Any electronics wizards on the forum? ring flash modification info needed.

mh68 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 09:36 PM

I bought a cheapo ring flash from Ebay a while ago which proved way too powerful and unfortunately it doesnt have an output control.I managed ok with it by masking some of the flash to reduce output but was wondering if there was a way to control output more precisely by adding something between the flash unit and power pack, such as a potentiometer?
The ringflash proved handy in certain situations so it would be handy if it could be modified to control output.Anyone with any experience of modifying flashguns?

Mark H

glsammy · #2 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 09:53 PM

No. but you could look at it from another angle. How about changing the way you shoot? For instance, lower the ISO, this is how I control the light levels when I'm using my ring flash. Of course you can also shoot with the aperture set to something like F16-F18, assuming the camera/lens your using will go that far!

mh68 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 10:00 PM

Hi Graham, I normally shoot at 80iso - the lowest iso on my camera,with flash, and the aperture doesnt go smaller than f8 (panasonic fz20).Shooting in manual mode at higher shutter speeds would work if not for the fact the screen blacks out on the fz20 in this mode if the image is underexposed.I`ll mess about a bit more and see if i can work out a solution....failing that it`ll be a blue peter job with an adjustable baffle over the front of the flash to vary output that way....

Mark H

glsammy · #4 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 10:06 PM

Yep, that's the way! Diffuse the light by any way you can, it should help. I gather there's no electrical info going form the flash to the Camera?

mh68 · #5 (**permalink**) 17-08-2007, 10:33 PM

No Graham, unfortunately.

Mark H

HowlinWolf · #6 (**permalink**) 18-08-2007, 03:47 AM

mh68:

Have you considered neutral density filters to reduce the light output? The gel type are relatively cheap, come in varying strengths (f-stops), and could be cut to size to fit the tube of your ring flash.

Caveat: I've no experience with this (I don't use flash at all, these days). It's just food for thought.

HW

mh68 · #7 (**permalink**) 18-08-2007, 08:53 AM

Thanks for the suggestion HW, i`ll take a look at those when i get the chance.

Mark H

mh68 · #8 (**permalink**) 20-08-2007, 11:58 AM

Well, the ringflash problem has been solved in a roundabout way, the unit decided to totally pack in at the weekend,no amount of fiddling would get it to work and as it was a sealed unit the casing would have ended up too damaged to repair had i tried to open it up.....plus the additional chance of getting an electricity belt from the capacitor put me off a tad too.Its now filed under "B" for bin

Thanks for the replies anyway

Mark H