Canon Macro ringlite MR-14EX, advice needed!

[ddt0725]

Hooray I've bought the MR-14EX!!!![img]/emoticons/emotion-2.gif[/img]

Congrats, Jan!! [Y] I knew you would love it!! Lookin' forward to seeing some photos soon!

Denise

[neuroanatomist]

Is it wise to buy a ringflash? (also I don't have money for the expensive twinflash

I think it's a good option. Some will say that a ring flash provides 'flat' lighting that lacks dimension. That's true for the cheap off-brand ring flashes with a single tube. Since the MR-14EX has a pair of tubes, just set the ratio to 2:1 or 4:1 and you'll avoid that problem.


The MT-24EX twin-lite does offer more flexibility in lighting, sure. Thing is, even though the working distance of the 100mm macro seems short (ok, it is short!), at that distance the difference between the ring light and the twin light is minimized since the lights nearly merge to a single source. At really short working distances - meaning the MP-E 65mm - the twin light has a definite advantage.

the 430EX flash isn't working so well on FF as it worked on my 50D with macro. Believe me I've tried everything possible.

EVERYthing? [:P]





The sunflower was shot handheld (EOS 7D,EF 100mm f/2.8<span style="color: red;"]LMacro IS,1/60 s, f/13, ISO 400 with E-TTL flash metering and no post-processing), using the setup shown on the right: 430EX II with a Sto-Fen OmniBounce, mounted on aManfrotto 233B Flash Bracket with a GiottosMH1004 mini ball head and anOC-E3Off-Camera Shoe Cord.


It's a very flexible setup , and works great for handheld macro shooting with the 430EX II. I can position the flash head almost anywhere around the subject, including behind it for backlighting, if I want -the bracket extends to ~18"/45 cm. The bracket/ballhead/OC-E3 added up to ~US$140 (about half of that was the OC-E3 and there are much cheaper 3rd party options). As a bonus in terms of utility, it's also a nice setup for portraits (the 'usual' use for a flash bracket).
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[mikehillman89]

Sweet setup you've got there John! Bet you'd get some interesting questions walking around with that.

[Iguide]

Hi Jan:





Care to share where you got such a great buy on the ringflash?





Thanks


Wayne


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[Sheiky]

Care to share where you got such a great buy on the ringflash?

Sure mate! I bought it second hand. I searched an internet-forum where people buy and sell mostly second hand stuff. I believe you guys have such a thing and call it Craigslist? I'm not sure.


It was my first 2nd hand buy ever, but I'm very happy with it. Things like these are specific products, so often the people you buy it from know what it is and have been careful with it. Also the reason you don't see many of them offered.


I just happened to see it when I was looking how much my 100 macro could get me [:P]


Hope this answer was enough...


Jan