Flash for macro

ChrissyMarie · #1 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 11:28 AM

I am calling for help because I seem to be in a total minefield. I have recently treated myself to the Sigma 150mm lens.
Having taken lots of insect pics in the summer dragonflies and butterflies, I want to take my insect photography to the next level but I know that I really need some extra light.
Most of my photography is done out in the field, crawling around woods and fields and I cannot see that changing, although recently I have quite enjoyed crawling around and snapping shrooms too

So I have been looking at ring flashes and flashguns and am totally confused. It seems that some people swear by the Sigma dedicated ring flash and others seem to berate it. However, if they berate it, I have been unable to find out what it is that they are using.
I really do not want a bulky setup for what I do, I already carry around quite a bit of equipment and space is at a premium, my camera is a Nikon.
Any suggestions anyone?

Tobyh · #2 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 01:24 PM

Hi Chrissy,

I have the EM-140 for my D300 and find it's excellent. I personally try for natural light where I can and pretty much always shoot with a tripod, allowing slow shutter speeds to not be an issue. However, when I have used the flash I find it can be used in a quite subtle way to "fill" and to avoid harsh shadows.

I can only assume that some people find the fact that there are no shadows to be a little ..false..maybe?
I would think they are using standard flash units maybe held off camera or certainly on a bracket to avoid the lens shadow that causes issues when really close up.

As for not wanting anything bulky - this unit still has a body to it that sits in the hotshoe of course, which is around the same same as my other flash unit (SB600) and it then has the actual flash head which fits to the adapter at the front of the lens. There are less bulky ways to do this but I think you'll find them more expensive. I know Kinon do their own macro flashes for instance.

Hope this helps.

TobyH

DrNickBurton · #3 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 06:27 PM

Congrats on the Sigma 150mm. I also use this lens, on my D300 - it's a beauty!

As for macro flash, I recomend the Nikon R1C1 flash kit. Instead of a ring flash, it consists of a couple of small flash units (SB-R200) that attach to the front of your macro lens using an adapter. You can add further flash units if you like, but 2 is probably enough. The great thing about this kit is that you can position the flash units anywhere you like, dependening on how you want to light the subject. They also work great off-camera.

The kit also comes with an infra red commander unit (SU-800), which mounts in the hotshoe.

Which Nikon body do you have? If it's something like a D80/90/300/700 then you can save money by omitting the infra red controller/trigger (this is the "R1 close up kit", sans the C1), and just use the pop-up flash on your camera instead.

The R1 kit is about £400 new, but as usual, you can get them cheaper on ebay (I got mine for £250).

Geoff F · #4 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 09:19 PM

I had considered a ring flash for my Sigma 180 but have been reluctant to purchase anything because I fear that they wouldn't stand up to my rough use in the woods and brambles.

A standard flash unit is a more durable option but can still get in the way and hang up in the undergrowth. And it is all extra weight and bulk to carry around.

Currently, I mostly use the camera in built flash which usually works fine for macro tripod work; providing I remove the lens hood and keep my fingers underneath the lens while manually focusing.

But an external flash unit will help to reduce the problem of 'red eye' or the insect equivalent.

Ollie · #5 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff F

A standard flash unit is a more durable option but can still get in the way and hang up in the undergrowth. And it is all extra weight and bulk to carry around.

I agree with Geoff about a standard flash being more durable. That's what I use, with a Lambency diffuser fitted to it. I find that as well as diffusing the flash it also spreads the flash more evenly than a standard diffuser. The flash can then be used mounted on an off camera flash bracket or just mounted on the normal camera hot shoe.

Mounted on an off camera bracket as shown below it can be a little cumbersome and during the latter half of this year I started using mine just mounted on the camera hot shoe and to be quite honest I couldn't tell any real difference in the images.

glsammy · #6 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 10:37 PM

I have both a Sigma ring flash and a standard flash. Both have advantages and drawbacks. If I had to choose just one then I'd choose the standard flash for its overall flexibility.
My flash set up is just about identical to Ollies and I agree with what he said. I also often use the flash with the diffuser mounted straight onto the camera without any obvious problems.
I'm considering selling my ring flash as it rarely get used these days. Even when using my MP-e65 I prefer to use my standard flash gun as the ring flash is limited to only about 3:1 magnification before the flash is too far away from the subject.

pressld2 · #7 (**permalink**) 29-10-2009, 10:54 PM

I'm with Dr Nick - the Nikon Creative Lighting System is incredibly versatile and the R1 Close-up kit is excellent for macro (and great for other types of photography too). I took the plunge and bought a third SB-R200 so my kit looks like this...

In that picture the top light is un-diffused and the other two are diffused as that's how I normally use the kit. The flashes are controlled by the pop-up flash on my D300 but I also have an SB800 flash which can be used as a commander too. Both options allow each of the three flashes to have their power levels set independently.

The SB-R200s don't need to be lens mounted - for really tiny subjects when I'm using extension tubes I will often place the subject on a table with flashes either side of it and just an inch or so away from it.

You can also use them to light the background independently as in this set up which I used for photographing tadpoles...

The tank is lit from above by the SB800 and two SB-R200s are lighting the ivy behind it. The result looks like this...

As Roger and Graham have said, a standard flash gun can be just as effective especially when it's off camera. I sometimes use my SB800 on a flash bracket...

...but once again I'm using the camera's pop-up flash to wirelessly fire the SB800.

Incidentally, although the camera is mounted on a tripod in these photos I almost never use a tripod for insect shots. I'm normally using 1/200th of a second so there's no need.

Dave P.