Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash

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JimKramer - 22 Aug 2007 14:47 GMT

Anybody use a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash?
Comments?
Alternatives?

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Annika1980 - 22 Aug 2007 18:04 GMT

> Anybody use a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash?
> Comments?
> Alternatives?

Too rich for my blood.

May I recommend the Gary Fong Lightsphere?

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JimKramer - 22 Aug 2007 18:16 GMT

> > Anybody use a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash?
> > Comments?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> May I recommend the Gary Fong Lightsphere?

I've reached the limit of what I care to strap-on the end of my 550EX.
The lightsphere would be a step backwards. :-)

If you think that's too rich, check out the system Novaflex is
offering, after you pick up all the dodads to make it work you're well
over a grand. :-(

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Annika1980 - 22 Aug 2007 18:55 GMT

> > May I recommend the Gary Fong Lightsphere?
>
> I've reached the limit of what I care to strap-on the end of my 550EX.
> The lightsphere would be a step backwards. :-)

Perhaps Gary Fong will come out with Mini-Spheres to attach to the
lights on the MT-24EX.

I'd probably do a lot more macro photography if I had the MT-24EX to
use with my 65mm MP-E lens. Getting enough light on the subject is
always a challenge, especially when you are fighting and off-camera
light with one hand while handholding the camera rig.

I assume you have either the MP-E or the 180mm Macro?

Here's a page of reviews on the MT-24EX:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=123&sort=7&cat=myprod

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JimKramer - 22 Aug 2007 19:44 GMT

> > > May I recommend the Gary Fong Lightsphere?
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=123&sort=7...

Sto-fen has a set of diffusers for it, I doubt Gary has the financial
backing to do up a set, and I'm sure Larry couldn't drink anymore
rubbing alcohol, even in the little bottles. :-)

Right now I'm using the 100mm F2.8 USM macro, but ever since I shelled
out for the Kenko 1.4X DG teleconverter, they mostly remained
attached. (Maybe even "bonded" :-) The only time they come apart is
to slip an extension tube or two between them.

The next lens purchase will be the 65mm MP-E, I'm hoping to couple
that with a 5D + grip, but we'll see how slack other people are about
paying their bills. :-(

The FM site is a nice read. Thanks.

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Rita Ä Berkowitz - 22 Aug 2007 22:58 GMT

> Sto-fen has a set of diffusers for it, I doubt Gary has the financial
> backing to do up a set, and I'm sure Larry couldn't drink anymore
> rubbing alcohol, even in the little bottles. :-)

LOL! Larry is prototyping a dual head fiber optic system that is showing a
lot of promise. Larry's new system attaches to a single SB800 or 580 EX II.

Rita

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Annika1980 - 23 Aug 2007 03:41 GMT

On Aug 22, 5:58 pm, Rita ? Berkowitz <ritaberk2O04 @aol.com> wrote:

> > Sto-fen has a set of diffusers for it, I doubt Gary has the financial
> > backing to do up a set, and I'm sure Larry couldn't drink anymore
> > rubbing alcohol, even in the little bottles. :-)
>
> LOL! Larry is prototyping a dual head fiber optic system that is showing a
> lot of promise.

Will this be a two-headed bra to go with the thong?
Maybe he'll call it the Double-D Diffuser.

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Rita Ä Berkowitz - 23 Aug 2007 11:22 GMT

>> LOL! Larry is prototyping a dual head fiber optic system that is
>> showing a lot of promise.
>
> Will this be a two-headed bra to go with the thong?
> Maybe he'll call it the Double-D Diffuser.

I like it!

Rita

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Annika1980 - 30 Aug 2007 02:34 GMT

> The next lens purchase will be the 65mm MP-E, I'm hoping to couple
> that with a 5D + grip, but we'll see how slack other people are about
> paying their bills. :-(

Did you ever decide on the MT-24EX? That one has been on my radar
screen for a while now. Last year I bought a 430EX to add to my 550EX
with the intention of using multiple lights for macro photography (you
can never get enough light at 5x) and hummingbird shots.
Last weekend, however, my 550EX crapped out on me. It won't fire at
all. I don't know if this is something that can be repaired.
Assuming it cannot be fixed for a reasonable cost, I guess I'll
replace it.

I'm debating between a 580EX II and the MT-24EX Twin Light.
When I had the two speedlights I found it very difficult to use as I
had planned, especially for macro work. The MT-24EX would seem to be
the ticket for shooting the small critters.

