I have recently decided to take up macro photography seriously and have managed to take some pretty amazing shots. I use a Canon 50D with a Sigma 105mm macro lens and when I don't get enough light I attach my big top mounted flash canon (Canon speedlight 430X). I have seen that using a flash makes the ultra close up pictures significantly better and sharper, my question is: do I need a ring flash to get more out of my pictures?
I have seen that there are some ring flashes that aren't that expensive, notably the Meike MK14-EXT macro TTL ring flash. I really like the TTL on the flash I already have so I suppose I would like that in a macro flash, then again I don't know much about ring flashes...
If you think a ring flash is a good investment, do you have any suggestions for a good macro flash?
Thanks guys,
Alex
As everyone else says, not at all necessary. Some of the best setups I've seen don't use them, then again some of them are pretty elaborate.
However, I like my ring flash. Not for everything, or all circumstances. But a lot of the arguments people use against them aren't necessarily true either.
1) flat light.
I've only found this to be true if you've got a ring light that can't be set in groups. ie., the to sides of the ring flash are A:B, and you can set the output ratios differently for each side. This gives it a more 3D appearance, and a bit of shadow, which people like
2) Weird catch light (ring shaped). Again, depends on how they're used. For me, the main reason to use one is to get light in places you might not be able to otherwise. From what I can see, the idea of a ring light is to surround the subject with light. With the light at the end of the lens, if you can see your subject, you can light it. Other flashes on brackets can get obscured by foliage etc.
I'm by no means - the slightest stretch - a macro expert.
But Me? I wanted to get started, and have a lighting system that worked. Something that allowed me to get the shots. As you've probably noticed, most people say "after a few years of experimenting" and "several different setups". Great. I think once I figure out what I like to shoot - and how, I'll start trying some different things. In the meantime I'm having too much fun to notice or care.
Take a look on the Macro Forum at Fred Miranda. There's a sticky there where people show their setups. From incredibly expensive purchased items to wildly exotic and elaborate home concocted lights and rails.
A ring light might be the crutch you need to get started. It might not. In my case, I found it allowed me to do a couple of things I wouldn't have tried otherwise. Additionally, as BBbuilder mentions - there's more to macro photography than bugs and flowers.
I could have spent $550 on the Canon MR14EX, or $800 on the MT24EX. I'd have been very unhappy had I done that. But, I'm delighted with the Yongnuo. For $100 it does everything the MR14EX would do (or that I could get it to do), and I doubt I will go further down this particular avenue. But it does get used - and not just for macro work! No doubt I'll move on and follow the lead of one of these great macro photographers here with a home made solution - but I'll need to figure out what I'm doing first!
BTW, I like my 70D better for macro work than my 6D (shown above). The articulated screen and extra (theoretical) reach, combined with a superior AF when shooting moving critters is much better than the 6D with its sad and slow AF. I also got even better with my lighting - but I'm terrible at organizing catalogs and had already set this aside for an example. So consider this a bad sample!
