ringflash suggestions??

[DrTang]

okay..with the help of german ebay... I got this crazy cambo made 4x5 'hand camera' that uses a 240 lens and focuses at 5'

I got a lens for it.. I got a measuring tape... but, I think in use out in the real world... I will need a front fill solution

and I thought: ring flash

I stick camera on monopod, stick ringflash on camera..hang battery off monopod and if I could get f8 at 5 feet with 100asa film

I'd be a headshot monster out on the mean streets


so..anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably affordable ringflash with that much grunt?

[Ari]

I've used Metz and Sunpak portable ring flashes in the past; they mostly offer LED lights now, but Metz has a good kit still available: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/928404-REG/metz_mz_15210_15_ms_1_digital_macro.html
You could also look at White Lightning ring flash, they would be excellent for your new studio: http://www.paulcbuff.com/abr800.php

[DrTang]

I've used Metz and Sunpak portable ring flashes in the past; they mostly offer LED lights now, but Metz has a good kit still available: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/928404-REG/metz_mz_15210_15_ms_1_digital_macro.html
You could also look at White Lightning ring flash, they would be excellent for your new studio: http://www.paulcbuff.com/abr800.php


Metz and sunpak won't have enough juice for f8 at 5'... the alien bees is super, except I'd need the accessory battery bringing the total cost to around 800
..if I can find a used one for about 350...I think that would do it though

[ghostcount]

More power = more money.

Are you limited to 100ASA?

[StoneNYC]

More power = more money.

Are you limited to 100ASA?

Don't forget quality of light, you'll get a completely different experience from Metz or alien bees vs something like Profoto or Broncolor.

Best of luck in your choices.

[DrTang]

More power = more money.

Are you limited to 100ASA?

I need it as a fill.. so..just so it's 1 stop down from ambient


I suppose I could use asa 200.. and then a higher shutter speed and thus need f5.6

but LF shutters top out at about 200 / 250...so at 100asa..that would be f11 at 200/250 in daylight with a fill of f8

at 200 asa..I would need a shutter speed of 1000 to get to f8 and thus fill at f5.6

[ghostcount]

Don't forget quality of light, you'll get a completely different experience from Metz or alien bees vs something like Profoto or Broncolor.

Best of luck in your choices.


Can you elucidate on this? Have you used all four brands? Any real world comparison?

To my knowledge quality of light can be modified in various ways. Color with gels (if the wavelengths are there), specular with size.

[ghostcount]

I need it as a fill.. so..just so it's 1 stop down from ambient


I suppose I could use asa 200.. and then a higher shutter speed and thus need f5.6

but LF shutters top out at about 200 / 250...so at 100asa..that would be f11 at 200/250 in daylight with a fill of f8

at 200 asa..I would need a shutter speed of 1000 to get to f8 and thus fill at f5.6

That's a tough one, normally I'd adjust the light source distance but that is fixed in addition to a constant focal length and FOV.

[DrTang]

wait..if I shot 50asa

then it would be 60th at f16 or 250 at f8 with a fill of f5.6


that could work..or it makes more ringflashes theoretically available

[StoneNYC]

Can you elucidate on this? Have you used all four brands? Any real world comparison?

To my knowledge quality of light can be modified various ways. Color with gels (if the wavelengths are there), specular with size.

I've used all but Metz.

Broncolor and Profoto have much more consistent color temp flash to flash, as well as from light to light, precise color temperature is important in color film shooting, (no need for modification or gels or even a color meter if using Profoto, perfect balance out of the box) the light output is more accurate flash to flash as well.

Metz has a directional outward design different from the more even spread light of Profoto or Broncolor.

Alien bees to my knowledge from reading are a good in-between light but less consistent than the Profoto/Broncolor which every professional product and fashion Photogrpher I've spoken with about has confirmed (roughly 10 real pro's the kind who make 6 figures, not amateurs or family portrait studio people).

anyway, quality of light matters to some, others aren't specialized enough or care enough that it matters. I'm only offering the OP options and knowledge and perspective, I'm not saying Metz are bad, I'm saying you get what you pay for.

[ghostcount]

wait..if I shot 50asa

then it would be 60th at f16 or 250 at f8 with a fill of f5.6


that could work..or it makes more ringflashes theoretically available

I drink too much coffee to handhold a view camera at 1/60th :o

I guess without making it an academic discussion, you'll have to buy one and try. Anticipate some loss from the ring itself, hopefully you'll have enough depth of field for the given output power.

[Bob Salomon]

Why not just rent a couple from Samy's and see which works best for you?

[DrTang]

I drink too much coffee to handhold a view camera at 1/60th :o



crud..you're right..back to 200/250 at f11... which means asa100 film


this is all B&W btw..so color temp consistency is not an issue.. and quality of light is not much of one either..I just need something to fill in the noon sky shadows some

[DrTang]

Why not just rent a couple from Samy's and see which works best for you?


samys only has the profoto one..which is nice.. but pretty big and then you got that huge battery thing too

I might just strap my Qflash to the top of the rig and call it a day

[Jim C.]

