Marumi/Kenro DRF 14 Ring Flash

[aim54x]

I saw these Marumi branded ring flashes at work a few days ago (Camera house) and was wondering if anyone has played with them or heard of them before.

They seem like a cheap way to get a ring flash without DIY. But it appears it only comes with adaptors for 52-67mm and have dedicated Nikon and Canon models.

I will try to see if I can borrow one from the rep (FVE) and hopefully get a play around, I have not used a ring flash before though.

[chrisk]

i thought this was quite interesting too. saw it on strobist a while ago.
http://www.orbisflash.com/wawcs0130714/tn-home.html

[gstark]

Cameron,

Can you please describe this in greater detail? I know that Poon has something in the works in this realm, which acts as a converter and takes your existing flash and reflects the light (internally) into a ring arrangement.

I know that these were very close to production ready when he was in Koln for Photokina, so ....

[chrisk]

gary has poon pulled out of selling equipment at ebay ? havent noticed him advertising anything bar basic accessories for a long time.

[gstark]

Not to my knowledge.

I do know that they had a death in the family a week ago, and that has had an effect on people, and I don't think (personal observation) that he has gotten quite back up to speed following Photokina and a subsequent trade show in China.

He is (or has been) focusing on the manufacturing side of things as well; I can't say if what you're observing is a result of that, but I think that he has been switching the focus of some aspects of his business model.

[aim54x]

This unit is a standalone flash, it is a much like the sigma unit i suppose.

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?pName=marumi-drf14-macro-ring-flashgun-for-nikon
http://www.kenro.co.uk/product/RINGFLASH_Group/3/529/Marumi+Ring+Flash.html

We were selling them for about AU$300. So they are pretty cheap for what they are.

I'll double check on the model number but i am pretty sure it is the DRF 14.

The attachments that go on the end of you SB-600/800 have interested me for a little while, but this unit seems to negate that appeal for me.

hope this helps Gary.

[gstark]

hope this helps Gary.

Thanx, yes.

I'm fascinated by the design: I'm wondering about the long "cable" that connects the traditional flash head to the ring. Is that actually a cable, transmitting electronics or power to the ring unit, which would be a head, or is it a fibre-optic carrier, and it's actually light that's being carried to the ring unit?

If the latter, then it's a sort of similar design to what Poon's doing, but if not, why is the body so big and designed as if it were a normal flash unit?

Interesting

[aim54x]

that flash head unit does look overly large in comparison to the Canon MR-14EX
http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras_lenses_accessories/speedlites/macroringlitemr14ex.aspx

BUT

the Sigma EM 40DG is similar in size to the marumi

http://www.sigma-photo.com/flashes/flashes_flashes_details.asp?id=3258

Very intriguing, I may just have to take one out of the box and have a look!

[aim54x]

I can confirm that it is a DRF 14!! AND it is a flash tube in the ring, not fibre optics transferring the light to the ring (I checked the manual).

Here are some of those pics that I promised (taken with my F100fd)