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Junior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: manchester,uk
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macro
Sorry if this seems a daft one 
but can and should you use flash when taking pics in macro
but can and should you use flash when taking pics in macro
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Kit 1 SAMSUNG GX 10 kit lens 18mm-55mm kit lens 50mm200mm Sigma 70-300mm |
 Admin Team
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
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Do you mean on camera flash or a flash gun/other lighting?
You have to be careful with on camera flash if you have a relatively small focal length as the flash will get blocked by the lens
You have to be careful with on camera flash if you have a relatively small focal length as the flash will get blocked by the lens
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Kit 1 Nikon D300 Nikon 55-200mm VR |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Cork, Ireland
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As Azz said. The best flash for macro is a dedicated macro flash or ring flash, there are all sorts of set-ups available. Basically, have a play around with what's available to you! 
xx
xx
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 Fondly Remembered
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Perthshire Scotland
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Depends really - there's no rules as such.
Outdoors on a nice sunny day there's lots of light so you can take pics (even macro) without flash.
When light is low you need the shutter speed to be much slower to let light in so you either get some motion blurr or use the flash. Using the camera's own flash allows you to use much faster shutter speeds but the problem with really close up stuff is the flash (mounted above the camera) casts a shadow of the lens over the subject.
Ring flash avoids this as does flash 'off camera' but in the right conditions and with a little thought you can get decent results.
A reflector of some sort is also an option.
Outdoors on a nice sunny day there's lots of light so you can take pics (even macro) without flash.
When light is low you need the shutter speed to be much slower to let light in so you either get some motion blurr or use the flash. Using the camera's own flash allows you to use much faster shutter speeds but the problem with really close up stuff is the flash (mounted above the camera) casts a shadow of the lens over the subject.
Ring flash avoids this as does flash 'off camera' but in the right conditions and with a little thought you can get decent results.
A reflector of some sort is also an option.
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Norfolk, UK
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homemade ring flash?
http://www.photographybay.com/2008/01/20/diy-ringflash/
http://www.photographybay.com/2008/01/20/diy-ringflash/
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: east sussex
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As the others say it depends on what you are taking. If its jewellery you might want a remote flash to show up the cut of the stone. Flash can also be used to good effect in creating/photographing shadows. In sunlight as Phil says flash, should allow enough light for macro without using a flash gun. Like most photographic projects, they are limited to the photographers imagination.
Bazza
Bazza
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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