POL filter for Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX Flash

Discussion in 'Bags, Tripods, and Accessories' started by waer01, Sep 22, 2019.

  1. waer01

    waer01 New Member

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    Canon 1300D
    Hi,

    Can anyone suggest if there is a POL Filter for MT-24EX Flash ? I have Zeiss POL 67mm and it does not seem to fit.
     

  2. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

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    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    Well the flash uses a 58mm threading you need to pay attention to the thread size.
    Are you using a circular polarizer to remove reflections on teeth? I doubt that it will be super helpful with a camera mounted flash. The polarizer works great on perpendicular light, to remove reflection on glass/water, increase saturation, and slow shutter speeds. I find these far more more helpful in sunlight.

    You could pick up some diffusers for the flash to soften the flash light a bit, and dial in the the light manually as I mentioned till you have nice even lighting. And as I noted you can use settings closer to ambient light so that the flash doesn't have to be set so high and do all the work. Think of the flash as fill lighting.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  3. waer01

    waer01 New Member

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    Canon 1300D
    Hi, at the moment no polarizer is being used since could not fit one. Could you suggest a polarizer for canon r + 24-105 lens ? It would be exactly to remove reflections from teeth as you said. I was also thinking to change Flash from MT-24EX to something new and minimal design like Canon 470EX-AI Speedlite. Would this flash be any good for macro or I should stay with MT-24?
     
  4. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

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    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    Polarizer - you want a high quality multi-coating (MC) CPL filter I would recommend B+W brand as I have always had good experience with them. But there are other good screw mounts from brands like Singh Ray. Just don't do your $900 lens a disservice and put a $20 cheap filter on it.
    Flash - The 470 is a great flash, twice as powerful as the MT24, however your ring flash is the tool for the job here. A ring flash doesn't need more power you want even distribution instead. The extra power will cause harsher direct light. I recommended maybe getting some diffusers for the end of the ring flash units to soften the light. Dialing just enough light and having it diffused will help the reflections on the teeth, possibly more than the CPL... I have never shot teeth/macro/CPL shot but I am not convinced it will do much for hot spots from a flash, it works well for perpendicular light making reflections on highly reflective surfaces like glass and water. The direct flash hot spot doesn't fit that bill. I do think the CPL will be useful outside, i just don't think I would end up using it on these shots.

    So another thought, if you wanted to use a 470ex or similar flash, would be to either...
    A. Bounce it of a wall close to the subject, and i mean close.. have them stand near a white wall so its dispersed evenly acorss the face, and point the flash to bank the light off the wall, think a bank shot in pool.
    B. Get a flash mounted softbox which even out the light on the subject.
    ..My guess is the best shots will be diffused macro ring light shots. Once again, not subject I have played with just speculating based on experience. Do i think the 470 is a good purchase? Yes, just not ideal for the application you described, better for anything non-macro however.
     
  5. waer01

    waer01 New Member

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    Equipment:
    Canon 1300D
    Thanks. Is this any good for 24-105 lens (guess I need 77mm one)?: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gobe-SCHOT...ords=77mm+cpl&qid=1569857510&s=gateway&sr=8-5
    I am in UK, so my options limited. Could not find a B+W one.

    I figured there is one more expensive option is to use drop-in filter adapter: https://store.canon.co.uk/canon-dro...rop-in-circular-polarizing-filter-a/3442C005/ that way filter is behind lens.

    I will see how it goes with a new flash and maybe will need to return it for an exchange to drop-in filter adapter. Then I can use MT-24 with old EF macro lens.
     
  6. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

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    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kaesemann-...words=b+w+cpl&qid=1569870356&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Found that on amazon UK, also WexPhoto which merged with Calumet in the UK stocks B+W, Lee and Hoya which are all good choices. That is if you want to support your local shop. Yes the 24-105 is a 77mm thread so you would need that to thread anything on the end of the lens.

    I think having a number of screw mounts is your best option for CPLs, lens threading is universal so you can use the same one on all lenses with same thread size. If you get the drop in style it only will work on EF lenses mounted on the canon R system. This is a bit too specific for my taste to spend a bunch of money on one specific setup.

    If you invest in a filter system, I would recommend the lee system, you buy the threaded ring in the needed size(s) and mount the holder to that, then drop in the filters.. CPL, ND, grad filters, you an even combine a polarizer and a grad filter. I use this for my digital and medium format systems. It is a bit overkill for you but much more compatible way to spend several hundred dollars.

    But honestly a 58mm a 77mm and a 67mm cover many lenses, those a pretty common thread sizes on 35mm lenses. its the most usable lowest cost.
     

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