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JimKramer - 30 Aug 2007 07:10 GMT

> > The next lens purchase will be the 65mm MP-E, I'm hoping to couple
> > that with a 5D + grip, but we'll see how slack other people are about
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> had planned, especially for macro work. The MT-24EX would seem to be
> the ticket for shooting the small critters.

I decided, just waiting for "promised" money to appear. Hope to have
it in hand (on camera) by the end of next month.

Sold that behemoth yet? :-) What'ch gonna gets?

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Annika1980 - 30 Aug 2007 15:30 GMT

>Sold that behemoth yet? :-) What'ch gonna gets?

I'm keeping it. After a long hard-fought negotiation, transportation
and debt consolidation won out over new photo gear.

>I'm thinking you probably fried the cap (does it smell) or the
>charging circuit, probably cost you a $150 with Canon; send it to KEH
>and get an estimate.

Good idea. I didn't smell anything unusual. The flash powers up and
you can hear it recycle until the pilot lamp comes on like it's ready
to fire. Then .... nothing.

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JimKramer - 30 Aug 2007 15:41 GMT

> >Sold that behemoth yet? :-) What'ch gonna gets?
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> you can hear it recycle until the pilot lamp comes on like it's ready
> to fire. Then .... nothing.

Can you trip it with the test button?

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JimKramer - 30 Aug 2007 16:05 GMT

> >Sold that behemoth yet? :-) What'ch gonna gets?
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> you can hear it recycle until the pilot lamp comes on like it's ready
> to fire. Then .... nothing.

And while I'm in a thinking kinda mood. Can you use the 550 to fire
the 420? Rapidy narrowing the problem down to the flash firing
circuit (IR probably won't work either) or the flash tube/high voltage
control (IR will work).

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Annika1980 - 30 Aug 2007 17:12 GMT

> And while I'm in a thinking kinda mood. Can you use the 550 to fire
> the 420? Rapidy narrowing the problem down to the flash firing
> circuit (IR probably won't work either) or the flash tube/high voltage
> control (IR will work).

First, the test button won't make it fire even though it is lit.
I haven't tried firing the 430EX with the 550EX. When the 550EX went
down it was being used as a slave itself with the ST-E2 transmitter.
It was a very hot day and I sat on the back porch for hours using it
to get hummingbird pics. I figured it just overheated.

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JimKramer - 30 Aug 2007 07:15 GMT

> > The next lens purchase will be the 65mm MP-E, I'm hoping to couple
> > that with a 5D + grip, but we'll see how slack other people are about
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Assuming it cannot be fixed for a reasonable cost, I guess I'll
> replace it.

I'm thinking you probably fried the cap (does it smell) or the
charging circuit, probably cost you a $150 with Canon; send it to KEH
and get an estimate. You're out some postage if the price is too high.

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Mardon - 22 Aug 2007 18:17 GMT

> Anybody use a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash?
> Comments?
> Alternatives?

I use one with my MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo and also with my Canon
EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM (requires an optional adapter ting). I had the
MP-E 65 for a year before I bought the Twin Lite. I never should have
waited. Hand-held macros at 2x and even 3x are possible with the Twin Lite
and the MP-E 65. IMO, the Twin Lite is essential for the 1x-5x 65mm lens
but not nearly as important for the 180.

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JimKramer - 23 Aug 2007 15:55 GMT

> > Anybody use a Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Lite Flash?
> > Comments?
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> and the MP-E 65. IMO, the Twin Lite is essential for the 1x-5x 65mm lens
> but not nearly as important for the 180.

Have you played with the heads off the ring? They are standard flash
mounts? Have you looked for extensions?

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Mardon - 23 Aug 2007 18:17 GMT

> Have you played with the heads off the ring? They are standard flash
> mounts? Have you looked for extensions?

No, they are not standard flash mounts. They have a single threaded hole in
the base and no electrical contacts. I'm not sure why I'd want to use them
off the ring anyway. I have a couple of 580EX SpeedLites and an ST-E2
SpeedLite transmitter, so I can use those in various combinations if I want
off-camera flash. The SpeedLites can also be triggered by the MT-24EX
transmitter if I want to add additional flash to what the Macro Twinlite
provides. In fact, before I got the TwinLite, I was using the 2 SpeedLites
on stands for my macro work and triggered them with the ST-E2. That did
not work nearly as good as the TwinLite does.

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