I used the Pentax A080C ringlight extensively in my Auto Forensic work and
eventually used it along with a handheld slave flash to achieve a sense of
depth by holding the slave off to the side overcoming the flat light from
the ring flash.
Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph McAllister" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: DIY: $5 ring-flash
On Oct 30, 2011, at 16:11 , Bruce Walker wrote:
On 11-10-30 6:42 PM, Joseph McAllister wrote:
On Oct 30, 2011, at 03:31 , Bruce Walker wrote:
This may appeal to the extreme DIYers and/or the super-cheap. :-) A
macro ring-flash for five bucks. Author builds this over Pentax kit.
http://www.northumberlandphoto.ca/assets/downloads/fring.pdf
Biggest problem I have with this rig is that illuminates a ring of
light, with the center of the images substantially darker. More so the
closer the subject is to the lens.
I've had several ring-lights, Pentax, and they are designed to light a
fairly near frame evenly. I had trouble in Costa Rica photographing
insects and frogs at night with the ring-light. Little modeling of the
subjects as the light was too even. Ended up using two small flashes on
flexible arms, which allowed me to control the direction light came
from, and differentiate between Main& Fill. Downside to that was having
to use my headlamp for focusing as well as finding subjects in the first
place.
I'd love to see a shot of you down on the ground with your headlamp on
and holding this crazy arrangement of lights! :-)
You will not. I was concentrating on flora and fauna that habitated
between my knees and my hair, in close proximity, but not touching, thank
you. Could have though. Weighed 100 pounds less then. And this was a
backpacking for two weeks trip. No one helped me carry what was
essentially TWO backpacks worth of gear either.
Most ring-lights have modeling lights built in. After I got home, I
re-rigged the flash on arms to be triggered by the flash of the
ring-light using one of those little triggering sensors (can't think of
the name - duh) which gave me the best of both worlds. Never got back to
CR, or anywhere else tropical, unless you count Cabo. It's better for
sunrises and sunsets, no flash needed.
The Pentax AF160FC gives you the ability to control the balance between
two halves of the ring: 50/50, 66/33 or 100% one side or the other so you
can get some more definition in the subject. The ring also rotates so you
can place your light ratio in any radial orientation. *And* there's a
modeling light.
The AF540 and AF360 flashes (most likely other Pentax flashes?) can be
programmed to slave flash off of any other flash including, of course, a
ring light.
I like my AF160, but they're wickedly expensive so not for everybody.
I still have the AF-140, which has the same features. I was shooting
transparencies, so had zero feedback on how the images were doing in the
film other than experience. Got about 30 money keepers from about 1200
exposures. Hey, I'm not a Nat Geo photog!
Joseph McAllister
Lots of gear, not much time
http://gallery.me.com/jomac
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