Discussion
Anyone used one of these adaptors?
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/photo/flashguns/...
I have a 580ex already so I'm tempted.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/?/photo/flashguns/...
I have a 580ex already so I'm tempted.
Found some more info, looks impressive...
http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/images-ringflash.h...
http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/ringflash-intro.ht...
http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/images-ringflash.h...
http://www.flaghead.co.uk/pages/ringflash-intro.ht...
Edited by nick_bbb on Monday 20th August 15:16
Nick
I work in machine vision (cameras on production lines inspecting product, robot guidance, etc), we use quite a lot of LED based ringlights (not normally as powerful as a Xenon Strobe type one). Having glanced at the producr and images I will say this (IMHO):
1) Unless they are using some very clever light pipes, the flash illumination around the ring will not be even, using prisms and reflectors is a very cost effective way of achieveing a near similar brightness around the ring.
2) Ringlights create their own issues, with a donut effect of light, ie it trails off towards the egdes around the circle of origin. (If you are too close in you can create a dark spot in the middle of the image where little light is falling.) You can see from their images that a lot of light is concentrated in the centre of the image and it falls off to the sides, look at the images of people offset to the left or right of the frame and you'll see what I mean. Their centre areas appear to almost have a concentration of too much light (almost blooming), now this may be balanced with different shutter speeds/aperture etc, but in turn this may just highlight how much the light tails off from the centre hot spot.
3) Shadows: these will not be eliminated, but will (obviously) appear as if looking from a point source.
Before spending my £500 on one of these, I would really want to see it in action and have a good play, and also assess it's usage, while it can create some interesting effects, it does not generate even illumination (nor is it diffuse, though you can diffuse ring lights).
Hope that helps
davidy
I work in machine vision (cameras on production lines inspecting product, robot guidance, etc), we use quite a lot of LED based ringlights (not normally as powerful as a Xenon Strobe type one). Having glanced at the producr and images I will say this (IMHO):
1) Unless they are using some very clever light pipes, the flash illumination around the ring will not be even, using prisms and reflectors is a very cost effective way of achieveing a near similar brightness around the ring.
2) Ringlights create their own issues, with a donut effect of light, ie it trails off towards the egdes around the circle of origin. (If you are too close in you can create a dark spot in the middle of the image where little light is falling.) You can see from their images that a lot of light is concentrated in the centre of the image and it falls off to the sides, look at the images of people offset to the left or right of the frame and you'll see what I mean. Their centre areas appear to almost have a concentration of too much light (almost blooming), now this may be balanced with different shutter speeds/aperture etc, but in turn this may just highlight how much the light tails off from the centre hot spot.
3) Shadows: these will not be eliminated, but will (obviously) appear as if looking from a point source.
Before spending my £500 on one of these, I would really want to see it in action and have a good play, and also assess it's usage, while it can create some interesting effects, it does not generate even illumination (nor is it diffuse, though you can diffuse ring lights).
Hope that helps
davidy
Thanks for your help guys. I guess I would mainly use this when shooting models on location, where I currently use the 580ex with a diffuser pointed straight at the model for fill in and try and make the best use of available light.
The fall off could be an issue I suppose as the 5D is already vignette happy but this is a look that normally suits my subject matter. It's £150 as I already have the 580ex.
Craig, I thought the metering was all done TTL so would not be affected?
The fall off could be an issue I suppose as the 5D is already vignette happy but this is a look that normally suits my subject matter. It's £150 as I already have the 580ex.
Craig, I thought the metering was all done TTL so would not be affected?
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff