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Author Topic: What ring flash for macro with Nikon?  (Read 28832 times)

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Chichikov

« on: July 06, 2017, 04:22 »
0
Can you advise me on buying a ring flash for Nikon?
Should be TTL and no more $500
The use will be essentially for macro photography.

What about LED ring flashes? Any experience?
« Last Edit: July 06, 2017, 06:45 by Chichikov »


« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2017, 06:14 »
0
I use LED continuous lights for video and occasionally for stills (although I do about 95% video).
I use 3 of them mostly in a home studio I have organised for food and still nature.
I found them excellent: no heating, very low power consumption, very cheap (the 3 of them cost less than the amount you mention).
Also it is so much easier and nicer to work with continuous lights IMO.

If you do macro in a home studio, they are just perfect. If you want to do it in the nature, than probably a ring flash would make sense

« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2017, 06:37 »
0
I use LED continuous lights for video and occasionally for stills (although I do about 95% video).
I use 3 of them mostly in a home studio I have organised for food and still nature.
I found them excellent: no heating, very low power consumption, very cheap (the 3 of them cost less than the amount you mention).
Also it is so much easier and nicer to work with continuous lights IMO.

If you do macro in a home studio, they are just perfect. If you want to do it in the nature, than probably a ring flash would make sense

Hi Brightontl,

Can you show me please exactly the LED model that you are use for food photograpfy? I use speedlites  (Elinchrom #20842.2 D-Lite RX 4 TO GO) for stills but I want to try also some videos...

Thank you!

Chichikov

« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2017, 06:44 »
0
I use LED continuous lights for video and occasionally for stills (although I do about 95% video).
I use 3 of them mostly in a home studio I have organised for food and still nature.
I found them excellent: no heating, very low power consumption, very cheap (the 3 of them cost less than the amount you mention).
Also it is so much easier and nicer to work with continuous lights IMO.

If you do macro in a home studio, they are just perfect. If you want to do it in the nature, than probably a ring flash would make sense


Yes, I have forgotten to precise that; I need it for photos in the nature (flowers, insects, etc.)
The one that I use in studio (http://www.bron.ch/broncolor/products/lamps/showproduct/ringflash-c/) is definitely too much heavy, even without the generator :D

« Reply #4 on: July 06, 2017, 06:48 »
0
I use LED continuous lights for video and occasionally for stills (although I do about 95% video).
I use 3 of them mostly in a home studio I have organised for food and still nature.
I found them excellent: no heating, very low power consumption, very cheap (the 3 of them cost less than the amount you mention).
Also it is so much easier and nicer to work with continuous lights IMO.

If you do macro in a home studio, they are just perfect. If you want to do it in the nature, than probably a ring flash would make sense

Hi Brightontl,

Can you show me please exactly the LED model that you are use for food photograpfy? I use speedlites  (Elinchrom #20842.2 D-Lite RX 4 TO GO) for stills but I want to try also some videos...

Thank you!
This is the model I use
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aputure-AL-528S-Amaran-Digital-Filming/dp/B00GO2ZDHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499341593&sr=8-1&keywords=Aputure+AL-528S+Amaran+LED+Light

I also have another one from the same make, slightly more powerful and more expensive

Chichikov

« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2017, 06:55 »
0
I use LED continuous lights for video and occasionally for stills (although I do about 95% video).
I use 3 of them mostly in a home studio I have organised for food and still nature.
I found them excellent: no heating, very low power consumption, very cheap (the 3 of them cost less than the amount you mention).
Also it is so much easier and nicer to work with continuous lights IMO.

If you do macro in a home studio, they are just perfect. If you want to do it in the nature, than probably a ring flash would make sense

Hi Brightontl,

Can you show me please exactly the LED model that you are use for food photograpfy? I use speedlites  (Elinchrom #20842.2 D-Lite RX 4 TO GO) for stills but I want to try also some videos...

Thank you!
This is the model I use
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aputure-AL-528S-Amaran-Digital-Filming/dp/B00GO2ZDHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499341593&sr=8-1&keywords=Aputure+AL-528S+Amaran+LED+Light

I also have another one from the same make, slightly more powerful and more expensive

Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led), not led lights.
Can you stay in topic please?
« Last Edit: July 06, 2017, 06:57 by Chichikov »

« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2017, 09:59 »
+1
I have a Sigma one  Sigma EM-140 DG NA-ITTL. Found it does the job very effectively. I bought it in 2011 so not sure if its been updated.

Chichikov

« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2017, 10:23 »
0
I have a Sigma one  Sigma EM-140 DG NA-ITTL. Found it does the job very effectively. I bought it in 2011 so not sure if its been updated.
Yes, it was one of my possible choice. But you know, on paper it is always nice then in real life things are often different.
Does it work well with rechargeable batteries?
How many shots does it fire with new batteries (average of course)?

« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2017, 12:37 »
+1
I have a Sigma one  Sigma EM-140 DG NA-ITTL. Found it does the job very effectively. I bought it in 2011 so not sure if its been updated.
Yes, it was one of my possible choice. But you know, on paper it is always nice then in real life things are often different.
Does it work well with rechargeable batteries?
How many shots does it fire with new batteries (average of course)?
Yes I use it with rechargables tbh not sure how long batteries last not done lots of pics in one go. Good question to ask on Amazon forum  maybe? I can say i've done anything super demanding with it but has worked for me.

Chichikov

« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2017, 00:25 »
0
^ Thank you Pauws99 for your answer!
I am surprised to see that so many people are interested by the subject btw

« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2017, 00:42 »
+3
^ Thank you Pauws99 for your answer!
I am surprised to see that so many people are interested by the subject btw
You being ironic I take it.....people are much more interested in complaining about sales every single month I think.

« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2017, 09:38 »
0
Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led),

I did some reading about LED ring flash a few weeks back. I came away with the impression that LED was not a good option, but I can't recall exactly what it was that put me off, so I can only suggest that you research carefully if you feel inclined to take that route.

« Reply #12 on: July 07, 2017, 16:53 »
0
Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led),

I did some reading about LED ring flash a few weeks back. I came away with the impression that LED was not a good option, but I can't recall exactly what it was that put me off, so I can only suggest that you research carefully if you feel inclined to take that route.
Ring flash would be better for moving objects than led I think also unless the techology has improved greatly since  I looked Led is not as bright

Chichikov

« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2017, 00:43 »
0
Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led),

I did some reading about LED ring flash a few weeks back. I came away with the impression that LED was not a good option, but I can't recall exactly what it was that put me off, so I can only suggest that you research carefully if you feel inclined to take that route.

I have read bad reviews about some LED ring flash, like the Polaroid one, used with rechargeable battery. If I have understand well the tension of the rechargeable batteries (1,2 V) is not sufficient to produce the right amount of light and the flash fails. While with the normal flash it is not a problem, the condenser just needs a little more time to get the maximum capacity.
The main advantages of the LED are the (low) price, and the possibility to use it as continuous light.
But to spend little money for something not working is not a great deal!

« Reply #14 on: September 08, 2017, 13:10 »
0
Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led),

I did some reading about LED ring flash a few weeks back. I came away with the impression that LED was not a good option, but I can't recall exactly what it was that put me off, so I can only suggest that you research carefully if you feel inclined to take that route.

I have read bad reviews about some LED ring flash, like the Polaroid one, used with rechargeable battery. If I have understand well the tension of the rechargeable batteries (1,2 V) is not sufficient to produce the right amount of light and the flash fails. While with the normal flash it is not a problem, the condenser just needs a little more time to get the maximum capacity.
The main advantages of the LED are the (low) price, and the possibility to use it as continuous light.
But to spend little money for something not working is not a great deal!

There's no condenser in a LED flash from what I've seen, so you are mixing up technology, especially that the rechargeable doesn't make enough power, which is also not related to the capacitor charge value, except how long it takes to cycle. Think about that? It's the capacitor that fires the flash tube, not the battery. LEDs have to flash and no capacitor. It's just a trigger that turns on the LED.

Use the LED continuous, they hardly use any power and will run for hours on any batteries. Standard batteries might be brighter than rechargeable but unless I compare, I can't say yes or no. At any rate LEDs do not flash.

Chichikov

« Reply #15 on: September 09, 2017, 05:06 »
+1
Thank you, but the subject of the thread is *Ring Flash* (tube and led),

I did some reading about LED ring flash a few weeks back. I came away with the impression that LED was not a good option, but I can't recall exactly what it was that put me off, so I can only suggest that you research carefully if you feel inclined to take that route.

I have read bad reviews about some LED ring flash, like the Polaroid one, used with rechargeable battery. If I have understand well the tension of the rechargeable batteries (1,2 V) is not sufficient to produce the right amount of light and the flash fails. While with the normal flash it is not a problem, the condenser just needs a little more time to get the maximum capacity.
The main advantages of the LED are the (low) price, and the possibility to use it as continuous light.
But to spend little money for something not working is not a great deal!

There's no condenser in a LED flash from what I've seen, so you are mixing up technology, especially that the rechargeable doesn't make enough power, which is also not related to the capacitor charge value, except how long it takes to cycle. Think about that? It's the capacitor that fires the flash tube, not the battery. LEDs have to flash and no capacitor. It's just a trigger that turns on the LED.

Use the LED continuous, they hardly use any power and will run for hours on any batteries. Standard batteries might be brighter than rechargeable but unless I compare, I can't say yes or no. At any rate LEDs do not flash.

I never told that there are condensers in LED flash (maybe it was not clear).
I know that there are not, and I am mixing nothing ;)
The difference between normal batteries and rechargeable ones is that the first have a tension of 1.5V, when the second have a tension of 1.2V.
1.2V seems to be not enough to get the maximum power of the LED.
While with a flash, as it uses condensers, the tension is less important, it will only need more time to fill the condenser with 1.2V batteries to allow the flash to fire to the required power.

And yes LEDs flash (in some way, as you can use them to produce light only during the necessary time to shoot one image - it is called "flash mode").
« Last Edit: September 09, 2017, 05:49 by Chichikov »


 

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