Good Diffuser for 580EX ii

[pwrmac]

Hey guys,

I am looking for diffuser suggestions for my new 580ex ii. I am using it with a 50D. I want to pick one up today or tomorrow to use during X-mas. If anyone has recommendations and maybe some sample pics using it, that would be great.

Thanks

[_Sim]

Do you want something portable or is that not a consideration?

If portability is important, look into the Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce. I got a good deal on a couple on ebay.

[pwrmac]

Yes I am looking for portability. I was thinking about the Stofen Omni bounce, it looks very unobtrusive compared to others, but thought I would get some opinions

I was just looking at the Lumiquest Promax System. Has anyone used this diffuser system. It looks pretty nice.

[Anke]

Tried this (http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/)? Or am I on the wrong tracks in what you're after?

[pwrmac]

Tried this (http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/)? Or am I on the wrong tracks in what you're after?

Yup thats the kind of thing I was curious about. It looks like it does a pretty good job, and seems like you could make your own with a visit to a craft shop.

Thanks

[dashotgun]

how about a flip it http://www.dembflashproducts.com/ from my reading here don't mention a gary fong cloud lots of strong feelings about that one

[Samanax]

I use a alcohol bottle as a diffuser on my 580EX II...sounds silly but it works pretty good. It fits just right too...I cut off the top and it slides snugly on the flash head. I have a big bicycle tire inner tube on the head to help hold the bottle on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3014277026_42beb5fbf4.jpg

ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/125
Aperture - 4.0
Metering - Evaluative
Focal Length - 55mm
Flash Mode - Manual
Power - 1/32 +03

:) Samanax

[G..]

Really like the lighting, but is that a bottle bottle?

Heavy if it is?

[Samanax]

Really like the lighting, but is that a bottle bottle?

Heavy if it is?It's a white plastic alcohol bottle that we had in the house and it might weigh a couple of ounces (if that).

I read about using a alcohol bottle at a DIY photo lighting web site and decided to give it a try. It's just a typical 70% isopropyl alcohol bottle you can get from almost any drug store (got mine at Longs Drugs).

:) Cricket

[fitzhughsmith]

Does the alcohol add to the difusion? How do you keep the alcohol in the bottle? Sorry, I just had to ask.

[G..]

The alchooool hash noo effecct wotshoweva!

[fitzhughsmith]

Seriously, Chuck Gardner has instructions on making your own diffuser here. http://super.nova.org/DPR/

[G..]

Sorry Sammanax could not help myself:oops:

I really do like the lighting and will look for a suitable bottle to have a play.
Thanks for sharing.

[Samanax]

LOL...no, no alcohol in the bottle. We use the alcohol (rubbing kind, not drinking kind...we don't drink) to control pests on our orchids so tend to always have several bottles in the closet.Seriously, Chuck Gardner has instructions on making your own diffuser here. http://super.nova.org/DPR/Good link, thanks!

I also made my own ABBC (A Better Bounce Card) out of Fun Foam. Here's a sample shot for comparison to the bottle diffuser.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/3014379962_5495e2c912.jpg

ISO - 200
Shutter - 1/125
Aperture - 5.6
Metering - Evaluative
Focal Length - 55mm
Flash Mode - Manual
Power - 1/16

:) Samanax

[Firotechnics]

The omni bounce defusers suck ass here is my flash diffuser comparison http://FiroTechnics.deviantart.com/art/Flash-Defuser-Comparison-100244874

[Familiaphoto]

Not personally a fan of the tupperware type of diffusers, in my use I've only seen them of real benefit in low ceilinged rooms. I like the Lumiquest products.

http://www.lumiquest.com/

[pwrmac]

Thanks for the input guys, I may try your ideas Samanax. Seems like a cheap way to try our different types.

Again thanks all.

[cdifoto]

Simple bounce has an equal or superior effect to gadgetry.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/wedding/2008-08-16-0038.jpg

[Peacefield]

l also use the Gardner make-it-yourself with-$3-worth-of-fun-foam. Bouncing is best, but I did a reception where the ceiling was 30' up. It really met the need.

