robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| DIY: led ring light
just finished soldering all of this together. it's my first electrnics project. i'm building it to take macros for nocturnal shots. it's not pretty but it does work. i'll find a way to mount it tomorrow and hopefully get some shots w/it in the next week. i'll be mounting it in a 1'' piece of 3 1/2'' pvc plumbing. it'll stay on all the time so i don't have to figure anything as in using a flash. |
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Catman
Coasting On Lifes Highway
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Pineville, WV | Keep us posted..
That looks like a neat project, something I would try even. You might could figure a way to fire it through your hot shoe contacts, if you want to get fancier. |
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SandShark
So it goes
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-23
Santa Fe, TX
clubs: | reply to robar
I applaud you for your patience, determination, and ingenuity. What are you using to power those puppies?
--
Steve's Images |
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Catman
Coasting On Lifes Highway
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Pineville, WV | reply to robar
One of those little rectangle 9v batteries should power the heck out of that. |
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Catman
Coasting On Lifes Highway
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Pineville, WV | reply to robar
btw
»www.brainerror.net/texts_macroring_en.php |
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DnnsMenace
Good Bye, Lenin
Premium
join:2002-03-30
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to robar
I recently saw a guy make a flash diffuser out of paper in the shape of a ring, which goes over the lens. Basically the flash is beside the lens on a custom braket shooting into the paper. Was neat and gave good results, ill try to find pics. This should yield good results too.
--
BBr|Fuzz Join the BBRBF clan |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to SandShark
SS, i'm using 4 NiMh AAs in a battery pack. 4.5-4.8 volts.
catman, there is no need to go thru the hotshoe. these are on ALL the time. hopefully it'll produce enough light at 4''-12'' to get above the flash sync of 1/180sec, which is too slow for some lenses.
i've also seen the link you provided and the guys ohm values for the resistors are all wrong. for 4.5-5volts you need a resistor of around 75ohms. i got 100 of them at fry's for $1.50.
so far, i've got about $13.00 in this and some time. also have accrued some valuble knowledge. it's been a fun project so far.
i'll post a completed pic when it's finished. like i said--it won't be pretty but it will work. hopefully, to the extent i want. i already have ideas about a second generation tho. |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to SandShark
said by SandShark  :determination, and ingenuity. for the record-- it took a lot. i've never soldered anything before except pipes and a lot of stained glass. i'm hell w/a torch. |
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Catman
Coasting On Lifes Highway
Premium
join:2003-03-13
Pineville, WV
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| reply to robar
I didnt pay attention to the resistors in his list. Reason being, LED arent very expensive, and resistors just keep the voltage regulated too keep from burning them out quickly.
Fine job for not having soldiered wire before. The littler it is the harder it is, in my eyes. |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to robar
finished this today. unfortunately i sold my 100mm macro today(ebay) and packed it before realizing that i don't have another macro that will work w/it. these were shot w/the kit lens. the pliers is a full image resize. i may try it w/a reversed 50mm but i'll have to adjust the light spred to do it. the sigma 105 is on the horizon..
 |
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DavisPhotog
Flyingphotog
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-26
Edmonton, AB
clubs: | reply to robar
Congratulations. I know that these are fun to make. While I have never made any of my own self-sustained photography related devices, I have made things like iPod chargers. These projects are great!! |
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camstone
join:2003-12-11
Alexandria, VA | reply to robar
Neat... 
I have a couple of questions though...
How well does it work wrt white balance?
Much of a color shift?
Also, any issue with uniformity of the light? |
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WaxPhoto
I AM SAM
Premium
join:2004-04-08
Roanoke, IN | reply to robar
I'd guess that robar is using the fluorescent setting for WB. |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to camstone
said by camstone :Neat... I have a couple of questions though... How well does it work wrt white balance? Much of a color shift? Also, any issue with uniformity of the light? look at the last two pix above.
and this one
»/showpic/dimag···er=0&1=1
all shot w/auto wb. i haven't tried a manual wb yet. but as you can see, the colors seem to me to be very accurate with the subject.
these were 20 degree LEDs , that's why i left about 1/2'' of space below the led. you can damage the led if you bend the wire too close to the lens. i'm still taking a chance bending the wire as it is. i've got the LEDs tilted at about 20 degrees and have a pretty good convergence from about 3''-14'' which would be well within the range of the sigma 105 i plan to get. |
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Andrew J
Premium
join:2001-11-09
Lancaster, PA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
 ·Vonage
 ·Verizon Online DSL
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Canon PowerShot A510
5.8mm 1/60th F2.6
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Canon PowerShot A510
5.8mm 1/60th F2.6
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Canon PowerShot A510
5.8mm 1/13th F2.6
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Best Team. |
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NoelC
D S L R Bliss
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-03
Florida
edit:
June 22nd, @05:16PM
| reply to robar
What a cool idea!
How is the bluish color handled by the cameras' white balance functions?
Edit: NM, I read the above thread.
-Noel |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to Andrew J
said by Andrew J :Thanks for the info and pics. I just made one not as good but it works. From 2- $10 Home Depot LED flashlights and a CD/DVD package. Don't put this in your carry on. andrew,
it that your resistors on the side? from what i've been told you really need to use them in case a LED shorts. it could cause the battery to catch fire.
all said and done i think i've about $14 in this. the most expensive piece is the step up ring i used to attach to the camera. i've got enough LEDs to build 2 more of these if anyone's interested in helping me get the sigma. |
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Andrew J
Premium
join:2001-11-09
Lancaster, PA
clubs: | Yeah, the little circuit boards are on the side with the resistors. Just put little extension cords to each LED.
--
Best Team. |
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DrewCapu
Giant Diehard
join:2001-12-19
California
clubs:
| reply to robar
Hmm, reminds me of the "flashlights" I saw being sold all over the place in my recent trip to Thailand. Depending on the size, it would have 2 or 3 rings of lights plus a red laser pointer in the center. I wasn't really interested in getting one so I never inquired on the price, but I'm betting they would've been around $4-5 +/- bargaining.
But I'm sure making one is more fun than buying one |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to NoelC
said by NoelC :What a cool idea! How is the bluish color handled by the cameras' white balance functions? Edit: NM, I read the above thread. -Noel i'm also interested in the blue wb. i know that with the whites i used-- auto wb hits it right on the nose. look at the second pic in the composite above. the LEDs are on but i get no blue from it at all. |
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