How to Build a Light Tent for ~$15

12/31/2006 04:08:38 PM · #2

You can also use the frame from a cheap indoor kids play tent (found at many toy stores) and some sheets!

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/31/2006 04:53:19 PM · #3

I did something like that, except made replaceable side panels that velcro in, with either translucent (tracing paper) in a frame, or black poster board (black one side, white the other) which gives a whole lot more light control.

Then panels can also be moved around inside the frame and the two sides and top can be moved around more easily when not fixed to the box.

A quick example

NathanT

Casio Exilim EX-S500

12/31/2006 05:08:41 PM · #4

Gordon, got time to upload a couple shots of your handiwork?

John Pahl

Nikon Coolpix AW 100

12/31/2006 05:31:09 PM · #5

NathanT,

Thanks for the link..

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/31/2006 08:15:09 PM · #6

Ingenious and very much afforable.

kawana

Sony Alpha a7R

Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC

12/31/2006 09:48:11 PM · #7

cool stuff, i have a small version of that. I have that exact same lamp, what kinda bulb should i use to get rid of the yellow tinge to it? The one im using is one of those hallogin ones, the spiraly looking bulbs.

TooCool

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/31/2006 09:50:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by kawana:

You can set a custom white balance in your camera by putting a white sheet of paper in your light tent and taking a photograph of it. Or in post processing you can set the white balance to a white part of your subject. If your subject doesn't have anything white on it, put a small piece of white paper where you can either crop or clone it out after setting the white balance...

kawana

Sony Alpha a7R

Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC

12/31/2006 11:13:19 PM · #9

Hmm ya ive been wondering how to set the custom white balance, ill give that a try.

01/01/2007 04:56:50 PM · #10

Originally posted by NathanT:

Gordon, got time to upload a couple shots of your handiwork?

You can at least get the idea from the shot

This just has the left and right translucent panels in, with the white bounce at the top. The key thing about having the side panels removable and movable is that you can angle them to the subject to change the size of the light, as seen by the subject - i.e., get it in as close as possible, or not, in a controlled way.

Message edited by author 2007-01-01 17:10:58.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

01/01/2007 05:09:45 PM · #11

Here's another example shot with this same setup. This time, just one translucent panel on the camera right and the left and top use the white posterboard bounce panels.

dleach

Canon EOS-20D

01/01/2007 05:58:10 PM · #12

Originally posted by Gordon:

Here's another example shot with this same setup. This time, just one translucent panel on the camera right and the left and top use the white posterboard bounce panels.

This one is really well done!

01/01/2007 09:40:24 PM · #13

Originally posted by dleach:

This one is really well done!

Thanks! trickiest thing is getting everything to stay in one place. Lots of blu-tac behind the scenes.

NathanT

Casio Exilim EX-S500

01/02/2007 10:08:51 PM · #14

Thanks Gordon!

My first attempt went pretty well - I didn't use a particularly strong box and the only paper I had lying around transparent enough was used as packing material in a Christmas present box so it was crumpled up a bit. It'll be perfect for my mom since she eBay's some item from time to time but for my purposes your velcro idea will be stolen. :)

~Nathan

01/02/2007 10:26:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by NathanT:

What I did for them was make three panels that fit into each opening.

One is a mat, cut as if for a framed photo, that I then stuck tracing paper over (I bought large sheets of tracing paper really cheaply from office depot) The other panel is black poster board (which was white on the reverse side) so with just two pieces, I've got a translucent panel to shoot through, a white panel for bounce and a black panel to kill reflections. Same three things done for each of the sides and top.

I could also add in some extra panel ideas - covered in tin-foil for a more specular fill, or some sort of gold foil (not sure what the best source would be for this?) for a warmer specular reflection.

jfriesen

Panasonic LUMIX GH5

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/02/2007 11:34:39 PM · #16

Good article..

Here is my try..

Edit: It's just cardboard and computer paper. :)

Message edited by author 2007-01-02 23:35:07.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

01/03/2007 12:45:53 AM · #17

Originally posted by jfriesen:

Good article..

Here is my try..

Edit: It's just cardboard and computer paper. :)

Let's see some photos taken with that "bad boy"!

jfriesen

Panasonic LUMIX GH5