[cdifoto]

Bouncing is best, but I did a reception where the ceiling was 30' up.
So did I:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/2007-09-15-786.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a304/cdifoto/2007-09-15-979.jpg

No diffusers. Diffusers are the last thing you want to be using when power is at a premium.

[mattograph]

The omni bounce defusers suck ass here is my flash diffuser comparison http://FiroTechnics.deviantart.com/art/Flash-Defuser-Comparison-100244874

No offense, but thats like saying a shotgun sucks cause you can't hit a deer with it at 500 yards. Its not the implement, its the application.

The omnibounce (and the fongosphere and their ilk) are designed to simulate bare bulb flash. The take the directional light coming from your flash and move it around in a 360 degree arc around the flash head, with a nice blast of light coming from the front for effect.

They soften the effect of light by bouncing it off multiple surfaces. This fills shadow areas, but does so in a very unique way. When used correctly, it can be a very unique, interesting look (Like celebrity candid black and whites from the 50's). When used constantly, it looks a lot like on camera flash.

One thing it does not do is SOFTEN light. If you use it outside, in the daylight, without surfaces to bounce from, all its doing is eating photons. You could accomplish the same thing by dialing in about 2 stops of FEC.

A bounce card works differently. Many create fill when used on an angled flash head by directing some of the light straight at the subject, while allowing light to escape upward to reflect off a ceiling when available. An advantage these often have is that, if the are large, they DO SOFTEN light because they increase the effective size of the light source.

In my humble opinion, a bounce card is a better solution for most general situations. My personal bounce card is a 5" honl snoot. I open it up and velcro it to my flash, creating a light source about 6 or 7 times the size of my flash head.

My recommendation? Take an old 5 x 7, flip it over to the white side, and tape it to your flash. Shoot some -- see what you think. In the end, your just gonna be spending money on something fancy that accomplishes the exact same thing.

[RPCrowe]

The Stofen Omnibounce is a pretty portable and inexpensive (expecially the Chinese knock-offs) diffuser.

However, my favorite is the Joe Demb Flash Diffuser Pro (DFD Pro). It's not very expensive, and is extremely versatile and produces excellent imagery.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/models/

[bohdank]

Bounce +- bounce card... I don't see a purpose for these other gizmos unless you can mount a softbox on the flash, when there is absolutely no way to bounce the light of something.

I don't ever recall seeing a paid photographer use one of these add on diffusers at any of the events I have been to. They're just solutions looking for a problem, imo.

[cvt01]

I dropped ~$40 on the fong sphere, I don't recommend it. It collects dust somewhere in the basement. Then I went and spent ~$3 to make a DIY bounce card ( http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/ ). I recommend to try this one first. The foam can be found at Walmart for 33 cents pers sheet. You don't even have to buy velcro first when you try it. I find the 'internal stiffener' being unnecessary as well.

[borism]

The Stofen Omnibounce is a pretty portable and inexpensive (expecially the Chinese knock-offs) diffuser.

However, my favorite is the Joe Demb Flash Diffuser Pro (DFD Pro). It's not very expensive, and is extremely versatile and produces excellent imagery.

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/models/


+1 to http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/

Theyr products are much more elegant and practical, they just work
I have the flip it, very practical and works great

[mattograph]

Bounce +- bounce card... I don't see a purpose for these other gizmos unless you can mount a softbox on the flash, when there is absolutely no way to bounce the light of something.

I don't ever recall seeing a paid photographer use one of these add on diffusers at any of the events I have been to. They're just solutions looking for a problem, imo.

Occasionally you do, but, at the end of the day, you see pros doing more creative things. like bouncing flash off someone wearing a white shirt.

[pwrmac]

Thanks for all you input everyone. I have been reading Strobists.com, and have come to learn that you can do allot without gizmo's just by understanding light and how a flash works. I think I am going to stick with just a standard white bounce card and really learn the ins and outs of manipulating the strobe to create the type of light I want.

I have used a bounce card numerous time before, but I think understanding more is the key to better photos not gizmo's.

[jitu757]

So, Gary Fong Lightspehere is a no? A co-worker let me borrow his for a day and I thought it was pretty good at diffusing and better spread of light when bounced. I have an Omnibounce on a SB-600 and I bounce it off the ceiling but direct would suck.

