[Philoslothical]

I really like a ring flash for flower closeups and macros.

I LOVE the idea of carrying a bucket to sit on. It could serve double duty for any samples I want to bring back with me.

[bluestringer]

I will second the ring flash. Great improvement in my closeups and macro after I starting using one. Helps stop wind and old shaking hands movement.

[csa]

I have a ring flash that I rarely have used. Guess next Spring I'd better dust it off and use it with my macro shooting!

[Lhorn]

If you don’t have a ring flash, can you get decent results from an off camera flash handheld or is that too directional? If so, held overhead?

[Liney]

There are lots of great DIY videos on making your own ring flash, and of course your favourite flash deflector using a Pringles tube...

[bluestringer]

If you don’t have a ring flash, can you get decent results from an off camera flash handheld or is that too directional? If so, held overhead?

It would work but you need some type of diffuser to cut the harshness from the flash. The Sunpak DX-8R which I use comes up on ebay now and again.

[Lhorn]

Thanks, I've got some old film camera era flashes and an inexpensive off camera flash sender/recievers. Just have to figure out a diffuser. I'll check out the DIY videos.

[barondla]

I took a telescoping gun shooting stick apart and ended up with a monopod. Used a 1/4" coupler to add a 6" long spike. Spike was made from a 1/4" 6" bolt that was only threaded on 1 end. Bolt was sharpened on opposite end of threads.

So the spike can be driven into the ground next to plant. I shortened an original Plamp to about 6". The Plamp clamps to the monopod on one end and plant on other. This has really cut down on wind blur.

Thanks,
barondla

I'd say you've already got too much "stuff". You've got the 100mm DFA, so I assume you've got a decent camera, KP, K-1, K-3, or better? If so, you can take great macro shots of backyard flowers hand-held and without a flash. You want to backlight some petals, use a flashlight. Turn on image stabilization and use a fast shutter speed, and don't be too afraid of ISO greater than 100. Most important: be sure you've "calibrated" the camera to that lens, and use continuous autofocus.

[Liney]

My thoughts on DIY kit reminded me that I made up a remote shutter release a few years ago out of an old cheap hands free kit, a couple of little switches and a roll on deodorant bottle. The wiring is pretty simple, as long as you get a hands free kit that has a 2.5 mm jack plug (that size fits the K3) then it is easy enough to wire up the switches to do shutter release and focus. As for the roll on deodorant bottle, well it fits in my hand nicely and the top means I can hide all the wiring inside.

[fs999]

If you already have a flash, you could buy a RayFlash Universal Ring RFU-L adapter...

[Biff]

Great ideas everyone, thank you.

I was just about to start another post about the KX-800 Macro Twin Light I just got. It seems like a nice option, but I'm having issues with getting it to work properly, was going to as the Flash forum thread about the correct KP setting. It doesn't mount on the KP easily either. I still like the concept, got it on sale at B&H. May try it on my K-01, but any ideas about correct settings from you all are greatly appreciated. I haven't found the answer yet, and have looked on the KP eBook.

[John in OZ]

I find hold camera in one hand and wire tethered flash in another work just fine. And for macro where small apertures are used a lot of light is needed to get the depth of field. Often I use wireless remote to flash with flash output set manually.