Macro photography Kickstarter project

Stumbled across this Kickstarter crowd funding project yesterday. I have had an idea like this thing in my head for a couple years. Nice to see someone actually producing something tangible with good expansion possibilities. I thought other macro photo-types might find it worth taking a look.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/14 ... ing-studio

Olympus has been selling this for a while:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/755142-REG/Olympus_260547_Macro_Arm_Light_MAL_1.html

VAST difference between the two products in concept, execution, versatility, expandability and universality.

Len Romanick wrote:VAST difference between the two products in concept, execution, versatility, expandability and universality.

Something has to start somewhere.

Looks nice.  I have been using this articulated arm thing I got at Amazon for next to nothing:
I cut off the ends and zip tied high powered tiny LED flashlights on the arms.  I use the lighting as focus assist lights.  I still find the high powered lighting available from Canon ringlights and twinlights to trump the juice of any LED for the way I shoot, which is on the fly handheld, so I can move fast and track small critters in the flora.  Here is an example of my rig in use:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecirone/14400577520/

And he only needs $150,00.00 to do this...

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/833779 ... -190ft-58m

Saw this on Dpr a while back, seems everyone is on the bandwagon. Still do not think LEDs have the juice for macro photography and this ant flash looks like a good alternative to expensive C or N units.

The little LED lights will work if you are in a studio with a dead or frozen bug. You need a tripod as you shutter times will be long.

I like to chase live critters in the bush. For that I like my Canon twinlight or ringlight. I usually shoot the body in manual exposure mode at 1/300th or so, ISO 200-400, and f 8-16. I run the flashes in TTL I find that way better than trying to jack around with manual flash, which is fine in a studio or consistent set up. But on the fly where distance to subject changes constantly, I find not enough time to adjust the flash in manual, which is what is required on the DP Review flash mentioned above.

Since lighting is far more important than a lens or a camera for me, I find the prices for the best rigs from Canon or Nikon well worth it, in fact a bargain. But I am a macro junkie, so I can't speak for others.

The project met its funding goal and then some. I will be a beta tester.

Interesting idea and I hope it is successful. However, I find diffuse lighting much more appealing for macro photography. I wish someone would develop a flexible LED panel that you could wrap around your subject to produce that soft lighting.

Cheers,

Jim

There are diffusion options, and with up to five arms, you can create that surround diffusion you desire. Also did you notice the "Stage" option? I can think of a few things to do with that alone and white card stock that would achieve your wrap-around effect.