Ring flash

Thinking of trading in my Pentax AF360FGZ flash with Sto-Fen diffuser for a Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1 Ring flash.

Does anyone have any views on it? I have been doing a few portrait shoots and I'm not really satisfied with the results from the direct flash. A friend has a Canon ring flash and the results are quite interesting. Interested in anyone's opinions.

It certainly has me intrigued, and I do plan to get one soon, but would be macro work for us, not portrait and might not be able to report back soon enough to help you.

Would be tempted to say don't trade in your existing flash though, I would use it to complement the ring flash, not replace it! Might even be worth trying something like a light sphere on your existing flashgun, made a difference for us at a wedding shoot.

Ring flashes are not cheap, and tend not to be very powerful - the light is diffused widely.

If you are on a budget, I would suggest you buy a manual flash, either one with a built-in slave, or with a separate slave sensor. The flash could be cheap as chips. Put everything on manual, and experiment away. You'll get much better, and more varied, results than using a single ring-flash.

Diffuse the second flash with a silk hanky, or whatever comes to hand, and try bouncing the 360.

G

I have just bought a ring flash for macro work its the Sigma EM-140 DG. I have posted some images under the Your Photos thread. It will give you an idea of the results. The other macro shots on my portfolio where taken with either no flash or just the camera flash. It seems fairly easy to use although I haven't really read the manual or played with it properly yet. I have been told that the flash will really enhance portraits, however, its not one of my favourite subjects so can't comment.

I got mine from SRS.

J

I use a Sigma ring flash all the time now for portrait work, works just fine for me.

Pentax Af 140c ringflash up on ebay.
Hurry up- auction closes tomorrow

And from our very own John Riley.