Canon Macro ring lite MR-14EX II User manual

Macro Ring Lite
MR-14EX II
Guide to Mastering
the Macro Ring Lite Flash
Beautifully and easily
photograph everything
from flowers and insects
to small items and people!

Shoot
portraits
12
Shoot plant life
in dark locations
10
Shoot
accessories
8
Shoot
nail art
6
Introduction
Contents
What is a
Macro Ring Lite
flash?
This flash fires from the very front of the lens for even
area lighting. Making use of this ability, the Ring
Lite flash can be used in a variety of situations, from
capturing shots of small subjects such as flowers and
insects to portrait photography. Browse through this
guide to find a use that perfectly fits your style.
The Macro Ring Lite is
a ring-shaped flash that
attaches to the front of the lens
Photo captured with shoe-mount flash
Photo captured with a Macro Ring Lite flash
Shoot trinkets
and accessories
BASICS
ADVANCED
Shoot
clothing
Shoot
wristwatches
Shoot flowers
and blue skies
Shoot
flying butterflies
Four merits
of a macro
ring flash
MR-14EX II
Features and
Part Names
4
14 16 18 20
3
22
Canon
Macro Ring Lite
MR-14EX II

Four major merits
Get close to small flowers
when shooting
Because light from this kind of flash is not obstructed
by the lens as happens with built-in or clip-on flashes,
you can feel comfortable getting close to subjects.
Reduced camera
shake and subject blur
Because the subject is illuminated only for a moment,
this flash produces the same effect as when using a high
shutter speed, for reduced camera shake and subject blur.
Flat light means
fewer shadows
Because the flash tubes are ring shaped,
the overall subject is evenly illuminated
for minimal shadows and vividly detailed subjects.
Sharp photos from the
foreground to background
Because the light from the flash is bright,
the aperture can be stopped-down for a wider in-focus area,
and accurate, three-dimensional subject details.
Icons used in this guide
Macro Ring
Lite flash
clip-on
flash
Built-in flash No flash Get close to
small subjects
when shooting
Flat light
Fewer
shadows
Reduce
blurring
Sharp shots
from the
foreground to
background
FREEZE!

Basics
1
Reduce shadows with flat lighting
Easily and beautifully capture
the details of trinkets and accessories
Shapes and colors
are clear without
any annoying shadows
Everything from the fine shapes,
colors, and materials of the colorful,
overlapped buttons are vividly
captured.
• EOS 70D, with EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/60 sec. at f/11; ISO 400
• +2.0 ash exposure compensation
Flat lighting provides shadow-free images
and reproduces shapes and colors
as they appear to the naked eye
Have you ever shot a favorite
accessory with an SLR only to end up
with strong shadows in the photo? If
so, a Macro Ring Light is just for you.
Because this flash emits light evenly
from a ring-shaped flash tube, it is
possible to illuminate each and every
detail of the subject so that annoying
shadows from a single direction are
not a problem. This flash offers a
variety of easy flash lighting solutions,
such as in photos of handicrafts for a
blog, or shooting small figures for an
online auction.
Minimal shadowsClose-up shots
Macro Ring Lite flash
4
With a Macro Ring Lite flash you can…

Tips
Extreme close-ups
of a single button
on a macro lens
Because macro lenses are designed for close-ups,
you can focus in close on a single small button.
The Macro Ring Lite makes it possible to perfectly
illuminate the subject, whereas a built-in flash would
be inadequate at this distance.
This is the EF-S 60mm f/2.8
Macro USM, optimal for cameras
equipped with an APS-C size
sensor. Not only is this lens
perfect for macro shooting, but it
can be used in a wide variety of
applications such as landscapes,
portraits and candid images.
Close-up of an elegantly-designed button. Even with
a diameter of approximately 0.8 inch (2cm), the ne
indentations and ridges, as well as textures are captured
in great detail with lighting from the MR-14EX II.
Simply attach the Macro Ring Lite to the lens for macro
shots that are a touch different than the average
Because light is evenly distributed,
strong shadows are less likely to occur
Because light is not obstructed
you can get close to the subject
Flash not
obstructed
Flash
obstructed
Blocked flash
and strong shadows
A shoe-mounted flash causes strong
shadows in the photo. Also, when the
light from the flash is obstructed by
the lens, the brightness differs where
light is illuminating the subject and
where it is insufficient.
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‘Blocked flash’ refers to obstruction of the flash by the lens, resulting in dark sections in the image.
Macro Ring Lite flash
clip-on flash
5
Easily and beautifully capture the details of trinkets and accessories Basics
1

