Budget Macro Lighting

sharepointalex · 08-30-2012, 04:32 AM

Hi Guys,

I'm just getting into the Arena of Macro photography and have recently got hold of an SMC Pentax-M 100mm macro lens and some extension tubes. I am enjoying playing around with them so far. I'm looking to do a little photo series on everyday objects close up and wondering what do to about lighting. I want to get a ring flash really but for now I just want something cheap.

I'm thinking about maybe a small light tent off ebay and then use some household lamps to light up the object in question.

What do you think?

Cheers

Alex

Docrwm · 08-30-2012, 04:44 AM

There are small foldable macro light tents on ebay that come with weird tabletop "tripod" and 2 lamps for cheap. They're not bad for the money. There are several threads here on inexpensive macro flashes $40-75. One thing to be aware of is that many cheap macro flashes aren't actually flashes but are continuious LED lamps.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/196031-led-ring-flash.html

Medium FormatPro · 08-30-2012, 05:12 AM

Well it would all depend on what ones budget might be. And as Docrwm mentioned it would also depend if one would really need and/or want a flash versus something such as continious lighting.

For continious lighting I've stumbled upon something a bit out of the ordinary that works perfectly. Snap-On (which is NOT known for budget conscious people) has a type of angled light - the Snap-On CTFL918. The iterm number, and the F portion of the model number, and even just looking at the item - all show that it is a florescent item -and that perhaps the camera setting might need to be adjusted to compensate. But for some strange reason - all of mt non medium format cameras seem to adjust to it - perfectly - almost as if it were a daylight source.

But that Snap-On product as noted earlier is not inexpensive and also needs their version of a dedicated battery. But I've also had one for many years and it works on both hobby use and also even professionally. With a proper type of clamp one can position it about anywhere.

Also...

Lomography 4-Color Ringflash 405 B&H Photo Video

Even though this is clearly labeled for lomography; I've used this on a variety of cameras and then switched over to B&W with some stunning results.

Dot Line 48 LED Ringlight with AC Adapter DL-RL48 B&H Photo

This one has far above average results for the price - also quite adaptable for most lens'/

It's also unfortunate that the Pentax version typically goes for over 450. But I've seen some out there that go for well over three times that.

pinholecam · 08-30-2012, 05:28 AM

A styrofoam plate with a hole cut out for the lens and either the on-camera flash or external flash will work very well.
Some shots taken by a friend using this :
Photos taken by Pentax cameras for tech. discussion - Season IV - Page 31

Here's how it looks like (from the flickr of another very good local macro shooter)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orionmystery/1456815382/

sharepointalex · 08-30-2012, 05:33 AM

Cool thanks well I have another flash on recommendations for a cheap ring flash and someone showed a Vivitar which looked quite good and was actually a flash rather than a continuous light.

Seems like a budget ring flash will in fact be the best option for me.

Cheers

demp10 · 08-30-2012, 06:24 AM

For less than $100 you can get a nice Sunpak ring flash. I got a DX12R for $75 off eBay last year.

You can also make your own "ring" flash by using 2 old manual flashes like the Pentax AF200T (which has several manual power levels), put them on a round bracket that fits around the lens and connect it with off camera flash cables.

Either way you will have a nice portable setup that you can take it everywhere.

If you are working in a studio environment, then get a lighting tent for less than $20 and some halogen work lights or daylight fluorescent lamps.

SOldBear · 08-30-2012, 01:22 PM

Sunpak DX-12R is difficult to find at reasonable prices. But its brother DX-8R is common.

For a budget ringflash:

Get one of these units.

And this module.

In fact, you can get any Sunpak module among CA-1D, CA-2D, NE-2D, OT-1D, YC-1D, MX-1D and Standard-1D on this page , not necessarily PT-1D or PT-2D for Pentax. The only extra thing that PT-1D or PT-2D does is that when the camera is in Av mode and when the flash is fully charged, it'll set the shutter speed between 1/30 and 1/180 sec depending on the focal length of the lens. With any other module, you just set the camera in X mode or M mode (and set a shutter speed equal to or lower than 1/180sec).

There, a decent ringflash for less than $50.

Read this thread.

Last edited by SOldBear; 08-30-2012 at 01:28 PM.

