Why Don’t Consumer Cameras Use Ring Flash?
With all the commotion around the next-generation iPhone (4th Gen — if you’re keeping track) today, I started to think about the flash mechanisms used in mobile phones and small point-and-shoot cameras.
As you may have seen, the next-gen iPhone has a small flash next to the camera’s lens (photo below).
This is the way most camera phones position their small LED flash. Point-and-shoot cameras also position their flash off to the side. I suppose this is an age-old method which works.
In the professional world of photography there’s a type of flash called a ring flash. It it literally a ring of light which is positioned around the lens for a very even lighting effect. Read: Very few harsh shadows — offset flashes (like those in mobile phones and point-and-shoot cameras) produce harsh shadows. Ring flashes are generally quite expensive, but that’s because they’re large and very versatile.
I think that devices with small lenses and built-in flashes should implement ring flashes because it would produce much brighter and even lighting compared to current offset technologies used. Also, there would be less chance for users of these devices to accidentally cover the flash when taking a photo because covering the flash would mean covering the lens; you’d be able to clearly see that you’re covering the lens on the camera’s display.
I believe a ring flash would even on be a great idea on prosumer point-and-shoot cameras like Panasonic’s Lumix range or Canon’s G9/G10/G11 cameras. Imagine the flash being on the end of the zoom lens. Yeah, epic!
Removing the flash from an offset location on the aforementioned devices would mean more room for features like stereo microphones, reverse displays, and larger lenses or more compact cameras/devices.
Lastly, if you’ve ever seen photographs created using a ring flash, then you’ll know that reflections of the ring flash look mighty radical. 
Should basic consumer cameras implement ring flashes into their design? Would the basic (non-geek) consumer even are about this feature before seeing the difference in photos?
Share your thoughts below.
