Canon MR-14EX II Macro Ring Lite

£549 / $550 www.canon.co.uk Where Nikon’s take on close-up lighting is unwieldy [review 4], Canon users get the most compact ring flash and commander combo of the group. It’s also one of the best-built, and features a metal hotshoe mount as well a large, clear and comprehensive display.

Flash performance is top class, with excellent light softness, as well as accurate and reliable TTL metering. As with the Nissin MF18 [5], the dual flash tubes have independent power adjustment, offsetting their output by up to six stops. The MR-14EX II also has the same 5.5-second full-power recycle time.

Flawless performance in a portable package.

High price; it only works on a limited range of lenses.

Top quality and performance, but only with select lenses.