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Ringlight Recommendation?
Could someone recommend an inexpensive ringlight flash for a Nikon DSLR? This would of course be used for people photography. I have built my own, large size device, but I'd like an addtional, on-camera unit for mobility and for use with faster shutter speeds. I have been told that there are fairly cheap macro ringlights (under $100 sometimes) on eBay powerful enough for people work, but I am not certain which ones. Much gratitude for any advice. You may respond here or via messaging in my port. Maxim Feb 25 06 03:49 pm Link Im not really up on the nikon offerings but if you do get a macro ringlight then what increases the range/"power" of the flash is shooting with a higher iso. Honestly if you try to save money on one it'll be very inflexible. I'd suggest just putting off on one for a while and getting one for a few hundred rather than limiting yourself to finding something for around $100 However you could try looking at used equipment at keh.com or ebay, in which case you may snag something good within your budget. Feb 25 06 03:57 pm Link Inexpensive as in you don't want a powerpack solution? Try Sunpak's higher-powered version of battery-operated ringflash. It's somewhere around $230 if I remember correctly. Some good shooters have made some great people images with it. Don't bother with the optional TTL module. It doesn't work on digital cameras. Feb 25 06 04:01 pm Link Angelo Lorenzo wrote: Angelo, Feb 25 06 04:03 pm Link Marko Cecic-Karuzic wrote: Marko, Feb 25 06 04:05 pm Link Try this one, the DX12R: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … Navigation or cheaper but considerably less powered (and therefore less versitile) for shooting people, especially outdoors, the DX8R: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … Navigation Feb 25 06 04:09 pm Link Maxim I have a Sigma EM-140 DG NA-iTTL ring light that i got from B&H it is made for the nikon DSLR...When i dont want to use my power pack ringlight and i get good results from it.....Hope this help http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … ype=search Anthony Feb 25 06 04:11 pm Link vivitar makes one for a $99 I bought one once from B&H it has a guide number of 52 which is stronger than the sunpacks 40. Feb 25 06 05:04 pm Link Marko Cecic-Karuzic wrote: Get the sunpak and the regluar non ttl module. The Dx12. It has a wider lens opening than the Dx8. Feb 25 06 05:16 pm Link Marko Cecic-Karuzic wrote: That's got a 4" head and a guide number of 40. I can't see how it could be useful for shooting people. Feb 25 06 08:53 pm Link I used to use one alot Paul. Guide number of 40 is good for us people who like to shoot wide open at F1.4 Do a searh for Tony Ward. He uses one. What is your point of your post? To try and discredit someone? Feb 25 06 08:56 pm Link The point of my post is once you get past macro range you've got a point source, not a ring light. And not many folks are shooting portraits at f1.4. Paul Feb 25 06 08:59 pm Link Hey Paul, you ever consider that maybe people shoot at iso 400 or higher? The popular ring effect is due to the flashtube surrounding the lens. The distance to the subject wont matter a whole lot because the light is small anyhow..... But then again, how do you know? Do you have actual experience using one? I do. I have shot alot of people with them. I have seen stuff shot full page in books shot with them. Perhaps you should start talking about things you actually have experience with. chip Feb 25 06 09:02 pm Link Paul Ferrara wrote: a good chunk of my port was shot with the 12r at about f8 on iso 100 film. Feb 25 06 09:13 pm Link Get the Sunpak DX12R do NOT get the 8 as MCK suggested!!!  Also you MUST get the power pack... I won't get into the why... but GET IT!!!  -SB Feb 25 06 09:45 pm Link Chip are you using yours in close up only ? They probably aren't that effective for full length shots right, not enough power. Or am I wrong ? I shot this with my little vivitar ring flash.  Feb 25 06 10:18 pm Link Terry Breedlove wrote: Terry, I dont have one now. I might get another, but who knows. I used to shoot full lengths and portraits with it. Guide number was plenty. Feb 25 06 10:30 pm Link No no I wasn't referring to anything you said about close ups that was my question. I bought the little bugger as a toy for close ups on insects and only pointed it at a model a few times  I don't remember the max ring size I used it on my 105 micro and 50 mm which are 52 mm. I don't have the flash anymore lost it in a move. Description Vivitar 6000 AF Reconditioned Ring Flash features: Ring flash for close up macro photography. Provides an auto flash range up to 10 feet. Guide number 59 (ISO 100/ft.). Flash Duration 1/1000 sec. on manual mode; 1/1000 to 1/40,000 sec.on auto TTL mode. Flash test button and flash ready indicator. Uses AF camera TTL circuit for exposure control. Feb 25 06 10:43 pm Link Paul Ferrara wrote: When did Chip say that he would be shooting boring portraits? And what is wrong with a point source? Does every single picture have to be done with big softbox to be a credible, creative image? Arguing with Chip...lol *chuckle* Feb 26 06 12:24 am Link Chip Willis wrote: Chip... the DX12R is the BrokeBack Mountain of all the cheap ringlights. It can TAKE IT ALL!!!!! Feb 26 06 01:17 am Link Steven Bigler wrote: Steven/Chip, what about the Sigma EM-140 DG someone mentioned earlier? It has 46 as the guide number, greater than the DX12R. It integrates well with Nikon DSLRs and there's no need to get a module. What are your thoughts on it? Here's the link: Feb 26 06 06:33 am Link Steven Bigler wrote: ba-dum tssh... Feb 26 06 09:53 am Link Why do you want a ring light? Seriously? I have a Profoto Ring Light. I like it and use it. But I find it's just another tool. Outside, it makes a great fill, but honestly, if you are going to go to the trouble of dragging a big ring light outside, there are other ways of getting fill. Indoors, if you set it right, and set the model at the right distance from the background, you get that tale tell, "halo" shadow that is cool, and it gives very distinct look to a photo, but other than that, I have found it to just be another light projection device. If you