Canon Macro Twin Lite vs. Ring Lite - which is better?

[Jon Ruyle]

To get the full benefit of a macro specialty flash a tripod is a must IMO.

Brendan-


Why do you say that? Do you think it is too difficult to frame/focus by hand?


For extreme closeups, I do get best results with a tripod, but often my subject is moving too quickly or the ground is too uneven to set one up, so much of the time I don't use one. (That doesn't mean you're wrong, of course.)

[Brendan7]

For extreme closeups, I do get best results with a tripod, but often my subject is moving too quickly or the ground is too uneven to set one up, so much of the time I don't use one. (That doesn't mean you're wrong, of course.)

Well, the macro twin lite is used mostly forextreme closeups. It's built for ultimate macro work, which involves very narrow apertures (f11,f14 etc) and non-handholdable (even with IS) shutter speeds. If Denise isn't doing that kind of extreme closeup, then I might argue that the macro twin lite is not a necessary buy.

Why do you say that? Do you think it is too difficult to frame/focus by hand?

Often, well, yes.





brendan

[Jon Ruyle]

Well, the macro twin lite is used mostly forextreme closeups.

If you believe that, then the twin isn't appropraite with the 100mm macro, which can't go beyond 1x without extension tubes. But I've found the twin useful at .5x to 1x. Maybe, though, I could have gotten away with a traditional flash in many of these cases.

It's built for ultimate macro work, which involves very narrow apertures (f11,f14 etc) and non-handholdable (even with IS) shutter speeds.

I don't understand this. How is shutter speed an issue if the flash is providing the light?

[Brendan7]

It's built for ultimate macro work, which involves very narrow apertures (f11,f14 etc) and non-handholdable (even with IS) shutter speeds.

I don't understand this. How is shutter speed an issue if the flash is providing the light?

brain fart. my bad!

Well, the macro twin lite is used mostly forextreme closeups.

If you believe that, then the twin isn't appropraite with the 100mm macro

Unless you are shooting an extreme closeup the difference between a 580 II and a twin lite is small IMO. Food for thought [I]


brendan

[Mark Elberson]

Well, the macro twin lite is used mostly forextreme closeups. It's built for ultimate macro work, which involves very narrow apertures (f11,f14 etc) and non-handholdable (even with IS) shutter speeds. If Denise isn't doing that kind of extreme closeup, then I might argue that the macro twin lite is not a necessary buy.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

How does 1/250th sound (or whatever the max sync speed of the camera is)? When stopped down to f/11, etc available light has taken a backseat to the flash. Even at a full pop (1/1) most speedlites have a duration of no more than about 1/800th which enough to stop camera shake with about any camera/macro lens setup I'm aware of. At powers of 1/16th and less flash duration is something crazy like 1/15,000th or less! When your subject is less than a foot away you can shoot at incredibly small apertures with the assistance of flash.


As far as the 580EX goes, if you're too close to your subject (commonin macro work) the flash will illuminate slightly above your subject. This is where the Ring Lite and Twin Lite really shine, pun intended :-)