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Did a DIY RingFlash on SB600 , CLS . There was a few more test shot before this, was sooo happy to see the results, and this is the expression, i guess .
will upload pictures of the DIY RingFlash i did .
p/s : i should probably make the outer ring smaller cuz now it aint bounce hard enough ...
Final high-speed setup, Olympus E-PL3 replaced by the Nikon D300 camera.
Why this replacement:
Better pictures, less noise.
ISO low to 100 better for longer camera capture time with internal shutter open.
Better acces to the memory card and the battery for exchanging.
Specs:
Nikon D300 camera in manual mode.
DIY adaptor to mount the Nikor AF105/2.8D macro lens.
Nikkor AF105/2.8D macro lens.
A DIY external shutter housing has the super fast Uniblitz VS14s shutter.
The shutter-lag is only 3.5ms, the opening time is 4.5 ms or 1/220 sec.
A DIY HT module control the 65V to the external shutter. The high power current for the external shutter is supplied by a flash capacitor 740 uF/330V.
Detector depth accuracy: 0.25mm at 310mm from object to front macro lens, frame = 60mm.
The 2 flashes are SB-80-DX types (or SB800). They works in TTL mode and are controlled via my hardware modules. Via the keyboard all settings can be changed and stored into a flash eeprom. So the flashes are all controlled from the controller and no more individual on the flashes itself.
The hardware core is a FPGA module from terasic, the DE0-nano. Very powerfull and small. All high-speed timings are controlled from this board. More then 81 I/O pins are used.
All modules in this unit can be reprogrammed via an USB connection.
For high-speed in-flight insects capture I use a laser system to know when an insects come in focus. This laser system is very accurate and quickly. In just 50 us I know when an insects stay infocus. Thereafter the high-speed external shutter is activated into 3.5 ms to take a picture. Even super fast flying insects at macro closeup stay in the picture frame with this ultra short detecton delay and shutter-lag.
The detector has a 128 pixel line array to readout the laserbeam. A distance change of only 0.25 mm can be seen by the line array. Each pixel has an 8 bit value. The value, the position and the noise can be set into the parameters for optimal picture capture. Even super small insects of 0.5mm can be detected at 500 mm from the macro lens and this into the super short time of only 50 us (1/20.000 sec)
I use a power-pack module to powerup all the hardware. The racing pack module gives 7.5V @ 4200 mA. Multiple DC/DC convertors converts this to the correct voltage with high efficience. More then 10 hours autonomy is provided.
List of frame versus distance (object to frontside macro lens):
Free Distance ...... Frame
410 mm ............... 80 mm
360 mm ............... 70 mm
310 mm ............... 60 mm . . . Detector depth accuracy 0.25mm
280 mm ............... 50 mm
235 mm ............... 45 mm
215 mm ............... 40 mm
190 mm ............... 35 mm
165 mm ............... 30 mm
147 mm ............... 25 mm
125 mm ............... 20 mm
112 mm ............... 17 mm
Extra added the ringflash Nikon SB29s. The flash is also drived via TTL mode to setup the correct power. I've connected this extra flash parallel to the flash2 SB-80-DX flash with the same power control due to the limited outputs of the central controller. If need is can also set this SB29s flash manual into 1/4 power or 1/32 power. I use 2 diodes in series to connect the flashes parallel. This works perfect. I've added this ringflash due the high flash power needed to works in full sunlight and much better light distribution in closeups.
Functioning of the optical detector.
The detector gives a signal when an object arrives at the correct focus area. The beam of a green laser pointer is reflected by the moving object (insect) and is received on a 128 pixel line array detector. According to the distance of the object the laserbeam give a signal on a group pixels on the linearray between 1 and 128. One pixel position corresponds to 0.25 mm distance change in depht. Setting a detector range on the controller can change the focus zone and the focus distance. Ambient light is calculated over the full 128 pixel line array during a scan, the detector signal show a peak value when the object is in the focus range. The normal working distance from the front side of the macro lens to the object in focus change with the macro lens ratio. The normal range with the external fast shutter system is from 112mm to 410mm. The integration time to measure the light vary from 50us to any desired value, practical limited to 850 us. The most use scan time is 50 us at daytime.
This detector work very fast, only 50 us or 20.000 samples/sec. A digital filter algorithme can be added to avoid unwanted triggers. This digital filter can be set from 1 to 8 samples before a valid trigger is assigned. This is especially important during the day when there is plenty of sunshine. Once the detector signal validated the external super-fast shutter is activated. This take only 3.5ms to full open time.
Optical detector versus cross-beam interruption:
Cross-beam interruption work also very accurate but there is a limiet on the acces to the insects. No other objects may interrupt the beam and the position of the laser-detectors are in front of the insects. Shy insects are less likely to fly here between and there are a lot of limits from unwanted objects between laser and object. My optical detector can even look inside a hole to capture the insects. The full distance between front of the lens and the insects is free with the optical detector. So I can record many more species.
Another advantage with the optical line array is the dynamic focus control without adjusting again the macro lens. Just change the "FOCUS" value ( normal set at 64, the centre of the 128 pixel array) to set the detector point further or closer. The "DOF" value set the detector tolerance (depht) and the "NOISE" parameter set the sensivity, or signal above the ambient value valid for detection. At night to detect super small insects I can increase the integration time given a super boost for the sensivity to detect black and small in-flight insects. Insects of 0.5mm body are suitable for detection.
Total weight unit : 6.6 kg inclusief all batteries.
So I made a ringflash, out of perspex, tinfoil and gaffer tape. Works really well! Been getting me some strange looks when out on the streets with it :p
Strobist info: SB800, homemade ringflash (pic here), CLS-fired, TTL +0.7 EV.
DIY ringflash made from a box of celebrations. cut a hole in the bottom. Pushed a 50 CD-R drum through the middle. roughly lined with silver foil. Gaffa taped an old flash in there.
Strobist:
Sb-800 through D.I.Y Ring flash 1/4 power on axis.
Sb-600 camera right with built in diffuser 1/2 power.
STROBIST INFO;
Jinbei Ringflash for fill, 2 speedlights left right at full power
triggered with Skyports
Wants.
Zerene stack Pmax.
54steps @ 75 um.
Nikon D7100 + AFD 200 F7.1 ISO 200
Mitutoyo M Plan APO 2X.
FG led module flash time: 10 msec:
Power Led groep:
A: 99%
B: 99%
C: 00%
D: 00%
E: 99%
F: 99%
Reduce power on a few led groeps to eliminate reflection.
Position groeps:
--- E
A --- F
B --- C
--- D
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.
Testing out Robert James' DIY ringflash on Haley at Don Giannatti's lighting essentials workshop .
DIY ringflash, handheld, I am shooting through the ring. Gotta get me one of these!
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.
My shiny new and cheap ringflash arrived. This was the first pic out of it. Happy. Straight out the camera no post processing at all. And he didnt have a dirty face for once.
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.
A part of a collaboration to bring a real functional ring flash for those of us that can not spare ore than a few cents.
Find the instructions and full story here.