Photography

Review: Roundflash offers an affordable and portable ring light

Review: Roundflash offers an affordable and portable ring light
Gizmag tries out the RoundFlash Ring and Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
Gizmag tries out the RoundFlash Ring and Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring in use (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring in use (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The lens is pushed through the center of the RoundFlash Ring, and the flash head into the top hole (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The lens is pushed through the center of the RoundFlash Ring, and the flash head into the top hole (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring and Dish fold up into small bags (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring and Dish fold up into small bags (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The metal pole in the middle of the RoundFlash Dish helps give it its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The metal pole in the middle of the RoundFlash Dish helps give it its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring before the magnetic poles are extended (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring before the magnetic poles are extended (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring folds down into a bag which measures just 20 x 16 cm (7.9 x 6.3 in) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring folds down into a bag which measures just 20 x 16 cm (7.9 x 6.3 in) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring with the collapsed and bagged RoundFlash Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring with the collapsed and bagged RoundFlash Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring has a 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring has a 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The lens is pushed through the center of the RoundFlash Ring (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The lens is pushed through the center of the RoundFlash Ring (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The light from the RoundFlash Ring is big, soft and round (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The light from the RoundFlash Ring is big, soft and round (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring is easy to set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring is easy to set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The magnetic poles extend to give the RoundFlash Ring its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The magnetic poles extend to give the RoundFlash Ring its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The magnetic poles extend to give the RoundFlash Ring its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The magnetic poles extend to give the RoundFlash Ring its shape (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
Once in use the RoundFlash Ring limits access to the lens (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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Once in use the RoundFlash Ring limits access to the lens (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish attaches directly to a flash using a built-in velcro strap (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Dish attaches directly to a flash using a built-in velcro strap (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish creates the same 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter as the Ring when set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Dish creates the same 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter as the Ring when set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish attaches directly to a flash using a built-in velcro strap (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Dish attaches directly to a flash using a built-in velcro strap (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
Gizmag tries out the RoundFlash Ring and Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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Gizmag tries out the RoundFlash Ring and Dish (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The light from the RoundFlash Dish can be used in a number of different ways (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The light from the RoundFlash Dish can be used in a number of different ways (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish is designed to be used with an off-camera flash (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Dish is designed to be used with an off-camera flash (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring can also be used to provide an even light for macro shots (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring can also be used to provide an even light for macro shots (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The circular catchlights in the eyes of a subject can be addictive (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The circular catchlights in the eyes of a subject can be addictive (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring can be used to produce shadowless images with distinctive circular catchlights (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring can be used to produce shadowless images with distinctive circular catchlights (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
An image shot with the RoundFlash Ring compared to a direct flash (inset) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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An image shot with the RoundFlash Ring compared to a direct flash (inset) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
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The RoundFlash Ring and Dish are a collapsible ring light soft-box and beauty dish that work with your speedlight and DSLR. Like the ring flashes used by fashion photographers, they produce a big round light which can be used to create shadowless images with distinctive circular catchlights. Join us as we review the affordable ring flash alternative to see whether it deserves a place in your kit bag.

There are no shortage of products on the market which aim to emulate the lighting effect created by big and expensive ring flashes, but for more budget-conscious photographers. However, while offerings like the Orbis and RayFlash are well-regarded, and set the standard for modern ring flash adapters, the RoundFlash Ring does things a little differently.

RoundFlash Ring

The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring mounted on a camera (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

The RoundFlash Ring is more portable than most of its rivals because it's collapsible. It comes in a little bag which is just 20 x 16 cm (7.9 x 6.3 in) and once removed it unfurls like a pop-up tent to its full 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter size. All you have to do is unfold a series of magnetic rods and within seconds you're ready to go.

To start using the RoundFlash Ring you need your camera with a lens and flash attached. Then you simply push the lens through the hole in the middle of the donut and the head of the flash through the one at the top, tighten the various straps and that's it. The size of the various holes, and the spacing between them, means the RoundFlash Ring can be used with most DSLR setups, but you'll want to check your measurements before buying.

