Big if true

Yo, the R5 is a beast for macro. Honestly, lighting is basically everything when you're getting that close. Tbh, a single flash is realy hard to work with unless you have a massive diffuser, which gets bulky and hits your subject. - Ring flashes are cool for shadowless light, but they can make everything look a bit flat and clinical. They also create those weird circular catchlights in eyes. Great for tech stuff, but maybe not for artistic shots.
- Twin flash setups are the way to go for more '3D' looking subjects. You can angle them to create shadows where you want them. Just get any of the Canon twin light setups and you're golden for compatibility with the R5's metering.
- If you want to save some cash, Godox is a solid direction. Their wireless macro systems are super flexible, though the setup can be a bit finicky compared to native gear. - Dont forget about diffusion! Whatever brand you go with, you'll definately need something to soften that light or it'll look way too harsh on shiny insect shells. Anyway, that's basically my take. It's a bit of a learning curve but totally worth it.

Stumbled on this thread and figured I'd chime in since I've spent way too much money on macro gear over the last decade. Honestly - I went through a phase where I bought every flash under the sun trying to get that perfect soft light on my R5 - it can get expensive real fast if you're not careful. To narrow it down, I’ve got a couple questions for u:
- What kind of budget are you working with?
- Are you mostly chasing moving insects in the field, or is this for more controlled, static shots like jewelry? Tbh, I found that the 'best' gear is often the one that doesn't make ur rig too heavy to hold for an hour. Sometimes a simpler setup with a really good custom-made diffuser beats a pricey twin-light setup just because of the weight and bulk factor. Macro is basically all about the light quality, not just the power of the flash you're working with.