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Hi, Portrait shadows are annoying me, and macro DOF is always challenging
For a Canon 60D with 50mm f1.8 or 24-105mm, or sigma 70mm; Would you recomend a Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Flash (Sigma Site)
Or would you reccomend something else upto that sort of price?
Other choice's seem to be limited, the only potential downside is that sigma has 2 bulbs not a pure ring.
The GN is 14 and i'd need a 77mm Macro Flash Adapter ring.
If you need a ring flash, this is quite a good choice.
It's great for macro use. But I wouldn't advise it for portraiture. It gives very unusual lighting that has a novelty value that might be good for a one-off unconventional portrait photo project, but which is completely inappropriate for normal social photography.
Google for "ring flash portrait" and you will see what I mean.
How often will you likely to be using it.
How about a bit of DIY.
http://www.google.com/search?q=diy+ring+flash&hl=en&prmd=ivns&tbm=is...
Strobe type low power ring flash good for macro only. I had a Marumi 14 ok for purpose. You'll need more power to successfully use it for portrait/fashion. The big jobbies are great for fill light too, and can be used outdoors on bright days etc. You don't have to use it as a ring flash, you can fire it into brollies, reflectors, use it off camera, very versatile bit of kit, I use it a lot, great for firing into a large parabolic umbrella/reflector. Used conventionally watch out for red-eye. Best suited to use on camera with zoom lenses, where you can keep the same distance from the subject, otherwise you're forever adjusting the power output.
Hi Foto2011 - you are right, i'm surprised you still get shadows :-(
Paul - true, ive tried some but was looking for a more robust solution as my previous tinfoil attempts did not last beyond a session - great ideas though.
Kevin, if macro only then Marumi would be good thanks. I liked the eTTL metering idea i hoped that would manage the power output.
I've emailed Sigma as the 60D is not listed on the compatibility chart (the 7D is, though some other forum said the 50D would not work in eTTL - maybe old firmware). It was released in 2004 - seems quite old.
I'm still undecided but have come back to this requirment a few times with macro issues.
Hi Alex I have a Canon EX430II and a Sigma 500 DG super . they are good but reflecting the light all around is tricky, i'd hoped a ring flah may just fix it all easily but now i'm not so sure. E.g. your great hornet shot has a shadw on the LHS which adds depth and interest but coud be removed with ringflash maybe.
Ring flash are great for macro but not so good for portraits unless you like and want the effect, and its not an effect your going to want to use all the time.
What kind of lighting are you using for your portraits, studio lighting or camera flash ? its just that there are plenty of light modifiers about for both, even simple reflectors can help.
I made a reflector that acts in a similar way to a tri reflector and it does a lovely job at wrapping light and softening or removing shadows.
Jack - I think the macro shooter goes through phases with lighting control, and one phase seems to be the desire to show all parts of the insect in full detail and in full brightness. The problem here is whilst this can work sometimes, overall most more artistic photos (ie outside of species logging) tend to appear rather, dull or flat when they have almost all shadow effects removed from the image. In that shot the only lighting was coming from a single speedlite flash fired through a small lumiquest softbox located in front of and above the insects head (kinda a 45 degree angle). If one wanted to a simple white card attached to the base of the lens/hood would kick up some counter light to balance the exposure, whilst still having some more naturally expected shadowing.
In addition ringflashes are very close to the subject and their shape makes them very hard to effectively diffuse.
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