Home Made Light Tent

Those nice to know things about your DSLR will be found here. How to do this, and why you probably should not do that.

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is. Please also check the portal page for more information on this.

Home Made Light Tent

Postby firsty on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:23 am

I have moved the server that the photos were on, but you can find the complete instructions on my web site
http://mcgoffs.net/home-made-light-tent


after finding links on how to make a light tent around the net
I went to hardware to get the bits for a frame last week
2x 3m lengths 15mm PVC tube
8x "right angle" connectors
6x "T" connectors
this was going to be about $52.00 and I thought this was a bit to much

So I went looking further and ended up at bigW where I found this
laundry sorter for only $19.85 and it has all the bits you need with some to spare
Image
there are
9x 695mm tubes
4x 585mm tubes
4x 285mm tubes
8x corner fittings
2x "T" fittings
plus wheels, curved tubes and a bag

this is what it looks like quickly assembled with the spare parts
Image
this is to big at this size but you can trim the tubes to suit

after trimming down I ended up with this setup (it is still a little large)
Image
I added white plastic garbage bags as the diffuser material, so the total cost of the light tent was under $21.00
the lamps were $12.95 each @ bunnings and they are using Phillips long life energy saver bulbs 23watt cool daylight 6500k (125watt equivalent output) the bulbs have twisted elements if you are looking for them
these bulbs stay very cool, they were actually touching the plastic bin liners for over 2 hours last night and the plastic showed no signs of damage. they are a little big for the lamp's reflector so a lot of light spills out the side I will fix this by extending the reflector using some of those foil drip dishes you can buy to put under your stove elements

anyway here are 2 test shots I did last night
Image

Image
:D :D :D :D
Last edited by firsty on Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
firsty
Senior Member
 
Posts: 581
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:34 am
Location: Baulkham Hills Sydney - D200

Postby cyanide on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:30 am

I am really impressed with this - well done. 8)

I have been looking around for a hardware shop here to see if I could find the bits to do something similar; no joy yet, but this has made me put home stores on my list of places to look as well...

Great idea!!
Rae
.
All the gear and no idea.
PPOK / Others' pics in my threads OK
cyanide
Member
 
Posts: 426
Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 4:35 pm
Location: Cairns, QLD

Postby admajic on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:36 am

Wow! Im impressed!! Very professional shots from that setup. Ill have to go thru the same deal at some stage, just no space here for anything like that atm :(
D50 - AF-S NIKKOR 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G ED
User avatar
admajic
Member
 
Posts: 488
Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 3:55 pm
Location: Sydney - Bondi Junction

Postby Alpha_7 on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:36 am

Sheer Brilliance, much cheaper then those on the net, perhaps a little less portable but for around the home and at that price! And the results speak for themselves, they are top notch!
User avatar
Alpha_7
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7259
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:19 pm
Location: Mortdale - Sydney - Nikon D700, x-D200, Leica, G9

Postby sirhc55 on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:40 am

Very innovative :up:
Chris
--------------------------------
I started my life with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left
User avatar
sirhc55
Key Member
 
Posts: 12930
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: Port Macquarie - Olympus EM-10

Postby Matt. K on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:44 am

Keith
Thanks for going to the trouble to put this together for the forum. Brilliant work!
Regards

Matt. K
User avatar
Matt. K
Former Outstanding Member Of The Year and KM
 
Posts: 9980
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 7:12 pm
Location: North Nowra

Postby Alpha_7 on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:53 am

If there was a Tip of the Week Keith, you'd have my vote, definitely a nice little project.

Would three lights be enough, or is 4 necessary ? Just trying to calculate the final price. $21 for the tent, and $56 for the lights (or more as you you have to included globes as well).
User avatar
Alpha_7
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7259
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:19 pm
Location: Mortdale - Sydney - Nikon D700, x-D200, Leica, G9

Postby ozczecho on Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:57 am

Keith, Thanks heaps for sharing. Looks like something that even I could put together...awesome :-)
User avatar
ozczecho
Senior Member
 
Posts: 785
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:41 pm
Location: Beecroft, Sydney

Postby firsty on Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:08 am

the shots posted only use 3 lamps as that is all the stock the store had
the last shot was f8 1/15s ISO100 so there is a real need for the tripod and a remote release (also used the mirror up function)
when I add the extra to the reflectors it should make a big difference as there is probably a 40% + spill out the sides
also note that I have the same bulbs in the room lights in the kitchen so all the light is the same temperature (6500k) to make fixing any color cast White balance problems very easy
the bulbs are about $7.00 each (but they are long life :) )
User avatar
firsty
Senior Member
 
