What is an annular lamp and what is it for?

The popularization of studio photography, cosmetology and blogging led to the spread of ring lamps. They help to achieve even soft light, necessary for creating a photo or video, comfortable work of a makeup artist when applying makeup.

What is a ring lamp, its purpose

An annular lamp is a spotlight that looks like a hollow ring. The diameter is from 30 to 48 cm. The light comes from diodes that are installed around the perimeter. On good models, the number of diodes reaches 450 pieces.

The appearance of the lamp on the table

The ring is mounted on a tripod or tripod, which is placed on the table. Flexible holder provides mobility. The device gives a glow with a temperature of 2000 to 5500 K, and the switch helps to adjust this parameter. It becomes possible to achieve illumination with better color rendering.

Advantages, disadvantages and main differences from softbox

When choosing a ring lamp, it is worth considering its specifics.

Pros:

• organization of natural lighting;
• elimination of visual defects;
• conditions for night shooting;
• different light temperatures;
• no overheating even with very intensive use;
• no flicker.

Minuses:

• relatively short service life;
• gradual loss of brightness;
• many fakes on the market;
• some models are powered by the USB connector, which implies a power limit.

Softbox comparison.

A circular lighting fixture is sometimes compared to a softbox. They have a lot in common, but there are also clear differences. Softbox during operation creates a bright directional stream of light, and a circular lamp scatters it. For this reason, for the desired effect, it may be necessary to purchase several softboxes at once, which are similar to one circular source.

The features of the device include the ability to rotate it at any angle or install a camera on a tripod for shooting.

Classification of ring lamps

Circular illuminators vary in size, power, number of LEDs and functionality. However, the main difference concerns the light source used. The device can be LED or fluorescent.

In a separate group, it is customary to single out devices with RGB backlighting, in which you can adjust the shade. Such devices should be chosen only if a color change is really necessary. Otherwise, it will turn out to be an unjustified investment.

Types of outdoor appliances.

LED devices are common among professional photographers and cameramen.Lens LEDs are somewhat worse in power, and they also create significant interference during the shooting process. The most popular are LED devices with SMD diodes without a lens. They provide bright light with a small number of sources, do not interfere, and have an increased resource.

In fluorescent illuminators, the main source of light is the phosphor deposited on the bulb. Compared to LED sources, the device loses in power and durability. The presence of mercury vapor in the flask creates a risk during operation and requires special recycling failed sources.

Which ring lamp is better to choose depends on the specific goals of the user, operating conditions and tasks to be solved.

Ring lamp selection criteria

Lighting area diameter

In order not to puzzle over how to choose the right ring lamp, an overview of the main characteristics of the device is made:

• Power. In most cases, the efficiency of an electrical appliance depends on the power. It is advisable to select models with an indicator of at least 80 watts.
• Source type. In a professional environment, SMD type diodes are popular.
• Diameter. The optimal value is 45 cm.
• Lighting temperature adjustment. A useful feature that helps you choose a mode for given conditions.
• Set. It is better to choose a product equipped with tripods or clamps. This increases its versatility and comfort in solving specific problems.
• Autonomy. Most of the devices are mains powered, but battery models can also be found.
• Remote control. The presence of a remote control is typical for premium models.

For use by makeup artists

A hairdresser, make-up artist or beautician is quite suitable for a small lamp with a diameter of 30 to 40 cm. It is important to take into account the power of the light flux and the angle of dispersion. Power is desirable at least 70 W, and the dispersion angle is as wide as possible.

Video tutorial: how to choose the right light for makeup

For bloggers

The choice of device for bloggers directly depends on the subject of the blog. If this is a conversational genre that involves the constant presence of a person in the frame, a semi-professional or professional-level studio model will be required.

Overview of ring lamps for a blogger

For photography

For beginners and amateur photographers, a small diameter device will suffice, while for professionals it is better to purchase large powerful lamps. They are optimized for studio work and create the necessary effect when shooting models.

PHOTO STUDIO: SOFTBOXES AGAINST RING. WHAT'S BETTER

Self-made ring lamp

If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase a light source in a store, you can try to make it yourself. This process will require minimal electrical skills and a simple set of tools.

Homemade ring lamp.

Required components for manufacturing and possible alternatives

You will need the following tools:

• LED Strip Light;
• cardboard;
• compass;
• ruler;
• knife or scissors;
• wire;
• scotch;
• thermal gun.

DIY ring light 35 watts

Manufacturing instructions:

1. Draw a blank of the desired diameter on cardboard, then cut out two rings.
2. Fix the cut wire on the cardboard with a heat gun. This stage is needed to increase the strength of the device being created.
3. Make a handle from a board, polymer or composite material.
4. Place the handle between two cardboard rings.
5. Fill all cracks and gaps with hot glue.
6. Wrap the outside with tape.
7. Place the diode tape around the circumference.

Instead of a ring lamp, you can use a softbox. With it, it will not be a problem to get soft shadows and provide optimal illumination of the desired area. Also, an effective analogue would be a flash, which is a pulsed illuminator in the shape of a circle. Placed around the lens of a professional camera and used for studio shooting. By analogy with a circular source, a flash can create interesting effects in photographs.