Macro question.

Spitzer

Spitzer

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Rob
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I treated myself to a Tamron 90 f2.8 macro lens yesterday and tried it out today with encouraging results but just used the inbuilt flash in the D5100.
Would it be worth investing in a LED ring light, are they any good or would something like a SB700 be better.
I don't want to spend a massive amount on a specific flash but would push to a speedlight if it would benifit as I can use it for other things.
 
If you're going to get a Speedlight, get a cord or some wireless triggers as well so you can use it off-camera. At close focusing distances, the lens will cast a shadow with on-cameras flash.

Sigma make a ringflash (not an LED); I like using mine but others don't like the effect of a ringflash.

Another alternative is to buy a Speedlight to mount on-camera and also buy an extra adapter that fixes over the front of the flash to produce a ringflash. I've never used one so don't know how effective these are.
 
If you got the SB700 you could also get a bracket and an off shoe cord which lets you mount the flash closer to the front of the lens. I do this with my own macro setup although I use Canon but I'll assume there's a Nikon variant of the Canon off shoe cord. You'd also probably need to make some sort of diffuser for the flash as the light would likely be too harsh for very close work. Like you say you can use the SB700 for other things as well.

The downside is it can get a bit unwieldly at times but I'm happy with the results I get.
 
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You could just DIY what you need. My set up is using a Centon manual modular flash, which can be used on the Hotshoe or offboard.

You simply make an angled extender with diffuser.

2ihxmjd.jpg


24473bq.jpg


Here's some results using my set up

http://photo-sharing.winsoftmagic.c...D=FP&ID1=b99v51bb&PID=oi70e173&FID=ygbh6l7hwe

http://photo-sharing.winsoftmagic.c...D=FP&ID1=b99v51bb&PID=oi70e173&FID=a5e9bqxqgk

http://photo-sharing.winsoftmagic.c...D=FP&ID1=b99v51bb&PID=oi70e173&FID=cqr0tekycp

http://photo-sharing.winsoftmagic.c...D=FP&ID1=b99v51bb&PID=oi70e173&FID=a64mdiyw6u
 
This kind of thing is ripe for DIY, and the pop-up flash is as good a starting point as any.

Do a google images search for diy macro flash diffuser and you'll get dozens of ideas for using milk cartons and toilet rolls and the ever-popular Pringles tubes. They work very well too :)

Here's one I found at random http://www.erewashvalleywildlife.org.uk/2012/01/diy-flash-diffuser/
 
Thanks for the replies gents, read through the link on macro setups, I think a SB 700 and a friendly word to one of the fabricators at work for an extention arm.
 
I have speedlite(s x3) and a ring adaptor. It works nicely up to maybe 1:4 magnification with 100mm lens, after that the lens gets too close to subject and the ring is too far out leading to underexposure. It is more for floral / portrait work.
Nothing can beat a softbox with a speedlite, but that needs proper effort setting up, so may not be practical
for serious yet flexible 1:1 work I'd get a proper ringflash
 
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