RingFlash Resource

Sony users have a really cool macro flash kit available that was originally designed by Minolta. Minolta were ahead of the game and introduced the Minolta Macro Twin Flash 2400 in February 2001, six months before Canon followed with a similar tool.

The flash has a MFC-1000 Controller that slips on to the camera’s special Dynax fitting flash shoe. This unconventional shoe is still used by Sony.The unit holds four AA size batteries to power the flash and looks like a Dynax flash with a bounce head. Around the back are control buttons similar to the ones you’d see on a conventional flash. It’s here where you adjust output exposure mode etc. On the front where the flash tube would normally be are sockets where you plug in the flash. You can either attach a Minolta Macro Twin flash unit T-2400 or Minolta Macro Ring Flash 1200.
Sony users will find the Sony HVL-MT24AM E17 Macro Twin Flash is the same as Minolta’s T-2400  but the controller no longer has a socket for a ringflash, Sony have removed this and made a stand-alone and less powereful  Macro Ringflash.

The Minolta Macro Ring Flash 1200 was a conventional ringflash style unit but with four independent tubes that can individually be turned on or off giving far more control of the light than a typical ringflash. The new Sony HVL-RLAM uses white LEDs rather than flash tubes and creates a single ring of light.
The Sony and Minolta Twin flash units have two small flash tubes on extending arms that are mounted on a bracket around the lens allowing the tubes to be individually angled and adjusted to give creative control of the light’s postiton.

Both flash systems are lightweight and attach to the lens’ filter thread.

Peter Bargh reviewed the Minolta Macro Flash 1200AF for ePHOTOzine in 2001. The Sony unit is identical so it’s well worth a look at his review and verdict which summed the system up as: "This flash system is outstanding. Great flexibility and full automated control. " See the review here Minolta Macro Flash 1200AF on ePHOTOzine.

Thanks to Glenn for his additional help in this article.

The RayFlash Ringflash Adapter is available in several versions, made specifically for flash units from Nikon & Canon but it can be modified to be used with a much wider variety of guns and cameras. Feedback from customers of the UK importer Flaghead helped them compile a flash compatibility chart which we are sharing below. To help adaptation Flaghead provide a small, non-slip wedge, made from flexible black rubber, that fits in the gap between a Ringflash Adaptor and any flash unit that is slightly smaller than the Ringflash Adaptor’s fitting.

If your flash isn’t listed you can establish which model is best suited by attaching your flash to the camera and measuring the height from the centre of the lens to the centre of the flash tube. This measurement will help you find the best Ringflash Adaptor match from the options below: RAN160 160 mm RAN170 170 mm RAC160 160 mm RAC170 170 MM RAC175 175 MM Here’s a list of Ringflash Adaptors

A new range of Ringflash Adaptors is in preparation for the Nikon SB900 and should be available in January 2009.

Multiblitz have announced a new powerful light head for the Magnolux Studio Generator series. The new Marila-Plus is a 3600Ws ringflash designed for the fashion studio photographer. It can also be used by commercial photographers for shadowless close-up photography of small objects especially for Marila-Plus-and industrial macro applications. It can be used as a bare ring or with the large softlight diffuser to provide glossy magazine cover beauty shots. Two powerful temperature controlled fans provide cooling allowing an almost endless number of flashes. Inner diameter is 120mm.

orbis ring flash

Enlight Photo, started registering peoples interest in a new ringflash concept months ago. Now they have announced more details with an option to pre-order the Orbis Ringflash which is planned to start shipping in December.

The Orbis Ring Flash attaches to your existing flashgun to create that characteristic ring flash look normally only possible with studio systems.

As Enlight Photo say

“The orbis™enables you to take photographs with shadowless quality ring flash light – without the high costs associated with buying or renting a bulky studio ring flash. All you need is a standard flash/strobe unit and an off-camera cord (or other remote triggering method). the orbis™ is handheld so neither impedes your camera system’s functionality nor relies on the fragile hotshoe connection. The orbis™ arm™, a simple kit enabling you to fix your orbis™ to your camera, is under development and will be available soon.”

