DIY Canon Speedlite Mods -- Flash and Studio Lighting in photography-on-the.net forums

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 17, 2005 01:40 | #1

Getting bored during my resent vacation, started to make more lighting mods for my speedlites. A little back ground: I have no room at all for studio lighting in my house, and all walls have dark wood paneling. Just try to get the best out of my Canon Flashes.

Home made beauty dish attemp: Made out of stainless steel Oriental wok cover, 16" dia, painted flat white inside/black outside, a 5" plastic bowl is used inside to diffuse the focused light, the dark circle in the middle is a 3" spot mirror facing the flash head, eliminate the super hot spot and further spread the light.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

DIY soft box: 36"L x 24"W x 18"D, box frame made out of welding rods, bolted to a 1/2 inch plywood, the whole box can be turned horizontally by loose/tighten of the black lever. $20 worth of fabric from JoAnn's for the cover and diffuse screens. The wife and I spend 10 hours hand sewed to the frame ( A whooping $600 combine labor fee if counting our day job rate :cry:

). Still need some black paint to finish the project.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

This pic shows the inner parts.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

Lotto
THREAD STARTER

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 17, 2005 01:48 | #2

Test shots and my 4 year-old daughter: most of my gadgets are geared to take better photos of the princess. Please excuse the bad compositions and backgrounds, my forcus was on the lighting.

The dish with 580 only: This shot was taken before I added the spot mirror, which creates softer shadows, but still a good one to illustrated the charactorof a dish diffuser, focused light with punch.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Softbox with 580 only: Was almost dark outside, shot from a high angle to test the catch lights in the eyes.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

580 in the SB as main, 420 in the dish as hair/BG: I put the 420 in group C and -1 output, shot in the dark in my backyard. Look, I know how to grow flowers out of her head :0

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Hey, I am just a noob, please give your suggestions.

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

bikerider

Goldmember

3,909 posts
Likes: 1
Joined Apr 2004
Location: Woy Woy, NSW, Australia

More info

Sep 17, 2005 02:08 as a reply to @ Lotto's post | #3

Excellent homemade lights, they look okay too particularly for family and friends shoots. The effects look pretty good too with the catchlights spot on......I've got an old wok sitting out in my rubbish, I might have to have a go at this!
Roger.

Eos 6D Mk1, 300D & G7x modified for Infrared, 17-40f4L, 70-200f4L, 100-400 f5.6 ISL, 15mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, various Lensbaby lenses, a few tripods, flash, GoPro 7 black.

LIKES 0

KevC

Goldmember

3,154 posts
Joined Jan 2005
Location: to

More info

Sep 18, 2005 15:50 | #4

AWesome! If you can give schematics... I'd greatly appreciate it. Or just details =)

Too much gear...
take nothing but pictures .... kill nothing but time .... leave nothing but footprints

LIKES 0

DocFrankenstein

Cream of the Crop

12,324 posts
Likes: 13
Joined Apr 2004
Location: where the buffalo roam

More info

Sep 18, 2005 16:04 | #5

WOW

Good effort, but with your salary I'd be temted to just order a studio with all the softboxes and lightmodifiers you need. They don't take more space than home made ones, and work probably better...

National Sarcasm Society. Like we need your support.

LIKES 0

Lotto
THREAD STARTER

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 19, 2005 02:37 as a reply to @ DocFrankenstein's post | #6

Doc, I agree with you about the pro made equipments would work 10 times better, and instead of add a studio room, I am looking for a bigger house to upgrade to. But being in Southern California, where a decent house in a good school district would cost $700K, I better stick with home make ones for leaning for now.

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

Lotto
THREAD STARTER

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 19, 2005 02:46 as a reply to @ Lotto's post | #7

Kevin, I don't have any drawing or schematics. I made different parts and pieces, modified and fit them together. Couple close up pictures to show the basic ideas.

