DIY Fiber Optic Flash
/Into macro?
What if there was a way to deliver photographic flash lighting, with pinpoint accuracy, to illuminate your tiniest macro subjects? And what if I told you that the system for delivering this lighting was super cheap, easy to build (for you, that is - not so much for me!), and that it really, really works? Would you like to know more? Of course you would! Read on…
the eye of the fly
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. It was accomplished with only minor blood loss (unusual for projects with power tools) and no swearing (unusual for any project).
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.
As made clear in the video, virtually everything I used in this project was salvaged junk - like the lens, the box, and even the flash. But I want to improve this project and make something more robust, compact, versatile, and practical. To that end I have ordered a number of parts that I think will fit the bill, and I am going to provide you with the links. But if you do decide to take on this interesting project, please be mindful of the fact that I have not yet built the new, improved Mk. II device, so I don’t know how well what I have ordered will work.
By the way, as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn from qualified purchases made using some of these links.
The fiber optic system was purchased from Volpi AG, a Swiss fiber optics manufacturer, and it set me back about $39. If you search on eBay, they will probably have several different options available. This is a single arm Volpi cable, for a great price, and this is the dual arm cable that I used. There are so many choices, but if you can find one with a divided intake (for the left and right arms), that would be my choice.
The flash I used was an ancient Altura device, but any speedlight will work. You don’t need anything fancy, but something you can trigger wirelessly would be very helpful. Here is a safe bet, and what I will be using in the next iteration…
The lens was a simple biconvex internal element from an old broken camera lens, but I am almost certain that any 40-50mm lens would work. In fact, since making this video, I have discovered that my 50mm El Nikkor enlarger lenses work extremely well, creating a much tighter ball of light at much closer distances. I will be using one of those in my next version. I actually have one of these inexpensive 50mm lenses and it also seems to work well, so I may end up using it (I don’t have a Canon body, so there isn’t much else I can use it for, unless it is reversed). Be aware that you can buy used 50mm prime lenses for $10 on the used market - all it will be doing is focusing the flash, so you don’t need anything fancy, or even working!
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.
You will need a decent project box. I am going to use a sturdy plastic box for my next version, and I will also be mounting a cooling fan to ventilate the inside while in use. This is the one I am going to try, but they come in a variety of sizes in case you need something smaller. I’m thinking that with a fan, I might be able to use mirrors and enclose the entire flash inside the box, with a little window for the trigger.
If you end up making the same thing I did, you will need some foam sheets. These are the ones I like. They aren’t very fancy, but they work great. You will want the slightly thicker size (2mm, I think should work).
Somebody is going to ask about my famous Quad Hands bendy arm holder. This is the one I use…
Well, I think that covers everything! If not, just let me know.
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!
Take care and I’ll see you soon,
Allan