Drives me crazy! Macro ringlight

It drives me crazy that a light weight macro ring light adapter for a standard speedlite (i.e... 430exii) doesn't exists. Sure you can buy one of these massive Ray ring light adapters but I want something small and light weight that can harness the light source from my existing flash and output it right in front of the lens just like the mr-14ex does. Ugh.

lankforddl wrote in post #12721684
I want something small and light weight that can harness the light source from my existing flash

http://www.diyphotogra​phy.net …ngflash-in-few-easy-steps

http://cgi.ebay.com …iewItem&item=27​0729010322
http://cgi.ebay.com …iewItem&item=40​0226500131

Thanks for the reply. Those are nice but still big and bulky. I built a DIY led macro ring light (80 LEDs with variable power) but I want a professionally made device that's designed for macro and focuses light right in front of the lens and, like the ones you linked to, uses my existing flash. For a mp-e 65 or my 100mm IS. Preferably circular in design, and mounts to lens filter thread. This is probably a 15-30 degree or so angle in relation to the lens sight line.

Edit: oh and not 500-800 dollars!

Use a ball bungy to hold your speedlite against your lens.
If you want more light bungy two of them on opposite sides.

lankforddl wrote in post #12721684
I want something small and light weight that can harness the light source from my existing flash and output it right in front of the lens just like the mr-14ex does. Ugh.

I think you are asking for the impossible. The ones that were already linked are not very big. As it is, there must be some light loss due to the way they are made. Any smaller and they would hardly transmit any light at all.

The MR-14EX is really nice but expensive. ($400 used , or $550 for a new one)

A cheaper solution is to get an ETTL cord and use your 430EX II on a bracket or handheld.

msowsun wrote in post #12723286
I think you are asking for the impossible. The ones that were already linked are not very big. As it is, there must be some light loss due to the way they are made. Any smaller and they would hardly transmit any light at all.

The MR-14EX is really nice but expensive. ($400 used , or $550 for a new one)

A cheaper solution is to get an ETTL cord and use your 430EX II on a bracket or handheld.

The use of fiber optic cables could solve any light loss. I may have to go back to the drawing board and make another DIY macro light using fiber optic cables. NO Light loss from the source (which could even be the on-camera flash). Harnessed and presented to the subject correctly could prove to be extremely good quality.

lankforddl wrote in post #12729795
The use of fiber optic cables could solve any light loss. I may have to go back to the drawing board and make another DIY macro light using fiber optic cables. NO Light loss from the source (which could even be the on-camera flash).

I think it'd be like trying to re-route a tidal wave by using thousands coffee-stirrer straws.

Instead of 100's/1000's of the small fiber optic strands, I wonder how much light this would transfer if you hot-glued it around the circumference of a lens filter and fed the ends from the pop-up flash?

http://cgi.ebay.com …iewItem&item=27​0772868404
"PLASTIC INFILLED OPTICAL FIBER FILAMENT
THE SIDES GLOW BRIGHTLY
WHEN YOU ATTACH A ILLUMINATOR
BRIGHTER THE iLLUMINATOR THE BRIGHTER THE SIDES GLOW"

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clarence wrote in post #12730460
I think it'd be like trying to re-route a tidal wave by using thousands coffee-stirrer straws.

Instead of 100's/1000's of the small fiber optic strands, I wonder how much light this would transfer if you hot-glued it around the circumference of a lens filter and fed the ends from the pop-up flash?

http://cgi.ebay.com …iewItem&item=27​0772868404
"PLASTIC INFILLED OPTICAL FIBER FILAMENT
THE SIDES GLOW BRIGHTLY
WHEN YOU ATTACH A ILLUMINATOR
BRIGHTER THE iLLUMINATOR THE BRIGHTER THE SIDES GLOW"

Is this what you mean? lol.

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I am not certain why you absolutely want a ring flash set-up? Ring flash generally produces horrible lighting for macro work, unless you photograph coins or things like that. I used to have the Canon ring flash several years back and it was the worst waste of money I ever spent, but back then I just trusted the seller as I had no experience with photography.

Like Mike mentionned previously, why don't you use your 430 on a bracket and off shoe cord? That would be pretty cheap. Add a softbox (either a DIY Coke Can diffuser like LordV's or I used to use a lumiquest soft box) and concave diffuser (check out Orionmystery's blog) and you will have great lighting, much better then a ring flash.

Again, might depend what you intend to shoot, I only shoot arthropods.

Martin

lankforddl wrote in post #12730711
Is this what you mean? lol.

Hosted photo: posted by lankforddl in
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forum: Flash and Studio Lighting

No, that's what I was trying to avoid... 100's of tiny individual strands.

If the other fiber could carry and emit the light from a single tube, then it'd be a lot simpler.

Like a glowstick or a neon tube.

Here's a 10-second sketch...

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Martin G. wrote in post #12730801
I am not certain why you absolutely want a ring flash set-up? Ring flash generally produces horrible lighting for macro work, unless you photograph coins or things like that. I used to have the Canon ring flash several years back and it was the worst waste of money I ever spent, but back then I just trusted the seller as I had no experience with photography.

Like Mike mentionned previously, why don't you use your 430 on a bracket and off shoe cord? That would be pretty cheap. Add a softbox (either a DIY Coke Can diffuser like LordV's or I used to use a lumiquest soft box) and concave diffuser (check out Orionmystery's blog) and you will have great lighting, much better then a ring flash.

Again, might depend what you intend to shoot, I only shoot arthropods.

Martin

Martin, Thanks for the reply. I'm a biology major so all things nature would fall within my desirable subjects to photograph. Part of the reason for this thread was to brain storm ideas for low cost macro lighting (ring or not). I like the idea of using my 430 or YN-468 with an arm and diffuser. I'll give it a try and thanks for the blog link.

clarence wrote in post #12730939
No, that's what I was trying to avoid... 100's of tiny individual strands.

If the other fiber could carry and emit the light from a single tube, then it'd be a lot simpler.

Like a glowstick or a neon tube.

Here's a 10-second sketch...

I see what you mean. That might even be cheap enough to experiment with.

lankforddl wrote in post #12732252
Martin, Thanks for the reply. I'm a biology major so all things nature would fall within my desirable subjects to photograph. Part of the reason for this thread was to brain storm ideas for low cost macro lighting (ring or not). I like the idea of using my 430 or YN-468 with an arm and diffuser. I'll give it a try and thanks for the blog link.

There are inexpensive "real" ring flash units on ebay, like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com …ashes&hash=item​35b3611f72

http://cgi.ebay.com …ashes&hash=item​19b273edb8

I have no experience with the quality of such devices.

Enjoy! Lon