Cheap ring light

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Archive 2009 · Cheap ring light

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #1 · Cheap ring light

Hi,

As it is my first post in this forum let me give you a bit of info.

Background: I mostly shoot macro handheld (my tripod mostly stays at home) and in natural light. I do it for many years and I think this is not going to change anytime soon.

Current gear: 40D, 580EX, 10-22, 17-55, 60/2.8, 135/2, 300/4 IS, Mamiya 120/4 macro (1:1), Mamiya 35/3.5 (via Mirex TS adapter), EF12 II, 1.4X Kenko TC, Gitzo 1541, RRS BH25.

Future gear: 7D, 100/2.8 IS.

Favorite macro subjects: Mostly still life.

Problem: Sometimes the natural light is not enough.

General solution: Buy a ringflash i.e. 14EX or 24EX or 140DG. However, there are 3 "slight" problems with buying these obvious solutions: Size, weight and cost. Combine these with the fact that I will need it only rarely and that I don't like to carry much gear and they quickly become irrelevant.

Pinpoint solution: Buy a cheap ringflash. I searched e-bay and found two that may fit my needs. I like the F170 idea as I can have all my flash controls and I like the DSLR67 idea as it will enable me not to carry my 580EX at all.

Question: Have any of you tried either? If so, please share your experience with me.

TIA.

Happy shooting
Yakim.

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:10 AM

raystack
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p.1 #2 · Cheap ring light

Not kidding. I just went and bought a pack of these bowls today. I have all kinds of strobes, brackets, extensions, you name it, I got it, except for a ringlight or twin flash. And not going to buy one of those until I prove my macro skill level to myself. So give this a try it just might work.

Photo by Mike Scott from This Thread

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:30 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #3 · Cheap ring light

It's a very original idea but I want something that can be easily packed and unpacked i.e. a minimum of robustness is needed.

I must say I really like the idea of using the build-in flash rather the 580EX. Thus, if there's a similar product to the F170 that will attach to the build-in flash it will be ideal.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:14 AM

Dalantech
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p.1 #4 · Cheap ring light

Honestly I have no experience with either solution. But the DSLR67 is an LED light source and it won't give you the motion stopping power of a flash -something that might be necessary in low light until you get that IS macro lens.

Nov 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #5 · Cheap ring light

But why? After all, both add light. What's the difference between a constant one (LED) fo a flashing one?

Happy shgooting,
Yakim.

Nov 14, 2009 at 05:13 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #6 · Cheap ring light

Yakim Peled wrote:
But why? After all, both add light. What's the difference between a constant one (LED) fo a flashing one?

Happy shgooting,
Yakim.

A constant light source is like shooting in weak sunlight and the shutter speed will determine if you get a sharp photo.

The pulse of light that a flash produces is often measured in thousands of a second. Pulse the light fast enough and you can actually freeze a balloon in mid pop...

Nov 14, 2009 at 07:04 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #7 · Cheap ring light

Dalantech wrote:
Yakim Peled wrote:
But why? After all, both add light. What's the difference between a constant one (LED) fo a flashing one?

Happy shgooting,
Yakim.

A constant light source is like shooting in weak sunlight and the shutter speed will determine if you get a sharp photo.

The pulse of light that a flash produces is often measured in thousands of a second. Pulse the light fast enough and you can actually freeze a balloon in mid pop...

So it's more about the duration and not intensity?

BTW, anyone tried the HF-DC1 on a DSLR?

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 20, 2009 at 10:30 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #8 · Cheap ring light

Yakim Peled wrote:
So it's more about the duration and not intensity?

The intensity of the light that a flash produces is pretty much a constant -the only thing that changes is the length of time the flash turns on.

Nov 21, 2009 at 10:20 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #9 · Cheap ring light

I know that. What I meant to say is that to the best of my understanding you were saying that a pulsing light is better than a constant one. What I didn't really understand is why you think so.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 22, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Dalantech
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p.1 #10 · Cheap ring light

Yakim Peled wrote:
I know that. What I meant to say is that to the best of my understanding you were saying that a pulsing light is better than a constant one. What I didn't really understand is why you think so.

Because that really short pulse can freeze motion. A constant light source relies on the speed of the shutter, and with an LED light you're not going to get really fast shutter speeds without shooting at low Fstops or high ISOs...

Nov 22, 2009 at 03:49 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #11 · Cheap ring light

Got it now. I'll concentrate on flash-based solutions from now on. 10X a lot.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 22, 2009 at 09:23 PM

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