Macro Lighting - Flash vs LED?

[Joe14]

Evening all,

I have recently added the Sony 90mm Macro lens to my kit (Sony A7iv) and am looking at the best lighting kit to add. Where possible I enjoy the look that natural light provides, however I appreciate sometime a little extra light helps with like shadow filling ect..

My question is, should I look at a flash (been looking at the Sony hvl-f28 or hvl-f46 - not sure if any of these are good to be looking at*) or some kind of LED panel?

* just for clarity, I want to stick with Sony if flash is the best route)

Many Thanks, Joe

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I use a Flash, as I never found LED panels to give the right sort of light or be able to get consistent exposure. I am using a small Godox TT350s and now that I have sussed settings I'm finding it perfect for my moth photography.

 

[Brownie]

I use a Flash, as I never found LED panels to give the right sort of light or be able to get consistent exposure. I am using a small Godox TT350s and now that I have sussed settings I'm finding it perfect for my moth photography.

I'm surprised at this. Makes your results even more impressive.

 

[Andrew C]

This YouTuber uses a small MEIKE MK-320S Mini TTL Speedlite Automatic Flash. Seems to work great for him. for his macro shots.

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

I'm surprised at this. Makes your results even more impressive.

Thanks Tim. Is that because you'd think it was short of power?

 

[Brownie]

Thanks Tim. Is that because you'd think it was short of power?

No. I use one too, and while it's not the most powerful flash, it's sufficient for most applications. My comment was more toward how even the lighting is across the frame.

 

[Joe14]

I use a Flash, as I never found LED panels to give the right sort of light or be able to get consistent exposure. I am using a small Godox TT350s and now that I have sussed settings I'm finding it perfect for my moth photography.

Thank you for this, seems like a flash would be a good place to start then

Based on the flash you have mentioned there, I take it a smaller GN would be sufficient for Macro then? Something like the 28? Or would going to 46gn be better?

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

@Brownie. Right, yes, well my thinking was that a lot of Macro guys use powerful flashes and tubes to direct the flash close to the subject, but those flashes are nearly always diffused. I went for a smaller unit to hopefully suspend the need for diffusion, which seems to have worked.

@ Joe14, That kind of answers you too. It depends on your intended subject, but I have found the lower power unit to be perfect. It was also way way cheaper than the Sony flashes, which I feel are very overpriced.

 

[Joe14]

@Brownie. Right, yes, well my thinking was that a lot of Macro guys use powerful flashes and tubes to direct the flash close to the subject, but those flashes are nearly always diffused. I went for a smaller unit to hopefully suspend the need for diffusion, which seems to have worked.

@ Joe14, That kind of answers you too. It depends on your intended subject, but I have found the lower power unit to be perfect. It was also way way cheaper than the Sony flashes, which I feel are very overpriced.

Thank you, really helpful indeed!

 

[mapleleaf56]

I use a Godox 685iis , I’ve never used the Sony version but I honestly can’t believe they would do a better job than the Godox which is 1/3rd of the price.. I also use a Radiant Diffuser which is for me an indispensable piece of equipment..