Ring flash

I've been thinking about getting an inexpensive ($150 or under) ring flash. Phoenix and Bower are both in this range. Anyone know if these brands make decent flashes or would it not be worth it to go with the cheaper brands?

Are they an actual flash or just a LED? - Terry

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Originally Posted by OldClicker

Are they an actual flash or just a LED? - Terry

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Actual flashes.

Very interesting topic. The ring light that I was thinking about purchasing was the Ray RingFlash. It has acrylic light channels and reflectors to distribute the light from your flash. It also has a price tag of $199.

Would like the see what others have used or have comments on.

James

I have thought about getting a ring flash for macro work but never did pull the trigger on it. The Ray Flash has been out a while now and I have heard pretty decent reviews on it but for $200 I think it's a bit steep considering it doesn't have any electronics at all and you still need a dedicated flash. I also think it looks kind of cumbersome but like I said, the reviews I saw looked pretty good.

You can get a third party dedicated ring flash for less than half the price of the Ray Flash but I don't know what the quality would be like. Personally, I think I would go with a dedicated ring flash.

A ring flash doesn't work very well unless the subject is real small and real close. - Terry

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Originally Posted by OldClicker

A ring flash doesn't work very well unless the subject is real small and real close. - Terry

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Yup. The biggest use for a ring flash is for macro photography.

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Originally Posted by CaraRose

I've been thinking about getting an inexpensive ($150 or under) ring flash. Phoenix and Bower are both in this range. Anyone know if these brands make decent flashes or would it not be worth it to go with the cheaper brands?

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Before you buy a ring flash you might want to consider another option. Your gear list shows body and lenses but not what you have in the way of lighting now. I was looking at the Canon ring flash for macro, both the MR14 and the MT24. Pretty expensive for what is for the most part a single use item.

I already had a 580 and knew that I needed at least one more so I ended up getting another 580 and a macro flash bracket with two independent flash arms. I am able to use the two 580's for macro work and they will do everything the MT24 does, while allowing me more lighting for things other than macro. Granted, it weighs a bit more than a ring flash, but I can put both flash heads on either side of my 100mm macro lens just like the MT24 with equipment that is much more usable in general. Just my 2 cents on the question. :)

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Originally Posted by JamesV

Very interesting topic. The ring light that I was thinking about purchasing was the Ray RingFlash. It has acrylic light channels and reflectors to distribute the light from your flash. It also has a price tag of $199.

Would like the see what others have used or have comments on.

James

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I bought one of these (different brand, but same concept). It's a turd.

Maybe it was because I bought a cheaper model, but the light doesn't get distributed evenly and often times the reflection of the flash shows light "leaking" out of the seems in the ring plastic..

Maybe they have gone out of fashion, but I thought ringflashes were pretty popular amongst fashion photographers.

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Originally Posted by Skyman

Maybe they have gone out of fashion, but I thought ringflashes were pretty popular amongst fashion photographers.

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There are ring flashes and there are ring flashes.

This is a great little macro ring flash: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consum...g_lite_mr_14ex

This is a studio ring flash: http://www.bowens.co.uk/content/pages/ringflashpro.html

Big difference in light output.

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Originally Posted by Skyman

Maybe they have gone out of fashion, but I thought ringflashes were pretty popular amongst fashion photographers.

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Yes, I remember people using a "ring flash" for fashion but I don't think they were quite the same. I think they called them beauty dishes and they were much larger and spread the light much more evenly to avoid shadows on a larger subject. A lot of the ring flashes used in macro photography can be adjusted independently of each side to provide a little more control over shadows.

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Originally Posted by gryphonslair99

Before you buy a ring flash you might want to consider another option. Your gear list shows body and lenses but not what you have in the way of lighting now. I was looking at the Canon ring flash for macro, both the MR14 and the MT24. Pretty expensive for what is for the most part a single use item.

I already had a 580 and knew that I needed at least one more so I ended up getting another 580 and a macro flash bracket with two independent flash arms. I am able to use the two 580's for macro work and they will do everything the MT24 does, while allowing me more lighting for things other than macro. Granted, it weighs a bit more than a ring flash, but I can put both flash heads on either side of my 100mm macro lens just like the MT24 with equipment that is much more usable in general. Just my 2 cents on the question. :)

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None, unfortunately. I will occasionally use my pop up for fill but really loath to do that.. I've never really worked with a flash at all.

The more macros I shoot though, the more I really feel like I need better lighting. I usually end up having to shoot wide open, dof be damned, since otherwise I wouldn't have enough light.

I'm usually shooting around 3'6 away with my 300mm and tubes. Would that be too far for a ring flash to be effective?

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Originally Posted by mjs1973

Yes, I remember people using a "ring flash" for fashion but I don't think they were quite the same. I think they called them beauty dishes and they were much larger and spread the light much more evenly to avoid shadows on a larger subject. A lot of the ring flashes used in macro photography can be adjusted independently of each side to provide a little more control over shadows.

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Two different beasts, both used in the fashion/portrait world.

Ring flash: http://alienbees.com/abr800.html

Beauty Dish: http://alienbees.com/22hobd.html

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Originally Posted by gryphonslair99

Before you buy a ring flash you might want to consider another option. Your gear list shows body and lenses but not what you have in the way of lighting now. I was looking at the Canon ring flash for macro, both the MR14 and the MT24. Pretty expensive for what is for the most part a single use item.

I already had a 580 and knew that I needed at least one more so I ended up getting another 580 and a macro flash bracket with two independent flash arms. I am able to use the two 580's for macro work and they will do everything the MT24 does, while allowing me more lighting for things other than macro. Granted, it weighs a bit more than a ring flash, but I can put both flash heads on either side of my 100mm macro lens just like the MT24 with equipment that is much more usable in general. Just my 2 cents on the question. :)

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I think this is an excellent suggestion.

Thanks everyone :)

I don't know if I could afford two 580s though. Maybe if I could find some used.

Decided to rent the MR14 just to play with one before I make any decisions about actually buying anything.

Cara, I saw this on ebay in the Barrington area. You could check it out while visiting some of the preserves out that way??? - Terry


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:B:SS:US:1123

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Originally Posted by mjs1973

Yes, I remember people using a "ring flash" for fashion but I don't think they were quite the same. I think they called them beauty dishes and they were much larger and spread the light much more evenly to avoid shadows on a larger subject. A lot of the ring flashes used in macro photography can be adjusted independently of each side to provide a little more control over shadows.

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I do fashion/glamor photogaraphy.. a Beauty Dish is a light modifier. an attachment to a strobe or flash. The ringflash is actually a flash or strobe that is mostly used effectively in head shots. Other than giving a different spread of light to the face, it also gives out a distinctive catch light.