It's quite a well-known fact that professional photographic equipment is very expensive, camera bodies, lights and lenses reaching astronomical prices. However, since not all photographers (especially semi-pros/beginners) have the material means to actually purchase such high-end equipment, the people over at ExpoImaging have come up with the Ray Flash, a device that should successfully replace the traditional, expensive, and heavy powered studio ring flash units.

According to the manufacturer, the Ray Flash is a special adapter that works with a camera's hot shoe flash unit and has been designed to replicate the lighting effect produced by traditional studio ring flash units.

What's really interesting about it is the fact that, since it actually relies on the hot-shoe flash to generate its light, it doesn't contain any electronic components or flash tubes. The light distribution is accomplished through a system of internal light-shapers designed to distribute and project the light evenly around the lens.

Due to this system, the Ray Flash creates what its manufacturer calls a “three-dimensional shadow-wrapped look around the subject,” described as a virtually shadowless look on the front of the photo's subject, while producing a soft even shadow around the edges.

The accessory from ExpoImaging has been designed specifically to work with the Canon 580EX (I & II) and Nikon SB800 flash units, but will support other flash units as well. It weighs around 16 ounces and can be very easily installed, since all the users have to do is simply mount the Ray Flash to the front of a portable flash unit by sliding the Ray Flash over the front of the flash unit and then turn the lock on top of the Ray Flash to hold the accessory firmly in place.

Pricing of the Ray Flash is at around 200 US dollars, which is by no means a small sum, but it certainly is a lot smaller than whatever you might pay for a studio-grade circular flash unit.

 
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