LED torchlights as replacement of strobes for Macro?

[siaoon]

hi ppl...

as u know, theres lotsa white LED torchlights like eLed UKC8, UKD4 coming out in the mkt..
which prove to be very much brighter than the normal torch...

do u think its sufficient to compete for a place with sunpak and epoque strobes for macro photography??

Got mixed comments abt using constant white LED torch....

Pros:
- constant lighting
- last longer
- Cheaper
- bulb easily replaceable if fused..
- no ttl, no lighting adjustment.
- Can always use as torch in emergency
- Useful for videography

Cons:
- Hard to mount on arms
- too bright, hence tendency to "scare" off subjects before u can take pics.


Please feel free to discuss..

[eawtan]

I've got a white led torch, but find the color too cool ..

[siaoon]

Originally Posted by eawtan I've got a white led torch, but find the color too cool ..

hmm did u try any manual white balance??
how about posting some sample photos for us to c??
will be interested to know how cool yr photos are..

[kng]

Have heard of pple using HID torches instead of a strobe (eg. UK light cannon). Led torches are prob quite a bit less bright than HID, but for really small macro stuff, cld prob work actually....



Siaoon, new project??

[waisj]

Originally Posted by kng Have heard of pple using HID torches instead of a strobe (eg. UK light cannon). Led torches are prob quite a bit less bright than HID, but for really small macro stuff, cld prob work actually.... Siaoon, new project??

Hi Siaoon, just my humble opinion on what i've tried last time. I found that using HID lights there is a problem with the F stops that you are able to work with. Though powerful, my friend's UK light Cannon was not powerful enough to register F8.0 shots. normal settings would be 1/60 with F4.0 or 5.0 which may not be enough for certain creatures where you need more depth of field.

Haven't tried LED torches so i wouldn't be able to comment on that.

[Dann]

FYI bright white LEDs comes in 2 types: a blueish white and a yellowish white or warm white, So far saw this 2 types so depends on which 1 u got. Can check color of LED by shining on white object. Just my 2 cents worth.

[siaoon]

Originally Posted by kng Have heard of pple using HID torches instead of a strobe (eg. UK light cannon). Led torches are prob quite a bit less bright than HID, but for really small macro stuff, cld prob work actually.... Siaoon, new project??

ya.. but HID lights are way too costly.. so was thinking of the current led torches.. thinking maybe for macro will it be enuff..

hee.. current project in designing stage.. will soon get it under development and nono.. juz a thght to share and hopefully can work as alternatives for those who cant afford stobes..

ps kng: yr screws i manage to get the source liao.. see when u wan i go buy them..

[siaoon]

Originally Posted by waisj Hi Siaoon, just my humble opinion on what i've tried last time. I found that using HID lights there is a problem with the F stops that you are able to work with. Though powerful, my friend's UK light Cannon was not powerful enough to register F8.0 shots. normal settings would be 1/60 with F4.0 or 5.0 which may not be enough for certain creatures where you need more depth of field. Haven't tried LED torches so i wouldn't be able to comment on that.

hi waisj, is yr testing done on a macro subject? or wide angle? if its marco...
then dun think white led torches can work.. coz even with HID light source can only help to save a few stops. :|

was thinking of those non / slow moving models.. like nudis.. possible to place the light very close to them to provide enuff light.. to squeeze up the aperture...

well.. need more ppls to share their thghts b4 we conclude this idea..

[siaoon]

Originally Posted by Dann FYI bright white LEDs comes in 2 types: a blueish white and a yellowish white or warm white, So far saw this 2 types so depends on which 1 u got. Can check color of LED by shining on white object. Just my 2 cents worth.

hi Dann, thanks for sharing the led info... will be useful to those buying new torches..

looking at yellow/warm white, think its shld also be helpful underwater to aid a little for the loss of red.. (provided its is BRIGHT enuff... )

hee.

[waisj]

Originally Posted by siaoon hi waisj, is yr testing done on a macro subject? or wide angle? if its marco... then dun think white led torches can work.. coz even with HID light source can only help to save a few stops. :| was thinking of those non / slow moving models.. like nudis.. possible to place the light very close to them to provide enuff light.. to squeeze up the aperture... well.. need more ppls to share their thghts b4 we conclude this idea..

Hi Siaoon,

Forgot to tell you that it was a night dive whereby we were testing the HID lights out.

I suspect if the subject is small and slow moving like a nudibranch, then i'd presume that HID/LED lights might be able to light them some what, provided there is a fair bit of ambient light.

Try out and let us know leh

[siaoon]

hmm... icic...

too bad i dun own a Led torch...
anyone wanna to volunteer to carry out the experiment?

or wanna to lend yr torch to me? then i try it out..

[RSU]

Will be difficult. Usually, these torches, although bright, do not evenly light up your subject i.e. there are "hotspots", even at macro level. I tried the light cannon for video before and it was not acceptable. You may be able to minimise hotspots by using a diffuser, but since these torches are extremely bright, you will need quite a thick diffuser to make sure the light is even, and you will therefore lose a lot of the light.

[Gildow]

I thought UK have their own diffuser...kind of thin, but not sure how much light attenuation.


...hee hee...use the right tool for the right job.....just a thought...

[lanxx]

LED torches also not cheap too

[beivied]

Originally Posted by lanxx LED torches also not cheap too

but given that it can be used for more than one purpose, wouldnt it be more worthwhile? one of the dive shops actually advocate using LED light for photography...

[Gildow]

i tried uk light, the mini 2AAA one, mounted on my camera for a nite dive and that thing turns out to be a creature repeller...

[beivied]

Originally Posted by Gildow i tried uk light, the mini 2AAA one, mounted on my camera for a nite dive and that thing turns out to be a creature repeller...

that is one of the points that siaoon and i discussed. probably about only nudibranchs and other very slow moving, bad eyesight marine life creatures will not move away with it.. how big is the uk light?

[waisj]

Originally Posted by beivied but given that it can be used for more than one purpose, wouldnt it be more worthwhile? one of the dive shops actually advocate using LED light for photography...

Unless they themselves do take photos underwater and have extensive tests and comparisons performed on the advocation of using LED lights, i wouldn't bother taking the advice.

Put in perspective, a cheap strobe is better than , ... no strobe or false strobes.

[beivied]

Originally Posted by waisj Unless they themselves do take photos underwater and have extensive tests and comparisons performed on the advocation of using LED lights, i wouldn't bother taking the advice. Put in perspective, a cheap strobe is better than , ... no strobe or false strobes.

that fella showed us some photos la... seems pretty ok, and even exposure, but i dunno ...

anyway, i was using my friend's fl40 on my revived c5050z... TTL is amazing sia.. almost no overexposure at all for all the pics. via fibre optic really really cannot have this kind of effect hor?

[Goondoo]

Originally Posted by beivied that fella showed us some photos la... seems pretty ok, and even exposure, but i dunno ... anyway, i was using my friend's fl40 on my revived c5050z... TTL is amazing sia.. almost no overexposure at all for all the pics. via fibre optic really really cannot have this kind of effect hor?

http://www.wetpixel.com/module-pages...3-pid-49.phtml

btw, beivied, u OT liao