..I just need something to fill in the noon sky shadows some

I'm not sure if you're aware but if you're going to shoot portraits but ring flashes will give you circular specular highlights
in the subjects eyes. A regular on camera type flash mounted below the front standard bouncing off a reflector card would probably work
if you're just needing fill, smaller and and a lot easier to schlep.
For what it's worth I own a Alien Bees ring light and they're huge and deep, not sure if their Zeus/ White Lighting is shallower
I usually use mine as a normal strobe mounted on a arm. I get a good work out when hand holding it with a DSLR attached.

[ghostcount]

Well if you are open to other types of modifiers maybe this could work...

http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2012/05/backpackoctabox2_mini.jpg

http://petapixel.com/2012/05/21/diy-backpack-octodome-for-lighting-solo-shoots/

You are already lugging a 4x5 for street photography (assuming that's what it's for). Cool factor is relative. :)

[jp]

Can you use a worklight/brooding light bowl. It won't be ringflash, it'll be better; Mortensen's basic lighting!

[LabRat]

I'm not sure about using a ringlight for portraits... The (I forget the term) for the facial highlight structure where the outlines and the raised curves on a face look odd to me with a ringlight for my taste... (not natural) And the catchlights in the eyes have that "doughnut hole" look...

I just use a 20" white solid reflector with the white cover cap over the flashtube for simple people lighting with a studio strobe... (Usually just needs to be close to and slightly over the lens...) And choke the light output back if only used for fill...

Steve K

[DrTang]

Well if you are open to other types of modifiers maybe this could work...

http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2012/05/backpackoctabox2_mini.jpg

http://petapixel.com/2012/05/21/diy-backpack-octodome-for-lighting-solo-shoots/

You are already lugging a 4x5 for street photography (assuming that's what it's for). Cool factor is relative. :)


Yeah..this was actually my first idea..kinda


and what I did one year is double super-clamp a pole to the tripod that held my Qflash head and a small softbox - but that rig was frankensteined to a hand golf cart with wheels

I was hoping to go monopod set up... so I might end up clamping a super-clamp to the monopod holding a light rod with a lighter flash on that.. to get off slightly camera axis fill


I'll mess around with that this weekend if I can


note: I'm not sure I would mind the detail-less flat frontal fashion ringlight look.. street photography doesn't have to be 'gritty'

[SergeiR]

In all honest at 5' in order for ring flash to be of any use it has to be pretty darn big. You much better off with just using two shoo through umbrellas and two portable flashes - at iso 100 you should get f8 easily and also would have hell of the lot more flexibility in lighting scenarios

[VictoriaPerelet]

I used Profoto ringflash modified for Speedotron here's pic of it for digital setup:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52900356/LfPics/IMG_1364.jpg

Here are polaroids I made with same setup (Schneider 210mm apo):

http://victoriasphoto.com/models/FrancesGrace/big/t55-p-1.jpg

http://victoriasphoto.com/models/Tasha/big/t55-p-1.jpg

[StoneNYC]

I used Profoto ringflash modified for Speedotron here's pic of it for digital setup:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52900356/LfPics/IMG_1364.jpg

Here are polaroids I made with same setup (Schneider 210mm apo):

http://victoriasphoto.com/models/FrancesGrace/big/t55-p-1.jpg

http://victoriasphoto.com/models/Tasha/big/t55-p-1.jpg

Victoria, question, why did you have them modified for speedo's? Curious choice, lovely work as always :)

[VictoriaPerelet]

I had speedotron black line for very long time. I have fresnels, elipsoidals, transparency projectors & other exotic light sources modified for speedos. Back in hey days a lot of Hollywood lighting was modified for flashes and speedo was de facto the base.

[dsphotog]

It wouldn't be portable, I've thought about trying a circular florescent (kitchen) light mounted to a studio camera.

[StoneNYC]

I had speedotron black line for very long time. I have fresnels, elipsoidals, transparency projectors & other exotic light sources modified for speedos. Back in hey days a lot of Hollywood lighting was modified for flashes and speedo was de facto the base.

Really? Wow! I always thought Profoto was the defacto.

Thanks for educating me :)


It wouldn't be portable, I've thought about trying a circular florescent (kitchen) light mounted to a studio camera.

What wouldn't be portable?

[dsphotog]

Portable, anywhere 120 volt power is available.

[StoneNYC]

Portable, anywhere 120 volt power is available.

Profoto and other high end strobes have battery powered power packs to match their strobes FYI.

They also often accept both 120 and 220 power for recharging.

[dsphotog]

I meant the circular kitchen fluorescent, is there a battery that would run that for a while?
Maybe 12v with an inverter?

[DrTang]

thanks all

I gave up on the ringflash concept.. and just bolted on my regular sunpack 120J on a sidearm

the whole deal is I wanted portable and movable.. I will be walking around the pre-parade set up area..and it's much easier going to them then tryin g to drag them back to where ever you have set up

anyway..here is what I settled on

http://www.mericphoto.com/lfp/fc3.jpg