The orbis™ has been tested and works with the Canon 300TL, 430EX, 540EZ, 580EX I and II, Nikon SB28, SB600, SB800, SB900, Cosmos 360, Vivitar 283, Olympus FL36R, FL50, Sunpak PF30X, Sony F56 and Minolta 5200. If your flash/strobe is similar in size and shape to these, it will almost definitely be compatible with the orbis™
The Orbis Ring Flash will cost $169 and is available here: Orbis Ring Flash

Pros of Ring Flash

Shadowless image
The flash is so close to the lens that the light is very even and relatively shadowless.

Pleasant and even lighting for small subjects
The even light is good for small subjects and essential for close ups as normal flash would be obscured by the lens.

Hard edged outline like shadow
Although there’s not a heavy shadow on one side like normal flash – ring flash does create an outline style pale shadow.

Pale shadow that can be very distinctive
The pale shadow can provide a very distinct and original look, especially on portraits.

Cons of Ring Flash

Lower power
The guide number of the flash means it not much use for anything other than close up and macro photography.

Unatural surround lighting
The light from a ringflash does not replicate natural light which usually comes from one direction so it can be seen as unatural to perfectionists.

Halo catchlight
The ring flash causes a halo shaped catchlight which can look unatural too.

Flat, shadowless, and uninteresting light
Many think the direct flash from a ringflash is flat an uninteresting unlike a normal one direct flash which gives a degree of modelling.

Expensive
compared with normal flash ring flash units are fairly expensive.

Relatively inflexible
A normal flash usually has more options, and can be used for a wider variety of applications.

Ringflash adaptor

Mark Cleghorn Photography has secured a deal on the last of the original Ring Flash Adapter for the Canon 580EX so they have arranged a sale price of £116.33 (£99 plus vat). This offer is on a first come first served basis and a saving of almost £50.

Dental photography experts, Lester Dine invented the Ring Flash in 1952 as a tool to pinpoint light directly into a dental patient’s mouth and provide full illumination. Their invention revolutionised dentist/patient communication as the ringflash photograph made it easy for the patient to see what treatment needed doing,unlike the view of an x-ray. The invention of ring flash also meant photography could be used as a teaching tool and changed the way dentists were taught in school and further education.

Although designed with dental photography in mind, it wasn’t long before the ring flash became the choice of some nature photographers as a macro flash, and the application followed into jewellery and still life, because of the flat and even lighting. Fashion photographers are also high up on the list of usersas they like the catchlight and the unusually centred lighting styles created.

The modern ringflash is pretty much the same design as that original one over 50 years ago.

Vivitar MACROFLASH 5000 ring flash

The Vivitar Macroflash 5000 was a popular option in the 80s and the specific unit was badged by Vivitar and was also available in various brand names from the likes of Cobra, Starblitz and Centon. It’s a fairly low power basic unit but the price makes it an affordable entry into the world of ring flash photography. Around the back the flash has an on/off button that glows green to show power on, a ready light that glows orange when the ringflash is charged this doubles up as a test button. There’s also a 2.5mm sync socket for the flash sync cable and an exposure scale.

On the front is an auto manual switch. If you set to auto the sensor on the front of the flash cuts the power so it’s correct for the auto aperture that’s been selected. You determine which aperture to use via the scale on the back.

Vivitar 5000 exposure scale

The scale has a series of flash to subject distances along the top from 27cm to 98cm and a series of ISOs from ISO25 to ISO800/1000 down the side. To work out what aperture to use you read along the ISO row you’re using and follow down from the flash to subject distance. So looking at the scale a photograph taken 46cm from the subject at ISO 100 would need f/11 setting on the camera.

The flash will work equally well with film or digital cameras and is powered by two AA 1.5v batteries. It attaches to the camera lens via the filter thread and uses Series VII rings to obtain the necessary filter thread size. If the Series VII ring you need is not available you can use step up/step down rings to take it to the correct fitting.

Photo taken with Vivitar Macroflash 5000