The RoundFlash Ring in use (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring in use (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

Once mounted, the lightweight 333 g (11.75 oz) and soft material construction of the RoundFlash Ring becomes apparent and it moves around on your camera more than the more solid alternatives. That said, it's nothing to worry about and in our tests we never felt like it was going to fall off.

Because the RoundFlash Ring is so big, it can create something of a barrier between photographer and subject and also limits access to your lens. As a result of the latter, we found using autofocus prime lenses was preferable, so we didn't need to reach into the middle of the Ring to adjust focus and zoom.

An image shot with the RoundFlash Ring compared to a direct flash (inset) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
An image shot with the RoundFlash Ring compared to a direct flash (inset) (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

However, once you start taking photographs you'll soon see the benefits of that big size far outweigh any negatives. The light produced is big, soft, round, and thanks to the reflective interior, surprisingly even. Because the light from the RoundFlash Ring arrives at the subject from a variety of angles, it reduces harsh shadows. The image above shows how this differs from using a flash pointing directly at the subject (inset).

In our tests we were mightily impressed by how the RoundFlash Ring lit portrait subjects, and once you start seeing the distinctive circular catchlights in their eyes, you'll want to use it all the time. But this isn't the only way in which the RoundFlash Ring can be used, we also found the round light handy for illuminating macro subjects where a normal flash would have left harsh directional shadows.

RoundFlash Dish

The RoundFlash Dish creates the same 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter as the Ring when set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish creates the same 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter as the Ring when set up (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

RoundFlash has recently added to its line-up with the Dish, a pop-up soft beauty dish which can be used in conjunction with the original RoundFlash Ring, or on its own. Because the Dish is designed for off-camera use, this time there's no hole in the middle for a lens and instead there's a circular piece of black material to create the ring effect.

The RoundFlash Dish attaches directly to a flash using a built-in velcro strap and creates the same 45 cm (17.7 in) diameter as the Ring when set up, on this occasion by pulling it forward to connect two metal tubes. It weighs just 155 g (5.5 oz), which means you are barely going to notice it in your bag.

The RoundFlash Dish is designed to be used with an off-camera flash (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Dish is designed to be used with an off-camera flash (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

We found that the light it produced was slightly more powerful than the RoundFlash Ring, though just as even. Combined with the versatility of being able to use it off-camera, this allowed for some interesting uses including head-shots, environmental portraits and still photography.

Conclusion

We were very impressed with what the RoundFlash Ring and Dish can do, and the lighting options they add for anyone with a DSLR and an external flash. There are many ways in which the RoundFlash products can be used, with the Ring a great option for someone who wants to shoot distinctive portraits, events or even macro, but doesn't have the budget or inclination to spend vast amounts of money on additional lighting when they already have an external flash.

However, it's with the addition of the RoundFlash Dish that the system really becomes something special. Using the two together can give the sort of lighting effects normally associated with much bigger budget set-ups. Even on its own the Dish can be used to great effect for head-shots and environmental portraits where it can be used to add a natural soft light.

The RoundFlash Ring and Dish fold up into small bags (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)
The RoundFlash Ring and Dish fold up into small bags (Photo: Simon Crisp/Gizmag.com)

Given the portability and relatively affordable £100 (around US$155) price-tag of the RoundFlash Ring, and £46 ($70) for the RoundFlash Dish, we have no qualms in recommending either or both of them. They fold up so small that you're sure to be able to find a space for them in your kit bag.

Our only word of warning is to make sure you watch a YouTube video or two showing how to fold them back up before using them on location, or you'll end up looking like a fool fighting to get a giant black and white donut into a tiny bag. However, once you've got the knack of it, it only takes a couple of seconds.

Product page: RoundFlash

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1 comment
1 comment
f8lee
Like a much larger version of the Ray Flash, and while it seems viable for on-tripod use I wonder how much light is lost due to the rather large ring area?