Two suggestions, although budget may be an issue there.


1. Consider a macro focusing rail - that can make the tiny back-and-forth adjustments much, much easier


2. Consider something other than the cheap ring flash - you state an interest in creative shots, and a ring flash isn't too useful there. The lighting from a ring flash like the one you list is completely flat, meaning no shadows or dimensionality. That sort of flash is best suited to documentary photos (medical/dental, a stamp collection, etc.). Canon's more expensive ring flash partly solves the problem by having two flashes with ratio control, but I'd even say skip the flash for now. A macro flash is really helpful for bugs, flowers outside, etc., when things are moving due to biology or wind and you still want deep DoF, so you need lots of light to freeze the motion. If you're doing indoor, static setups you can use continuous lighting and reflectors (a couple of desk lamps, white or colored foam core, etc.), and experiment with that. With a static setup, you can often use long exposures to compensate for the narrow aperture needed for decent DoF.


Have fun!


--John