Macro Ring Lights

[coinfucious888]

In support of my other hobby (coin collecting) I take a lot of macro shots with my D300 & 60mm 2.8 mounted on a tripod. With extension tubes, I get very close to the coin I am photographing. As a consequence I run into problems with lighting.

Came across this gizzmo on the net that claims to provide the perfect remedy to my problem.

I am wondering whether any member has any experience using one (or similar) and would care to comment before I part with my dollars.

Thank you.

 

[Leong23]

I have this macro ring light, but different brand. The light is only enough to gain one to two stop, only useful for assist in focus.

For lighting, either you can use 2 external flash to do cross lighting or get a macro flash instead.

 

[Samurai Jack]

I have this macro ring light, but different brand. The light is only enough to gain one to two stop, only useful for assist in focus.

For lighting, either you can use 2 external flash to do cross lighting or get a macro flash instead.

Mate....what's a macro flash?

 

[ortega]

Mate....what's a macro flash?

for nikon it is the R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/ProductDetail.page?pid=4804

 

[Samurai Jack]

Cool.....looks like an alien robot about the grab you by the b#lls ;p


Thanks mate......I gotta see if I can find something similar for Sony A350.

 

[luntut]

always wanted to try out the R1..

but doesnt seem popular over here... any ideas why???

 

[ChongK]

R1 is expensive :bsmilie: thats why.

 

[jfoo]

In support of my other hobby (coin collecting) I take a lot of macro shots with my D300 & 60mm 2.8 mounted on a tripod. With extension tubes, I get very close to the coin I am photographing. As a consequence I run into problems with lighting.

Came across this gizzmo on the net that claims to provide the perfect remedy to my problem.

I am wondering whether any member has any experience using one (or similar) and would care to comment before I part with my dollars.

Thank you.

what you have shown here is a LED ring light version of a macro flash. there is another version which looks similar to the ring light version but instead of LED bulbs underneath the white diffuser plate it has a proper flash tube. you will gain more DOF since the flash will produce more light than the LED bulbs.

 

[bruggink]

for nikon it is the R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/ProductDetail.page?pid=4804

Can we blind someone with these flashes??? Heehee :bsmilie::bsmilie:

 

[ortega]

Can we blind someone with these flashes??? Heehee :bsmilie::bsmilie:

not really, they are not that powerful

 

[ortega]

always wanted to try out the R1..

but doesnt seem popular over here... any ideas why???

i have one

 

[Sion]

My friend made this "Poor Man Ring Flash Adapter" for me:

There are instructions in the net about how to make it.

It works to a certain extent. It costs me nothing.

 

[coinfucious888]

WOW !!!! Make sure you get it patented

 

[jfoo]

WOW !!!! Make sure you get it patented

there are already a few commercial variants of that already :bsmilie:

 

[squall]

always wanted to try out the R1..

but doesnt seem popular over here... any ideas why???

They are quite popular amongst Nikon "bug hunters" and general macro shooters. Nikon users really only have two "good" options....the R1 system shown above or the Sigma EM-140DG ring flash. These two are the most flexible/ reliable while trying to catch a pic of that jumping spider!

 

[kaixiang]

Since its for coins you could build yourself a diy light tent and use continuous lighting from ikea for a cheap solution. There should be lots of instructions if you google for them. Otherwise I find the tagotech lights bright enough even for portraits so macro shouldn't be a problem.

However, if its a ringlight effect you want, the one you posted should work with a tripod. You don't need fast shutter speeds for still subjects. I have toyed with the idea of building myself a fluorescent ringlight but that will have to wait till I have a little more free time.

 

[coinfucious888]

I am at present using a milk container with the top and bottom lopped off. Diffused lighting is obtained from two table lamps placed on either side of the milk container.

With this sort of a messy setup, I am getting this sort of results:

I am looking for what is available that can improve my current efforts, the robotic looking R1 looks good, but boy, the price of acquiring one.......I will have to sell this coin to get it.

 

[ortega]

your picture of the coin is already quite nice, just needs a little bit more reflected light to the face of the coin

of course the background could do with some help too

 

[coinfucious888]

Thanks for the heads up ortega....I need to sort out the lighting. As for the background, how about presenting it in this manner ?