DIY Speedlite Reflector (like a 7" AB..)

[namasste]

I thought I'd turn here for some expert advice before wasting much time on this but it seems to make sense to me. I shoot a lot of sports and have always used a strobist style, small light setup to shoot in HS gyms. It works fairly well with speedlites and I typically use three (two off camera from either corner, shot direct over the top of the key. Third flash is shoe mounted and is usually bounced with a small card.

Onto my idea...I'd like to get a little better coverage from these with a touch more power but don't want to lengthen recyclce times as they are already bad enough,even at 1/2. I'd also like to maybe bounce the corner lights for a little better look. I was thinking of constructing some 7" reflectors to use with the speedlites but after searcing, I found nothing that really looked like what I want to do. My other question is whether or not it will make a difference to add refelctors to the lights or if I'd just be wasting my time.

Thanks!

[bobbyz]

Scott,

Aren't speedlights focussing the beams, unlike studio strobes which have bare flash tube so light goes in all directions. You can control the spread by using wider zoom setting on your flash but that will also lower power. How about getting some ABs? There are some other flash brands which have reflectors though I am not familiar with them.

[namasste]

Scott,

Aren't speedlights focussing the beams, unlike studio strobes which have bare flash tube so light goes in all directions. You can control the spread by using wider zoom setting on your flash but that will also lower power. How about getting some ABs? There are some other flash brands which have reflectors though I am not familiar with them.
B, all great questions back to me. The speedlites do focus the beams but I guess I am thinking that a reflector fitted over the end would further focus the beam if bouncing off a a wall or ceiling and perhaps even amplify the light a bit at lower power settings. I love the portability, ease of setup, and flexibility of the speedlites for this work and a couple of Home Depot reflectors would cost very little as opposed to the Bees.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking and I might be incredibly off track in those thoughts (my wife thinks I usually am about most things!). Thanks for the response bud.

[Big Mike]

If you are talking about what I think you are...dish reflectors are used to direct light forward...light that is coming out at all angles from a bare bulb.

A speedlight however, is far from a bare bulb and already focuses the light into a beam...further to that, most have zoom heads so you can control the spread of the beam already.

[Hermes]

B, all great questions back to me. The speedlites do focus the beams but I guess I am thinking that a reflector fitted over the end would further focus the beam if bouncing off a a wall or ceiling and perhaps even amplify the light a bit at lower power settings. I love the portability, ease of setup, and flexibility of the speedlites for this work and a couple of Home Depot reflectors would cost very little as opposed to the Bees.

Anyway, that's what I was thinking and I might be incredibly off track in those thoughts (my wife thinks I usually am about most things!). Thanks for the response bud.

If you want to dedicate the speedlites for this job you COULD unscrew the casing and remove the focussing lens at the front which would give you an exposed tube similar to studio strobes which would be more suitable for reflectors and would most likely give you a little more output.

However, there are disadvantages to this, including the fact that it could probably be considered dangerous in one way or another, and will void your warranty if your flashes are still under warranty.

[namasste]

Sounds like I have my answer. I was hoping this might work, but it sounds like I'm going down the wrong path. Maybe just get a better beamer and call it a day, huh?

[Andrushka]

what speedlites are you using? i know if i set my 430ex's to 105mm zoom it is a VERY narrow beam and if i dont aim the flash just right i could very well miss my intended subject completely at the longer zoom settings :-)

i would imagine that the 70,80, 90, 105mm settings are much more focused than any reflector dish on a bare bulb (i dont know that for scientific fact, but it makes sense by eyeballing it)

[namasste]

what speedlites are you using? i know if i set my 430ex's to 105mm zoom it is a VERY narrow beam and if i dont aim the flash just right i could very well miss my intended subject completely at the longer zoom settings :-)

i would imagine that the 70,80, 90, 105mm settings are much more focused than any reflector dish on a bare bulb (i dont know that for scientific fact, but it makes sense by eyeballing it)
makes sense here as well. I use a Sigma 530 Super (which zooms from 24-105) and a couple of Viv 285 HVs that can zoom but I honestly don't know the zoom settings, assuming normal is 50mm and tele is maybe 70 or 85mm?