Build a ring light for $20

[Y'all Qaeda]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57434640-1/build-a-ring-light-for-less-than-$20/?tag=cnetRiver

A resourceful videographer, Parker Maimbourg, has managed to build a continuous ring light for just $20.
The setup consists of a cheap, circular LED lamp ($10), an AA battery holder ($1.99), and an unused hotshoe salvaged from an old flash unit. A continuous ring light is typically used to provide even illumination for portraits and closeups and usually costs at least a few hundred dollars.
Basically, Maimbourg rewired all the LEDs on the lamp to a separate battery holder, which will be mounted on the camera's hotshoe. Next, he cut a hole through the center of the circular lamp enclosure to fit his lens, spray-painted the whole setup black for that professional feel, and voila!
But before you run off to the nearest hardware store, do note that you'll need some tools like a dremel and a soldering iron, plus a lot of patience to pull this off.

Thought I'd share this with the good people of MyBB.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Bwana might be interested in this

 

[bwana]

Bwana might be interested in this

More useful for a videographer me thinks as it's a continuous light source.

 

[GarethC]

As far as I know, ring flashes are generally used in macro-photography, so even though it's a continuous light source would be great for non video.
The LEDs wouldn't be enough to help on a non-macro photo.

 

[bwana]

As far as I know, ring flashes are generally used in macro-photography, so even though it's a continuous light source would be great for non video.
The LEDs wouldn't be enough to help on a non-macro photo.

They can be very nice in portrait work - the ring gives a unique catchlight but the problem with a CLS here is the pupils may well end up being pinpricks.

 

[GarethC]

They can be very nice in portrait work - the ring gives a unique catchlight but the problem with a CLS here is the pupils may well end up being pinpricks.

Interesting, never thought of that. Shouldn't be too difficult to put a switch in the mix somewhere. Though it may just become a hassle, depending on how it's used.