Its time to order, but I need your help

[borism]

It is time to order a 580 EX II
The time is right , I want to buy it and get the 50$ Canon rebate,
Im going to get it from Adorama that has a deal with a stoffen knockoff diffuser and rechargeable batteries.
But I'd like to ask you flash gurus what good diffuser to get ? .
I've read about lumiquest products, but what model? also read people saying good things The Shell, but I am not sure if it fits the 580, is it any good.
Would you mind giving me some direction / advice.. it is very welcome
Im totally new with flash photography, I want to learn, normal family portrait, indoor activities etc, so soft light I guess is the way (??)
Thank you all very much ;)

[tim]

The best diffuser is a wall, followed by an umbrella. After that it depends what you shoot, when, and where. I don't use on-camera diffusers, I use the bounce card and off camera flash (30 weddings/year).

Also don't buy cheap batteries, buy a decent brand. I bought some cheap one recently, from B&H, they're absolute crap. These ones (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=572814). I'd suggest Powerex from thomas distributing, with a good Maha charger - the C9000 rocks.

[chukdivad]

I have found that bouncing the flash off a white ceiling and/or using the bounce card on the 580EX II gives better results than my slip on diffuser. Bouncing with the diffuser on uses more power but does give a warmer looking result.

[borism]

Thank you about the battery advise :D I'll look into it..

And i'm aware about bouncing on walls, I'm new at the flash world but I've been reading a bit on the strobist and other books, however , as Im starting , am not up to umbrellas jet, and there are places where cielings are too hight etc.
I've seen many pros going around with the Fong and Lumiquest etc, also many just use the stofen..
I was wondering what would be a good forst buy (other than the stofen)

Thank you so muchh for your responces, very much apretiated

[tim]

Most "pros" who use diffusers use them because they've seen others use them, not because they have any understanding of light and how to control it. I've seen so called professionals use an omnibounce outside, pointed straight up. That's a fantastic way to get a hard light source and waste a lot of batteries, and clearly shows they have nfi (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nfi) what they're doing.

[Headcase650]

Google ABetterBounceCard .You can make about 6 of them for less than $10, they look good, pack nicely and weigh nothing.

[borism]

Wow Very interesting Lots of info here

Thank you so much bw!

[MeNiS]

buy it on ebay....use 30% off live cashback. you get a new 580ex II for about $300 shipped.

that's what i just did