are at a distance from the model and not getting that tell tale halo shadow, the "effect" doesn't look substantially different than a lot of other lighting techniques. I mention this as I see people discuss "ring lights" like they are the holy grail or something. Mark Feb 26 06 10:11 am Link This is photography lighting is the holy grail. Feb 26 06 10:14 am Link Gunfitr wrote: i have not yet found a way to drink out of one. yet... Feb 26 06 10:15 am Link Christopher Bush wrote: LOL...... Feb 26 06 05:39 pm Link Chip: Yes, for fill it's great. But I can get "fill" a bunch of other ways. I'm not sorry I bought it. But once you get passed that cool definitive "ring light" look, it's nothing special. I could buy a big Mola dish if I wanted, and yes, a big Mola has a distinctive look when used a particular way, but again, it's not a holy grail. I just don't see people posting about strip boxes or big Plume boxes the way they use the "term" ring light. I think it's kind of interesting. I do look really cool holding one though. LOL Mark Feb 26 06 05:46 pm Link Gunfitr wrote: Who cares why he wants it... he asked a question and got decent and exacting answers to just that. Feb 28 06 08:32 am Link Geez dude. I asked him why he wanted one "seriously" because I thought if he could "define" why he wanted one, that it might benefit those in the discussion as certain "qualities" of lighting that a ring light can produce can be produced with other methods. My "opinion" about a ring light was based upon personal experience. I have a ring light. I have used a ring light. I have also used other specific lighting equipment. I probably have more light modifiers than anyone on this board. That doesn't make me superior and I'm not making that claim to be superior. Images in my port (as sucky as they may be) have been shot with everything from a ring light, to a big octobox, to a big square box, to 2 shoot through umbrellas, to a big 7 foot umbrella. I can shoot an image with a ring light used as fill and I don't think you or anyone else could tell me what I used for fill. Sorry to be a thorn in your side. Why he wants to use one is relevant to the discussion......don't you think? Mark Feb 28 06 09:28 am Link I'm actually glad to have read this post. I was very curious about ring lights, but I thought there may have been a large discrepancy between larger ring lights that get into thousands of dollars on the smaller ones typically described as "macro" ringlights. But what I hear people using them saying is "no", it comes down to guide number and 40 plus is fine and will do, whether at 100asa and f8 or if necessary even wider apertures at slightly higher asas. But essentially, these cheaper (few hundred dollar) ringlights are adequate or equal to the larger more expensive ones - with the exception of sheer power. is this assumption correct? why wouldn't the TTL work - esp, as pointed out, on digitals (exclusively)? It doesn't work to then auto adjust the settings or it doesn't measure correctly? If I am getting a Canon 20D, would I be better off buying a Canon - esp. to ensure TTL? Or not worth it? thanks Feb 28 06 10:53 am Link creagency wrote: The Sunpak and TTL module was rumored not to work well back when I first bought one, so I stuck with the manual method. Manual always works as intended, and to this day, I try and shoot in manual mode as much as possible when using my 580EX flashes. Why- Consistancy. I shoot alot of series and slight variations cant be tolerated, so this is the case for full manual. Metering by hand with an incident flash meter is always superior to any TTL for me. Again, read consistancy. Feb 28 06 11:02 am Link I am not sure that this adds to the topic, but somewhere I saw a manufacturer that is makeing ring flashes using LED technology. Curious as to what people have experienced with these. Besides lower power, high life span, what are other advantages/tradeoffs? Henry Feb 28 06 11:09 am Link Henry Tjernlund wrote: These are used in the film quite a bit. Same effect as flashes, as it's based on the same principals. The output is significantly less though, and it's a little softer. Feb 28 06 11:16 am Link I called Sunpak and confirmed that the TTL module indeed does not work with the new digital cameras. It was apparently developed for the "last generation" of their TTL system and somehow it isn't compatible with the E-TTL (their words). Maxim, the Sigmal cannot be used with lens larger than 58mm in diameter. Re: Profoto Ringlight versus Sunpak: not a comparison, not in output, not in price (10x difference including the pack), not in usage. Like Chip said, the little ring works great for beauty shots, which is shot within a pretty close distance anyway. Using GN40 outdoors would be a little more hopeless. Feb 28 06 12:33 pm Link you can make your own ring light: http://www.jyoseph.com/extras/2006/02/d … _light.php If so inclined. Feb 28 06 12:38 pm Link the reason I want one is two reasons, one is the unique lighting aspect in general, they seem (SEEM) to bring more detail for some strange reason and the highlights/reflections of the lights in the eyes can also be very unique and desirable - but certainly not always. Lee's econo solution is to be respected for ingenuity for sure. and the ring of lights in the eyes can be fascinating, but perhaps weird and problematic in certain scenarios it would seem. and the lack of strobe means it's going to be low light and hot, not great for models, particularly with make-up and non A/C'd studios. I was also considering just getting another light or two and making a special bracket so that I'd have two or three normal flashes around the camera and perhaps closer to the end of lens or perhaps even further OFF the camera. I've seen it once or twice elsewhere. anyone have any experience in such a rig? Feb 28 06 04:14 pm Link Chris J Lee wrote: I use a large ringlight that I built. It has more bulbs than in the tutorial and is structured differently. However, I am looking for something to take along with me. Feb 28 06 09:26 pm Link creagency wrote: You might be talking about something like this: Feb 28 06 09:28 pm Link Chris J Lee wrote: God... that is funny... I did the same thing ages ago.... same wiring everything! Mar 01 06 01:18 am Link |
