In the ring

Q I would like to try ringflash lighting for macro, but the price is putting me off. Any suggestions for a cheaper lighting option? Kerry Findlay

A Using ringflash lighting is a great option for close-up work and portraits: it helps to provide shadow-free lighting thanks to the position of the light around the end of the lens itself.

But you are right: traditional ringflash lighting is quite expensive and consequently can put people off using it.

I’d suggest you consider looking at LED ringlights. The constant lighting of LED means you are free from any issues with flash sync speeds, and the constant lighting allows you to immediately see the effect you are getting. The downside can be lighting power, but LEDs are becoming better and better in this area, making them genuine alternatives.

I’ve played around with the Kaiser R60 with good results. It has 60 LED lights in the circular light that will illuminate your subject at 2,300 lux (eye-squintingly bright) from a foot away. It’s dimmable too. The Kaiser R60 fixes onto the front of the lens via an adapter for the filter fit of your lens. It comes with adapters for 49, 52, 55, 58, 62 and 67mm filter threads, so make sure the lens or lenses you want to use it with are covered. Power comes from four AA batteries. It’s easy to use and can be swapped around different lenses with the suitable filter sizes, so it makes it a very flexible option for under £80. If you want to take a look at it, the UK reseller is Fotospeed (www. fotospeed.com).