Looks as if it's a Jinbei:
www.goldenshell.com.cn/en/productsDetalis.asp?id=332
www.lencarta.com/lighting-store/flash-heads/flash-heads-1/safari-600-ring-flash-head-362
I never used a ring flash. Does the ring light source really have to surround the lens? I am thinking about using a beauty dish with a circle-shaped mask in the center to simulate the effect.
I never used a ring flash. Does the ring light source really have to surround the lens? I am thinking about using a beauty dish with a circle-shaped mask in the center to simulate the effect.
It does need to surround the lens to be a ring flash.
A beauty dish is going to give you a different look because you can't get it that close to the lens.
alohadave wrote:
It does need to surround the lens to be a ring flash.
A beauty dish is going to give you a different look because you can't get it that close to the lens.
Thanks. It looks like the ring flash needs to be close to subject; otherwise, it's acting like a point light source.
It's a ringflash, initially judging by the casing it looks like an Elinchrom or Hensel ringflash, but those two lights (red and white) make me think otherwise.
phuang3 wrote:
...I never used a ring flash. Does the ring light source really have to surround the lens?
As mentioned above, yes, it has to surround the lens. If it doesn't, it's not a ring flash.
phuang3 wrote:
...I am thinking about using a beauty dish with a circle-shaped mask in the center to simulate the effect.
Well, you may get a "ringlight-like" catch light in the subject's eyes (if you're photographing a person), but it won't be dead-center in the eyes like the reflection of a true ring light would be.
The other characteristic of a ring light -- the shadowless effect caused by the light coming equally from all side of the lens axis -- won't be recreated by using a dish with a mask, because the dish cannot encircle the lens. The light will be off axis to one degree or another.
To get that effect without a ring light, you would need to set up multiple lights an all sides of the camera, all firing at equal intensity. A ring light is simpler, both in setup and in syncing.
phuang3 wrote:
...It looks like the ring flash needs to be close to subject; otherwise, it's acting like a point light source.
An on axis point source...which may be just what's wanted under some circumstances.
It's a Lumedyne Ring Flash - essentially the same model used by Hensel and Elinchrom. Not sure who actually makes it. The Lumedyne has the charging and flash ready lights.
