A Ring Lamp for my Mavica CD1000

The Idea

I read at MIE a message about a ring lamp build by Gene F. Rhodes. Looked at his work and tried it for myself. I think, I will be very happy with the result! Special advantage (unlike with a ring flash) is that you see the result in the viewfinder - not like with a flash as you will see a nearly dark picture in the viewfinder and the result in the "flashed picture".

The Layout

You can download a PDF document with all layouts for 12-, 16-, 20-, 24-, 30-, 36-, 40-, and 45-LED versions of this ring lamp here (300KB).
Caution: This layout is new and untested. If you use it, please report success or error to Andreas Schrell.

The Parts

I ordered the parts from a german electronics seller and went on sawing and soldering. I used 16 white 3mm LEDs (3000mcd each) and the appropiate resistors (62R,0.25W). The power is supplied by 4 AA-NiCd-Batteries.

The final Product

The ring lamp looks quite bad - I should perhaps paint it - but it works. By the way: The LCD-Display showed a few vertical orange stripes (overexposure) when I took the picture. They are not to see in the final picture. Tststststs.

And some results

You may have to adjust the white balance if you take pictures in rooms with artificial light (The LED have 8000K.) I adjusted it for the flowers. The pink dried flower picture was taken in total darkness - except for the ring lamp of course.

ExposureProgram: Program
ExposureBiasValue: 0
ExposureTime: 1/30
FNumber: 2.8
Flash: No
FocalLength: 13.7
MeteringMode: Center weighted average
ISOSpeedRatings: 193
LightSource: Daylight

ExposureProgram: Program
ExposureBiasValue: 0
ExposureTime: 1/70
FNumber: 4
Flash: No
FocalLength: 14.1
MeteringMode: Center weighted average
ISOSpeedRatings: 80
LightSource: Daylight

ExposureProgram: Program
ExposureBiasValue: 0
ExposureTime: 1/60
FNumber: 4
Flash: No
FocalLength: 14.1
MeteringMode: Center weighted average
ISOSpeedRatings: 80
LightSource: Daylight

And an ON/OFF-Test

The first spider picture is with ring lamp off, the second with ring lamp on. You see the change in the background. Exif Info says 1/55 with lamp and 1/30 without ring lamp.

ExposureProgram: Program
ExposureBiasValue: 0
ExposureTime: 1/30
FNumber: 2.8
Flash: No
FocalLength: 12.6
MeteringMode: Center weighted average
ISOSpeedRatings: 101
LightSource: Auto

ExposureProgram: Program
ExposureBiasValue: 0
ExposureTime: 1/55
FNumber: 2.8
Flash: No
FocalLength: 12.6
MeteringMode: Center weighted average
ISOSpeedRatings: 80
LightSource: Auto