easy DIY flouro ring light "ghetto style"

slinks

slinks

Well-known member
so, I saw some ghetto flouro ring lights before in the past but i thought of super simple way to do it. Anyone should be able to do this.

well anyways here is a screen grab of a test i did @ F6.8, wide open, ped set to -7 and I'm using the preset 3200k white balance preset. No other lights used besides the ring light.
ringlighttest.bmp


what you need is your dvx, a flouro circline bulb, a ballast, zipties,and a plug or whatever u call em.
ringlight1.jpg


I got everything from homedepot except for the ballast which I got at sunpark.
this is the ballast. model # LC12014T
http://www.sunpkco.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=700

and here are the specs on the circline flouro light which has a color temp of 4100k. model # FC12T9
http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=11492

here is a look of it all put together.
ringlight2.jpg


From the picture you should be able to figure out how I secured the ringlight to the default dvx hood. Its that simple.

the only tool u would need is a screwdriver so you can tighten the plug onto the wires of the ballast.
this plug...u can probably find everything here at homedepot or lowes but the ballast u may have to order online or look for a light store. just make sure the ballast is meant for a 4 pin 32 watt circline light.
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/032664/032664539404md.jpg

hope i was clear on everything here. let me know if you have any questions.

enjoy!

As Tommy L. says, "If I can do it, you can too!"

I will evenutally build it so the ballast can be attached onto the dvx shoe mount.
Just need to find a small plastic case i can put the ballast in. any ideas?
 
That is not ghetto, it is awesome! Great job. I would like to see you secure it to the hood a little better, maybe some aluminum required or something to get it just right.
 
Although I am with you... one bump into a c- stand and you have glass shards in the talent's face. Does this lamp have a plastic sleeve or another manner to keep the broken glass from spraying when in use? Not to poo poo your great geuriila work, it is just I have seen lamps do some crazy things in my 17 years of lighting for stage and broadcast. Safety is king.
 
My bro was walking past the screen as I was looking at the grabs...

"Whoa that's cooool."

That about says it.
 
haha thanks guys. as for it being secure, the zipties actually make it pretty secure. once it is all tightened around the hood, it does not move at all. You have to be careful tightenting the zipties though, you dont want to crack the bulb. these bulbs are a bit more hazardous than your average bulb :P.

yes I put this up because I thought it was the easiest fastest and cheapest build for a ringlight but I do agree on the safety issue. I dont know how other people use ringlights but I tend to not move around often when using one and I am pretty damn cautious when i have it equiped. I will use it mostly for music video type shoots or some glamour types. I was trying to think of some way to make it more safe but none comes to mind. Any ideas?
 
How about splitting a length of food grade plastic tubing and place around the bulb? You should be able to find at a large hardware store if HD doesn't sell.
 
I was thinking 'split' pipe insulation foam tubing, a tad too small...opening the split, cutting down the off axis light and focusing the remaining exposed tube directly on the subject. Use clear silicon inside the pipe insulator glueing 75% of the bulb to the foam! Adds cushion for the cable ties...and some safety for bumps and shattering glass!

the charcoal grey foam pipe insulation would match the camera's color, making it a little more elegant. So wouldn't using a bayonet adapter ring on your dvx vs. the sun shade, to attach the lamp. I wonder if that would glue to my Indiesnap mattbox? I think this uses the Cokin "A" Series - Filter Holder, which screws on the front of the dvx and its flags are attached to it, you could make a permanent holder for your lamp!

correct me if im wrong, but I dont think 'heat' is an issue here? nor weight?

I luv your idea Slinks...I'm off to home depot...hey would that ballast light other tubes, like the 30watt, Kino Kamio 4-pin 9" ring lamp? Now that would save a few bucks!
 
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bwest said:
I was thinking 'split' pipe insulation foam tubing, a tad too small...opening the split, cutting down the off axis light and focusing the remaining exposed tube directly on the subject. Use clear silicon inside the pipe insulator glueing 75% of the bulb to the foam! Adds cushion for the cable ties...and some safety for bumps and shattering glass!

the charcoal grey foam pipe insulation would match the camera's color, making it a little more elegant. So wouldn't using a bayonet adapter ring on your dvx vs. the sun shade, to attach the lamp. I wonder if that would glue to my Indiesnap mattbox? I think this uses the Cokin "A" Series - Filter Holder, which screws on the front of the dvx and its flags are attached to it, you could make a permanent holder for your lamp!

correct me if im wrong, but I dont think 'heat' is an issue here? nor weight?

I luv your idea Slinks...I'm off to home depot...hey would that ballast light other tubes, like the 30watt, Kino Kamio 4-pin 9" ring lamp?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea to me. Why don't you try it and let us know -- post pictures too. You can't use the back half of the bulb for anything anyway.
 
bwest said:
I was thinking 'split' pipe insulation foam tubing, a tad too small...opening the split, cutting down the off axis light and focusing the remaining exposed tube directly on the subject. Use clear silicon inside the pipe insulator glueing 75% of the bulb to the foam! Adds cushion for the cable ties...and some safety for bumps and shattering glass!

the charcoal grey foam pipe insulation would match the camera's color, making it a little more elegant. So wouldn't using a bayonet adapter ring on your dvx vs. the sun shade, to attach the lamp. I wonder if that would glue to my Indiesnap mattbox? I think this uses the Cokin "A" Series - Filter Holder, which screws on the front of the dvx and its flags are attached to it, you could make a permanent holder for your lamp!

correct me if im wrong, but I dont think 'heat' is an issue here? nor weight?

