24EX Macro Twin Lite...comments any one

I have been thinking about this flash for some time for macro. I almost bought it last week.


Has any one used this and what do they think? I have heard reviews that it is harsh. That you have to soften the flash.


Most of my macro work would be outside, probably insects would seem the best use for this flash. Butterflies are hard to catch and when in the shade it poses a problem without a flash. A lot of the reviews I have seen were from dental offices and other similar applications taking inside and static pictures. For brightly lit areas I am sure this flash would do fine, but I want a softer light for what I do.

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

<span style="font-weight: normal;"]comments any one<span style="font-weight: normal;"]

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I have a comment...I want one! [:)]


FWIW, Sto-Fen makes a diffuser set for the MT-24EX, which I'd probably get. There's a blog post about building diffusers using the Sto-Fens as frames for Gary Fong puffer diffusers.

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I have a comment...I want one! [img]/emoticons/emotion-1.gif[/img]

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Me too!! I've been trying to justify another camera equipment expense to the boss. Not getting much sympathy. [:'(]





Paul

All the pictures in this album were taken with the MT-24 with no diffusers. If I were in a mood to complain, I would complain about the reflections, not the quality of the light. But I've used it a lot and am very glad I have it.

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Originally Posted by doggiedoc

justify another camera equipment expense to the boss

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She just saw me looking on B&amp;H and said....... "You have a problem."





[:$]

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Originally Posted by doggiedoc

She just saw me looking on B&amp;H and said....... "You have a problem."

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You know DoggieDoc, a lot of the reviews I read on the 24EX were from Dentist offices.....Wouldn't a Vet need one of these to take pictures of Fido's teeth.





Neuro,


I had seen a post on a different web site describing how to do the exact same thing. I also heard others say they would take the Sto-Fen's and then cover them with materials to further diffuse the light. I guess it would be a trial and error thing. I want to keep the light as soft as possible.


Jon,


The samples were very good. It is "reflection" I was worrying about, would a person be able to get the light soft enough to eliminate this completely.

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

Wouldn't a Vet need one of these to take pictures of Fido's teeth?

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Sounds reasonable enough to me!

HDNitehawk,


I have been looking to buy a macro flash system and came across www.xotopro.com. I like it a lot and seriously think about buying the mount, as I already have two 580EX IIs. Take a look for yourself.


Pete

Novoflex makes similar products, e.g. [url="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/240736-REG/Novoflex_UNIMARM_Flash_Bracket_with_Two.html]THIS ONE[/url].


Personally, for a single flash (430EX II), I have used aManfrotto 233B Flash Bracket with a GiottosMH1004 mini ball headand an OC-E3 - the extendible bracket is long enough and adjustable enough to position the flash head right at the end of the lens (or lens hood). The bracket + ballhead runs less than $80. This one was shot with that setup (handheld):



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/4875341569/in/set-72157624616379818/lightbox/]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...e7155ac5_z.jpg[/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100mm f/2.8<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L Macro IS USM, 1/60 s, f/8, ISO 400, 430EX II on Manfrotto 233B flash bracket via OC-E3


The setup is a bit bulky and unwieldy, but I guess I'd describe the MT-24EX like that, too. The other advantage to an MT-24EX (or MR-14EX) is that they can be wireless masters, so you can trigger an off-camera strobe to light the background if you want. For me, using the MT-24EX with the 100 L macro was a 'nice to have' but with the MP-E 65mm, extra light is pretty much a requirement, even for static subjects.

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

<span style="font-weight:normal;"]comments any one<span style="font-weight:normal;"]

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I have a comment...I want one! [img]/emoticons/emotion-1.gif[/img]


FWIW, Sto-Fen makes a diffuser set for the MT-24EX, which I'd probably get. There's a blog post about building diffusers using the Sto-Fens as frames for Gary Fong puffer diffusers.

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This is a great post. I used it to make the diffusers I use now on the MT-24. I would agree with what you heard about the twin being harsh without modification. Before the twin, I used a 580EXII and homemade diffuser, which was much softer than the twin without modification. But it was too bulky (also used the Wimberley flash arm), and I wanted the flexibility from the MT-24's twin heads - so I started with the twin w/o diffusers. But the light was IMO harsh all the way from 1-5x. Next I added Fong Puffers and that made a huge difference from 3-5x. But at 1-2x the light was still too harsh for me and I made the diffuser Delantech described on his blog. That's been the ticket for me. Light is soft from 1-5x.





