Posted by Kurt Bowman on November 1, 2010 at 6:04 PM
I am wanting to pick up a flash bracket for macro work and was wondering if anyone had good suggestions on brands? I will be using a Canon 1D body and a 580EX flash which is somewhat heavy. I have looked at the Kirk macro bracket, but am concerned about it supporting the weight of the 580 based on a couple reviews I have read.
BTW...I did consider a ring flash, but most everyone I have spoken to about them tells me they provide a pretty flat illumination because of being so close to the work and not being able to ignite the BG very well. Plus....big difference in spending several hundred dollars for a ring flash compared to $200 and under for many bracket options.
Would appreciate any help!
Posted by Dan Borzynski on November 1, 2010 at 6:31 PM
How handy are you with tools? John Shaw's book on macro photography gives pretty good steps on building one.
Also, which lenses will you be using it on, and how will you be using it? If you will be going handheld with a 180-200 macro mm lens, that combination will be almost unusably front heavy.
By the way, ring flashes do have their place in macro, especially near or beyond 1:1. Most of the current batch of ring flashes allow you to vary the output from side to side. I actually don't like the ring flash reflections which is the main reason I use a twin macro flash rather than the ring flash. For farther closeup photography (1:2 to 1:5), it is the Canon 580 with off camera cord and a small softbox attached, or sometimes even with the flash in the hotshoe (but again, with a smaller softbox).
Discussion
2 repliesBTW...I did consider a ring flash, but most everyone I have spoken to about them tells me they provide a pretty flat illumination because of being so close to the work and not being able to ignite the BG very well. Plus....big difference in spending several hundred dollars for a ring flash compared to $200 and under for many bracket options.
Would appreciate any help!
Also, which lenses will you be using it on, and how will you be using it? If you will be going handheld with a 180-200 macro mm lens, that combination will be almost unusably front heavy.
By the way, ring flashes do have their place in macro, especially near or beyond 1:1. Most of the current batch of ring flashes allow you to vary the output from side to side. I actually don't like the ring flash reflections which is the main reason I use a twin macro flash rather than the ring flash. For farther closeup photography (1:2 to 1:5), it is the Canon 580 with off camera cord and a small softbox attached, or sometimes even with the flash in the hotshoe (but again, with a smaller softbox).
MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Ringlite Flash
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/239656-USA/Canon_2357A002_MT_24EX_Macro_Twin_Lite.html
(Versions for other cameras too, of course)
It's not inexpensive (although has a grerat rebate til January ) but is very adjustable and sure does the trick.
Keep an eye on EBAY and KEH's used stuff too - they show up fairly regularly.
Good luck!
Sandy
(Yay, SF Giants! 2010 World Series Champs !)