ng the lens, effectively converting a standard flash unit into a ring flash. Ring flash is a favorite for close-up photography and shadowless, direct-light fashion photography. Light loss is approximately one stop. While details are sparse, it appears light is reflected via a prism or mirrors into a highly reflective ring. The $299 unit currently fits the Canon 540EX and Nikon SB800 flash units, and will fit over most lenses.
For details, read the ExpoImaging press release:
ExpoImaging Introduces Ray Flash: The Ring Flash Adapter%3B Puts Unique Ring Light Effects in the Hands of Mobile Photographers
ExpoImaging Inc. announced the U.S. availability of Ray Flash: The Ring Flash Adapter. Designed as a portable and lightweight adapter for a hot-shoe flash unit, the Ray Flash replicates the unique lighting effect produced by heavy, tethered, powered studio ring flash units.
Watsonville, CA (PRWEB) April 7, 2008 — ExpoImaging Inc., developer of innovative camera accessories, including the ExpoDisc Digital White Balance Filter and the ExpoAperture2 Depth-of-Field Guide, today announced the U.S. availability of Ray Flash: The Ring Flash Adapter. Designed as a portable and lightweight adapter for a hot-shoe flash unit, the Ray Flash replicates the unique lighting effect produced by heavy, tethered, powered studio ring flash units.
“The Ray Flash: Ring Flash Adapter is truly unique because it creates ring light lighting effects simply by attaching it to your existing hot shoe flash,” said Erik Sowder, president of ExpoImaging, Inc. “Lightweight and portable, the Ray Flash is the only product of its kind. It’s a great accessory tool for your strobe because it enables the photographer to easily achieve a high fashion, studio portrait look while on location.”
Because the ring flash light originates from a circle around the camera lens, the Ray Flash creates a distinctive lighting effect, producing a virtually shadowless look on the front of the subject, while leaving a soft, even shadow around the edges. The versatile adapter is ideally suited for fashion, wedding, portrait, journalist and macro photography, as either a main or fill-in light.
“The Ray Flash is one very cool piece of gear,” said lighting expert David Hobby in his review of Ray Flash on Strobist.com. “It’s small, lightweight, maintains all of the flash’s TTL functions. Best yet, [the latest Ray Flash design loses only one stop of light as compared to direct flash. That last bit alone puts it head and shoulders above any [Do It Yourself versions I have seen or tried. With that kind of output, it is even usable outside during the daylight at modest portrait distances.”
The Ray Flash relies on the hot-shoe flash to generate its light and automatically takes advantage of a camera’s TTL metering capabilities. The adapter easily slides over the front of a camera’s flash unit and locks into place for easy, secure use. Weighing only 16 oz., the Ray Flash contains no electronics, batteries or flash tubes and does not require any cumbersome cables.
Current models of the Ray Flash are designed to fit the Canon 580EX (MKI & MKII) and Nikon SB800 flash units. With a 4 1/8″ internal diameter, the adapter is large enough to accept almost all professional lenses from both Canon and Nikon. The Ray Flash will retail for $299 and is distributed exclusively by ExpoImaging, Inc. in the U.S.. The Ray Flash will be available through photo dealers nationwide as well as at www.expoimaging.net.