I luv your idea Slinks...I'm off to home depot...hey would that ballast light other tubes, like the 30watt, Kino Kamio 4-pin 9" ring lamp? Now that would save a few bucks!
Click to expand...
that grey foam pipe idea sounds good and I actually know the part you are talking about. :). I don't know anything about a mattbox attachments since I dont have one yet myself.

You are correct on the heat and weight issue. It doesn't get hot enough to worry about and the weight is quite light the heaviest thing is the ballast.

I'm not sure but I would guess that the ballast would be able to light that 30w 9". Just be careful on that, I'm sure if you call in they would let you know if it can or not. they seemed pretty nice when I stopped by their warehouse.

by the way the price was $6 for the ballast.
here is a better link with price and online purchase for it.
https://s.hostingprod.com/@www.sunp...d=700&osCsid=8f09c8e171bb6e550f05ba73168ed14c

here is also a list of other ballasts that can be used for your other DIY flouro projects.

https://s.hostingprod.com/@www.sunpkco.com/ssl/index.php

jeez i feel like a spokesperson for this company...they should pay me LOL. :)

oh yes and if you are worried about any light flicker , there isn't any flicker problems that I have come across yet. Its a pretty solid source of light.
 
Hey Slinks

I'm looking at this bulb, listed below, and wondering why you didnt choose it for your experiment, albeit 9" vs 12. Did you want 4100k color? This bulb also has higher CRI and more lumens [2200lumens] ?
Thought I'd ask before I purchased, just incase im missing something! I found this on your web sight's search function using 'circline bulb' just above your lamp. I like the 40w's too, but maybe need to be mounted differently, they're 16" bulbs [big]!

32032-51K (32 Watt, T-6)
32 Watt, 9" Diameter Bright White T6 Circline Bulb
Product No. TEC32032-51K
Length: 9.000 Brand: Value Brand
Shape: T-6 Base: 4-Pin
Finish: White-Bright Color Temperature: 5100K
Diameter: 0.750 CRI Range: 82
Wattage: 32 Watts

is there a difference between a T-6 bulb vs your T-9?
do i need different ballast?
 
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um well the bulb I got was the 1st one I came across at home depot, I was actually in a rush so I just grabbed whatever seemed decent. that T-6 bulb is probably better for use with other daylight balanced lights since its closer to the color temp. I'm sure you can find other bulbs and ballasts that can fit your needs but this is what was local for me that I found so I went with it.

If you need to match color you can always also use some color filters.

I also bought a 16" 40w along with my 32w and it worked quite nicely. I never got a chance to try mounting it because I stored it improperly and something smashed it :(. sad face for me.

Careful with these bulbs! especially the big ones.
 
battery powered

battery powered

Is there a way that a setup like this could be made to work with the panasonic battery, or just a pack of normal Double A's? How much light time might it have? thanks, -jason
 
viellearoue35 said:
Is there a way that a setup like this could be made to work with the panasonic battery, or just a pack of normal Double A's? How much light time might it have? thanks, -jason
Click to expand...

Slinks, you know this brings up another point....dc input electonic ballast! The Kino Flo Kamio is a 12volt lamp...is your lamp 12volt?
I know your ballast is a 120v input so no battery is going to run that. The expensive Kamio uses a DC input ballast.

It would be interesting to slap a 1lb, 12v rechargable NiMH Universal External Battery on that, now wouldnt it?

A Google search produces loads of DC input ballasts
here's one:
http://www.iotaengineering.com/dcselect.htm

Are you still working to upgrade your lamp?
Can anyone else chime in on this?
 
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slinks said:
um well the bulb I got was the 1st one I came across at home depot, I was actually in a rush so I just grabbed whatever seemed decent.
Click to expand...

Hahahahahah yea I'm the same way!
 
bwest said:
Slinks, you know this brings up another point....dc input electonic ballast! The Kino Flo Kamio is a 12volt lamp...is your lamp 12volt?
I know your ballast is a 120v input so no battery is going to run that. The expensive Kamio uses a DC input ballast.

It would be interesting to slap a 1lb, 12v rechargable NiMH Universal External Battery on that, now wouldnt it?

A Google search produces loads of DC input ballasts
here's one:
http://www.iotaengineering.com/dcselect.htm

Are you still working to upgrade your lamp?
Can anyone else chime in on this?
Click to expand...

hmm that sounds quite interesting. When I tend to use my ring light I usually am stationary but a battery powered alternative would be great if I was perhaps shooting a music video or what not in a some remote location.

I'm no expert at a lot of the electronic stuff but I have some friends that know better. I'll try to see what i can come up with though it might not be any time soon.

It would be great if someone can take a crack at this, and plus this could apply to other fluoro lights. Battery powered portable light kit....now that sounds quite attractive. But I really wonder how long you can have something running on just battery power and plus batteries are generally expensive.
 
viellearoue35 said:
Is there a way that a setup like this could be made to work with the panasonic battery, or just a pack of normal Double A's? How much light time might it have? thanks, -jason
Click to expand...

I really have no idea. sorry man.
 
slinks said:
hmm that sounds quite interesting. When I tend to use my ring light I usually am stationary
Click to expand...

yea me too! I use a camera cart on wheels though, so at least I can roll around. Its a smooth push, emulating a track, combined with a nice fluid head and I'm golden. This light idea would make a great fill light for me under these circumstances with the key on another roller stand. I like handheld stuff but I shake too much, so this is the next best alternative! I run alot of things off external batteries on my cart...including sound! Lighting is my final frontier..so I'm out on the hunt for good ideas that can work ala cart.

my cart: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=72231&page=2&highlight=avenger

couse we could save and try ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/kino-flo-ring_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8QQsubmitsearchZSearch
nice price...huh?
check out the ballast!
see better on b&h photo
 
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