Please, help me decide on a micro ring light!

Hi,
I am new to this forum, so this topic may have been discussed before, but I desperately need some input and my search of the site did not answer my question.

My hobby is doing miniature projects in 1:144 scale and I need photos without harsh shadows. I own a Canon PowerShot A-620, which has a pretty neat macro setting that allows me to take photos less than 1" away from the subject.

Today I purchased a DIigiSlave Macro Ring Light and I am not sure if the salesman at the store gave me the right thing. The salesman told me that with the Canon LA-DC58F and an M58 - M32 adaptor I was all set.

So I happily made my way back home, anxious to take some test photos. I got mixed results. On the one hand, I got some nice shadowless photos, BUT on the other hand the photos have a halo all around it ... yeap ... the ring of light shows on the photos!

So I really need your help in deciding whether or not to keep the ring light ... is that sort of halo supposed to be there, or is the set up I have somehow faulty

Please, answer soon because I need to take it back as soon as possible

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

If your projects fit, >>>this<<< might do the trick for you. >>>Here<<< are some sample shots.

microcrafter -

It would help greatly if you posted an image or two so we could see the issue.

Thanks so much David and Curtis for your replies to my post.

David, I love the way you constructed your own tent ... and what great results you get with it ... the pottery shots are just lovely! I am not as imaginative/skillful as you, though, so I had bought a tent on EBay that doesn't store anywhere near as compactly as yours. It brought a couple of small lights, but one fell down and it's no longer working, so that is why I figured the ring might be better for my micro miniatures.

Curtis, you are absolutely right ... after I posted my question it occured to me that you guys would be in a better position to help me if I had also posted a photo of the results I got. So I am attaching a photo.

The project I am working on right now is a corner of a room ... the foyer, to be exact. The overall measurements of the room are 1" x 1" x 3/4". I love the fact that I got an even, clean light ... but how do I get rid of the awful ring around the collar!!!

Looking forward to learning from you guys. I am a total amateur and I see that you are all light years ahead of me. But it is never too late to learn, is it?

Again, thanks for taking the time to help me!

microcrafter

Hi,
Sorry, forgot to attach the photo!

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Thanks, Curtis, it worked like a charm!

Now that the photo is up, hope you guys take a look and tell me what I'm doing wrong and, more importantly, if there is a way to fix it ... or is my camera just not able to accept a ring light and function normally.

Really appreciate having your input!

microcrafter

Does it look the same if you zoom in? THat might narrow your field of view enough to avoid the ring.

angryhampster wrote in post #2457927
Does it look the same if you zoom in? THat might narrow your field of view enough to avoid the ring.

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Thanks so much for the suggestion, Steven! I will try it and get back to you on the results.

microcrafter

that's small enough that you can make a "poor man's light tent" - get a 1 gallon milk jug, cut out the bottom and 1 side, and put it on top of the miniature. Set 1 desk lamp ($10 at office supply store) on each side, light diffused by the milk jug. Put your camera on a tripod, and shoot thru the bottom of the milk jug. You can cut out the milk jug any way you want to get different shooting angles. Tape of piece of white paper in to form a seamless bottom and back panel. Also, large tupperware bowls work well, with a single hole cut for the lens to look thru. For slightly larger objects, you can use a flourescent light ceiling panel -- these are about 2x4 feet, and can bend in an arc over the object.

Invest in a tripod with either an articulating arm (gitzo explorer or benbo) or a lateral arm (manfrotto 3021pro) so you can get the camera positioned where you want.

Use custom white balance, mirror lockup, and self-timer to reduce vibration. You'll need a small aperature for adequate depth of field.

I agree - zoom in to get that out of the way.

David - they're using a P&S, so no mirror, and the tripod doesn't need to be very sturdy - a very small one would do...

David, I now realize that I should have come to this forum a long while back ... if I had, I could have saved myself the money I paid for the tent I got! Using a milk jug is pure genius, and I can visualize it and see that it would work!

Now a question ... which desk lamp would you recommend ... tungsten or fluorescent?

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out, really appreciate it!
And I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your gallery. I now have it bookmarked.

Nertha

lakiluno wrote in post #2459216
I agree - zoom in to get that out of the way.

David - they're using a P&S, so no mirror, and the tripod doesn't need to be very sturdy - a very small one would do...

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Thanks, Leo! I have two tripods ... a mini one that came with an old Yashica film camera I have, and the tripod that came with the tent kit I got on EBay.

Now my husband is beginning to tell me I should have gotten an SLR -- which is a different tune from the one he was singing when I first said I wanted an SLR and he heard how much it would cost. Coming to this forum may turn out to work out to be even better than I thought!

I figured that you all have several (and very likely expensive) cameras, but which SLR would you recommend for someone with a limited experience ... and that doesn't cost a great deal ... but takes macro photos? Tall order, huh!

Now a question ... what are mirrors? Is that like the mirror images in my desktop publishing and/or photo editing programs?

Thanks for your help, guys!

Nertha

microcrafter wrote in post #2459492
Now my husband is beginning to tell me I should have gotten an SLR

Don't jump on that boat too quickly, until you're convinced that the camera you have prevents you from getting the shots you want.

Small format cameras are ideally suited for macro work. They inherently give you greater depth-of-field which will help you keep more of your subject in focus.

DSLR cameras have their advantages, but they are expensive, require more knowlege to use correctly, and won't necessarily solve your problems. My hunch is that you have barely begun to realize the potential of the camera you have.

well, the camera you're using seems to have color balance controls. In the menu, change from AWB (auto white balance) to custom. Now put a piece of white paper in your milk jug, and shoot a picture of it. The camera will use that as "white" regardless of the actual type of light used. I like the $10 desk lamps with goosenecks from office supply stores as they can be positioned just where you want them.

sturdy is only part of the issue. the rest is positioning. See >>>this post<<<