[Dave]

Anyone used a Cobra Automatic Ring Light Macro Flash before ?

Ring Light Macro Flash for Canon EOS 5D 30D 20D 40D NEW - (eBay item 160162954988 end time Oct-08-07 20:10:53 PDT)

[silkstone]

Sounds interesting and a helluva lot cheaper than the Canon or Sigma ring-lights, but...

This versatile macro flash can mount to almost any digital or film SLR lens made via the supplied 49mm, 52mm and 55mm adapter rings or other optionally available rings. Optimized to prevent vignetting with most lenses having a filter size of 58mm or smaller, these optional adapter rings are available in sizes from 43mm through 77mm.

So I take that to mean it isn't big enough for most lenses.

[Rob Barron]

Had one, hated it, flogged it within a month.

It is cheap for sure and is ok for getting started but it isn't compatible with all DSLR automatix exposure systems and certainly didn't work properly on my Canon 10D (which I had at the time). I had to leave it on full power, then work out the settings for the camera myself or else it would over-expose badly.

I ended up with the Canon MR14EX which was definitely expensive, agreed, but the difference in usage is chalk and cheese.

Don't get me wrong, if you are dipping your toe in the water of macro and want to try ring flash work without spending a fortune, give this a go. But be ready for some frustration as you get used to using it. It CAN produce some excellent results.... but in my experience they were the rare exception.

Cheers,
Rob