DYI Macro Flash

I don't do enough macro photography to justify $500 for a dedicated macro flash. The cheaper macro flashes only do TTL metering for Canon/Nikon. I tried a LED ring flash, but the light output wasn't enough to stop wind motion.

I'm thinking of trying something DIY.

Here's the flash bracket I'm looking at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1023335-REG/polaroid_plbro_o_ring_dual_flash_bracket.html

Here's an off-camera TTL cable:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1069180-REG/vello_ocs_op3_off_camera_ttl_flash_cord.html

And two of these flashes, which have a built-in slave flash trigger:

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I plan to use with a GX7 and OLY 60mm macro lens.

Will all this work? Are there better options in this price range?

Thanks.

Hi Michael,

I don't have experience with that particular bracket. However the OLY 60mm macro (which I use) has a relatively short length, and I'm concerned that the Polaroid bracket may tend to extend your flash(es) too far forward when you're focusing at anything near 1:1 repro ratio. IOW, the bracket's fore/aft adjustment appears like it might not permit the flash to be placed far enough to the rear so as to aim at the front of closest subjects. This could be even more of a problem when you're using some kind of diffusor extending in front of your flash (which is a very necessary thing, IMHO).

FWIW, I have largely given up using any flash bracket. Instead, I hand-hold the flash and prefer the ability to maneuver it quickly as the situation requires. My camera (Oly E-M1) is either on a tripod or held one-handed. Of course this approach requires a lightweight camera and two good hands. I have the former (E-M1) and until recently the latter as well. If my left hand doesn't fully recover from a recent "incident", I may need to go back to using a bracket.

The Vello cable might work for TTL, but 3rd party cables are commonly reported to have a problem supporting Oly TTL. I bought a Pixel cable, but it works only in manual mode with my Oly FL-36 flash. In any case, many successful macro shooters prefer using flash in manual mode and have little need for TTL, so I wouldn't consider that (lack of TTL) a major problem if it fails to be supported by that cable.

However I'd srongly recommend altogether forgetting use of a cable for your off-camera flash and instead to get an inexpensive set of radio triggers. Cables seem always to get in the way and limit placement of the flash. I've been very satisfied with my set of Yongnuo 603-II triggers, which I use with a Yongnuo YN560-IV flash.

The "Vivitar" might be a good choice at only $30, but I wouldn't be too optimistic. For only double that price, a Yongnuo 560-IV would be a more powerful flash with many more features (including built-in radio wireless transmitter/receiver). Even at twice the Vivitar's price, that's still considered a "dirt-cheap" flash.

Happy macro-ing!

Phil

--
http://pirose.zenfolio.com

I don't do field macro stuff, but I also recommend hunting infos on hand holding flashes. A different way of working rather than rings or brackets. Worth looking at, though, before making a choice which direction to go.

If you can swing wireless, I also think that would be a good investment. Wireless is probably more convenient for holding flash by hand whiled wired might be fine for brackets. Plus, wireless triggers can be used for applications other than macros.

Michael Raub said:

I don't do enough macro photography to justify $500 for a dedicated macro flash. The cheaper macro flashes only do TTL metering for Canon/Nikon. I tried a LED ring flash, but the light output wasn't enough to stop wind motion.

I'm thinking of trying something DIY.

Here's the flash bracket I'm looking at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1023335-REG/polaroid_plbro_o_ring_dual_flash_bracket.html

Here's an off-camera TTL cable:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1069180-REG/vello_ocs_op3_off_camera_ttl_flash_cord.html

And two of these flashes, which have a built-in slave flash trigger:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600859-REG/Vivitar_DF_283_OLY_DF_283_Series_1.html

I plan to use with a GX7 and OLY 60mm macro lens.

Will all this work? Are there better options in this price range?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

The ring flash bracket is flimsy and (in my opinion) a pain to work with. I would use a flat bracket with a mini ball head (so you can adjust the flash tilt).

The TTL cable is a useful addition.

If you use two flashes, then you won't be doing TTL with the single TTL cable. You can set the flashes manually, use the TTL cable to fire one, and the slave trigger to fire the other.

I have had cheap Vivitar flashes in the past, but they had a sleep mode that couldn't be disabled. With the ones I had, they would sleep when in manual mode and would have to be power cycled to wake. In TTL mode they would wake from sleep, but not in manual mode.

I recommend that any flash you get has the ability to disable sleep.

Personally, I'm not a fan of cheap third party flashes. I use Nikon SB-80DX flashes for manual work (or Quantum flashes), and OEM flashes for TTL work.

Tan68 said:

I don't do field macro stuff, but I also recommend hunting infos on hand holding flashes. A different way of working rather than rings or brackets. Worth looking at, though, before making a choice which direction to go.

If you can swing wireless, I also think that would be a good investment. Wireless is probably more convenient for holding flash by hand whiled wired might be fine for brackets. Plus, wireless triggers can be used for applications other than macros.

Click to expand...

Wired as in a lead can be every bit as good as wireless, sometimes even better being more reliable and allowing for quick simple TTL and good for both macro and other applications.

If your using flash reasonably close to the camera (within 5 0r 6 feet) I`d opt for a lead over wireless every time (unless I`m using multiple flash units)

This is one of my typical single flash set ups, its good for macro`s, portraits, events etc.

Thanks for the comments. I may have to rethink my plans.

I wish something like this was available for Oly/Panny TTL, but if it is I can't find it:

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Michael Raub said:

Thanks for the comments. I may have to rethink my plans.

I wish something like this was available for Oly/Panny TTL, but if it is I can't find it:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1125848-REG/yongnuo_yn_14ex_c_ttl_led_macro_ring.html

Click to expand...

Well, the SRF-11 is still available from various retailers, but it is quite expensive. I have both SRF-11 and STF-22; both are high quality and expensive. But these days I prefer using a couple of FL-36Rs and the Olympus macro flash bracket (FL-BKM03, also expensive) remote controlled by the hot shoe flash.