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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> DIY Ringlight
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 09/16/2007 08:46:07 PM · #1
I've wanted a ringlight for a while, but couldn't come around to dropping that kind of cash. So for $30, a trip to Wally World, and a little engineering help, I built my own (it goes with my homemade softboxes).

[thumb]587913[/thumb] [thumb]587914[/thumb] [thumb]587915[/thumb]

It mounts to the umbrella slot on a lightstand bracket, and my Nikon SB-25 fits into the back and helps stabilize it. I haven't been able to do a ton of testing yet, but so far, it seems to work pretty darn good.

Only thing is, every time I fire the flash, the mixing bowls resonate with a sort of "ping" sound :-)
 09/16/2007 09:29:32 PM · #2
Very interesting idea. I am looking forward to seeing some test images with this setup. I am always up for a cheap home made light setup.
 09/16/2007 09:50:28 PM · #3
Cool stuff. Yep, I'd like to see some test shots too. Here's some thoughts...

Have you though about putting some paper around the ring, to act as a diffuser? This may help to spread the light evenly out from the circle, and would also allow it to make round catch-lights.

Also, the real benefit of a ringlight is to be able to have it around the camera. Normally, the camera will poke through the middle, so you'd need to mount the flash head off-centre and possibly use baffles to even out the light. An alternative I can see here is since the ring is nice and big, you could possibly put a little camera mount in the middle bowl, and then fire it remotely.

Nice work, and a great idea to use the mixing bowls. :)
09/16/2007 09:55:13 PM · #4
Back in the day, before a ring light was available commercially, the electrical department (me), or the gaffer (my boss), or the DP (his boss) made ring lights from abandoned wooden cable or rope spools.

Peel the top of the spool off, drill a few holes, feed your wire, screw in a dozen or so ceramic based 110v, 20amp receptacles, add your favorite globe (light bulb to you), cover with a light diffusion, rig to a couple of stand (because it was big and bulky), stick the camera lens in the hole of the spool, turn the light on, and presto, a ring light.

Now you can purchase one for a few hundred dollars, or make one like Brents.

The circle of life.

Message edited by author 2007-09-16 21:55:43.
 09/16/2007 09:59:57 PM · #5
I'll have some test shots to post tomorrow :-)

surfdabbler, I think you're right about the paper, it'll help soften the light a bit. I have some tracing paper that I think will work well.

I agree, most of them usually seem to mount around the lens. I have instructions somewhere for making a lens mounting ringlight out of Tupperware bowls, but it becomes troublesome to get one flash to light it evenly. But in Joe McNally's elinchrom booklet, it showed a lightstand mounted ringlight, which is where I got the idea for this one. I can put it directly next to the lens, or under, or over - or if I'd rather, off to one side.

Although I do like the idea of putting a P&S inside the smaller bowl - that could have intersting possibilites. I could pre-focus it manually and set the self-timer, then stick it in... I'll have to see about adding a tripod screw mount in there for that purpose.
 09/16/2007 10:01:46 PM · #6
Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:
Back in the day, before a ring light was available commercially, the electrical department (me), or the gaffer (my boss), or the DP (his boss) made ring lights from abandoned wooden cable or rope spools.

Peel the top of the spool off, drill a few holes, feed your wire, screw in a dozen or so ceramic based 110v, 20amp receptacles, add your favorite globe (light bulb to you), cover with a light diffusion, rig to a couple of stand (because it was big and bulky), stick the camera lens in the hole of the spool, turn the light on, and presto, a ring light.

Now you can purchase one for a few hundred dollars, or make one like Brents.

The circle of life.

This is neat to hear - I guess DIY is timeless!
 09/17/2007 07:42:26 PM · #7
As promised, some test images. I have to be honest here folks, since I started playing with it today, I'm pretty sure I have to learn just how to use it. It's not being on the lens may indeed inhibit its performance for macro shooting.

However, I think that when I break out the full studio setup (read, "bedsheets on a strand of wire"), with proper backlighting, it will work well for portraiture. The samples here are a bit down and dirty, but I think they show the light.

[thumb]588286[/thumb] [thumb]588288[/thumb] [thumb]588289[/thumb]
(Left to right: Macro shot, un-diffused front-on light, diffused overhead light)

[thumb]588290[/thumb] [thumb]588291[/thumb]
(Left to right: Front-on diffused light, portrait with ugly model; front on light, minor backlighting with second SB-25)
 09/17/2007 07:57:28 PM · #8
I am curious to see what the ring light does on a very close up shot of a model.

I want to see what it does in the eyes.

Can I see an example Brent?

PAAAAAAAAALLLLLLEEEEEAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZE.

Looking forward to your image.
 09/17/2007 08:55:08 PM · #9
As requested, some close-up shots with eyes. Thoughts?

[thumb]588310[/thumb] [thumb]588311[/thumb]
 09/17/2007 08:59:47 PM · #10
My thoughts are the ringflash may be a bit smaller than I originally thought. With the flash that close I would have expected larger rings in the eyes.

MattO
 09/17/2007 09:04:33 PM · #11
Not to say idea is not great but isn't the point of the ring flash is to shoot through the hole in the middle?
 09/17/2007 09:11:09 PM · #12
Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
Not to say idea is not great but isn't the point of the ring flash is to shoot through the hole in the middle?

I had always thought that too, but I saw the one in the elinchrom packet that I mentioned above, and it was used as an off-lens portrait light, which spawned the idea to build one.

The outer bowl diameter is only 11.5", with about a one-inch ring before the inner bowl, so it is somewhat smallish. For starters, it was the biggest set of matching bowls I could get, and second, it's already rather heavy, and I fear that anything larger would have over-stressed my lower-duty lightstands.

I'm sure it's no masterpiece, but I think it is pretty neat :-)
 09/17/2007 09:13:08 PM · #13
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
Not to say idea is not great but isn't the point of the ring flash is to shoot through the hole in the middle?

I had always thought that too, but I saw the one in the elinchrom packet that I mentioned above, and it was used as an off-lens portrait light, which spawned the idea to build one.

The outer bowl diameter is only 11.5", with about a one-inch ring before the inner bowl, so it is somewhat smallish. For starters, it was the biggest set of matching bowls I could get, and second, it's already rather heavy, and I fear that anything larger would have over-stressed my lower-duty lightstands.

I'm sure it's no masterpiece, but I think it is pretty neat :-)


What I would do is take middle bowl out and put white fabric over the front and you got yourself a nice softbox.
 09/17/2007 09:13:48 PM · #14
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
Not to say idea is not great but isn't the point of the ring flash is to shoot through the hole in the middle?

I had always thought that too, but I saw the one in the elinchrom packet that I mentioned above, and it was used as an off-lens portrait light, which spawned the idea to build one.

The outer bowl diameter is only 11.5", with about a one-inch ring before the inner bowl, so it is somewhat smallish. For starters, it was the biggest set of matching bowls I could get, and second, it's already rather heavy, and I fear that anything larger would have over-stressed my lower-duty lightstands.

I'm sure it's no masterpiece, but I think it is pretty neat :-)


I think you are referring to a Beauty dish which looks closer to what you have built.

MattO
 09/17/2007 09:15:32 PM · #15
Originally posted by MattO:
...

I think you are referring to a Beauty dish which looks closer to what you have built.

MattO


Do they really work? What is the advantage over softbox?
 09/17/2007 09:18:13 PM · #16
Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
Originally posted by MattO:
...

I think you are referring to a Beauty dish which looks closer to what you have built.

MattO


Do they really work? What is the advantage over softbox?


You would have to ask a lighting expert, I'm still learning my softboxes and strip lights! BTW link to a Beauty dish here

MattO
 09/17/2007 09:19:52 PM · #17
Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
What I would do is take middle bowl out and put white fabric over the front and you got yourself a nice softbox.

An idea, but I already have two that I made earlier this summer that work pretty well.


It may get modified in the future, and the more I ponder all this, the more I think I'll end up building one that will fit around a lens. I'll just have to find a pair of cheap flashes that I can mod to fit the ring.
 09/17/2007 09:21:30 PM · #18
The beauty dish is somewhat similar, and I was thinking of building one of those sometime, as well. I think they work rather like a softbox, but likely with less diffusion (? - Sorta' guessin' here.) I've also seen them used with colored inserts, usually silver and gold, which alter the apparent temperature of the light.
 09/17/2007 09:25:19 PM · #19
Originally posted by OdysseyF22:
As requested, some close-up shots with eyes. Thoughts?

[thumb]588310[/thumb] [thumb]588311[/thumb]


Yeah, that looks familiar.

In what I do for money, however, the ring in the eyes should be bigger in the eyes. Filling the pupil.

Just a thought.

Anyway, cool diy thread.
 09/17/2007 09:59:14 PM · #20
Comparing a beauty dish to a similar sized softbox, the main difference seems to be the shape. You get round catchlights instead of square ones, which is sometimes preferable, because they look smoother. A square softbox will also cast slightly different shadows on diagonals, due to the shape, whereas a beauty dish is more consistent.

As far as the light source goes, a beauty dish with diffuser is going to throw light pretty much the same kind of diffuse light as a softbox. Without the diffuser, I'm not sure whether the beauty dish might be a little more directional, throwing less light onto the environment.

Softboxes will generally be easier for transporting because they pack flat.

As for the catchlight size, that might just be a matter of moving the ringlight closer to the subject. The closer it is, the bigger the catchlights.
09/17/2007 10:11:40 PM · #21
That's a cool gadget you have built. It looks like it would be good for small object shooting, and for portraits.
Another way to get the camera in the center would be to take off the flash and mount the camera there. Then set it for bulb, and fill the space between the bowls with flash powder. PooF!
Only kidding. Kids, don't try this at home. : )
09/17/2007 10:42:50 PM · #22
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:
...flash powder. PooF!


LOL, I like it! :) Good thing they are solid metal bowls. Don't tell the model what you are doing though, because you'll find it hard to get that relaxed sexy look from them if they know you are going to light up the flash powder 1 foot from their face.
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