Posts: 581
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:34 am
Location: Baulkham Hills Sydney - D200

Postby DJXtreme on Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:11 am

love it. looks easy to build and the results are impressive. i'll just have to hope I can find a laundry sorter like that, what a bargain.
Cheers,

Will
DJXtreme
Member
 
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:03 pm
Location: Gawler, South Australia

Postby Alpha_7 on Wed Jun 28, 2006 1:13 am

It strikes me that the unused bits, well they have a fairly nice curve to them, perhaps they can be modified to form a frame for a "ifinity curve" background, just a late night idea.
User avatar
Alpha_7
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7259
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 6:19 pm
Location: Mortdale - Sydney - Nikon D700, x-D200, Leica, G9

Postby birddog114 on Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:35 am

Keith,
Nice innovation and great works.

Give it a mass production and put it on the "For Sale" or "Bargain Section".
Birddog114
VNAF, My Beloved Country and Airspace
User avatar
birddog114
Senior Member
 
Posts: 15881
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Belmore,Sydney

Postby LostDingo on Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:37 am

you could re-package and sell on ebay :!: :!:

Well done and the reults are great :!: :!: Such creativity :!:
User avatar
LostDingo
Senior Member
 
Posts: 951
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:18 am
Location: Rozelle

Postby huynhie on Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:28 am

Very industrious Keith. :wink:
User avatar
huynhie
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1476
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:11 pm
Location: Sydney

Postby MATT on Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:30 am

wELL I'm impressed, Those lights also seem a good idea.

What I realy like is that you can clamp the lights to the frame. This is something I cant do with the bought one I have. I have yet to make a frame for the 4 fluro fittings I am going to use for light.

Good results

MATT
User avatar
MATT
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1748
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:24 pm
Location: Biloela, QLD-----nikon--D700-----

Postby ABG on Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:41 am

Looks like a great set-up Keith. Thanks for sharing
Andrew
User avatar
ABG
Senior Member
 
Posts: 689
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: Oatley, Sydney

Postby MHD on Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:21 am

Brilliant!
New page
http://www.potofgrass.com
Portfolio...
http://images.potofgrass.com
Comments and money always welcome
User avatar
MHD
Moderator
 
Posts: 5829
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 8:51 pm
Location: Chicago Burbs

Postby gunn parker on Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:55 am

Great setup, it's what I have been looking for, but what is the section inside the light tent that your phone is resting on, what is it made from and how is it held in place?

thanks Andrew
Fuji Finepix s9500>>>D70s 18-70 lens
gunn parker
Member
 
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:53 pm
Location: Willetton, Perth, Western Australia

Postby Manta on Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:50 am

A great demonstration of necessity being the mother of invention. Terrific idea Keith and a very comprehensive and clear explanation - "Light Tents for Dummies" - for the rest of us mugs.

Big W are probably going to wonder what all the fuss is about when these things start walking out the door. :shock: :lol:
Simon
D300 l MB-D10 l D70 l SB-800 l 70-200 VR l TC 17-E l 18-70 f3.5-4.5 l 70-300 f4-5.6 l 50 f1.4 l 90 Macro f2.8 l 12-24 f4
http://www.redbubble.com/people/manta
User avatar
Manta
Former Outstanding Member Of The Year
 
Posts: 3815
Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:49 pm
Location: Hamilton Qld

Postby greencardigan on Wed Jun 28, 2006 11:51 am

Very impressive.

Is it easy to pull down and setup? I'd like to be able to pack it all up when not in use.
User avatar
greencardigan
Senior Member
 
Posts: 779
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:00 pm
Location: Wollongong

Postby blacknstormy on Wed Jun 28, 2006 8:29 pm

Bloody brilliant !!!!!
And light enough to take into the field to fit around small beasties like ladybirds and frogs ;)

and dare I say it...........................................................
EGGS !!!!!!!!

