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    Macro flashguns

    Hi everyone
    Does anyone know the reason for the extortionate prices of canon's macro flashguns, especially the MT24 which is just over £700-00.? Okay I know its a clever piece of kit, but come on, its bordering on the ridiculous !!
    Cheers, Dave

    #2
    Re: Macro flashguns

    Hello Dave and welcome to the EOS Forum.

    I understand that the predecessors to the current macro flashguns were designed and used for medical photography, where there was a specific need for shadowless shots. It was a very specialised market with low production runs and consequently high prodution costs.

    Even though they have been available for general photography for some years, they are still rather specialist and production volumes are low compared to standard flashguns. High volumes are the key to cost efficiencies and until sales volumes compare favourably to standard flash units, costs will always be high. Although not as clever as the Canon units, Sigma and Marumi make ringflash units that are much less expensive.

    Colin
    Colin

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      #3
      Re: Macro flashguns

      Dave,

      If you know of Ian Kerr (Kerso), he sells the MT-24EX for £549 + postage at the moment. I know where there is one available for slightly less though

      Bob
      Bob Turner
      Dundee, Scotland UK.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Macro flashguns

        Hi Dave

        Another option is to keep an eye on Ebay. Canon's ML3 Ring-Flash comes up from time to time for around £40-50. Not as clever as latter day ring and twin flashes, but it can produce good results. Follow the instruction booklet, which hopefully is with it, but I believe you can download this, and seem to remember someone posted a link for this.

        regards

        Nigel

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          #5
          Re: Macro flashguns

          Any used the marumi ring flash? As I am thinking of buying one!
          Regards Eddie.
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Macro flashguns

            Any used the marumi ring flash? As I am thinking of buying one!
            I have had one for the past couple of years and although its a bit basic, for the price you cant go far wrong. The only controls are an on/off switch and no LCD so exposure compensation etc need to be controlled from the camera menu's. It gives good results as can be seen from the fungi images I posted from this past weekend

            Stan
            Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

            http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
            flickr

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              #7
              Re: Macro flashguns

              Originally posted by Stan View Post
              I have had one for the past couple of years and although its a bit basic, for the price you cant go far wrong. The only controls are an on/off switch and no LCD so exposure compensation etc need to be controlled from the camera menu's. It gives good results as can be seen from the fungi images I posted from this past weekend

              Stan
              Thank you very much for the feedback, I have now got one on its way to me
              Regards Eddie.
              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Macro flashguns

                I use the sigma macro flash with my 7D and it works a treat. You see them coming up used fairly often and if you get a good copy they can be excellent value. One thing to watch, I have a feeling that I may have had to get mine rechipped to keep it compatible with the latest bodies at some point (I've had my copy for years) so it would be worth checking that if you do go the used route
                My camera is helping to look at the world more closely, then record what I see to share with others.

                http://imagesfromnature.foliopic.com

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                  #9
                  Re: Macro flashguns

                  I have a 180 macro which is able shoot from a hotshoe mounted 580exII and I also use a second 580EX as a wireless slave(usually fromt the top). This arrangement has the benefit of a LOT of light which means you can move back someway for larger items whilst keeping a big DOF and ISO 100.

                  Brian
                  ef-r

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Macro flashguns

                    Here is the Macro ring flash I use, it's very good and cheap

                    It works well and why should people spends lots of money when this will do ok it doesn't have Canon written on it but it works for me, it's the only piece of non Canon gear I own
                    2 x 5D MKII with grips, 16-35 L, 24-70 L, 24-105 L IS, 70-200 L F2.8, 100-400 L IS, 85 L F1.2, TS-E 24 L, TS-E 90, MP-E 65, 2 x 580EX, M80 Viewer, 2x Canon Converter

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Macro flashguns

                      Looks good and perhaps a more flexible alternative to the Marumi

                      Stan
                      Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

                      http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
                      flickr

                      Comment

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