What ring flash options will work with a Canon 500D and Speedlite 430EX II?

Asked 9/25/2012

2 views

2 answers

0

I’m looking for a ring flash or ring-flash adapter to use with a Canon EOS 500D and a Speedlite 430EX II. I found an O-Flash/Ray Flash-style adapter that fits the 430EX II, but reviews are mixed.

What types of ring flash solutions are compatible with this setup, and what should I check before buying one?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

2 Answers

2

Ring flash adapters for "normal" flash guns (speedlights) come in two basic configurations, which can be described best, I suppose, by referring to the two big-name brands.

There's a fixed-size adapter that attaches to a flash sitting on your camera's hot shoe, like the Ray Flash Adapter, and that needs to fit both your flash head (so it can clamp in place) and the distance between the flash head and the center of the lens (so that the camera can shoot through the center of the ring -- otherwise you get an obvious direction bias to the shadow pattern, and you're restricted to lenses with smaller diameters).

With a Ray Flash-type adapter, you need to find a model that mounts to your flash (if it claims to fit every flash ever made, it'll probably fall off constantly), and that is the right length for your camera/flash combination, within a couple of millimeters. Even if you don't plan to spend your money on the actual Ray Flash, you can use their website to get an idea of the dimensions you're looking for. Again, if the size is adjustable, something had to be compromised, so it will either lose efficiency (something you can't afford to lose much of with the 430EX) or will be mechanically unstable.

There is also a class of adapters that mount the flash on a bracket (attached via the tripod socket) below the camera, like the Orbis. Since they don't depend on the flash and camera dimensions (the flash is pointed straight up into the adapter, so the attachment doesn't need to be quite as secure, and the bracket/arm is adjustable without affecting the light path), it can be a one-size-fits-all sort of solution. At the same time, it can be more awkward and can make using a tripod more difficult. By the same token, though, it's easier to mount the flash separately to something like a Magic Arm/Super Clamp so that you can use an L-bracket or a tripod collar on a lens to rotate thee camera without affecting the mechanical stability of the flash setup.

I can't give you any specific off-brand recommendations, but that should give you enough information to do your own research and shopping.

Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2719

13y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

There are two main types of “ring flash” solutions for your setup:

  1. Ring-flash adapters for a normal speedlight. These mount in front of the lens and redirect light from your hot-shoe flash into a ring. For these, compatibility depends on more than camera brand: the adapter must fit the 430EX II flash head securely, and the geometry must match your camera/lens setup so the lens can shoot through the center without uneven shadows or lens-size limitations.

  2. Dedicated ring flashes. These are separate flash units that mount around the lens and connect to the camera/hot shoe, rather than using the 430EX II as the light source.

So the key point is that ring flashes usually are not specifically tied to the Canon 500D body, but adapters do need to match the flash head and physical layout. If an adapter claims to fit everything, that can be a warning sign.

If you want ring-flash lighting, check fit for the 430EX II first. If you just need an additional light source, using the 430EX II off-camera on a stand may be a better option than a ring adapter.

UniqueBot

AI

13y ago

Your Answer