Designing DIY Ring Light

G'day people.
I've always wondered, why nobody yet designed one with small halo lamps? So I've decided to give it a try. I was hunting for good price on the lamps, and yesterday I've found the best deal 7.5 euro for 3 lamps, so I've bought 3 packets. I'll use 8 lamps, and I'll be attaching them to the MDF ring board, which I still have to design. I'm planning attaching ring light to the old tripod which serves no purpose for a years now.
If you'd like to follow the progress, please let me know, otherwise I'll post only end results.

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Keep us posted!

The problem you may have is controlling the lamps colour temperature, as IMHO halogen change significantly during use.....

.. and blinding anyone who gets in the way

I'd like to see the finished result though

TJ

For portrait? It would have to be something like that 'cause in Macro you're going to toast the subjects?
Some guys have made "ringlights" using flash which I think might be a simpler way to go, but keep us up to date on your rig.

Can't understand why you would paint the back-board black, it would probably absorb 80% of the light output by those lamps, rather than reflect it. The output from them is maybe a total of 300 watts, not sure how well tat would work.

TJ

Just realised this device is larger than I first thought, so I guess these are general 100watt lamps - thats 800watts of heat, and maybe 120watts of light?

great idea.

The final results are always very subjective, but I would say that if these multiple catchlights were what you were looking to achieve then you have done an outstanding job - well done!

TJ

Thank you sir.

wow...those catchlights are freaky...I love it!

These types of projects and experiments are fun. Sometimes they turn out well and other times you learn what simply will not work. I agree that if the catchlights were what you wanted to achieve then you did a great job.
Although fluorescent light is not really desirable either I think I would have opted to use the screw in fluorescents to cut back on energy consumption and heat.

good idea about the fluorescents...

what kind of exposure did you get with your rig, awad?

edit...nevermind. 1/250 @ f/2.8, iso 100. wow...plenty of light!

Now guys, at ease

awad

Similar concept but different light bulbs, see my first post.

I like to experiment too, and I have some exp. and tools for woodworking, so it cost me practically nothing, but it is certainly fun to design and try new stuff.
Anyway, I've been busy now for couple of hours, and all I miss is circular saw in 56mm diameter. You wouldn't believe that I have 3 packs from different manufactures with dimensions from 10mm till 64mm but no 56 bugger. So I have to stop the project till Tuesday evening, as than I'll have time to stop by Home Depot shop and continue drilling and wiring the jig. Otherwise, it's pretty much complete. I'm having some other ideas too, and some other jig types to design... but that will wait for some time.

here is update ..

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PhotosGuy wrote in post #2613386
For portrait? It would have to be something like that 'cause in Macro you're going to toast the subjects?
Some guys have made "ringlights" using flash which I think might be a simpler way to go, but keep us up to date on your rig.

Yes for Portrait. I hope I would't have to get that close, and I will try to keep it on as shorter as I can. There are always ways around it. If it doesn't do any good, at least I have spare lamps
I use to work for local TV station, where main lighting was halo in rates of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000W. Studio was like darn barbicue, I wonder how had speaker and I as camera operater survived