My DIY light tent

HiSPLHiSPL Registered Users Posts: 251 Major grins
edited May 23, 2007 in Accessories
I have wanted a light tent for a while, but I need a big one because of the stuff I pedal on eBay. I sell vintage speakers and electronics and the light tents that I have seen for sale would never fit a huge woofer inside not to mention 19" rack mount stuff. The problem, however with a huge light tent is where to store it. I racked my brain and came up with what I think is a decent solution. A folding tent;

Here it is folded up. It's basically a 30 inch square about 7 inches thick.
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Unfolding.
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All the way open. Notice the green clips to hold a roll of butcher paper for the BG.
154701910-M.jpg

Set up with the paper BG. This was lit from above with one Vivitar 283.
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This was light from camera left with a fill light coming from overhead.
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The frame is pretty simple. Just 2x4's ripped down the middle to make some inch and a half stock. These were mitre cut and glued and nailed to make the squares. I also added some little triangles in the corners to make it stiffer. The covering is an old bedsheet that I tried to bleach as white as possible, then stapled it to the frame.

Let me know what you think! And I hope it inspires some of you to think outside the box when it comes to new equipment too!

Comments

  • UP N MTNSUP N MTNS Registered Users Posts: 94 Big grins
    edited May 21, 2007
    That came out great,thanks for sharing with us.

    I now have a weekend project.:ivar
    Tug at a single thing in nature, and you will find it connected to the universe.
    John Muir
  • SeymoreSeymore Banned Posts: 1,539 Major grins
    edited May 21, 2007
    Good job of thinking outside the box... and looks quite portable/storeable. So, how do you keep it from falling over sideways?

    I didn't need the portability so mine stays in one place 24/7, but mine only cost me about $20 in PVC, muslin from a fabric store & 1" binder clips. It's also quite customizable. I just enlarged it to be able to fit larger items.
    72614339-L.jpg
  • HiSPLHiSPL Registered Users Posts: 251 Major grins
    edited May 21, 2007
    The hinges are placed in such a way that the legs stop when they are fully open. As long as I don't force the legs past 90 degrees they will be fine.

    Thanks for looking!
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,129 moderator
    edited May 23, 2007
    Pretty cool and nice photographic results. thumb.gifthumb
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited May 23, 2007
    Great work. I like the enlarged size.

    I have done something similar, see thread:

    http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=51457&highlight=light+tent

    Z
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
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