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Readers Projects - DIY Spider Light by Alex Campagna
Thu, 2008-05-01 09:35 — udijw
The Readers Project column is one of my favorite columns in the DIYP. It is a column that brings you DIYP readers to front page and let you share your experience with the rest of DIYP community. (See the bottom of this post for more projects).
There are actually a few ways to get featured in the Readers Projects column: you can post the setup and explanation to the Flickr Image Pool or Discussion threads; you can drop me a note, or you can give me a call (ok, no one has actually done this yet, but I am open...)
Spiderlights are a great source of light. Basically a Spiderlight is a mount with five sockets with which you can do whatever lighting you want: fluorescent or PL bulbs, hot lights or bulb-strobes (Jim from ProPhotoLife has a great comparison of your options here). The only rebuke is the price: if you want to get your hand on one of those, be prepared to bye-bye a few hundreds of dollars.
This is why the SpiderLight project made by Alex Campagna (flickr) gave me such a big buzz.
Alex used his woodworking skills (combined with good inspiration and some hard work) to build a spider light. It looks just like a professional grade product, so it can be taken on location. It features a half power mode. And it can be used inside a softbox. What else do you need? You can read the how I made it post on Alex's Blog (or on DIYP Flickr group).
To add some cream to the spiderlight, Alex built a sofbox to accommodate it. What I like about the design is that the box is round like professional sofboxes. And Alex shares this design in his blog (and DIYP group) as well. Alex also posted the template for making round sofboxes - so it is time to stop being square.
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More Reader's Projects:
- Thomas Schwenger Complete Two Seconds Lighting Kit
- Strap it on Baby
- The Food Saver Omnibounce
- The Best DIY Project Of Them All - Your Project
- The CD Spindle Ringflash
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Not so great.
The light bulb comparison is rather pointless. The only thing he really compares is the "coverage" and which WB preset works best with each bulb.
These facts are kinda needless, as coverage depends on the power of each bulb and maybe on the used reflector, the proper white balance can be adjusted with most cameras. Unfortunately, more interesting questions remain unanswered, such as the spectra of the light (will all colors be reproduced properly?) and the tendency of the light sources to flicker in the frequency of the supplied electricity. And last but not least the stability of the color temperature over the life time of each bulb.
Interesting points
Hi Rod,
The questions you ask are good questions, I too, wonder about spectra of the light. Regardless, most of ametuor photographers also ask basic questions that are answered in the post like how intense the light from a bulb is, does is spread and is it WB accurate.
Jim, I think, this is a challenge for you...
bulb followup
Rod, those are all great questions. I've just posted a followup to the site (and will include a link to it on the "battle" post) that addresses the color spectrum differences of compact fluorescent vs. incandescent. It is a very informative article written by contributor NormMonkey and I hope you find it helpful.
As for your other questions, the answers admittedly exceed my knowledge (without lengthy research) and your inquiries dive deeper than I had intended to go. The study of light (the very basis of photography) is a complex study and, in the context of using these bulbs in a budget lighting setup, I hadn't considered your questions.
My intention was to show the pattern of light from each bulb (in the same reflector), the relative apertures at the chosen shutter speed and the visual color differences on a neutral background. I can see how my intentions failed to answer your questions.
Many of my posts are intended to help readers begin a journey and I'm sorry this one failed to deliver you to a final destination. It has provoked thought, though, and that's the key to learning. Please let me know if you have any additional knowledge on the subject to share with readers, I'd be happy link to it.
I am really glad you posted
I am really glad you posted this, I was thinking of making one and now I have the design for it, so YAY!!!
On his blog he writes he spent 120 on one light, and I don't see how. I'll probably price everything this weekend.
Notice: using 5 75 watt bulbs, you're still only getting 6.25w/s or 6.25% of what a normal flash at full power puts out.
Great Project,
Jake
follow-up for jake...
Hi Jake
Glad you like the design. I'd like to give you a little more detailed cost of everything I bought for the light fixture...
For the electric wire:
- Wall plug: 7$ (I bought the quality one, not the cheapest one)
- 6m of 16/3 electric wire: 6$ (on special)
- On/Off wire switch: 5.80$
- Electrical connectors: 2.50$
For the assembly
- 2 position Toggle switch: 6.50$
- Rubber bulb sockets (5x @ 4$ each): 20$
- Metal Box: 7$
- Metal Box Cover: 4.75$
- Pack of 2 27W 5000K CLF bulbs (3x @ 13$ ea.): 39$
- tube of Construction adhesive: 5$
If you do the maths, that's 103.55$ Here in Quebec we have a 5% national tax + a 7.5% provincial tax (so total about 13% tax) That puts it roughly around.... let me see..... oh ! 120$ :-)
I could have got some stuff for a little less, but I usually like to spend a little more to get better quality in my projects.
Regarding the bulbs, it is true that a flash will output WAY more power, but the purpose of this softbox is not to compete with flash. My idea was to use it for product/food photography mostly. For most of this stuff the camera is on a tripod so there is little concern for faster shutter.
Like I said, if you are willing to spend 120$ instead of the 40$, you can get 4 85W bulbs at the same temperature (5000K) at B&H, and they would fit the fixture (one at each corner). You can also get 105W (500W tungsten equivalent) bulbs for 40$ each. I am still capable of about 1/40 f3.5 ISO 80 with the 27W ones, I don't see why one would need more than the 85W bulbs.
Of course, if you photograph moving subjects like women with a fan blowing their hair away, this might not be the proper light fixture.
Hope this helps
Alex
Good Idea
This is good tutorial for to make a cheap photography lighting.
This very helpful for me..
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