[bloodhound31]

I am the brand new owner of a 100mm f2.8L macro lens and the MT24-EX twin lite macro flash and a 5DMK II.

I am so used to photography without a flash. Now I have this option to light my subjects up close without a flimsy pop-up casting a shadow over the lens.

Let me paint my question.

I set up a blade of grass with a water drop on it. I use aperture priority and let the camera work out the shutter speed for the correct exposure. I take a shot and it is exposed correctly. Do I even need a flash?

Next shot, I turn the flash on and try again. WAAAYYY overexposed. Do I drop the power of the flash, put on a diffuser, or drop the shutter speed or raise the aperture value or all of the above?

Again, it there is enough natural light about, do I even need a flash? Is macro photography best done with a flash or is it subject to the available ambient light?

Baz.