question about macro and light. This is specific to 1;1 using a dedicated macro lens (105mm) for wildlife, bugs etc.
Which is better - flash or constant light?
Or does it not matter

Cheers.
rob

 

[alfbranch]

Well diffused flash because of how much light is needed for me stalking invertebrates in the wild shooting handheld

What are you looking to shoot and how?

Have you looked here
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/show-us-your-macro-rig.132158/

or here
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/we-need-you-in-draft-want-to-get-into-macro.551944/

 

[steelydan]

You are looking for the best "portable" lighting possible, Diffused flash is the way to go, You can increase/reduce the power, where as you cant do that with Constant lighting (sunny days=less flash power, overcast days=more flash power etc.)

 

[Deleted member 34016]

Diffused flash 100% adjustable power plus the option ( with My Godox unit) to shoot macro using OFF camera flash for side lighting etc
and truly portable too

Like this wasp I lit from the side using a high flash hand held at 45 degrees

Les

 

[Rob Sims]

Thanks all, answers that question perfectly.

 

[alfbranch]

Different wasp doing the same thing with my twin flash unit

Wasp making paper 1 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A butterfly with same flash

Orange tip female 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A single ordinary Nissin i40 flash with a pringle diffuser for this

Bee in dof rose 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

 

[Rob Sims]

great shots. Could you post a picture of your setup ?

 

[alfbranch]

These are on the show us your macro rig thread

This is the flash on camera with the pringle tube diffuser

EM1 sigma 105 Mk11 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

This is off the camera on a bracket with a cable a set of tubes and a Raynox 250this manages 2.9:1 mag

Macro-rig-2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr


Similar set up

Macro rigg E M5II by Alf Branch, on Flickr

I need to photograph the the twin flash set up

I have trying out it gives up to 2.9 X magnification about 6mm across the frame.
This is an uncropped shot of a Collembola (springtail) Dicyrtomina saundersi

Dicyrtomina saundersi by Alf Branch, on Flickr

That is like this

105-mag-test-tubes&R by Alf Branch, on Flickr