Ring Flash? Help?!

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jtphoto93

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Ive got a Canon EOS Rebel XTi and have seen lots of people talking and using Ring Flashes. What is the difference in using a ring flash or just a normal speedlight flash. I would be using the flash for portraits and modelling shots so would it work for me or would I be best to stick to a standard speedlight flash?

This is the link someone sent me and told me to get for a ring flash.
Comments on wether I would benefit from a ring flash for modelling and portrait work.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....51357&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_8168wt_1039
 
You'd be better off buying a "normal" flashgun, a set of triggers a shoot through umbrella and a lightstand....
 
Could you guys give me a few examples of the best gear I could buy to improve my photography at the moment I only have a cheap flash.
 
Ring flashes are basically for closeup work (macro). They provide even light when the camera is near the subject. If you used an ordinary flash this close it would tend to light from one direction.

They also tend to be fairly low powered, often less than the in-body flash, and fairly expensive.

As you move further from your subject the distance between the off centre effect of the standard flash becomes less significant.

There is no real reason not to use a ringflash portaiture assuming it is powerful enough, but it is probably not a very cost effective solution.
 
I have a speedlite YN460 but its coming to the end of its life as a flash and i need to get a new one and trying to find the best one for Modelling and Glamour based shots.

With this flash I have a huge problem with strong shadows on the right side of the model when shooting with the camera tilted to portrait.
 
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A ring flash from what I understand only diverts the camera own flash via a piece of gear to the front of the lens and not that good apart from maybe macro shots. Nikon do dedicated flashguns to do the same job but better don't know about Canon. A normal speedlight flash is far more powerful and will light up a subject at some distance away. They can also be used as remote flashes if you want to light up a particular section of a subject together with other flashguns.

So to answer you second part of the question the answer is use a flash gun or a studio lighting set which is more expensive. Also consider using reflectors or umbrellas to achieve different lighting conditions.

The price in your link should tell you something

Realspeed
 
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jtphoto93 said:
I have a speedlite YN460 but its coming to the end of its life as a flash and i need to get a new one and trying to find the best one for Modelling and Glamour based shots.

With this flash I have a huge problem with strong shadows on the right side of the model when shooting with the camera tilted to portrait.
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You need to get the flash off the camera - that way you can place it in such a way as to avoid/minimise the shadows
 
dont have much of a budget atm but i will be saving up im not sure if buying a wireless flash set and maybe some through umbrellas. but im not 100% how to work wireless flashes
 
jtphoto93 said:
Could you guys give me a few examples of the best gear I could buy to improve my photography at the moment I only have a cheap flash.
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Canon 50mm 1.8, ace for portraits on a crop.

The best thing you can do is ensure you ability/technique is spot on, this will make more different than any physical item.

Do you do outside or inside 'studio' style shots? Inside I say you probably need 2/3 lights, outside I personally rarely use a flash if I can help it (I've a 430EX), a reflector is a must buy though, cheap but well worth it.
 
Not trying to be funny but from your post you need a book/info on lighting more than anything. Have a look on youtube for lighting videos there are lots of good ones. This guy is pretty good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH84-pA7p-c&feature=related

If you use your current flash off camera shooting through a cheap white brolly that is near your subject but just out of shot you should nt get harsh shadows.
 
realspeed said:
A ring flash from what I understand only diverts the camera own flash via a piece of gear to the front of the lens and not that good apart from maybe macro shots. Nikon do dedicated flashguns to do the same job but better don't know about Canon. A normal speedlight flash is far more powerful and will light up a subject at some distance away. They can also be used as remote flashes if you want to light up a particular section of a subject together with other flashguns.

So to answer you second part of the question the answer is use a flash gun or a studio lighting set which is more expensive. Also consider using reflectors or umbrellas to achieve different lighting conditions.

The price in your link should tell you something

Realspeed
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I am sorry to say this, but what a load of rubbish you have just spouted! If you do not have a clue what you are on about, then it may be better not to enter the discussion rather than give completely false information. :bang:

A ring flash is what is says, a flash which is in a ring or circular, these can be small with low guide numbers for close-up and medical use only, slightly higher powered for a combination of macro and portrait work and large high powered versions for Studio and fashion work (these start at many hundreds of £s and can run into thousands for the better makes). All ringflashes are manufatured for the flash head to be able to be mounted around the lens thus giving a very flat light with only a slight shadow around the periphery of the subject.

Whilst this can be great for fashion and medical work, contrary to popular belief it is not so good for macro. Yes, it gives an even light over the subject but due to the lack of shadows created on the subject gives a false flat look to the image, in order to prevent this, some small better made ringflashes have the ringflash split into two seperate semi circle flash tubes inside the circular flash head. This allows the facility to alter power settings between both halves of the head thus creating deeper shadows on one side over the other and giving more depth to the subject.

A ring flash adapter eluded to in the quoted post, is a cheap adapter that fits over a normal flashgun and diverts the light into a circle which is around the lens. Better ones do okay but with limited power, the cheap knock off versions are not so good.
 
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EDBray
Excuse me but I suggest you take a look at the link posted by the OP before having a go at someone .

You are referring to entirely different bits of kit which wasn't mentioned. The ring flash in the link was a £30 POUND ITEM, slightly different from what your talking about and its to that I was referring or similar price ranged ring flashes. The one you refered to in post 2 was £340 so completely different thing all together. My reply was in context with that item not way over what you quote.

Realspeed
 
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The simple answer to this is to buy an orbis.
 
realspeed said:
EDBray
Excuse me but I suggest you take a look at the link posted by the OP before having a go at someone .

You are referring to entirely different bits of kit which wasn't mentioned.


Realspeed
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The Op mentioned ringflashes, he never mentioned adapters which you mentioned.

As I was the first person to respond to the OP I am well aware of what he asked.

But, regardless of what he asked, your two statements in your initial post in this thread are completely untrue and can only mislead people.

quote:

A ring flash from what I understand only diverts the camera own flash via a piece of gear to the front of the lens and not that good apart from maybe macro shots.

Rubbish, A ring flash is exactly that, A flash that is in a ring! Nothing what so ever to do with the cameras own flash.

A normal speedlight flash is far more powerful

More rubbish, the large portable ringflashes for fashion photography can be and usually are much more powerful than a normal speedlight.
 
realspeed said:
EDBray
Excuse me but I suggest you take a look at the link posted by the OP before having a go at someone .

You are referring to entirely different bits of kit which wasn't mentioned. The ring flash in the link was a £30 POUND ITEM, slightly different from what your talking about and its to that I was referring or similar price ranged ring flashes. The one you refered to in post 2 was £340 so completely different thing all together. My reply was in context with that item not way over what you quote.

Realspeed
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The link posted is a ring flash, albet a cheap one. It has nothing to do with the camera's on board flash. You are thinking of those things that direct the light from the camera's own flash to a ring on front of the lens, what was posted is a cheap LED ring flash with a control box that mounts on the hotshoe and a cable connected LED flash unit. Two entirely different things.
 
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