Sharp and vivid
from the foreground to background
Vividly capture the natural, three-
dimensional feel of nail art designs
Basics
2
Sharply capture
overlapping fingers
The overlapping fingers in both the
foreground and background are both
sharply in focus and the fine designs
on the nails are vividly recorded.
• EOS 70D, with EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/60 sec. at f/32; ISO 400
• +2.0 ash exposure compensation
The subject is brightly lit and in-focus
all the way to the background
In macro photography without using
a flash, shadows from the lens or
camera can make the subject appear
dark as well as make camera shake
more likely to occur, and drastically
reduce the area in focus (depth
of field). When shooting nail art,
these factors often result in photos
with dull-looking nails. If you use
a Macro Ring Lite flash, the bright
flash lets you stop down the aperture
for a greater depth of field. The
instantaneous illumination also helps
to prevent camera shake.
Minimal shadowsClose-up shots Sharp fore and
background
Macro Ring Lite flash
6
With a Macro Ring Lite flash you can…

Stop down the
aperture for a
sharp foreground
and background
Shoe-mount flash: sharp focus, but annoying shadows and uneven exposure
Focus range
Focal position
Without flash: nails in the background look blurred, from wide lens aperture
You can shoot
vivid extreme close-ups
Even during extreme close-ups, the Macro Ring
Lite flash produces uniform lighting, making
it possible to capture the minute patterns and
subtle tones of the nail art perfectly.
Without the flash,
the focus is shallow,
and with the normal flash,
strong shadows appear.
When shooting without the flash
and at wide lens apertures, the range
of focus becomes shallow. A clip-
on flash makes it easier for strong
shadows to appear.
Because you can stop
down the aperture when
using a Macro Ring Lite
flash, the depth of focus
(depth of field) can be
increased.
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No flash
clip-on flash
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Vividly capture the natural, three-dimensional feel of nail art designs Basics
2

Compatible from close-ups
to normal shooting distances
With this single flash, you can shoot
photos of a favorite accessory on its
own or a shot of someone wearing it
Basics
3
No troublesome shadows,
and the overall shot is
beautifully captured
The light passes over the complex
shape of the entire brooch for beautiful
colors and sparkling light.
With this single lens, you can shoot
both close-up and pulled back photos
with complete freedom
The Macro Ring Lite flash is not
just for close-ups, but is fully
capable of being used at general
shooting distances.
You can easily shoot a favorite
accessory on its own or a shot of
someone wearing it for inclusion
in a blog or online auction.
Because the MR-14EX II flash tubes
are split into two semicircles, A
and B, the strength ratio of the
flash (flash ratio) can be easily
adjusted for shots that perfectly
match the feel of your subject.
Minimal shadowsClose-up shots
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 5D Mark III, with EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/60 sec. at f/16; ISO 800
• +1.0 ash exposure compensation
8
With a Macro Ring Lite flash you can…

Adjust the flash ratio of both lamps
to perfectly match your ideas
Tips
There is a shadow on the upper left
side of the ring. Even though a shadow
appears in the direction of the loop, the
eect is natural.
1 : 8
There is a somewhat strong shadow
on the upper right part of the stone.
Shadows on gemstone photos make for
a complex and confusing impression.
Details in the ring are sharp. Faint
shadows appear on both sides.
8 : 1 1 : 1
Flash tube B Flash tube A
You can adjust the flash
ratio of both flash tubes
in half steps from 1:8 to
1:1, and from there to 8:1.
Because you can change
the direction (position) of
where shadows emerge,
and how strong they are,
you can shoot with your
ideal lighting.
Strong shadows clash
with the image
of the jewelry
There are strong shadows on the
accessory and cloth. The jewels on
the inside section are difficult to
make out, and the image is lacking
in three-dimensional feel.
Details of a single enlarged section are perfectly captured
Because shadows are not
noticeable around the neck
and clothing, the subject
stands out even more
Both close-ups and pulled back
shots are quick and easy
With a single Macro Ring Lite flash, you can easily shoot
close-ups of a part of an accessory, or pull slightly back to
capture what it looks like when a person is wearing it.
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Macro Ring Lite flash
Macro Ring Lite flash
clip-on flash
9
With this single flash, you can shoot photos of a favorite accessory on its own or a shot of someone wearing it Basics
3

