LED Ringflash / alternatives

JackMcIntyre

JackMcIntyre

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Jack McIntyre
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Hi,

I'm slowly building up a budget (student style) set of lighting equipment for all around use, I've got a speedlite so far and I'm looking to get a macro ring flash.

I've been searching around and have found these LED ring flashes that are basically just a big ring of LED's that screws onto your lens.

Does anyone have any experience with these? The official canon ring flashes are far too expensive for me right now and these LED jobbies are only £30 or so.

Thanks in advance,
Jack

Edit; done a lot of DIY tests, scroll down to the big yellow image and read from there please!
 
or make your own out of a flowerpot and some cardboard evilonion style...
search google and youtube for diy ringflash and search on here for 'flowerpot light'
i will be making a mk2 out of plastic and opaque perspex as an interchangable front.
 
I use one and am currently working on a proper review for these forums - all in all, they do the job, not as good as a dedicated flash, as they arent a flash at all, just some intense led's that will aid you in getting the correct shutter speed.

White balance needs tweaking a bit when using it, and you have to play with the exposure comp slightly to avoid some blown areas, but all in all, after some playing, it does an adequate job for me.
 
evilonion said:
or make your own out of a flowerpot and some cardboard evilonion style...
search google and youtube for diy ringflash and search on here for 'flowerpot light'
i will be making a mk2 out of plastic and opaque perspex as an interchangable front.
Click to expand...

Sounds interesting, I shall search - got an images of yours?
 
I've got a CD spindle one... it works well...

http://www.diyphotography.net/readers-projects-the-cd-spindle-ringflash

Cheap as chips, actually probably cheaper than a portion of chips if you've got the bits lying around already :D..

it looks like

PICT0551.jpg


and here's a couple of examples shot with it

IMG_3455.jpg


IMG_3666.jpg
 
White A4 paper, cut to fit and ducktaped in place... I fitted some tin foil to the corner/angle to get better reflectivity from it.
 
Interesting, got tons of old cardboard and old mount board that I can cut up and use - thanks for the idea.
 
If you want a neat way of attaching such a thing - get a rubber lens hood from Ebay, cost about £5 and take the mounting ring off it - there you have a thick metal screw in ring which will fit your filter thread. Mount ringlight to this and hey presto.

Of course, if you want to use different lenses, you'd need to find a way of easily removing the ring and fitting another, or use stepping rings.
 
Here's a setup I'm thinking of trying that will retain the aperture ability of my lens, excuse the dodgy diagram.

eikyyu.jpg


Anyone think this would work? The second lens element at the end of the extension tube is one of those screw in macro filters that I can blue-tac to the end of the tubes. I'm not sure if it would focus though, would be brilliant if it does work though, I can use large apertures and still get the rediculously close focusing.

A little key for those who can't understand my things:

Yellow = Flash and home made ring-flash extension
Red lines = reflectors
Dark grey block = Lens of camera
Light grey block = extension tube
Light blue lens = screw on macro filter
 
I'm not sure how you'd mount the tubes, my ebay cheapies are designed to fit between the lens and body, the problem being, you lose control of the aperture. I'm no expert, but I'm also not sure this would work.

I use my 55-250 poked through the middle of the cd spindle and fit a Raynox DCR250 onto it. This allows me to maintain control of the lens, the IS still works, not sure how much it helps, but rather with than without :D...
 
jgs001 said:
I'm not sure how you'd mount the tubes, my ebay cheapies are designed to fit between the lens and body, the problem being, you lose control of the aperture. I'm no expert, but I'm also not sure this would work.

I use my 55-250 poked through the middle of the cd spindle and fit a Raynox DCR250 onto it. This allows me to maintain control of the lens, the IS still works, not sure how much it helps, but rather with than without :D...
Click to expand...

I've got a EF-mount / reverse 58mm screw thread adapter so I can screw the thread into the end of the lens then the tubes just mount onto the end of the lens
 
Bloody hell, it works!

IMG_0269aa.jpg


Taken at F/14 - 1/200th and full power on my flash bounced off a small reflective umbrella made from a lamp-shade. I think the ring flash is a bit unnecessary for now, All I need is either an umbrella or a piece of white card to use as a reflector, which is no big problem to take out on location.

Got a near 1:1 so far, without all of the close up lenses, only 1+2 so far, can double that still.
 
Good one Jack :thumbs:
 
jgs001 said:
Good one Jack :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks, not really played with it any more since as I've been struggling to find anything to shoot aside from bloody flowers! Maybe I'll have to let the windowsil downstairs build up with regrettably deceased fly's and try to shoot one of those. :gag:
 
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