DIY Fiber Optic Flash - for macro photography

Описание: DIY Fiber Optic Flash - Show Notes

Hello all and welcome back to Allan Walls Photography.

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The gear used in this video includes a salvaged lens element, but you can also buy something very similar... https://amzn.to/3rCcgbw
I am working on a more compact version of the device that I can house in an electrical project box like the one I just ordered... https://amzn.to/3qzlp3p
I really like these individual fiberoptic arms, which cost the same as a used double arm Volpi (if you can find one). My improved device will use two of these... https://amzn.to/3cf1rps

Today’s project will probably not be considered a triumph of modern engineering. At least not by anyone other than me. I’m pretty chuffed with how it turned out, though.

The idea came to me ages ago. I have messed around with fiber optics in the past, but only with some kind of continuous LED light source. What I have really wanted was a way to use fiber optics to deliver flash to tiny macro subjects, but all previous efforts resulted in contraptions that were unable to get enough light to where I wanted it. But for this project, I had a new thought - what if I used some kind of lens to focus the light from a speedlight directly onto the intake of a fiber optic cable?

This is a realtime experiment video - none of what you see here had been tried (by me) before I pressed the record button. I did edit out some of the more embarrassing gaffs and the parts with actual bleeding, but otherwise this is exactly what happened.

The fiber optic system was purchased from Volpi AG, a Swiss fiber optics manufacturer, and it set me back about $39. The flash I used was an ancient Altura device, but any speedlight will work. The lens was a simple biconvex internal element from an old broken camera lens, but I am almost certain that a simple magnifying glass lens would give similar results. According to my calculations (which are not to be trusted), the focal length of the lens I used was right at 43mm, but I’m not sure if that will be of any real help. If you decide to do something like this, you will need to build your device around the properties of whatever lens you can get your hands on.

If you check out my blog post (which can be found at https://www.allanwallsphotography.com... ) you will find some links to materials that I think should work well (it is all stuff that I am gathering for a more sturdy permanent mkII, build that I am already working on).

I am looking forward to doing a macro shoot video in which I use this device exclusively for all my lighting. Keep an eye out for that one!

Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to subscribe and ring the bell!

Cheers,
Allan