I tried taking the close-up macro lens off then flipping the main lens and shooting as close as it can get using 18mm focal length. The working distance is so close that I could barely slip a knife between the table and ring light to better position the penny. As expected, the lights were not as good being so close to the subject. I also had to leave them on just to see the subject on the screen.
This image is uncropped, just resized, and the exposure is 3 seconds at normal light power.
>>3209896Tried that, but there seems to be too much wiring from one place to the other to get everything to fire at once. It is a dumb light that doesn't read the exposure setting info. So, at 5 seconds exposure, you only get a short flash at the beginning then 4.99 seconds of regular light. Smart lights read that info and adjust accordingly by staying on longer.
To completely remedy the problem, all I need to do is to turn on the continuous mode. The light stays on like for shooting film. No need for perfect shutter-flash timing. The only problem with that are my subjects. Those being insects and stuff that don't like bright lights close to them.
This is only a $30 light after all.
