I have always like to build little things to just simplify my needs. My D.I.Y motto is " If your D.I.Y is not under MYR100.00, Don't Do It! " cause to me D.I.Y is having fun with you and your wallet.
Why i make this project? Well since i got my Nikkor 105mm f2.8 micro lens, i cant seem to get enough light to snap my micro subjects. So i searched for a macro ring light at Erk!! omg! MYR13xx.xx each? Ouch my wallet. So i say to myself, why dont u make 1,
Thanks to John Hale ( http://www.jwshale.com/diy/ringlight/ringlight.html ) for inspiring me to build my own D.I.Y macro ring light.
So i listed down the things that i need:
L.E.Ds, wires, maybe a saw, some tubing, a plywood, tapes and etc.
So i went to a local electrical shop at Damai, KK, Sabah, and went looking for some L.E.Ds, wires and other electrical stuffs. While looking at some white LEDs (it cost MYR3.00 each), so MYR3x30 = RM90 only for LEDs? aiyo over bodget o!, when suddenly i saw a discounted LED tent/camping lamp (attached pic1) It cost only MYR12.00. Great deal, the tent/camping lamp has 24 white LEDS with internal wiring for LED and the battery all fixed inside it. So i bought it.
Now, my LED and wiring task are covered, but as we look at the tent/camping lamp, the hole is too small to fit inside the nikkor 105mm lens or even its hood. Meaning i have to cut open and make a hole to nicely fit the nikkor 105mm.
So the things that i gotten myself from my local hardware shop + the LED tent lamp from the electrical shop.
1. 1 piece big bits sand paper + 1 piece small bits sand paper = MYR4.00
2. 1 spray paint (Black Colour) = MYR6.50
3. 1 meter of black wire (with 1 wire inside) = MYR1.30
4. 1 L shape DC power plug + screw type DC power inlet = MYR4.00
5. 1 24 LED tent light (white LED) = MYR12.00
6. 1 x Chicken Rice = MYR4.50 (i got hungry lor! jalan sana-jalan sini)
Total cost = MYR32.30
Normal things that i hv lying at my house to help me with my D.I.Y project
1. 1 used jelly cup (i think i got this either from Yoyo or EasyWay) for my hood
2. Soldering iron + solder lead
3. Sissor, marker, ruler for cutting and marking the items.
4. 1 battery pack that fits 4 AA batteries. (u can easily find 1 at any electrical store)
5. 4 x batteries (nice that i have extras :) )
So, lets get started.
The LED light in a box.
The LED light out of the box. You can see its a 24 LED and the light is white.
Here is the LED light after i open it up.
Here we can see the diameter/length of the LED casing. Easy for me to cut out a hole later knowing how big is the casing.
Below is the HB-38 hood on the top cover for marking purpose to cut a hole later.
Below the HB-38 hood on the bottom cover for marking purpose to cut a hole later.
Below we can see the top cover with the LED circuit board and the hole where i cut with a soldering iron to fit the HB-38 hoob.
Please be extra carefull when using a soldering iron, cause it is hot and can burn ur hands and also the LEDS or the plastic cover. For safety i took out the LED circuit board before i start cutting out the hole.
Below we can see the cover of the LED light after i cut out a hole on it also with a soldering iron.
View of the cut-up LED then light after i polished the sides (the inner hole/ring) with sand paper and assembled together to see if it fits perfectly together.
Here is the plastic that covers and protects the LED circuit board. I cut it to a ring shape so it will match the shape of the casing.
This is the view of the LED lights with its simple circuit board. Oddly there's no resistor in this circuits of LED, oh well wont care much as long as it works and lights up. I had to take out this circuit board from the casing, so the LEDs wont get painted when i paint the casing later.
Here it shows the back of the ring light casing where i made a hole to fit the DC powet inlet. The little pictures shows detailed picture of the power inlet (a screw type).
The uncut jelly cup. Actually you can use any cup or anything that is round and hollow as long as it can fit your HB-38 hood. A pvc tube pipe comes into mind, but im being cheap and found this cup in the kitchen and surprisingly it fits.
The cut jelly cup. Amazingly the jelly cup fits nicely on my HB-38 hood.
Here is the cut jelly cup fitted nicely on the DIY Macro Ring Light. A bit of sanding on the sides of the ring light were done to fit the cut jelly cup.
Here is the DIY Macro Ring Light all painted black using a paint spray. I like using paint spray cause it dries faster and paint evenly on most surfaces.
Here you can see the painted DIY Macro Ring Light, showing the wired circuits, the wired DC power plug and the wired DC power inlet all fixed on the DIY Macro Ring Light.
This the DIY Macro Ring Light (turned OFF) fitted on the HB-38 hood of my 105mm micro lens.
This is the completed DIY Macro Ring Light (turned ON) fitted on the HB-38 hood of my 105mm micro lens, wohoooo time to go and snap some samples.
Some sample pictures with the DIY macro ring light.
Sample 1. [ 105mm | 1/60 | f5.6 | ISO 500 | AWB | Flash Fired ] + DIY Macro Ring Light
Sample 2 [ 105mm | 1/30 | f5.6 | ISO 500 | AWB | Flash OFF ] + DIY Macro Ring Light
Sample 3 [ 105mm | 1/80 | f4.5 | ISO 500 | AWB | Flash OFF ] + Diy Macro Ring Light
From the samples, you can see the reflection of the DIY ring light. All shots are taken at night, so the DIY Ring light kinda serve like a torchlight other than applying an even lighting to my subjects.
PROs using this DIY Ring Light:
1. Cheap alternative in having fun with macro at night
2. Helps my camera with focusing, no lights at night the camera cant focus properly on a subject.
3. Fun ... fun ... fun ...
CONs :
1. The light kinda blueish on subjects (well cant expect much on a cheaper budget) :)
2. Still need a flash to give more light to subject. I can crank up the ISO, put on a big aperture f3 and slow down the shutter like 1/20 or 1/30 but pictures come out with noise.
I think i will have to start on a DIY ring flash later. :)
Please let me know what you think, and if my little DIY project helps you.
Thanks,
Arthur.
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