Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX

You can use filters as far as you use an adaptor after the filters. Canon has 3 for 52mm, 58mmand 72mm (i think) but another adapter cab be a COKIN A ring adapter.

I was initially bowled over by this flash. Using the focusing lamps, I focused on several, small nocturnal insects on a moonless night, and got back perfectly exposed slides that looked like they had been taken in the day. If this macro flash is the sole flash source, the exposures are consistently good. However, the unit is heavy and has a few other features that make it less-than-perfect.

This flash is very powerful and the exposures are almost always perfect (if this is the sole flash source). The focusing lamps are very useful.

When I use this in conjunction with my 380EX on a cord, the exposures are about 1.5 stops underexposed, and I have to reset the flash compensation on the camera. I went through countless rolls of film and lost many photo opportunities to figure this out. The unit that sits on the top of the camera is very, very heavy which makes the camera topheavy and hard to hold still, which is of course critical when you're 4 inches from your subject. The focusing lamps turn themselves off after a few seconds after deployment, and there is no custom setting to make them stay on until you snap the shot. The ratio control (which is one of the reasons that I bought this flash) does not work with my Elan IIE - only certain, more expensive EOS cameras. Like all ring flashes, the lighting is very flat, so there are no shadows and fine texture on the subject will not be evident. Even with the diffusers over the flash tubes, rings of light are visible in the eyes of vertebrates, elytra of beetles, and cuticles of ants.

A very cheap, generic ring flash used in conjuction with a Minolta.

None needed.

Out of 50+ rolls of film, the only frame anyone can see that flash was used is where the subject was highly reflective and mirrored back the flash.The flash works perfectly with the USM Canon Macro 100MM lens. There are two flash tubes that can be independently fired to produce marco ratio lighting. If that weren't enough, the unit can be used with 550EX flashes as a master for studio lighting. The flash can also be independently set from the camera based exposure so you can under or over expose from either the camera(background) or flash (subject). No matter what effect I want to create, this flash will do it--perfectly. Every exposure on Velvia and Provia is dead on the money. The results have helped me win numerous 1st places in competitions. I researched all the major brand camera flashes and went with Canon because of the flashes and lenses. I had very high expectations for this flash. I got more than I bargained for.It's the best.

Perfect Exposures
Fabulous Flexibility
Imperceptible Flash-Fill

It's heavy
Flash doesn't allow the use of filters on the lens.

My first ring light

Not Needed.