Comments on: Ring Flash-o-riffic http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/ ...so google can index my head. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:29:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Macro Photography for Beginners http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/comment-page-1/#comment-189172 Macro Photography for Beginners Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:47:42 +0000 http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/#comment-189172 Hello, Ring Flash are often criticised for taking images with a very flat appearance. This is quite a strange arguement against them because they were specifically designed to take flat shadowless images (originally in dentistry and medical applications). I use the Sigma EM-140DG which is very similar to the Canon MR-14 EX. There are some situations where only ring-flash will work such as looking into the "trumpet" of a flower. I find that the ring flash is excellent for capturing still life images of small objects such as stamps and coins. It is not the best choice for insect photography even when you master the manual settings (M). It would probably be best to use a diffused flash gun on a bracket for insect photography. Marvin Africa Hello,
Ring Flash are often criticised for taking images with a very flat appearance. This is quite a strange arguement against them because they were specifically designed to take flat shadowless images (originally in dentistry and medical applications). I use the Sigma EM-140DG which is very similar to the Canon MR-14 EX.

There are some situations where only ring-flash will work such as looking into the “trumpet” of a flower. I find that the ring flash is excellent for capturing still life images of small objects such as stamps and coins. It is not the best choice for insect photography even when you master the manual settings (M). It would probably be best to use a diffused flash gun on a bracket for insect photography.

Marvin Africa

]]> By: bbum http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/comment-page-1/#comment-184072 bbum Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:00:06 +0000 http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/#comment-184072 If I were content to leave it in fully automatic mode and simply point/shoot, letting the flash meter things appropriately, I would agree. And, certainly, for the "fill flash" style of photos attached to this post, the number of variables is somewhat minimized (though, even with this simple images, there is still quite a bit too learn to balance exposure across the subject versus exposure of the background). However, this flash has quite a few variables that can be tightly controlled to impact the look/feel of a photo. Things I haven't really touched much like the ability to control the ratio of light coming from opposite side of the flash or switching out of E-TTL mode or really exploring the depths of manual mode. Certainly, being a special purpose unit limits some of the applications, but the ring flash has considerable flexibility -- complexity even -- within its designated role. If I were content to leave it in fully automatic mode and simply point/shoot, letting the flash meter things appropriately, I would agree. And, certainly, for the “fill flash” style of photos attached to this post, the number of variables is somewhat minimized (though, even with this simple images, there is still quite a bit too learn to balance exposure across the subject versus exposure of the background).

However, this flash has quite a few variables that can be tightly controlled to impact the look/feel of a photo. Things I haven’t really touched much like the ability to control the ratio of light coming from opposite side of the flash or switching out of E-TTL mode or really exploring the depths of manual mode.

Certainly, being a special purpose unit limits some of the applications, but the ring flash has considerable flexibility — complexity even — within its designated role.

]]> By: Charles http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/comment-page-1/#comment-184069 Charles Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:25:34 +0000 http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/#comment-184069 I probably wouldn't describe your ring flash as having a "steep learning curve," it might be better to think of it as having an extremely narrow range of capabilities and it takes a bit of knowledge to know where to use them. If it had a wider range of abilities, it would have a much worse learning curve. I probably wouldn’t describe your ring flash as having a “steep learning curve,” it might be better to think of it as having an extremely narrow range of capabilities and it takes a bit of knowledge to know where to use them. If it had a wider range of abilities, it would have a much worse learning curve.

]]> By: ManxStef http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/comment-page-1/#comment-183998 ManxStef Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:01:32 +0000 http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/#comment-183998 Another option aside from using the histogram is to bracket the exposure. The advantage of this is that you don't have to reframe your shot, which can sometimes be tricky after looking away. (Then again, sometimes this can help get a better shot, as you may spot a framing fault while chimping.) The disadvantage is that you take three shots instead of one, which flattens the battery even faster :) Those are some lovely shots, by the way, keep 'em coming! Another option aside from using the histogram is to bracket the exposure. The advantage of this is that you don’t have to reframe your shot, which can sometimes be tricky after looking away. (Then again, sometimes this can help get a better shot, as you may spot a framing fault while chimping.) The disadvantage is that you take three shots instead of one, which flattens the battery even faster :)

Those are some lovely shots, by the way, keep ‘em coming!

]]> By: eric soroos http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/comment-page-1/#comment-183981 eric soroos Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:48:37 +0000 http://www.friday.com/bbum/2007/12/20/ring-flash-o-riffic/#comment-183981 Read Strobist.com. It's the best thing out there for learning how to get the most from the flashes that you have. (and those that you will buy soon enough after reading). Read Strobist.com. It’s the best thing out there for learning how to get the most from the flashes that you have. (and those that you will buy soon enough after reading).

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