[cdifoto]

The easiest way to approach is to think about what direction you want the light to appear to come from, and aim the flash there.

So if you're face to face with a gorgeous woman and want the light to come from her left side, aim the flash into the wall to your right. If you want it to come from her left and above, aim the flash into the ceiling/wall seam to your right. If you want the light to come from her right shoulder but more from the front, aim the flash into the wall over your left shoulder.

If you're outside, you need all the light you can get when playing chicken with the sun, so use the flash bare and direct.

[jitu757]

The easiest way to approach is to think about what direction you want the light to appear to come from, and aim the flash there.

So if you're face to face with a gorgeous woman and want the light to come from her left side, aim the flash into the wall to your right. If you want it to come from her left and above, aim the flash into the ceiling/wall seam to your right. If you want the light to come from her right shoulder but more from the front, aim the flash into the wall over your left shoulder.

If you're outside, you need all the light you can get when playing chicken with the sun, so use the flash bare and direct.

Her left, your right. Got it. I was lost for a sec.

[cdifoto]

Someone more eloquent than I should come in here and explain angle of incidence and angle of reflectance and all that **** shortly. If they don't, you'll just have to experiment. lol.

[mattograph]

Someone more eloquent than I should come in here and explain angle of incidence and angle of reflectance and all that **** shortly. If they don't, you'll just have to experiment. lol.

Only one person has the patience to write that post............

TDR, where are you????

[Wilt]

No offense, but thats like saying a shotgun sucks cause you can't hit a deer with it at 500 yards. Its not the implement, its the application.

The omnibounce (and the fongosphere and their ilk) are designed to simulate bare bulb flash. The take the directional light coming from your flash and move it around in a 360 degree arc around the flash head, with a nice blast of light coming from the front for effect.

They soften the effect of light by bouncing it off multiple surfaces. This fills shadow areas, but does so in a very unique way. When used correctly, it can be a very unique, interesting look (Like celebrity candid black and whites from the 50's). When used constantly, it looks a lot like on camera flash.

One thing it does not do is SOFTEN light. If you use it outside, in the daylight, without surfaces to bounce from, all its doing is eating photons. You could accomplish the same thing by dialing in about 2 stops of FEC.

A bounce card works differently. Many create fill when used on an angled flash head by directing some of the light straight at the subject, while allowing light to escape upward to reflect off a ceiling when available. An advantage these often have is that, if the are large, they DO SOFTEN light because they increase the effective size of the light source.

In my humble opinion, a bounce card is a better solution for most general situations. My personal bounce card is a 5" honl snoot. I open it up and velcro it to my flash, creating a light source about 6 or 7 times the size of my flash head.

My recommendation? Take an old 5 x 7, flip it over to the white side, and tape it to your flash. Shoot some -- see what you think. In the end, your just gonna be spending money on something fancy that accomplishes the exact same thing.


I agree. To illustrate the virtual lack of 'softening' from the small 'diffuser' without wall/ceiling providing a large virtual light source surface...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6932698&postcount=4

[mattograph]

I agree. To illustrate the virtual lack of 'softening' from the small 'diffuser' without wall/ceiling providing a large virtual light source surface...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=6932698&postcount=4

Great example Wilt. Thanks.

[dan j]

I do use and like the Omni-Bounce, nothing is perfect, but we like the results. We've found it to be especially good when the ceiling is off-white or yellowish. Angling it at 45 degrees gives white lite to the subject while there's still bounce for fill.I dropped ~$40 on the fong sphere, I don't recommend it. It collects dust somewhere in the basement. Then I went and spent ~$3 to make a DIY bounce card ( http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/ ). I recommend to try this one first. The foam can be found at Walmart for 33 cents pers sheet. You don't even have to buy velcro first when you try it. I find the 'internal stiffener' being unnecessary as well.
I've seen this before and keep thinking about making one. You can't beat the price. I think it might be a bit intimidating/strange in public while the Omni-Bounce isn't. I can imagine the looks I'd get with the DIY one attached at Gymboree :o

dan ;)