DIY ringflash adapter

Here's another DIY project i undertook - an Orbis style ringflash adapter.

Dimensions

• inner diameter - 85 mm
• outer diameter - 235 mm
• depth - 60 mm
• neck length - 95 mm
• ventilation pipe - 110 x 55 mm

Materials used:

• a rectangular ventilation pipe for the neck
• a flower pot for the inner surface
• a fruit bowl for the outer surface
• Rosco white diffusion filter
• aluminium foil tape
• black ducktape
• white tape for covering the inner surface
• wire for tying the parts together

Tips:

• use of a dremel type of mini drill strongly suggested
• tying the pieces together makes the final product more rigid than one where glue or tape was used
• apply 2-3 layers of filter near the adapter neck area as this gets illuminated much brighter than the rest of the diffusion area
• cover the exterior with black tape for a more professional look :)
• make four plastic flaps on each side of the neck and add a rubber band around it to make the adapter fit flash heads of various sizes

A minidrill comes in very handy when cutting out the tricky sufaces - WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES AT ALL TIMES!!! The drill pictured above is produced by VELLMAN and costs around $45 (in Estonia). People on the other side of the pond should look for Dremel products. It's an all-around great investmen.

Light distribution test in a 3D software package using GI (global illumination)

Cut the top off the vase which forms the inner surface of the ringflash adapter.

The wire connections are hidden under the tape

Apply aluminium foil tape to allow light to spread out more from the neck

Rosco filter applied. Rubber band around the neck allows attatchment of flashes of various sizes. BEAWARE: flash might drop out if not held firmly enough!!!

Back side of the adapter covered with black duck tape

Notice the double layered filter near the neck area. It has the same arched shape at the ends as did the bright light on the 3D light distribution test image. Orbis incorporates the same feature.

Ringflash adapter in action - attached is a Sunpak PZ-5000AF - a fairly powerful strobe light in manual mode. I'm pretty satisfied with how the project turned out.

Til next time,
Mihkel