I start with a 1/2" plywood, cut a precise hole to stick the flash head through. Make a steel 'L/hook' bracket with the right angle and bolt down to the wood, the off-shoe cord/flash are secured with a wing nut. After cutting a same size hole on the back of the dish, 4 long machine screws are used to tie down to the wood.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

After that, it's matter of experiments with different diffusers in front of flashhead. This is my current set up.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

To make the set up tilt, I add a little L bracket. The small pic shows one way to mount on the tripod head.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

The softbox is made pretty much the same way, I could post more shots if needed

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

garbidz

Goldmember

1,722 posts
Gallery: 9 photos
Likes: 18
Joined May 2005
Location: Reunion Island

More info

Sep 21, 2005 11:27 | #8

beautiful results, really and the most important thing: You've made it and it works
congrats!

thanks, a refreshing posting, it is NOT all about buying, after all..

bag

LIKES 0

kenwood33

Goldmember

2,616 posts
Likes: 26
Joined Jul 2005

More info

Sep 21, 2005 12:20 | #9

Can you take some pictures using just the flash, so to compare the difference between your home made dish/box VS just the flash?

Gearlist

LIKES 0

cosworth

I'm comfortable with my masculinity

10,930 posts
Likes: 14
Joined Jul 2005
Location: Duncan, BC, Canada

More info

Sep 21, 2005 12:36 | #10

I'm trying to figure out the wingnut and mount.

people will always try to stop you doing the right thing if it is unconventional
Full frame and some primes.

LIKES 0

Jon

Cream of the Crop

69,628 posts
Likes: 227
Joined Jun 2004
Location: Bethesda, MD USA

More info

Sep 21, 2005 15:13 as a reply to @ cosworth's post | #11

cosworth wrote:
I'm trying to figure out the wingnut and mount.

A standard 1/4 x 20 thread screw used to attach to a tripod-mount accessory shoe. The wing nut and washer let you adjust the screw's length to snug it down.

Jon
----------
Cocker Spaniels
Maryland and Virginia activities
Image Posting Rules and Image Posting FAQ
Report SPAM, Don't Answer It! (link)
PERSONAL MESSAGING REGARDING SELLING OR BUYING ITEMS WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO POSTS IN FORUMS AND/OR WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW FROM FORUMS IS HEREBY DECLARED STRICTLY STUPID AND YOU WILL GET BURNED.
PAYPAL GIFT NO LONGER ALLOWED HERE

LIKES 0

Lotto
THREAD STARTER

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 22, 2005 01:02 | #12

Flash tests

It's hard to keep my daughter still to do any fair comparing test, so I did some on stationary objects. Maim focuse area: shadow and reflection.

All test shots with following conditions: 20D vertical on tripod/manuel mode, 50mm1.8 manual focus, camera 4 ft from subjects, flash head at left about 30-40 degree, +/- few inches as I change modifiers. ISO 200, 1/125, F5.6.

Post process setting: default PSCS2 RAW convertion, resize, small USM.

1. 20D built-in flash/ 580 in the dish

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

2. Bare 580 with off shoe cord hand held (pointed a bit too low)/ 580 in softbox

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

3. 580 in the softbox, left as master/ 420 in dish, right as slave, ratio 2:1, cropped.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

I wanted to do a bounce off ceiling test, unfortunatly nothing to bounce off in my garage.

Thanks for looking and your comments.

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

martendavies

Hatchling

1 post
Joined Sep 2006

More info

Sep 21, 2006 11:29 | #13

Lotto

I am really excited by the thought of emulating your softbox efforts but was wondering if you could post a shot of what you mean by "welding rods"
Best
M

LIKES 0

glowell

Hatchling

1 post
Joined Sep 2006

More info

Sep 21, 2006 11:56 | #14

This is absolutely awesome. You've done a great job with the craftsmanship as well as creativity.

If you're a flickr member, I'd love it if you would post this in the Innovative Photography Equipment group.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/funkyinnovations/

Thanks,
Gary

LIKES 0

Lotto
THREAD STARTER

Goldmember

2,750 posts
Likes: 192
Joined Mar 2005
Location: Southern California

More info

Sep 22, 2006 03:06 as a reply to @ glowell's post | #15

Wow, I guess the 'Search' works The welding rods are small steel rods used in gas welding, or acetylene welding. I don't have a picture of the softbox frame at the moment, but I finished another small softbox/hairlight...well, the pictures speak for themselves.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

5D, 24-105L, 70-200L IS, 85mm Art, Godox

LIKES 0

Jump to forum... • Rules • Forums • New posts • RTAT • 'Best of' • Gallery • Gear • Reviews • Member list • Polls • Image rules • Search • Password reset • Home

Not a member yet?

Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!

COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.

THEME: Paper White | Darker
MARGINS: (this page: defaults)

Latest registered member is JTravLog
799 guests, 126 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.