Home-made focus assist light

TomCee · Sep 16, 2002

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Ice Pick110014 · Sep 16, 2002

TomCee said:
Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Tom

Here in New Zealand, we have been raised on the 'if it is fixable, then YOU can fix it' notion. All manner of things get hacked together or invented, and if it means that we can do-it-ourselves and save some $$$ then we will.

Your device shows that same attitude, though there is nothing 'hacked' about your work. Excellent job, it looks like it will give you years of use!

BTW, you are always welcome to come to New Zealand - our natural bush is full of small (and not so small) creatures.

Shane

--
'...I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs!'

Benoit Racicot · Sep 16, 2002

I wonder...

would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Ice Pick said:
TomCee said:

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Click to expand...

Tom

Here in New Zealand, we have been raised on the 'if it is fixable,
then YOU can fix it' notion. All manner of things get hacked
together or invented, and if it means that we can do-it-ourselves
and save some $$$ then we will.
Your device shows that same attitude, though there is nothing
'hacked' about your work. Excellent job, it looks like it will
give you years of use!
BTW, you are always welcome to come to New Zealand - our natural
bush is full of small (and not so small) creatures.

Shane

--
'...I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs!'

--
Benoit
http://www.pbase.com/glutier

Jay S. · Sep 16, 2002

Tom,

Greatly appreciated. I have one of those hanging around as well. Time to start cutting, smoothing, connecting, and soldering! ;-) Thanks!

Jay S.

TomCee said:
Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

John R. · Sep 16, 2002

Jay Sottolano said:
Jay S.

TomCee said:

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Click to expand...

I don't recall the brand, but there is a self-contained video light that could be attached to the tripod mount in the same way without the separate battery pack. Check B&H camcorder accessory lists. John R.

Mike Raus · Sep 17, 2002

Good job Tom.

I just wonder if a simple (and smaller) laser pointer pen (5$) could give you enough light to focus.
It could give you advantages in term of space and wouldn't disturbe your target.
Mike

PS Yes, I know I could try myself, but I'm waiting for my camera.

TomCee said:
Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Sam Curcio · Sep 17, 2002

I checked out B&H and they have a small infrared lamp that attaches to the tripod mount. Will this work? Or, does it need to be white light?
The lamp is used on Canon video cameras with a night shooting feature.

TomCee · Sep 17, 2002

Benoit Racicot said:
would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Ice Pick said:

TomCee said:

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Click to expand...

Tom

Here in New Zealand, we have been raised on the 'if it is fixable,
then YOU can fix it' notion. All manner of things get hacked
together or invented, and if it means that we can do-it-ourselves
and save some $$$ then we will.
Your device shows that same attitude, though there is nothing
'hacked' about your work. Excellent job, it looks like it will
give you years of use!
BTW, you are always welcome to come to New Zealand - our natural
bush is full of small (and not so small) creatures.

Shane

--
'...I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs!'

Click to expand...

--
Benoit
http://www.pbase.com/glutier

Maybe for the AF part it will work, I do't know. But it wouldn't fit me, because I want to see in the LCD what I'm shooting at.
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

TomCee · Sep 17, 2002

Mike Raus said:
PS Yes, I know I could try myself, but I'm waiting for my camera.

TomCee said:

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Click to expand...

From reading other posts (in the Nokin forum) I noticed it could work very well with a laserpen. You have to use a hologram attached to it, to minimize the risk of the laserlight and eyes etc. But I don't think it will fit me, because I want to have good light on my subject to see if it's goof in focus etc.
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

TomCee · Sep 17, 2002

Sam Curcio said:
I checked out B&H and they have a small infrared lamp that attaches
to the tripod mount. Will this work? Or, does it need to be white
light?
The lamp is used on Canon video cameras with a night shooting feature.

--

I don't know if it works for the AF part, but surely it doesn't give you better light in the LCD, so you won't see your subject.

Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Nick106803 · Sep 17, 2002

TomCee said:
Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Cool, never thought of "building it on" to your camera. I'll definately try that. Thx.

Paul R · Sep 17, 2002

Benoit,

Tried that, it didn't work.

Paul R.

Benoit Racicot said:
would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Ice Pick said:

TomCee said:

Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Click to expand...

Tom

Here in New Zealand, we have been raised on the 'if it is fixable,
then YOU can fix it' notion. All manner of things get hacked
together or invented, and if it means that we can do-it-ourselves
and save some $$$ then we will.
Your device shows that same attitude, though there is nothing
'hacked' about your work. Excellent job, it looks like it will
give you years of use!
BTW, you are always welcome to come to New Zealand - our natural
bush is full of small (and not so small) creatures.

Shane

--
'...I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs!'

Click to expand...

--
Benoit
http://www.pbase.com/glutier

tonyb92510 · Sep 18, 2002

Paul R said:
Tried that, it didn't work.

Paul R.

Benoit Racicot said:

I wonder...

would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Click to expand...

Paul, WHY did the LED approach not work?

