OK, so I broke down on picked up the Nikor 105mm VR Micro lens. When I look into macro lighting I get the usual photography sticker shock. I'm just trying out and playing with macro and I've already thrown in $800 for the lens, does anyone have any experience with the cheap ring lights (<$150)? I take good care of my gear so durability is not a major concern. Would like it to do constant on as well as strobe, but photography is obviously the priority. Thanks!

ETA- to fix stupid auto correct.

Are you more interested in the flash/strobe variety or steady light? I have inexpensive versions of each, and they seem to work ok. The last one I got was a Polaroid branded flash unit, based on 48 leds around the lens. Cost about $55 on Amazon.

If you want really cheap check out strobist.com for their DIY on ring lights.

Check out the YONGNUO Macro Flash YN-14EX. I have thousand of dollars in photo equipment and can safely say, it's the best $100+/- I've spent. This thing is as good IMO as the $800 Canon version.
I just got it recently and shot these shots with it:
Wolf Spider

Panther Ant

Jumping Spider

JP

Looks pretty good for $116.00

Well after getting giddy over the positive reviews, the bummer balloon went up. It seems I can only find it for Cannon. I notice in my original post that my stupid auto correct changed the word Nikor so sorry for any confusion. Is this available for Nikon?

ETA- love the jumping spider shot!

If you are willing to use it in manual mode, that yongnuo ring flash should still fire when you release the shutter, you just won't have the Evaluative metering feature available to you.