Macro flash

[BillE]

A ques to all you close up and macro shooters. I have never really used flash for any of my photography apart from do's in my younger years with film, never on any of my digitial cameras I have owned.

The question I have is, should I save up for a dedicated macro flash or diy a diffuser for a cheaper hot shoe flash. I may not end up using flash but I would appreciate your thoughts folks. I know I am early days

with close up and macro but just thinking ahead at the mo.

chrs

Bill

[fuzzyedges]

I use flash 99% of the time 

I found ring flash tended to give me (my taste) a flattish image even if half was dimmed 

I ended up with a cheap old flash (run off the pc socket, check the pc sockets trigger voltage before going down this route, not hot shoe as hot shoes today wont take the trigger voltage of old flashes ) a flash gun bracket and a ball joint between gun and bracket so I could get the gun offset but right over the subject 

It ends up with the flash being Horizontal and parrallelish to the lens 

I also use a cheap diffuser from amazon 

The whole issue is a cheap way 

For me it works 

[BillE]

chrs fuzzy

[FUJI]

Hello BillE

I shoot a fair bit of macro now and then.....after trying a ring flash ( useless) I copied one of the best macro shooters and made up a DIY Flash Diffuser/Reflector by fitting over the flash, a plastic, cereal box lined with kitchen foil on three sides with the open side having a paper towel diffuser, it works every time, with the settings f16 S 160. ISO as high as nesseccery regarding ambient light.

Somewhere  on here, the sketch design, may still exist.....perhaps Phil can point you to it.....otherwise, there are very similar DIY designs on YouTube.

FUJI

[fuzzyedges]

I have since done away with the wireless trigger and just use the pc socket for the trigger but you can see the idea 

 

 

[BillE]

chrs guys, much appreciated.

Fuji, is that flash mounted on your hot shoe?

[FUJI]

Yes, Just a standard flash gun, with a bendy head, the opaque plastic cereal boxes are all pretty standards and available from pound stores everywhere.

I will try to find a pic at some time.....just be careful whilst using a sharp Stanley knife to cut the rectangular hole for the flash to fit in tightly.

This is my best ever macro taken using my DIY DIFFUSER..........

FUJI

Edited May 9, 2016 by FUJI

[FUJI]

Here you go Bill.....a phone camera shot of my very effective DIY Macro thingummy.....

The top and both sides (as on flash) are lined with plastic mirror sheet, but would work as well with kitchen foil......the front end of the bottom is cut away then covered with tissue of a thickness to suit......it may look crude, but it really works.

Hope it all makes sense?

 

FUJI