macro flash units

salden · Post by **salden** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:22 am

Looking to buy, but not liking the price of the Canon MR-14EX TTL Macro Ring Lite Flash, but it might be worth it. Another unit I am considering is the Canonn MR-14EX TTL Macro Ring Lite Flash.

Any one have experience with these two and/or recommendations or comments.

I have a 550ex flash unit now. The macro flash will be used with the Canon 100mm 2.8

Thanks

NikonUser · Post by **NikonUser** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:29 am

Waiting for someone to buy and test one of these for macros:
SEE HERE

P_T · Post by **P_T** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:15 am

salden wrote:Looking to buy, but not liking the price of the Canon MR-14EX TTL Macro Ring Lite Flash, but it might be worth it. Another unit I am considering is the Canonn MR-14EX TTL Macro Ring Lite Flash.

Sorry but aren't those two the same flash you're considering? Perhaps you meant the MT-24EX twin macro flash?

salden · Post by **salden** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:19 am

Yea, PT I did mean the MT-24EX twin macro flash. I am working on my Master's Thesis and my focus was not on my post...I get distracted easily and have to read my proposal over and over to be sure I did not repeat myself.

The flash unit will be used for the images to be presented in the final thesis, so it needs to be good and a proven asset, if you know what I mean.

P_T · Post by **P_T** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:32 am

I also considered the ringflash but many have cited a small problem with relatively flat lighting and the inability to control your lighting. With the twin flash, you can move the flash to point at anywhere you desire eg. maybe you want one of the flash to point at the ground just for bounce light instead of directly at the subject.

It seems like Dalantech also had a ringflash prior to his twin flash. Perhaps you can ask him about the pro and con. He replies fairly quick when I mailed him in Flickr.

lauriek · Post by **lauriek** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:34 am

I don't shoot Canon but there's a similar choice of macro flashes for the Olympus system. I went for the slightly more expensive twinflash over the ring flash as it's supposed to be more versatile.

With the ring all you can do is adjust the power to either side, you cannot angle the flash heads at all, and you get very nice flat lighting, but that can get a bit boring after a while.

With the twinflash you can go for the flat look (though not as flat as the ring without extra diffusion) or you can create shadows where you want by angling one of the heads. You can also point one of the heads out towards the background to throw light on that...

Edited to add I use the twinflash for ALL of my macro shots - outdoor bugs, shrooms, galls, and indoor studio stacks.

salden · Post by **salden** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:47 am

Looks like it is the twin. I need options with my flash unit, so the ringflash does not look like it is something that will make me happy.

Harold Gough · Post by **Harold Gough** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:20 pm

As I have mentioned in another string, I have both ring flash and twin macro flash. Ring flash has its uses but reflections are a problem on shiny subjects. Believe it or not, ring (depending on design, my OM T8 with its reflector an example) is more awkward at very close working distances. Twin is more versatile and tends to be more powerful.

Harold

augusthouse · Post by **augusthouse** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:58 am

Sue,

Dalantech did a short comparison at the link below:

http://dalantech.deviantart.com/art/MR- ... X-85238984

(click on example images to see larger version)

Craig

Gerd · Post by **Gerd** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 1:53 pm

I use a magniflash unit with my Oly E1.Magniflash was developed by a friend of mine,
Sebastian Hess > http://www.magniflash.de.vu/
He uses fiber-opticAE light guides to bring the flash where it is needed, to
the front lens of your objective.
I think, this is a great idea and it works well with moderate costs...
Thanks,
Gerd

salden · Post by **salden** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:07 pm

Gerd wrote:I use a magniflash unit with my Oly E1.Magniflash was developed by a friend of mine,
Sebastian Hess > http://www.magniflash.de.vu/
He uses fiber-opticAE light guides to bring the flash where it is needed, to
the front lens of your objective.
I think, this is a great idea and it works well with moderate costs...
Thanks,
Gerd

Now that looks interesting. I sent an email for specifics and prices for my camera system.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:20 pm

This does look very interesting!

Sue, please keep us informed.

--Rik

NikonUser · Post by **NikonUser** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:56 pm

I looked at the sample images, great for plants. But absolutely disastrous for the Praying Mantis eyes; IMO.

salden · Post by **salden** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:59 pm

What I want the flash unit for the most is plants, but I do see what you mean about the eyes.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:48 pm

NikonUser wrote:But absolutely disastrous for the Praying Mantis eyes; IMO.

I'm not sure what's going on with those mantis eyes.

With the mantises that I've photographed, the eyes appear basically light colored except for a small black spot that tracks the camera.

But the one shown on Sebastian's page seems to have two large dark spots that are fixed to the eyes and do not track either the camera or the lights.

I wonder if he happened to run across a mantis with eyes that naturally look much different from what we are used to, and we are mistakenly attributing strange appearances to the lighting.

--Rik

macro flash units

macro flash units

Re: macro flash units