Blur-free shots even in dark locations
Easily capture shots of
small berries found close to
the ground in a dark forest
Reduce blur during shooting even
in difficult outdoor lighting conditions
The Macro Ring Lite flash is useful
even for nature photography. For
example, sweet flowers blooming
in the deep forest, or small berries
found close to the ground. Even dark
subjects such as these are easy to
capture without blurring. In that kind
of situation, comfortable shooting from
a low position is possible when using
a camera equipped with a variangle
LCD touch screen monitor. With
touch operations, various settings can
be adjusted and the AF point can be
moved for effective shooting utilizing
the flash even in positions or angles
that are normally difficult to shoot in.
Capture bright, beautiful
images of berries even
in dark, low positions
This shot was taken in a dark forest, which is
generally difficult to shoot in. However, the
flat lighting helped to faithfully reproduce
the colors and shape of the subject.
Basics
4
Close-up shots Reduced blur
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 70D, with EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/60 sec. at f/5.6; ISO 400
• +1.0 ash exposure compensation
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With a Macro Ring Lite flash you can…

Tips
This screenshot is from the EOS 70D.
When External Speedlite control is
selected, the screen will switch to
settings for each function.
*Diers depending on the camera
Examples of items
that can be set on the camera*
Flash firing
E-TTL II flash metering
Flash synchronization speed in Av mode
Flash mode
Shutter synchronization
Flash exposure compensation
FEB
Easy focusing with
two bright LED
focusing lamps
A pair of focusing lamps are
located in between the flash
tubes. This makes focusing easy,
even in dark locations. With
a Custom Function, you can
activate them with two quick
half-presses of the shutter button.
Blurry and dull
This image was shot without a flash while
hand-holding the camera. Not only did camera
shake occur, but it is difficult to make out the
characteristics of the flower due to dull colors.
Annoying shadows are present
Photos shot with the built-in flash end up with
shadows of the leaf cast on the berries for an
unpleasant result.
The Macro Ring Lite flash is great at
shooting even in dark, low locations
Because the flash tubes are located on the front of the
lens for the Macro Ring Lite flash, it can be used to shoot
subjects in low positions. Shooting from a low position
is especially easy when using a camera equipped with
a variangle LCD touch screen monitor.
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The flash can
be controlled
from the camera
On EOS digital cameras sold from 2007
onward, flash exposure compensation and all
other flash settings can be adjusted from the
camera menu. On models equipped with a
touch screen LCD monitor, these settings can
easily be adjusted with touch operations.
Built-in flash
No flash
11
Easily capture shots of small berries found close to the ground in a dark forest Basics
4

Effective lighting for daylight shooting
Utilize the flash to
supplement the ambient light
for more beautiful portraits
Advanced
1
Actively use
the flash
as assist lighting
for perfectly
captured expressions
The Macro Ring Lite flash is not
limited to just macro (close-up)
photography, but can also be used as
a fill flash for portrait photography.
Because this flash is different than
a shoe-mount or built-in flash, and
fires from a position closer to the
optical axis of the lens, the major
merit of the ring lite is its ability
to erase shadows from around the
neck. This is extremely effective
as supplementary illumination
when shooting portraits in front of
a window where strong light hits
the subject from outside, and when
shooting strongly backlit portraits
outdoors.
Just the right brightness
on the model’s face and
the window without any
annoying shadows
This is a portrait shot in backlit conditions.
The Macro Ring Lite flash illuminates the
subject without any annoying shadows for
just the right amount of brightness on the
model’s face and from the window.
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 5D Mark III, with EF 50mm f/2.5 compact macro lens
• Av exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/125 sec. at f/4; ISO 400
• +0.7 ash exposure compensation
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Techniques for more beautiful photos

