Article

LED Ringflash

Proper lighting for macro-photography!

The availability of increasingly high-performance digital cameras and falling prices has encouraged a good many people to take an interest in photography, and macro-photography too. If lighting conditions are not ideal, it will be necessary to resort to the use of flash, with the attendant risk of shadows. The solution is a ringflash – and while we’re about it, why not one using LEDs?

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Materials

070612-PCB.pdf

070612-11.zip

Gerber file

CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.

Elektor recommends the Elektor PCB Service service from its business partner Eurocircuits or AISLER as the best services for its own prototypes and volume production.

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PCB

Download Gerber file: 070612-1.zip

Component list

Resistors
R1 = 10kΩ
R2 = 1MΩ
R3,R4 = 330Ω
Capacitors
C1,C2 = 22pF
C3 = 330nF
C4 = 1μF
C5 = 100nF
D1 = BAT42
D2-D10 = LED, 3mm, red
T1 = IRFBF20
IC1 = PIC16F628, programmed, Elektor Shop # 070612-41
IC2 = 4051
IC3 = 78L05
X1 = 4MHz quartz crystal
S1,S2 = miniature switch, PCB mount
S3 = on/off switch
K2 = 6-way SIL pinheader
K1 = 3.5mm jack socket
6 solder pins
PCB, ref. 070612-1 from www.thepcbshop.com
Project software, PIC source and hex. files, free download # 070612-11-UK.zip from www.elektor.com
LED ring parts
Semiconductors
32 LEDs, 5mm, white, HLMP-CW11-X1000 (Avago; from Farnell)
Miscellaneous
Ring support, home made (see inset “Constructing the ring”)