Smart smart man (thank you for sharing)
Hugs
Rel
Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships! -Ansel Adams

http://www.redbubble.com/people/blacknstormy
User avatar
blacknstormy
Senior Member
 
Posts: 2745
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:33 pm
Location: Ipswich Qld

Postby drifter on Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:23 pm

Great stuff Keith . Thanks for sharing .
Tony

Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.
User avatar
drifter
Member
 
Posts: 372
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:37 pm
Location: Croydon -Sydney

Postby glamy on Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:07 pm

Very ingenious, thanks for sharing.
Gerard
User avatar
glamy
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1112
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:38 pm
Location: S/W Sydney- D70+D2X

Postby DJXtreme on Sat Jul 01, 2006 1:44 am

just knocked one of these together tonight. very very simple to put together. someone was wondering about the portability of the unit - it's a very real possibility that you could build one that you could knock down and carry around with you as the tubes fit by sliding into connectors. you'd just need to make the diffuser material in such a way that you could slide it on and off of your grame which shouldn't be too hard. it was my intention to do mine this way but... laziness got the better of me :D
Cheers,

Will
DJXtreme
Member
 
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:03 pm
Location: Gawler, South Australia

Postby LostDingo on Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:27 am

I have to say again...this is really creative and great idea :!: :!: :!:

Well done Keith....take it to the beach next visit :shock:
User avatar
LostDingo
Senior Member
 
Posts: 951
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:18 am
Location: Rozelle

Postby birddog114 on Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:28 am

LostDingo wrote:Well done Keith....take it to the beach next visit :shock:


And a full esky of cold beer :lol:
Birddog114
VNAF, My Beloved Country and Airspace
User avatar
birddog114
Senior Member
 
Posts: 15881
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Belmore,Sydney

Postby LostDingo on Sat Jul 01, 2006 8:31 am

birddog114 wrote:
LostDingo wrote:Well done Keith....take it to the beach next visit :shock:


And a full esky of cold beer :lol:


Makes for happy photogs!!!
User avatar
LostDingo
Senior Member
 
Posts: 951
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:18 am
Location: Rozelle

Postby glamy on Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:30 am

This time of year, at this time of the day we need a hot mix of Cognac/water/sugar :lol: :lol: :lol: .
Gerard
User avatar
glamy
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1112
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:38 pm
Location: S/W Sydney- D70+D2X

Postby christiand on Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:10 pm

WOW, I'm impressed :D

I'm off to BigW to get a "Deluxe Laundry Sorter",
then I need to go to Bunnings :lol:

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. :D

Cheers,
CD
User avatar
christiand
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:36 pm
Location: Tuggeranong, ACT - Canberra

Postby birddog114 on Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:15 pm

christiand wrote:WOW, I'm impressed :D

I'm off to BigW to get a "Deluxe Laundry Sorter",
then I need to go to Bunnings :lol:

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. :D

Cheers,
CD


CD,
Don't make your missus look at you with her suspicious eyes :lol:
Birddog114
VNAF, My Beloved Country and Airspace
User avatar
birddog114
Senior Member
 
Posts: 15881
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2004 8:18 pm
Location: Belmore,Sydney

Postby smac on Sat Jul 01, 2006 2:00 pm

Keith, great idea.....love the simplicity of it...Just make sure no-one tells the folks at Big W or the price will go up 400%

Stuart
'Tis better to have loved and lust than never to have lust at all.
User avatar
smac
Member
 
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:15 pm
Location: Baulkham Hills, Sydney

Postby Grev on Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:52 am

You are awesome. :D
Blog: http://grevgrev.blogspot.com
Deviantart: http://grebbin.deviantart.com

Nikon: D700 / D70 / AiS 28mm f2 / AiS 35mm f1.4 / AiS 50mm f1.2 / AiS 180mm f2.8 ED / AFD 85mm f1.4 / Sigma 50mm f1.4 / Sigma 24-70 f2.8 macro / Mamiya 80mm f1.9 x2 /Mamiya 120mm f4 macro
User avatar
Grev
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1025
Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:10 pm
Location: 4109, Brisbane.

Postby stormygirl on Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:08 pm

Absolutely brilliant! I am now the proud owner of a $19.85 light tent frame! I will go to Bunnings for the rest tomorrow and have a little experiment. I've been meaning to build one for quite some time and this is the greatest solution.

Thanks Firsty :D
Weather and Photography Web Site

http://www.stormygirl.net
User avatar
stormygirl
Senior Member
 
Posts: 554
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:46 pm
Location: Melbourne, VIC

Postby robster on Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:28 pm

it looks fantastic :)

Can I ask what the little black and orange clips are used for? Is it just keeping the wiring from the lamps out of the way or is there some other, more mysterious purpose?!?!?!

:)

Rob
User avatar
robster
Member
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:58 pm
Location: Pomona, Sunshine Coast, QLD (Canon EOS30D)

Postby Yi-P on Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:14 pm

Very impressive and cost effective setup!!

