DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

Started Nov 24, 2019 | Discussions
Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

I'm wondering if anyone here has used the kraken wefine 3000 ring light? I don't currently have a strobe for my camera ( Sony rx100va). I am considering getting this light. I would like to hear some other thoughts on this lighting option.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
Pentax K-r Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 Sony RX1 Sony RX100
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
Barmaglot_07 Contributing Member • Posts: 633
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

See this thread on Wetpixel: https://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?/topic/60886-kraken-ring-light-3000/

I have considered getting one, but it probably wouldn't work for me - I use a Sony A6300 with 90mm lens, so the working distance on the bare lens would be too long for the LED ring to be effective, while in supermacro mode (Weefine WFL05S close-up lens, +13 power) the working distance is so short that the ring light would consume it entirely. With an RX100 and a moderately powerful close-up lens, it should work okay though.

 Barmaglot_07's gear list:Barmaglot_07's gear list
Sony a6300 Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS +5 more
OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

To clarify I also have an UCL 165 (+3 diopter) I can add to the RX100Va.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
kelpdiver Veteran Member • Posts: 5,564
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000
1

I suspect you saw the sale going on at BlueWater for it.

I got it for my wife's GX7II setup to be a more compact option for her where she wouldn't have to think about strobe aiming.   Though since then, I've probably used it more than she has, as we took a trip where I opted to leave the ILC rig behind.   Last year, I won a $300 thinktank roller with a picture of a girabaldi of all things.  The ring light gives a different look.   Didn't hurt that conditions in LA were pretty mediocre that weekend.

The limited buttons does make controlling it a learning experience, and a bit of a tough one.   You should be able to put it in a low light mode, and then have the camera flash trigger the full power burst, but I've had mixed success with this.   This may be a fiber cord issue - possible reason to get the multicore.     The other mode of interest is to put it on red light and get close to things that otherwise run, and then have the strobe trigger normal light.  This can be done, but again I find it to be a battle sometimes UW.   The instructions are woefully primitive.   End result, some times I just ran the dive with it running at full power.   But note that constant full power is a third less than max power for a single shot.   That will do for close to mid range in California, tropical waters at night or deep or underhangs, otherwise more close range subjects for bright waters.

For $230, I think it's a great option to have.   But definitely the 3000, not the 1000.   A single strobe arm set, minus the strobe, is nearly as expensive.

even lighting here, and the range limitation lets the background fade away

Hanging close to a sleepy cuttlefish

OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

Thanks for your thoughts. Yes, I ordered it from bluewater. I was able to get the ring light, spare battery, and fiber optic cord for $300. This was a deal way too hard to pass up.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
Chris Kippax
Chris Kippax Regular Member • Posts: 480
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

Hi Dann

Go to http://nudibranch.com.au/

Click on the http://nudibranchcentral.blogspot.com/

%99 of the shots on here since 2018 have been taken with the weefine and RX100 m2

 Chris Kippax's gear list:Chris Kippax's gear list
Canon EOS-1D X Canon EOS 5DS Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Canon EF 135mm F2L USM +3 more
OP Dann-Oh Contributing Member • Posts: 894
Re: Kraken Wefine Ring Light 3000

Thank you very much. I can't wait to get out to use my ring light.

 Dann-Oh's gear list:Dann-Oh's gear list
Olympus E-M5 III Olympus E-PL10 Olympus E-M1 III Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Panasonic Lumix G Fisheye 8mm F3.5 +20 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads