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DIY or off shelf mini ring light for 30mm handheld macro

Started Feb 16, 2021 | Discussions
Jeeter001
Jeeter001 Contributing Member • Posts: 768
DIY or off shelf mini ring light for 30mm handheld macro

I like using the Pan 30mm macro on either my GM1 or GX9 in handheld mode. Outdoors this works mostly well but indoors you often run out of stops if you want to shoot at F8/F11.  For this kind of fun I do not want encumbrances like big lighting accessories, tripods etc... I want some thing that fits in the pocket - like the below macro kit!

The problem with ring lights (I have a Neewer model already) is that (1) they are still too bulky for this kit and (2) they project light too far forward for the short 1:1 working distances of the 30mm macros, the ring light actually cast a shadow.  I'm not hung up on exactly 1:1 but it's nice to have it when you want it.

I'm thinking of a DIY as I don't see anything on the market.  The concept would be a tube, perhaps a PVC tube that fits over the lens or a set of filter step rings to make a quasi-tube. Then apply a tape light to the INSIDE of the tube (see picture below).

I notice these strip lights/tape lights are becoming popular as they are very flexible, and some can be cut and sticky taped to just about any surface. There are cheap USB versions and more expensive photography grade 12/24V varieties.

One benefit of the 30mm macro and the short working distance is that you can get away with less light. Since the light does not have far to go, the old inverse square law lets us use much lower power than we might otherwise need in a ring light. This is why every ring light available is too bulky for this application, they are made for a general lighting scenario that has a working distance of several inches at least.  So that makes them bulky and built to project light as far forward as possible.

Anyone see anything like my diagram on the market?  Or try this before?  I'm handy enough to wire this up but wondering how I might deploy a battery that is small and out of the way.  Worst case is I can put the battery on a cold shoe so it can sit there.  Despite them being lower quality, a USB tape light might be better as there are probably many more battery and charger options than a high voltage tape light.

One other dpreview thread I found about the topic of lighting for a 30mm macro but the lighting device is too bulky for my application.

 Jeeter001's gear list:Jeeter001's gear list
Panasonic LX10 Panasonic FZ80/FZ82 Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80 Olympus PEN E-PM2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 +50 more
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm F2.8
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maggiemole Senior Member • Posts: 1,988
Re: DIY or off shelf mini ring light for 30mm handheld macro

I’m not clear about your objective - but I’m very interested in your proposal, as I too use the GX9 and the 30mm macro. You say the setup works OK outdoors but want more light indoors. So why does an indoors setup need to be pocketable? So far i’m managing with the bulky Kaiser ring light. And I seem to prefer the 4k video rather than go to f11 to get the DoF. I am using Zerene Stacker to handle the images.

 maggiemole's gear list:maggiemole's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F4-5.6 R +8 more
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