What material is the surface which you put the objects on?
User avatar
Yi-P
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3579
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:12 am
Location: Sydney -- Ashfield

Postby jethro on Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:24 pm

Very Clever innovation!
Jethro
shoot it real.

look! and see. Shoot and feel
User avatar
jethro
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1006
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 10:03 pm
Location: down south, sydney

Postby waspo on Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:23 pm

WOW, this is great! I was actually going to make one similar to this

Image

Image

until I saw yours.
So now I'll be going to Big W tomorrow first thing to get started on one!

Thanks for sharing with us. You're a legend! :D
User avatar
waspo
Member
 
Posts: 399
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:46 pm
Location: Bentleigh East, Melbourne - SuPeR NikoN D7o aBuSeR!

Postby firsty on Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:09 am

Rob,
the clips are just some I picked up (8 for $2.00) and I was going to use them to hold the white cloth onto the frame and to hold the curved paper that I use for the background in to place, but I ended up just taping the garbage bin liners to the frame. At the moment they just hold the cords out of the way

Yi-P,
the background/base that the phone etc. are on is just an A2 sheet of white cardboard from office works, I also have gold, black and neutral Gray sheets
User avatar
firsty
Senior Member
 
Posts: 581
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:34 am
Location: Baulkham Hills Sydney - D200

Postby robster on Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:43 pm

I really like the idea, I'll have to add it to my home made list :). We're about to undertake a whole new product line at our hair salon and are in need of some hero shots. I think this will be perfect. I'll be sure to post our version on the site when it eventually gets done.

Rob
User avatar
robster
Member
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:58 pm
Location: Pomona, Sunshine Coast, QLD (Canon EOS30D)

Postby christiand on Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:19 pm

Hi Keith,

I got enspired to make a replica of your light tent and here
are some sample photos:

click on image to see larger one.
C&C are most welcome.

Image
Image
Image

Cheers,
CD
User avatar
christiand
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:36 pm
Location: Tuggeranong, ACT - Canberra

Postby michael_ on Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:56 pm

picked up one of these laundry sorters today, damn its a big mother :) i just need to go to bunnings and sort out some lights :)
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Postby bwhinnen on Fri Jun 08, 2007 4:36 pm

michael_ wrote:picked up one of these laundry sorters today, damn its a big mother :) i just need to go to bunnings and sort out some lights :)


Big W should have all the lights you need :) Saved me a trip elsewhere. I need to get my light tent back out and have some more fun :D
User avatar
bwhinnen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1234
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:12 am
Location: Cornubia, Brisbane

Postby michael_ on Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:53 pm

i had a look around and they didnt really have anything that would work and the ones they did were $45 each
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Postby christiand on Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:05 pm

Hi Michael,

I bought my lights from Bunnings:
~$12 for the clip on light - ~$8 for the Phillips 23W cool daylight energy saving globe.

HTH,
CD
User avatar
christiand
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:36 pm
Location: Tuggeranong, ACT - Canberra

Postby bwhinnen on Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:59 pm

christiand wrote:Hi Michael,

I bought my lights from Bunnings:
~$12 for the clip on light - ~$8 for the Phillips 23W cool daylight energy saving globe.

HTH,
CD


That's what I paid at Big W... Pretty much the same as yours if I recall correctly ;)
User avatar
bwhinnen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1234
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:12 am
Location: Cornubia, Brisbane

Postby michael_ on Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:42 pm

cheers guys, weird i saw no clip-ons at BW they only had desktops, ill check out bunnings tomorrow.
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Postby michael_ on Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:57 pm

ok bought the lights today "ozzie" clamp lamps #99700 x 4 @ $13.48 each and 4 x 18W phillips warm white globes @ $4.46 each, i just need to find some plastic bags now.

with this damn weather i think ill be inside for a while so i can spend a bit of time experimenting.

so all up so far

Laundry Sort $19.87
White piece of cardboard $1.18
Lamps x 4 $53.92
Globes x 4 $17.84

Total = $92.81
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Postby bwhinnen on Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:18 pm

I ended up get some ripstop nylon from spotlight instead of the garbage bags. Works pretty well, I just need to work on the securing method, I've got some adhesive velcro dots...
User avatar
bwhinnen
Senior Member
 
Posts: 1234
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:12 am
Location: Cornubia, Brisbane

Postby michael_ on Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:11 pm

hmm thats the place i knew there was somewhere else i needed to go, ohh well maybe ill go visit spotlight later when its not so damn wet.
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Postby michael_ on Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:58 pm

here is the setup atm without the diffuser and all lights (2 arent working), i used CWB off the piece of carboard, not the best but its a good place to start.

The Setup:

Image

The result

Image
User avatar
michael_
Senior Member
 
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:40 pm
Location: alexandria, sydney, nsw, au

Next

Return to Tips and tricks

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests

cron