Dragonfly Photography with Flashes

Hello,

I want to go photographing dragonflies and other insects.

I use a Sigma 180mm lens with a Canon EOS3.

Now I want to buy 2 flashes ?

What flashes are suitable for my combination and

must there be a difference between the 2 flashes?

What about the Novoflex auto macroflash system?

I read the old 200E from Canon are very suitable for macrophotography.

Who can help me ?

Thanks in advance

Jeroen Gense

The Netherlands

When I got my EOS-3 and read what it could do with the EX-series Speedlites, my only thought was how to save enough $$$ to get two 550EX's. I still personally believe this would be the best choice- especially in the field applications, and even if you want to do some studio shots it would make it very convenient.

With the EOS-3/550EX setup, you get wireless E-TTL communication between master and slave units, variable power ratio between them, flash exposure lock (I use it all the time), flash exposure bracketing (rarely use it), high-speed sync at all shutter speeds (almost never use it), and modelling light (sometimes use it)- in addition to "normal" advanced functions such as stroboscopic flash (never use it), rear curtain sync (often use it), or tilt/swing heads (including minus 7-degree down tilt for closeups) which are useful in pointing the flashes mounted on a bracket. And all this automatically done with many flashes without tricky wiring, you'd just need to get an "Off-Camera Cord 2" to hard-wire the master flash.

There are many great photographers who don't necessarily (or at all) NEED all these bells and whistles for successful macro photography and I am not saying that you will need them, but- again- some of these features make it so much more convenient and fool-proof, especially in the field. You din't write if you wanted to do studio or field macrophotography but I'm assumming (and hope) that you think "field", not captive dragonflies. And, as you know, you need to act quickly photographing insects (dragonflies are predators and move damn fast! Are you going to shoot them in flight??!!).

Downside: 550EXs are large and heavy units and if you want to chase a bug with two of them mounted on the camera via a flash bracket- the whole rig gets quite heavy and a bit cumbersome. But with a good bracket it can be done. In addition, you'd have two powerful, good strobes for other applications.

Good luck, Piotr

Some advice that I can give you is to buy flashes that also have manual controls. The 380EX does not, and there may be times when you are using a dual flash bracket that you will want control over the flashes power.

IN MY OPINION this is one instance where I would buy a third party flash that gives you more control rather than buying the cheaper EX series Canon flashes that are only automatic. This is assuming that you want to spend $250 or less per flash. Both Sigma and Sunpack offer very reasonably priced flashes that are EX compatable but are much more versatle. I'm not familiar with the features of the Novatron or Canon 200E, but as long as they give the options I discussed I would buy them, also the older non-EX flashes like the 540 should not be overlooked.

If you are going to spend $250 or more per flash then I agree with the previous posters comment about the 550EX being the optimum choice.

Now as far as there being a difference between the two flashes, my very strong suggestion is that you get two flashes that have NO differences (i.e. same model). Two flashes of the same model make it easier for you to know how to use, and many times two flashes of the same model may even communicate with one another if you ever wanted to use them as slave flashes.

As was stated, the 550EX flashes are expensive, but they also communicate with your camera which means that you may not have to buy off camera cords, wireless slaves, etc..that can also be a big expense.

Matt is very right about getting a flash (two flashes?) with manual control. This is how I did two-flash photos (Sunpak 433D Thyristor as my slave) before I got the EOS-3 and two 550EXs. Also, while providing E-TTL, the 380EX will not let you vary the master/slave power ratio, this can be achieved with flashes with manual modes.

One addition/correction: yes, you will need some sort of communication between the camera and the master flash. It can be either via the IR transmitter ST-E2, or by the "Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2", the latter being cheaper and simpler to use and fully adequate if you don't plan on placing your master flash more than about 1 meter from the camera (yes, I know that the cord's nominal lenght is 60cm but it's coiled and can be easily stretched).

Piotr