08-30-2012, 04:32 AM	#1
sharepointalex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 134	Budget Macro Lighting Hi Guys, I'm just getting into the Arena of Macro photography and have recently got hold of an SMC Pentax-M 100mm macro lens and some extension tubes. I am enjoying playing around with them so far. I'm looking to do a little photo series on everyday objects close up and wondering what do to about lighting. I want to get a ring flash really but for now I just want something cheap. I'm thinking about maybe a small light tent off ebay and then use some household lamps to light up the object in question. What do you think? Cheers Alex

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08-30-2012, 04:44 AM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	There are small foldable macro light tents on ebay that come with weird tabletop "tripod" and 2 lamps for cheap. They're not bad for the money. There are several threads here on inexpensive macro flashes $40-75. One thing to be aware of is that many cheap macro flashes aren't actually flashes but are continuious LED lamps. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-flashes-lighting-technique/196031-led-ring-flash.html

08-30-2012, 05:12 AM	#3
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	Well it would all depend on what ones budget might be. And as Docrwm mentioned it would also depend if one would really need and/or want a flash versus something such as continious lighting. For continious lighting I've stumbled upon something a bit out of the ordinary that works perfectly. Snap-On (which is NOT known for budget conscious people) has a type of angled light - the Snap-On CTFL918. The iterm number, and the F portion of the model number, and even just looking at the item - all show that it is a florescent item -and that perhaps the camera setting might need to be adjusted to compensate. But for some strange reason - all of mt non medium format cameras seem to adjust to it - perfectly - almost as if it were a daylight source. But that Snap-On product as noted earlier is not inexpensive and also needs their version of a dedicated battery. But I've also had one for many years and it works on both hobby use and also even professionally. With a proper type of clamp one can position it about anywhere. Also... Lomography 4-Color Ringflash 405 B&H Photo Video Even though this is clearly labeled for lomography; I've used this on a variety of cameras and then switched over to B&W with some stunning results. Dot Line 48 LED Ringlight with AC Adapter DL-RL48 B&H Photo This one has far above average results for the price - also quite adaptable for most lens'/ It's also unfortunate that the Pentax version typically goes for over 450. But I've seen some out there that go for well over three times that.

08-30-2012, 05:28 AM	#4
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	A styrofoam plate with a hole cut out for the lens and either the on-camera flash or external flash will work very well. Some shots taken by a friend using this : Photos taken by Pentax cameras for tech. discussion - Season IV - Page 31 Here's how it looks like (from the flickr of another very good local macro shooter) http://www.flickr.com/photos/orionmystery/1456815382/

08-30-2012, 05:33 AM	#5
sharepointalex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 134 Original Poster	Cool thanks well I have another flash on recommendations for a cheap ring flash and someone showed a Vivitar which looked quite good and was actually a flash rather than a continuous light. Seems like a budget ring flash will in fact be the best option for me. Cheers

08-30-2012, 06:24 AM	#6
demp10 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta Photos: Albums Posts: 602	For less than $100 you can get a nice Sunpak ring flash. I got a DX12R for $75 off eBay last year. You can also make your own "ring" flash by using 2 old manual flashes like the Pentax AF200T (which has several manual power levels), put them on a round bracket that fits around the lens and connect it with off camera flash cables. Either way you will have a nice portable setup that you can take it everywhere. If you are working in a studio environment, then get a lighting tent for less than $20 and some halogen work lights or daylight fluorescent lamps.

08-30-2012, 01:22 PM	#7
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Sunpak DX-12R is difficult to find at reasonable prices. But its brother DX-8R is common. For a budget ringflash: Get one of these units. And this module. In fact, you can get any Sunpak module among CA-1D, CA-2D, NE-2D, OT-1D, YC-1D, MX-1D and Standard-1D on this page , not necessarily PT-1D or PT-2D for Pentax. The only extra thing that PT-1D or PT-2D does is that when the camera is in Av mode and when the flash is fully charged, it'll set the shutter speed between 1/30 and 1/180 sec depending on the focal length of the lens. With any other module, you just set the camera in X mode or M mode (and set a shutter speed equal to or lower than 1/180sec). There, a decent ringflash for less than $50. Read this thread. Last edited by SOldBear; 08-30-2012 at 01:28 PM.

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