The Ring Lite flash
is effective in
bright locations
In situations where the background is
extremely bright and the subject is in
shadow, people’s faces tend to turn out
dark. By adding illumination from the
front with the Macro Ring Lite flash, the
result is a shot with balanced brightness
on both the background and person.
Wall in the
background
Below the chin
No troublesome shadows,
and the overall shot
is beautifully captured
Actively use
the flash
as assist lighting
for perfectly
captured expressions
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The Ring Lite flash is effective
for shooting in backlit outdoor locations
These shots were taken in backlit outdoor conditions. When shot
without the flash, the sky in the background is adequately bright,
but the person appears dark. Although there are noticeable
shadows on the chin and under the ear in the shot captured with
an clip-on flash, the shot taken with the Macro Ring Lite flash
illuminates the entire face for just the right brightness.
Strong shadows behind
the subject and on her chin
This photo was shot with on-camera flash.
Because the flash illuminates the subject from an
axis away from the lens, strong shadows appear
behind the subject and on her chin.
Because the light from the ring lite is close to the optical axis, red eye may occur.
When this happens, avoid shooting close-ups of a face, and shoot away from the line of sight to avoid or reduce chances of red eye.
Points of note
when shooting
Macro Ring Lite flash
clip-on flash
The clip-on flash
causes strong shadows
clip-on flash
Without a flash
the face is dark
No flash
13
Utilize the flash to supplement the ambient light for more beautiful portraits Advanced
1

Utilize the flash mode for
more realistic photos
Depict everything from
the texture and feel of clothes to
the weave of the fabric
Advanced
2
Skillfully use the A/B flash tubes
to bring out the feel of the subject
Not only can it be used for portraits,
but the Macro Ring Lite flash is effective
for fashion photography. Because
this flash can help to vividly capture
the texture and patterns of fabrics, it
is useful for when you want to show
the true appeal of certain clothes on
internet shops or blogs.
This flash offers flexibility with the
ability to capture close-ups of clothes
or photographs of an entire outfit. You
can also use both semicircle flash tubes
Aand B, changing [A/B Flash ratio] and
[Single tube] settings for a more three-
dimensional look to close-up shots of
fabric texture and weaves.
Easily photograph
different variations
With the Macro Ring Lite flash, you
can faithfully capture everything
from an overall shot to close-ups of
clothing features right down to the
feel of the materials for exciting shots.
The close-up shot of the ribbon was
taken with A:B flash ratio set to 8:1.
Macro Ring Lite flash
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Techniques for more beautiful photos

Accurately capture details without
worrying about strong shadows
With a Macro Ring Lite flash, you never have to worry
about troublesome strong shadows even when enlarging
a portion of a piece of clothing for shooting. Because
you can stop down the aperture, sharp focus from the
foreground to background is possible.
Screen showing when only A is red
Produce a three-
dimensional feel
with flash techniques
By adding shadows you can enhance the
three-dimensional feel of subjects. Simply
press the RATIO button to set either A or B
only to fire. Rotate the ring section to adjust
where to position the shadows. Not only can
you adjust them in the horizontal and vertical
positions, but from angles as well.
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You can rotate the ring section of the Ring
Lite to adjust where shadows appear
The decorations on the belt are sharp
from the foreground to background.
The shadows on the surface are reduced
to an appropriate level, revealing the
texture of the fabric.
Macro Ring Lite flash
Strong shadows appear on the folds
of the clothing, the edge of the belt,
and the beads almost looking like
borders, detracting from the shot.
Built-in flash
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Depict everything from the texture and feel of clothes to the weave of the fabric Advanced
2

Capture images
with comfortable controls
Beautifully record the delicate
details of a watch collection
Advanced
3
Flash photography techniques
with a slow shutter
When photographing a wristwatch,
the surroundings often are reflected
in the bezel and dial, and special
techniques are needed to make the
watch look beautiful in a photo.
The angle and background must
be manipulated, and a tripod is
necessary for the perfect finish.
By lowering the shutter speed, and
mixing flash with ambient light, the
resulting shots will appear more
natural. By using flash exposure
compensation, you can achieve shots
that look exactly as you imagined
them, bringing out the true beauty of
the wristwatch.
A refined, three-
dimensional finish
There are no noticeable shadows
from the watch's second hand, and
the finely engraved markings on the
watch face are clearly captured. The
texture of the stainless steel case is
beautifully expressed in the shot.
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 5D Mark III, with EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/30 sec. at f/22; ISO 400
• +1.0 ash exposure compensation
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Techniques for more beautiful photos