I cave contemplated making a ring light based on high-intensity LED's, slip-on mounted to the standard filter tube, for low-light focussing and as a variable-intensity substitute for a flash when doing close-ups. It seemed to me that LED's could be used.

Tony

tailwind · Sep 18, 2002

I guess LED could be used, but not IR LED, since the CCD is not sensitive enough to pick up the reflected IR light (or because there are some sort of filter inside the camera)

P.S. I tried that with my friend using his 707's infrared light to illuminate an object, couldn't see anything on the LCD, but he could.

tonyb said:
Paul R said:

Tried that, it didn't work.

Paul R.

Benoit Racicot said:

I wonder...

would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Paul, WHY did the LED approach not work?

I cave contemplated making a ring light based on high-intensity
LED's, slip-on mounted to the standard filter tube, for low-light
focussing and as a variable-intensity substitute for a flash when
doing close-ups. It seemed to me that LED's could be used.

Tony

--
tailwind - S602Z
http://www.pbase.com/tailwind

tonyb92510 · Sep 18, 2002

tailwind said:
I guess LED could be used, but not IR LED, since the CCD is not
sensitive enough to pick up the reflected IR light (or because
there are some sort of filter inside the camera)

P.S. I tried that with my friend using his 707's infrared light to
illuminate an object, couldn't see anything on the LCD, but he
could.

I was thinking of visible light LED's, and there are some high-intensity ones available which give a light temperature of about 6000-6500 degrees Kelvin, similar to natural sunlight. I'd set up a custom white balance within the 602, to be used with the illuminator.

Tony

TomCee · Sep 18, 2002

Tony,

I think this can be done very well. Nikon has one, macro-ringlight-flash build with led's. I would be very interested in seeing you build one. I guess you only need 1 led, 3v 20 mA, and two penlightbatteries. At close distance (say max 50 cm) it will probaly give you enough illumination to autofocus. It's a pity there's no power outlet on the camera you could drain power from. If you mount the led on a filter beware that you get no shining on the lens. I wonder where you will mount the battery and a on/off switch.
Keep me informed!!
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

tonyb92510 · Sep 18, 2002

Tom, I think I will try it. It likely will be several weeks before I can give you a report, because I must first complete my research to find the best LED choices, and then place the order for them, and finally build at least a prototype. There also are some very small halogen bulbs which might work, and I have not yet studied that possibility.

I have a small 3 LED headband flashlight (called Tikka, made by Petzl) which yields an impressive amount of light. My idea calls for 4 or 6 LED's, and I hope that the range of the proposed ringlight will considerably exceed 50cm. We shall see.

As regards a hypothetical camera power outlet, I suspect that a satisfactory solution will require more current than I'd want to draw from the camera's 5 volt battery source.

tony

TomCee said:
Tony,

I think this can be done very well. Nikon has one,
macro-ringlight-flash build with led's. I would be very interested
in seeing you build one. I guess you only need 1 led, 3v 20 mA, and
two penlightbatteries. At close distance (say max 50 cm) it will
probaly give you enough illumination to autofocus. It's a pity
there's no power outlet on the camera you could drain power from.
If you mount the led on a filter beware that you get no shining on
the lens. I wonder where you will mount the battery and a on/off
switch.
Keep me informed!!
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Paul R · Sep 18, 2002

Tony,

He said High intensity IR led's. The standard high intensity LED's (visable)would work fine, just be sure to have enough so you don't get hot spots.

HTH

Paul R.

tonyb said:
Paul R said:

Tried that, it didn't work.

Paul R.

Benoit Racicot said:

I wonder...

would a bunch of high-intensity IR LEDs also do the job?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Paul, WHY did the LED approach not work?

I cave contemplated making a ring light based on high-intensity
LED's, slip-on mounted to the standard filter tube, for low-light
focussing and as a variable-intensity substitute for a flash when
doing close-ups. It seemed to me that LED's could be used.

Tony

tonyb92510 · Sep 18, 2002

Paul R said:
Tony,

He said High intensity IR led's. The standard high intensity LED's
(visable)would work fine, just be sure to have enough so you don't
get hot spots.

HTH

Paul R.

Thanks, Paul. I guess I did not read what he said carefully enough.

tony

Jussi Orpana · Sep 19, 2002

TomCee said:
Hi,

I like to take pic's of small creatures. Mostly they are seen when
it's dark outside. This weekend made some pic's with in my left
hand a penlight and in the right hand the camera. Not a very stable
situation. Then I remembered that a had an old videa-camera with a
little spotlight on it. I took off this lamp and made a little
aluminium plate mounted on the tripoid socket and taped the lamp
and a battery holder on to it. It works great for me.

for more details:
http://www.pbase.com/tomcee/homemade_focus_assist_light
--
Regards,
Tom
(FinePix S602z)

Why not take commands from hot shoe. When "external flash" goes on the focus assistant light goes off. After picture you'll have to put focus assistand light back on. Does anyone know what kind of signal hot shoe gives?

-Jussi

Sorry for my bad english.

Home-made focus assist light

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