macro flash and LEDs

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P-Chan

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Ramon
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Im finally taking the tumble into macro (just hope my 100 2.8 makes it here)

My question is that right now buying a true macro ring flash is outta question. The canon one is over bloated and the sigma one by just adding a 100 to it I could buy me another lens. While reviews I read about cheap flashes they fry and could take your camera down with it.

So I was opting on LEDs. They cost a fraction of a real flash. Are they worth it? Or its just waste of money. I read of one guy in here who built it himself but im not that technical.

And if LEDs are no good, is working with my flash gun any good? Or Im better off buying the 10-22 and forget about macro?

Sorry too many questions but thanks for any tips
 
If I was starting out again I'd look at a flash bracket and off camera cord for my flash from flash in the pan. That way you can retail ETTL monitoring for exposure.
 
Another vote for the Marumi... There's a shot in the macro section I took the other night using one.

I put a 430EXII in a bin with a diffuser over the top with the flowers placed on top of that and then fitted a Marumi ringflash to my 100mm for fill.

It's not the most versatile of ringflashes but it's more than adequate as long as you're aware of its limitations. :)

Si
 
the marumi one I read a review from one guy on amazon.com that ended up frying his entire gear, camera and lens. Didnt tantalize me alot to say the truth. Dont want to go down his way
 
P-Chan said:
the marumi one I read a review from one guy on amazon.com that ended up frying his entire gear, camera and lens. Didnt tantalize me alot to say the truth. Dont want to go down his way
Click to expand...

That doesn't seem like a very probable story to me.
 
I have been using the same Marumi flash for over a year...its gives great results
 
HoppyUK said:
That doesn't seem like a very probable story to me.
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Me neither Richard... To mis-quote the old saying; "One swallow doesn't make a summer". I wouldn't discount something on the basis of one duff review either!

I've had mine for about 6 months now with no problems. Granted, it's not the most powerful ringflash on the market but it does what it's supposed to do. :)

Si
 
The problem with cheaper ringflashes is that they only have one tube and tend to gove a very flat light if you're not careful. The Canon models etc are more costly as they have 2 tubes with independantly variable power allowing you to be a bit more creative. Persoanally I've plumped for off camera flash (430EXII) plus one of the "C" brackets from FlashInThePan to create my macro rig. This give me a far more flexible setup that's lightweight and easy to use plus I have full ETTL capabilities to hand.

Carl
 
P-Chan said:
Im finally taking the tumble into macro (just hope my 100 2.8 makes it here)

My question is that right now buying a true macro ring flash is outta question. The canon one is over bloated and the sigma one by just adding a 100 to it I could buy me another lens. While reviews I read about cheap flashes they fry and could take your camera down with it.

So I was opting on LEDs. They cost a fraction of a real flash. Are they worth it? Or its just waste of money. I read of one guy in here who built it himself but im not that technical.

And if LEDs are no good, is working with my flash gun any good? Or Im better off buying the 10-22 and forget about macro?

Sorry too many questions but thanks for any tips
Click to expand...

if you have a flash gun get the FITP bracket as suggested, check out my set up in the macro rigs here post 74

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=132158&page=3

works a treat, you can see some picture on my flickr to as all my macros used it.
 
CReid said:
The problem with cheaper ringflashes is that they only have one tube and tend to gove a very flat light if you're not careful. The Canon models etc are more costly as they have 2 tubes with independantly variable power allowing you to be a bit more creative. Persoanally I've plumped for off camera flash (430EXII) plus one of the "C" brackets from FlashInThePan to create my macro rig. This give me a far more flexible setup that's lightweight and easy to use plus I have full ETTL capabilities to hand.

Carl
Click to expand...

It's easy to vary the output and modelling of a ring flash with a piece of card and BluTack over the tube. Get any effect you like that way.
 
CReid said:
Persoanally I've plumped for off camera flash (430EXII) plus one of the "C" brackets from FlashInThePan to create my macro rig. This give me a far more flexible setup that's lightweight and easy to use plus I have full ETTL capabilities to hand.

Carl
Click to expand...

care to show off some pics of the setup, preferably monted on camera with lens attached. Tempted to go the same way but hard to visualise at the moment.
 
Just looking at the o frame FITP does. might be tempted to go with that and use 2 flashes in ETTL. That assuming that i can position the flashes in such a way that they can transmitt to each other. One obviously being on an ETTL cord.
 
decided for a C braket and the flash stck to it sort of what Robbo has (tnx for the idea robbo)

All left to buy me is the TTL cord (anyone fancy pionting one out pls?) and some gaffer tape. After that Id be having like 8 camera components coming from all over the world. Cool cant wait till they make it here



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Version-Cam...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1270768554&sr=1-1

any good for the jessops falsh gun?
 
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