jayhan
04-10-2007, 08:51 AM
Yes'sir! You didnt hear me wrong... I've successfuly DIY an El-cheapo Macro Ring Light... Now you macro shooters/fans out there would definitely thank me for this (especially you CM!! *grin*)
Well el-Cheapo attacks again, and for this time, we are basically using back almost the similar raw materials as that of the DIY Light Box. Construction wise is a bit tricky though, but to save something like RM1500, and have this done within a budget or RM10?? Heck you can try this for 150 times to get it perfect! Without wasting time, here's what you need :
1. The all time favourite carton box (shoe boxes would be perfect)
2. Aluminium foil (those used in kitchen)
3. Plenty of cellotapes & double sided tapes
4. Marker pen, razor blades & scissor
5. Mahjong paper or A3 sized white printer paper *optional*
6. A flash gun that can be fired off from the hotshoe of your camera - either via ETTL cable or any other wireless methods.
COST : Considering you can find the items from 1-5 readily in your house, this should not cost anything more than RM10.
TIME TAKEN TO DIY : Approx 1-2 hours, depending on how intricate you are.
List of items. I left out the white paper cuz I'm kinda lazy to use it... but you'll get the idea of what is it for later on.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/stuff.jpg
HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF :
1. Firstly you will need to know what is your favourite Macro lens that you wanna use with this awesome product (Hey anyone gonna pay me royalty fees? ;P). From the diameter of the choice of your lens, say 77mm, add another 5" to it, thus making it something like 214mm. Draw 2 concentric circles on the carboard. One approximately 80mm and the other 214mm. The reason why we take 80mm as the measurement is becuz this will be the hole that your lens is gonna slide into. Check out the image below.
Draw 2 circles like this use your flashgun to get an idea of how it would sized up.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/1-1.jpg
2. Also draw a square box that would fit your flashgun's head dimension (width). Make sure the flash panel sits somewhere about 1" away from the outer most line of the circles. Then cut out this imprint you have done.
Careful with usage of knives and also scissors. A trick to core the middle part of the cardboard is to cut it into triangles from the center of the circle, then slowly peel one by one of the "petal" off.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/2-1.jpg
3. Once you have done the cutting process of the main body of this cool DIY project, you would wanna cut a strip of straight cardboard measuring something like 12"x2". Fold and roll the strip so it curls up for easier attachment. We are gonna build the inner wall of the eC:MRL (el-Cheapo : Macro Ring Light). Now with the cut out strip, mark the width 1.5" and draw a straight line across its length. We are gonna cut some tabs which can be later used as adhesive surface to the body.
TIP : Cut the cardboard in perpendicular direction to the way its being weaved for ease of rolling it. You would wanna curl it based on the weaved direction.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/3-1.jpg
Once the Wall part is done, it should look something like this.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/4-1.jpg
4. Stick it up...! :P I mean to the body of the eC-MRL. You should be getting something like what I've obtained in the following picture. Its always good to start with a length that's longer than what is required, and slowly trim it down as you try to fit it into the circular hole. Please dont stinge on the cardboard for pete's sake! This project is already dirt cheap!! :P
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/5-1.jpg
Well el-Cheapo attacks again, and for this time, we are basically using back almost the similar raw materials as that of the DIY Light Box. Construction wise is a bit tricky though, but to save something like RM1500, and have this done within a budget or RM10?? Heck you can try this for 150 times to get it perfect! Without wasting time, here's what you need :
1. The all time favourite carton box (shoe boxes would be perfect)
2. Aluminium foil (those used in kitchen)
3. Plenty of cellotapes & double sided tapes
4. Marker pen, razor blades & scissor
5. Mahjong paper or A3 sized white printer paper *optional*
6. A flash gun that can be fired off from the hotshoe of your camera - either via ETTL cable or any other wireless methods.
COST : Considering you can find the items from 1-5 readily in your house, this should not cost anything more than RM10.
TIME TAKEN TO DIY : Approx 1-2 hours, depending on how intricate you are.
List of items. I left out the white paper cuz I'm kinda lazy to use it... but you'll get the idea of what is it for later on.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/stuff.jpg
HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF :
1. Firstly you will need to know what is your favourite Macro lens that you wanna use with this awesome product (Hey anyone gonna pay me royalty fees? ;P). From the diameter of the choice of your lens, say 77mm, add another 5" to it, thus making it something like 214mm. Draw 2 concentric circles on the carboard. One approximately 80mm and the other 214mm. The reason why we take 80mm as the measurement is becuz this will be the hole that your lens is gonna slide into. Check out the image below.
Draw 2 circles like this use your flashgun to get an idea of how it would sized up.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/1-1.jpg
2. Also draw a square box that would fit your flashgun's head dimension (width). Make sure the flash panel sits somewhere about 1" away from the outer most line of the circles. Then cut out this imprint you have done.
Careful with usage of knives and also scissors. A trick to core the middle part of the cardboard is to cut it into triangles from the center of the circle, then slowly peel one by one of the "petal" off.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/2-1.jpg
3. Once you have done the cutting process of the main body of this cool DIY project, you would wanna cut a strip of straight cardboard measuring something like 12"x2". Fold and roll the strip so it curls up for easier attachment. We are gonna build the inner wall of the eC:MRL (el-Cheapo : Macro Ring Light). Now with the cut out strip, mark the width 1.5" and draw a straight line across its length. We are gonna cut some tabs which can be later used as adhesive surface to the body.
TIP : Cut the cardboard in perpendicular direction to the way its being weaved for ease of rolling it. You would wanna curl it based on the weaved direction.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/3-1.jpg
Once the Wall part is done, it should look something like this.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/4-1.jpg
4. Stick it up...! :P I mean to the body of the eC-MRL. You should be getting something like what I've obtained in the following picture. Its always good to start with a length that's longer than what is required, and slowly trim it down as you try to fit it into the circular hole. Please dont stinge on the cardboard for pete's sake! This project is already dirt cheap!! :P
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/uploads/DIY%20Macro%20Ring%20Light/5-1.jpg