Coming up with an idea for an instructables as a class project seemed daunting at first. But as i thought about it, I wanted to make something i could use on a regular basis. And seeing how i am into videography i wanted to build i supremely light weight and bright light. I Often see big bulky lighting rigs on cameras, all which seem intrusive to the one operating the camera.Inspiration for my project came from,https://www.instructables.com/id/Camera-Light-Ring/, what drew me to this was the use of white LEDs. I happen to really enjoy the crispness and workability white LEDs have on video. What i wanted to add to set my project apart was a potentiometer to control how much light i was letting out. Despite the appearance of the light as is may be off putting. It is meant to be behind the camera and it works better than expected.

Step 1:

I started out with a simple camping light, as recommended by said instructable. The inside of the light display is fairly simple. It used a simple connection, with one resistor. The resistor i was able to replace with a potentiometer. so in step one i cleaned out the inside battery array and resistor.

Step 2:

Once you have stripped out the inside of the light array. you are going to want to determine how you want arrange your power supply, as for me and how i use a camera am deciding to have a wiring to a project box that holds the power supply and hold the potentiometer. depending on which light you purchase to modify. you can simply replace the resistor with a simple linear potentiometer. as seen in step 3.

Step 3:

When i first replaced the resistor for the potentiometer i used a one ohm potentiometer. This resulted in an a very close range of brightness. After discussing this with my professor he suggested using a five ohm potentiometer. the five ohm, was able to disperse, or resist, more over the span of the turn of the potentiometer.
Remember :as i worked with the potentiometer i learned that the ground will always be the middle touch point.

Step 4:

Apply your alternate power supply. I chose a project box i could hold or place in my pocket for weight issues primarily. the plastic housing and led's are virtually weightless. i went to radio shack and picked up an enclosed 4 AA battery holder. These also come with power switches.

Step 5:

Next choose how you want to run the wiring and place the potentiometer. I used a plastic, fairly thin. tubing to run my wires from light array to power source. Now to create holes and any other modifications, I strongly recommend using workshops if accessible. I, used an old solder gun to burn holes in the plastic.
Now for a ring light. simply take a measurement of your lens you would choose to fit your light to. and create a hole in the array, although it may look janky. it fits snug and doesn't wobble around.

But as a user of a VX100, a 3ccd mini dv camera i wanted a shoe mount. to accomplish this i took an old slave from my wireless flash kit and used the housing and attached it to the back, Thus allowing me to use a shoe mount and then use it as a ring light for alternate cameras.

Step 6:

Overall, this is a very simple solution to my problem. I wanted a light i could use in multiple ways as well as control it at any brightness level i wanted. I am very pleased with the final result. Enjoy!