If you need to do close-up shots of an object, you’ll find that lighting can be a big issue. Since your lens will only be a short distance from your subject, it will block a good portion of the light. Your regular flash isn’t going to do much better, for the same reason. What you need is a light that is positioned around the lens itself. These are referred to as a macro ring, and can set you back a good bit of cash.

Your other option is to build such a device yourself. This not only saves you money, but gives you the satisfaction of crafting your own equipment. The downside is that you’ll need to spend time on it, and the end result won’t look quite as professional (though the pictures will turn out just as well). This particular DIY project uses 72 LEDs and draws around 1.2Ah at 5-6V, using 4 AA batteries. You should be able to use step up rings to attach it to nearly any lens in your arsenal.