The various versions of the puffer diffusers help by not only diffusing the flash (increasing the light's surface area), but it gets that light closer to your subjects. The distance was what the puffers alone needed further help on, and what made the light harsh still when at 1-2x. The new diffuser that uses the sto-fen &amp; puffers diffuses the flash twice and gets the light source closest to the subject (sometimes too close). I would really recommend the combo personally, but of course people have different tolerance levels on all these points. Enjoy the flash though, and all the macro fun!

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

The setup is a bit bulky and unwieldy, but I guess I'd describe the MT-24EX like that, too. The other advantage to an MT-24EX (or MR-14EX) is that they can be wireless masters, so you can trigger an off-camera strobe to light the background if you want. For me, using the MT-24EX with the 100 L macro was a 'nice to have' but with the MP-E 65mm, extra light is pretty much a requirement, even for static subjects.

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I am hoping the MT-24EX will not be to bulky. My set up nowis the 180mm F/3.5L mounted on a Gitzo 2541EX tripod and 2750QR head. I have the 100mm F/2.8L Marcro IS and use it hand held. At times speed of set up counts. For instance this weekend there was a paticular butterfly, bright yellowish orange in color that I pursued for almost 30 minutes in a field of winter peas. When you could get in close enough, you had seconds to set up and compose.


So Portability, Speed and Producing a Natural Light apperance to the picture are what I am shooting for.Since most of the reviews and comments I have seenseem to be centered around the MP-E 65MM,it makes me wonder ifon the 180mm itwill performdiffrently (especialy since the closest focusing distance is 2x as far on the 180mm). I think what I am going to do is get the 24EX and the Sto-Fen's and see how they do first. Then if I need to modify further I will. The MP-E 65MM is on my list to buy so I probably will have to modify it some day, but I need to play with my other toys for a while longer before I get another toy.


I had not seriously considered the 14EX since the 24EX was the top of the line canon. But I wonder if the 14EX might serve the purpose as a macro flash as well, or possibly better than the 24EX in some respects.

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

I wonder if the 14EX might serve the purpose as a macro flash as well, or possibly better than the 24EX in some respects.

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I think it depends on what that purpose is - a ring light will be better suited to documentary shooting since it can produce a flatter illumination. Even though you can vary the ratio of the two tubes in the MR-14EX, you won't get the same flexibility in controlling the light that you'd have with the MT-24EX.


I suspect there are a few people out there who combine the MT-24EX with one of the brackets discussed above (instead of mounting two large flashes). That enables you to get the flashes farther from the lens axis (which would be more important for a longer working distance). If nothing else, the control would be easier - how would you control a pair of 580's on a macro flash bracket? Radio or IR, I guess? OC-E3 for one then slave the other?

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

I think it depends on what that purpose is - a ring light will be better suited to documentary shooting since it can produce a flatter illumination. Even though you can vary the ratio of the two tubes in the MR-14EX, you won't get the same flexibility in controlling the light that you'd have with the MT-24EX.


I suspect there are a few people out there who combine the MT-24EX with one of the brackets discussed above (instead of mounting two large flashes). That enables you to get the flashes farther from the lens axis (which would be more important for a longer working distance). If nothing else, the control would be easier - how would you control a pair of 580's on a macro flash bracket? Radio or IR, I guess? OC-E3 for one then slave the other?

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Flatter would not be good, the 180mm F/3.5L is capable of putting out a very nice 3D effect. I wouldn't want to kill that in any way.


I suppose you could have a bracket with two 580's but at some point this thing is going to be huge. To me the larger it gets the more useless it would be (only because how I like to shoot), not that it wouldn't work well with static objects or if you were staking out a paticular spot with your tripod.


I have used a single 580, but the problem is controlling the light. It has to be diffused some how or it over exposes and washes all the color out of the picture. I would think controling the harshness of light from 2 x 580 would be harder than cotnroling the 24EX.


On another note:


I went to B&amp;H to buy this thing about 30 minutes ago. They are out of the 72C adapter and won't have it in for one or two weeks. Twice I have tried to pull the trigger and failed......[:(]

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Originally Posted by HDNitehawk

The samples were very good. It is "reflection" I was worrying about, would a person be able to get the light soft enough to eliminate this completely.

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I've never tried diffusers with the 24EX, so I don't know. (The reflections actually don't bother me).