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Badgerman
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(Nocturnal Non-Scaredy Cat In A Deep Pit)
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13/06/2008 18:34
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Canon Ring Flash
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Anyone got the Canon MR-14EX Macro Ring Lite Flash?
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Aye  Graeme has one too IIRC. What do you have in mind? For the 100mm? I rarely use anything else with the 100mm....and I think you're already covered with more directional multiple off-camera flashes for the other times?
It works fine on the camera but can only be a master rather than a slave and it doesn't have the custom function to switch the focus lights on with a double half press of the shutter (which really annoys me about it!). You have to use the button on the flash to switch the focus lights on  Then again those focus lights are only really handy in poor light (indoors or out!) so might not be a big deal to some.
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sjaszczak
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(A Real Gentleman)
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13/06/2008 21:28
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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I think I will have to save up for this at the same time as I save for the 100mm lens.
Just out of interest, the lens has been out for a few years now I believe...do you think they'll bring out an IS version?
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Bawbee
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(Out on a whim)
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13/06/2008 21:39
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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I've got one too, what's your requirement Colin?
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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That's quite a pricey item. I picked up a 3rd. party ring flash for ~£50 at a camera fair, and whilst it's not ETTL II or whatever, the beauty of digital is that you're not wasting film getting close to the right exposure. (Normally I'll go for the genuine item, but in this case I knew I wanted to try it out before deciding whether it was for me. It wasn't, so I saved a bit of cash.)
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AGW
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()
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13/06/2008 23:10
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Yep it works well with the 100, 65 and 50mm macro lenses. It doesnt realy have enough beef for anything else other than macro work. As Andy says it can act as a remote master for other high end flash guns (550/580)but I have not really explored this mix too much as yet. Its not really practcal unless you are tied to a tripod.....one of the great things about the MR14 is that it free's you from a tripod! On the 10D I find that I'm usually dialing in -1 flash comp to get the expossure the way I like it.
Setting the camera on manual and letting the gun get the expossure right... 
Using the gun in AV and trying to balance the subject with the background...just a tad of annoying highlight...
You do need to watch out with reflective subjects, the circular catchlight can be irratating.
I would say that I have found it to be a very useful tool....
Graeme
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Badgerman
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(Nocturnal Non-Scaredy Cat In A Deep Pit)
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14/06/2008 21:34
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Thankyou for the information on the ring flash, I have a chance of picking up one as new and would link it to my Canon 100mm macro .. what would you pay for a good second hand one?
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Badgerman
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(Nocturnal Non-Scaredy Cat In A Deep Pit)
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14/06/2008 22:03
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Great shots Graeme
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Quote:
what would you pay for a good second hand one?
Probably no more than £250 but without a warranty I would want to pay less. Seems you can get them new for about £300.
Great bit of kit and if mine broke down I'd want another one.
Nice to see more of your macro shots Graeme....nice work  Do you find the round highlights more annoying on the MP-E? I don't find they bother me on the 100mm as the round highlights tend to be much smaller at lower magnifications. FWIW I stick with manual mode for balancing the background aswell as full flash shots...set the manual exposure for the desired background exposure and tweak FEC for the foreground/subject (usually I prefer the subject shaded or backlit and the background well lit for fill flash). Saves taking my left hand off the end of the lens to change from M to Av and having to compensate for shaded foregrounds and dark subjects that could fool the ambient light meter. With a well shaded subject and a bright background you can have complete control over the background from white (eg deliberately blown sky) to black from deliberate underexposure.
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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I loved the ML-3 with film, and keep thinking about getting a new MR-14EX. For now, I'm shooting still-life flower close-ups with my 550EX, Off Shoe Cord 2 and 420EX as a slave, but I've not really got enough hands for that! 
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AGW
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()
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16/06/2008 21:34
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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I think there is potential for the doughnut catchlights whenever the subject is highly reflective, however if they are very small (eyes) you tend not to notice them. I think you are right in suggesting that it is less of a problem with the longer lens.
If I'm stalking a subject with the MPE I will use manual first to get at least one pic, black backgound and all. Then if the subject is compliant I will fiddle around to try and balance the background. The subject has to be very settled (or a small fungus!) to use AV, the shutter speed drops away very, very quickly and more often than not the tripod comes into play.
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AGW
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()
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16/06/2008 21:37
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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ML-3? isnt that something that lives in a box along with an unused EOS 5??? If only they had put a manual mode on the controller.....ahhhh
Graeme
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zx9
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(old hand)
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17/06/2008 15:01
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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If my EOS 5 lived unused in a box, I would not have to keep feeding it Agfa APX ( just bought another 10 rolls of APX 100 last week dated Nov 2010 so perhaps I should stock up)
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Quote:
ML-3? isnt that something that lives in a box along with an unused EOS 5???
My 5 has had some use this year - that's more than it got last year!
Quote:
If only they had put a manual mode on the controller.....ahhhh
Indeed. 
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El Sid
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(Going potty)
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17/06/2008 15:21
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Quote:
ML-3? isnt that something that lives in a box along with an unused EOS 5???
My 5 has been getting plenty of use lately......
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Badgerman
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(Nocturnal Non-Scaredy Cat In A Deep Pit)
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27/06/2008 21:25
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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Picked one up today for £150.00 and itching to get out and try it...hope to post some interesting shots later.
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AGW
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()
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27/06/2008 21:44
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Re: Canon Ring Flash
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An MR 14? sounds like a major bargin! Have fun!
Graeme
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