Persistent shadows and poor textures
Shoe-mount flash: although this is not bad in terms of a
hard, modulated type of shot, shadows from the second
hand and case stand out, and the light from the flash is
reflected in the crystal, detracting from the overall shot.
Close-up
of a single part
Because this image was shot with
an clip-on flash, strong shadows
are clearly visible beneath the
second hand. When shot with the
Macro Ring Lite flash, there are no
troublesome shadows and the dial
is beautifully captured.
Partial close-ups
of favorite items
Photos of an engraving on the back
cover, the buckle, or a special crown
are great ways to keep a memento
of a favorite watch. The Macro Ring
Lite is the perfect flash for beautifully
capturing these types of details.
Crisp flash exposure
compensation
with dial controls
On the MR-14EX II, press the function
button 2, the Set button, or turn
the Select dial to set flash exposure
compensation. Compensation values
can be set up to ±3 stops, in 1/3 stop
increments. The MR-14EX II's dial
makes settings quick and easy.
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Incorporating
ambient light with
slow sync makes
for refined lighting
in shots
When making use of ambient
lighting in shots, you can
produce photos with a different
feel than those taken with the
flash only. Because the shutter
speed is slower, a tripod is often
necessary. Try adjusting flash
exposure compensation for a
technique that matches your
ideas perfectly.
Macro Ring Lite flash
Macro Ring Lite flash clip-on flash
clip-on flash
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Beautifully record the delicate details of a watch collection Advanced
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Expanded expressions with filters
Create impressive shots with
vividly colored flowers and blue skies
With polarizing filter
Advanced
4
Expand flash photography
expressions with a filter
The MR-14EX II is compatible
with 67mm diameter screw-
in filters. For example, when a
PL (polarizing) filter is attached
to the flash and it is used for
daylight shooting, the blue sky in
the background and green of the
trees can be captured vividly while
maintaining the brightness of the
main subject. This is also helpful
for reducing the gleam off flower
petals and leaves, and reflections
off the water for expanded flash
photography possibilities.
Bright flowers and
bright blue sky
in the background
By illuminating the flower with the
flash as the main subject it appears
bright and clear, and the polarizing
filter makes the sky appear a rich blue
in the background.
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 7D, with EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM macro lens
• Av exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/60 sec. at f/32; ISO 800
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Techniques for more beautiful photos

Tips
No polarizing filter
With polarizing filter
The flowers are silhouettes
Because this was shot near a shaded window, the
flowers which are the central part of the shot ended up
as silhouettes. Using exposure compensation alone to
brighten the flowers causes the sky to be overexposed.
There is something lacking in the way
the background is portrayed
The flowers are bright and vivid, however, the contrast
between the clouds and sky is poor and one-dimensional.
Remove reflections
with a polarizing filter
By shooting with a polarizing filter
attached to the flash, unnecessary
reflections from the flowers and leaves
are reduced for a more vivid shot that
reproduces the actual colors.
A rich blue sky is
achieved with a
polarizing filter
and the flowers in
the foreground are
brightened with the flash
When the subject is illuminated with
direct light or backlit, a polarizing filter
is ineffective. It's most effective when
the position of sunlight to the optical
axis of the lens is at 90°. You can also
control the strength of the filter by
rotating it.
67mm diameter
filters are supported
Polarizing filters are one of the best ways to
expand the possibilities of flash photography.
Additionally, other 67mm protective filters are
available for keeping lenses free from scratches.
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No flash
No polarizing filter
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Create impressive shots with vividly colored flowers and blue skies Advanced
4

Never miss a photo opportunity
Try to capture a shot of a
butterfly with the quick charge feature
Advanced
5
Freeze a flying butterfly
with High-speed sync
To freeze the wings of a flying
butterfly, high-speed sync is an
effective flash feature. In this mode,
because a faster shutter speed than
the normal flash synchronization
speed can be used, the shutter can
be set to a high-speed 1/2000 to
freeze the motion of a butterfly’s
wings. Using the MR-14EX II’s
Quick Flash feature while shooting
continuously*, you can capture
the best possible pose of a flying
butterfly.
Perfectly capture
a butterfly’s wing beats
With the Macro Ring Lite flash, even
the patterns on a butterfly’s wings
can be vividly captured. A flash
is an absolute necessity for insect
photography.
* Activated by ash Custom Function 06-1
on Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX II
Macro Ring Lite flash
• EOS 7D, with EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM macro lens
• Manual exposure mode; E-TTL II ash
• 1/2000 sec. at f/4.5; ISO 640 — Hi-speed sync.
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Techniques for more beautiful photos