Canon MP-e65 and MT-24 flash.

glsammy · #1 (**permalink**) 28-03-2011, 11:07 PM

Last year I hardly used my MP-e65mm lens, due mainly to how awkward my flash set up was.
I've now changed to the MT-24 flash unit, together with a flexible shoe mount to allow me to have more control over the flash gun positions.
Following advice from various web sites I made up my own diffused covers for the two flash heads as one of the main criticism of this flash gun is that the flash can be very harsh.
Today was my first real try out with the set up and although I struggled to find anything to take shots of, the set up worked very well. Much lighter than my old two gun unit and very easy to adjust. I can see me using the lens far more this year.

Only a few midges around today, here are most of the shots I got, mainly because most of the insects were trapped in a spiders web!

What I'm trying to get is even lighting with little evidence of using flash.

All these were taking using manual settings on the camera, 1/250sec shutter with variable aperture depending on the amount of magnification. Supported by my mono-pod.
The flash was simply using ETTL. So far that's proving to be quite reliable. With my old set up it rarely was, often flooding the shots with way too much light.

Make sure you click on the image to see it at the larger size. You'll see far more detail.

squishy · #2 (**permalink**) 29-03-2011, 09:12 AM

You might be interested in reading this thread over on Juzaforum
Juza Nature Photography Forum • View topic - Concave Flash Diffuser Test

People give lots of information on the materials they used and comparisons.
Seems the best results people have got are with a tent of vellum paper attached to the front of the lens underneath the twin flashes (I think it's page 3 of that thread where SteB talks about and shows the tent diffuser).

I've tried something similar out with my single flash on a bracket, and it does seem to produce very nicely diffused light.

I'll look forward to seeing more of your stuff with the MP-e this year

.

nutmeg · #3 (**permalink**) 21-06-2011, 07:59 PM

Graham, I'm interested to hear how you're getting on with this combination. Some day I'd like the MP-e65 and would have to invest in flash too - not something I'm at all familiar with using! Portability is important to me, as is natural looking results.

matt_xyz · #4 (**permalink**) 21-06-2011, 09:32 PM

I use this combination too and would thoroughly recommend it. The benefit of the MT-24 flash over regular flashguns (which I used to use with the MP-E 65mm on side brackets) is that the latter end up being much heavier and generally cumbersome. The MT-24 is much lighter and nicer to use as a result.

The downsides of the MT-24 would be the price and the fact it takes a bit of work to diffuse it well. Once it is well diffused though it can be difficult to tell that flash has been used. If you have a look at the latest images Gallery on my website, all of the high magnification shots there were taken with this combo (you can see from the exif data below each image whether it was taken at 65mm or 150mm. If it was 65mm it was taken fully with flash. The Sigma 150mm shots were taken in natural light).

Matt

glsammy · #5 (**permalink**) 21-06-2011, 10:26 PM

I've just sent you a PM Matt.
Your getting much better diffusion than I am. Your recent efforts are truly awesome.

nutmeg · #6 (**permalink**) 21-06-2011, 10:32 PM

Thanks Matt. It's images like yours that encourage me to try this combination. I like the unflashy natural look. Time to seriously think about investing, but a shame the prices are currently pretty high.

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 24-06-2011, 05:25 PM

Following Matts advice and fitting my diffusers with some exotic new material, today I tried it out and I'm delighted with the results. Gone are any signs of harsh lights.

Here's a few examples:

I'm certainly pleased with the results, it's difficult to tell flash has been used, which was the original intention.

Thanks again Matt!

Not sure if I should let it be known what the exotic material is just yet.

matt_xyz · #8 (**permalink**) 24-06-2011, 06:54 PM

I'm glad it did the trick Graham, I've been using this rare and exotic substance in my diffusers for years and it's certainly helped the diffusion of the MT-24.

Matt