DIY Ring-Flash with build imgs and sample shots...

[JGonzales]

Hey everyone,

I'm new here and have become a big fan of this DIY ring flash.  I would love to make one myself, I just  simply don't have the time between school and work to build this myself.  Or half of the tools for that matter.  Would anyone who has already completed a build be willing to make one for me, for a few bucks of course?  I'd also pay for all supplies and shipping.  Thanks ahead of time and sorry if this type of request isn't allowed.  

Please feel free to email me directly  @  Joe_Gonzales@mac.com

[motleypixel]

Joe, welcome to the MP.  Hummm...I know I'm the same way right now...just way too busy.  Maybe once you finish up school and gain sometime a project like this would be fun for you.  I wish I could help you but I just can't fullfill a request like this.

[JGonzales]

Thank you for at least considering it. 

[motleypixel]

Well, for shade I used IKEA tureen http://www.ikea.com/ru/ru/catalog/products/30081467 , it's 28cm(11") in diameter, as for vent reducer that's not vent reducer , it's just IKEA tin (3.3") http://www.ikea.com/ru/ru/catalog/products/20083650.
The only one disadvantage of that design is weight (1 kg without camera, flash and flash trigger). What's weight of your device? 

Mine weighs 1lb 5.8oz

[cstark]

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether or not the Nikon SB-400 is powerful enough for a setup like this? (or whatever the entry-level Canon flash is)

I am interested in making a ring flash and I own the sb-400.  Thanks for the help!

[motleypixel]

Welcome cstark to the MP...good questions...I know the Canon 430 is good enough...420 (discontinued?) may not be...well...it lacks manual settings. 

Any Nikonions what to chime in?

[cyan]

Thanks very much for this great work, I have started assembling the bits.
I have a couple of ideas I would like to explore with it.
I have seen some stainless steel mixing bowls ( light weight) that seem to be the correct size and shape and come with a polished surface. They also have a flat base to cut the hole in. I might even go up a size to 15" or 17".
As for the hot spot in the lower section, I note that the flash head actually points slightly towards the inner face of the diffuser, and that will contribute to this effect; perhaps a business card or even a small piece of reflective aluminium placed in the flash head a la press photographers, might be the answer.
Any comments on these points appreciated - I will post my progress.
Thanks again for the great work.

[motleypixel]

As for the hot spot in the lower section, I note that the flash head actually points slightly towards the inner face of the diffuser, and that will contribute to this effect; perhaps a business card or even a small piece of reflective aluminium placed in the flash head a la press photographers, might be the answer.

Yep you are right and what I've done to help is to extend the built-in bounce card on my 580EX before inserting it into the ring-flash and that helps a lot.  So for the next round or starting a new one, I would try to make it insert as straight up as possible.

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting...please do post your progress.

[motleypixel]

Here's another post on how to create this...the base on this one is really nice:  http://davidtejada.blogspot.com/2007/12/building-ring-flash.html