LED Macro Ring

[gjtoth]

After pricing the LED macro rings and seeing they were prohibitively expensive for what they are, I decided to have a shot at making one.

I went on eBay and purchased a 12-LED light strip. After I received it, I found it was slightly too long so, I had to snip off 3 LEDs. No big deal. An ordinary pair of scissors worked just fine. The next problem was power. The strip did not come with a power supply. As I'm a quasi-packrat, I looked in a drawer full of ferreted power supplies I keep from sundry items that die but their power supply is OK. I found a 12 volt DC 200ma and wired it to the leads on the light strip. Plugged it in and... voila! LIGHT. I have a couple of adapter tubes for my camera but this will work on ANY unit. I simply formed the light strip around the edge of the mount lens and secured it with a large rubber band (an elastic to you, Snappers :) ). The test was pretty conclusive as you can see with the attached photos. I think I may need to manufacture a diffuser as they are rather strong. But, here's the upshot: Commercially manufactured light ring = $79 plus shipping. Home-brewed light ring = around $15. Laughing all the way to the bank = priceless. :D Notice the subject is in shadow while the flash lit the upper 1/3 of the "before" picture. Gone in the "after" shot! Bear in mind, too, that I just quickly shot and didn't take any time to compose, angle, etc. Just wanted to show you it can be done without a lot of effort. I just had a thought, I can probably wire in a rheostat to control the brightness! 0o0o0o0o0o0oooooooooo YEAH!

[admin]

Great work Gary, I just think you'll need to adjust your white balance in camera when using LED. It's different temperature than a flash light. Seems to be much warmer.

[gjtoth]

Great work Gary, I just think you'll need to adjust your white balance in camera when using LED. It's different temperature than a flash light. Seems to be much warmer.

Thanks! It was a really easy project.

I'd love to adjust the WB but... the z612 has auto-WB. Unless you know something about this bugger I don't (entirely within the realm of possibility :D) I'll re-read the manual but, I recall seeing that in a couple of the reviews as one of the cons of this camera :( I'll figure something out. This is just day one with this project. heheheh :rolleyes:

[admin]

I'll check this out. The last resort would be fixing the WB in a software.

[gjtoth]

I'll check this out. The last resort would be fixing the WB in a software.


Do you think if I got a strip with a different color of LEDs -- say, blue -- that would improve things?

[admin]

Do you think if I got a strip with a different color of LEDs -- say, blue -- that would improve things?

No, I think the blue would mess it up completely. It might make your auto WB going mad.

You were right, there is no manual WB only couple of pre-set values: Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Open Shade. Try to play with these or the software.

[gjtoth]

No, I think the blue would mess it up completely. It might make your auto WB going mad.

You were right, there is no manual WB only couple of pre-set values: Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent and Open Shade. Try to play with these or the software.

I'll give that a try and post the results.

[gjtoth]

After attempting to find the settings you mentioned, I gave up for now and went into full manual mode and tried different settings that I thought might produce the desired results. The photos speak for themselves. All settings are in the exif. I ran a software white balance on them so we could see the results (desirable or not). They are 1WB and 2WB. I believe with a little more tweaking, I could have something quite useable here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/2076076521_c655d2285f_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2076076293_6da7318370_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2076076021_44a02495ec_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2076864282_d956d9577c_o.jpg

[gjtoth]

AHAH! I just found the settings you mentioned. They can only be access when I am in PASM! Perfect! I'll take a few and see what they look like but, since I *AM* trying to familiarize myself with the manual settings, I think I just may play with those a while to learn.

[gjtoth]

I tried the camera WB settings with these results. #1 is the "Tungsten" #2 is the "Fluorescent" #3 is the "Daylight". I ran no software filters or did anything else except resize them.

You be the judge.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2413/2076204663_45f6ee94bc_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2076204827_53b5998fb6_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2076993128_7e42a36ec1_o.jpg

[Snappers]

Great work Gary. And fast too:)

What about the rheostat to control the brightness! Idea you had? If this could alter the brightness, would it not be better? Or perhaps, less leds? Say 3 on each side or something.

I'd certainly be having a go at this home made mod in the near future.

Well done.

[gjtoth]

Great work Gary. And fast too:)

What about the rheostat to control the brightness! Idea you had? If this could alter the brightness, would it not be better? Or perhaps, less leds? Say 3 on each side or something.

I'd certainly be having a go at this home made mod in the near future.

Well done.

Thanks, Andy. I believe it's just a matter of settings at this point. I'll be "tweaking" it in. I may, indeed, try a rheostat in the future. I think the more expensive macro rings have adjustable settings.

[Snappers]

Oh well, Have fun. My Macro filter has been packed away for santa now so I cant try anything till after Christmas.

[gjtoth]

Oh well, Have fun. My Macro filter has been packed away for santa now so I cant try anything till after Christmas.

heheheh.. Have an early Christmas -- unpack that puppy and have a little early fun. ;)

[Snappers]

I'd love too. However, My wife has hid it.
Plus if I did find it and unwrap it, It would be more than my lifes worth!

She would kill me.
SO, I will have to be paitient and wait, Not long now thoughhttp://www.smileycons.com/img/christmas/79.gif

[ausdg2]

Sensational, you remind me off a guy I used to work with, he always had around 10 - 15 different power adaptors on his desk at work for whatever reason.

[gjtoth]

Sensational, you remind me off a guy I used to work with, he always had around 10 - 15 different power adaptors on his desk at work for whatever reason.

One can never have too many power adapters. Until your wife goes mad and starts throwing them at you! I keep them in a drawer now. heh :D

[Snappers]

Just be thankful, it is only light things like power adapters she thows at you:D

[gjtoth]

Just be thankful, it is only light things like power adapters she thows at you:D

Ever seen the power supply for a laptop? ouch. :eek:

[Snappers]

Ever seen the power supply for a laptop? ouch. :eek:LoL. I take it you did not see it before it hit you:p

My wife does not tend to throw things at me, she just "moves" them and then swears blind she hasn't. The term "moves" is usually a permanent one, that I can never find again!!!:rolleyes:

[gjtoth]

LoL. I take it you did not see it before it hit you:p

My wife does not tend to throw things at me, she just "moves" them and then swears blind she hasn't. The term "moves" is usually a permanent one, that I can never find again!!!:rolleyes:

Truthfully, my wife is a peach. She really doesn't throw things at me (unless you count dirty looks :) ) I've been "coaxed" to store things a little more neatly, however. heheheh

[Snappers]

It's the old addage isnt it, when you get married, The three things that count in your wifes to be mind.

In a mans eyes:-
Aisle, The thing you walk down to get to the alter and the priest.
Alter The place where you stand to get married.
Him, Well that will be you the bridegroom.

In your wifes to be eyes:-

Aisle = I'll
Alter = Alter
Him = Him

I'll Alter Him!!!!!!!!
:):):):)