How to Build a Stroboscope
Light flashing stroboscopes are usually too costly for the amateur photographer's budget. One practical and inexpensive way to solve this problem is to build your own mechanical stroboscope. In fact, this stroboscope has advantages over the flashing type, as it can use sun as its light source, enabling the photographer to work with large, outdoor subjects. Read on to learn how to build a stroboscope.
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Things You'll Need
- Two part epoxy
- Step-up ring that is 5 to 10mm larger than your camera lens
- Cardboard
- Box knife
- Glue stick
- Slotted disc made out of a thin piece of black construction paper
- Small DC battery powered motor
- 9 volt transistor battery
Instructions
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1
Epoxy the step-up ring to a small piece of cardboard that will be the mount of the stroboscope. The cardboard should be large enough that the center of the motor shaft will sit about four inches from the ring. Cut a hole in the cardboard with a box knife to expose the camera lens through the ring. Cut a hole for the viewfinder, if you have covered it as well.
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2
Glue the slotted construction paper disc to the center of the motor shaft. Consider buying some sort of flange to make the process of gluing the paper to the small narrow shaft a bit easier. The flange will help protect the delicate paper from the turning motion of the motor shaft.
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3
Attach the set-up ring with the motor and slotted disc to the camera lens. Connect the two motor wires to a 9 volt transistor battery. The slotted disc of your stroboscope will immediately begin to turn.
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4
Take photos by placing the subject against a dark background, opening the camera shutter where you want the sequence to begin and closing it where you want the sequence to end.
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5
Achieve proper exposure with your stroboscope by determining the exposure time delivered by the rotating motion of the slotted disc. Divide the size of the slot in degrees by 360 degrees and multiply the result by the time it takes the disc to make a single revolution. This is the closest estimate of exposure time.
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Tips & Warnings
Cut the slot in the black construction paper disc to about 10 degrees. The smaller the slot, the shorter the exposure time. Longer slots will require smaller aperture and less light.
