DIY Walmart Diffuser vs Gary Fong

[c2thew]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...ghlight=bounce (original thread)

http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/
http://super.nova.org/DPR/Design/

Gary Fong
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/Walmartfoamdiffuser.jpg
Walmart diffuser
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/Walmartfoamdiffuser.jpg

attached are my modified/measured designs of the diffuser in the link.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0118.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0118.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0117.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0117.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0116.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0116.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0112.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0112.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0111.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0111.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0110.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0110.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/IMG_0119.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%20s5%20pictures/IMG_0119.jpg)

Advantages: great soft light, just slap it in your bag and your good to go.

Cons: has a slightly bluer hue than the gary fong diffuser as a result of the foam material. This can probably be fixed by setting the white balance under the Kelvins mode, or adjusting the WB to fluorescent.

Who else has made one?

Update: Setting the camera's white balance to the indoor setting corrects the color discrepancy.

[_aravena]

Me...love it.

[SYS]

Now, try this silver insert:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/2408943563_8dc681fe25_o.jpg

[SYS]

And just to prove that I use it... :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3270442395_098eaaed5c_o.jpg

[avarela86]

Great post!! I think once I pick up a flash I will be making one of these.

[c2thew]

Haha i think that might be a bit much when walking around and snapping shots.

although i did have that same idea in mind. What are the immediate benefits of having the aluminum foil in the flash fold?

[SYS]

Haha i think that might be a bit much when walking around and snapping shots.

although i did have that same idea in mind. What are the immediate benefits of having the aluminum foil in the flash fold?

Having it on the stand was only for my own use inside my house, not for walking around and snapping.

Some time ago I did tests with different inserts, and I liked the results of the silver insert the best. It produced the most natural lighting without the bluish tint. Here's the latest example with it...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3216666072_143388a6af_o.jpg

[Bushplane Ken]

Some time ago I did tests with different inserts, and I liked the results of the silver insert the best. It produced the most natural lighting without the bluish tint.

SYS, what is the silver insert made of? I made one of these a couple of years ago and I have been very pleased with the results. Some people find it a bit weird or funny at first but usually once they see the results they are quite surprised.

Perhaps it is time to make a new one and add the silver insert.

[phsv]

Yes, I have a couple of those things created with the foamies and I am also curious about adding that silver insert.

[SYS]

At first I used the aluminum foil from my kitchen (the one that you see above), but soon I found that it doesn't last long. It also looks ugly as you can see for yourself. The replacement that I liked and which I now use is "foil tape" as seen here:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=40999-133-40999&lpage=none

If you're interested in making a silver insert, my suggestion is to cut out either a thick paper or something similar and use the foil tape to cover it up with the silver surface and put some velcro on the back to be attached to the white velcro on the main white foam. This way, you can go back and forth between the white reflector to the silver reflector without having to re-create another one. Also, try creating the "gold" insert for warmer effect for certain type of shots, especially as the sun goes down...

[Familiaphoto]

I've seen these before and they look very promising. One day I'll have to make one to give it a try.

[PiRho]

subscribing, I will be trying this in the near future.
thanks,

[GCGuy]

great idea, looks more efficient and pro than a bent over "stick-it note"... but hey! whatever works, right?

[I26]

I see people staple the edges of the diffuser all the time. When I made mine I noticed that they have foam sheets that have a really nice sticky backing. I stuck a piece of white to a piece of black and it works awesome. Just an FYI...

[ejicon]

interesting and nicely done

[ibdb]

The great ideas always come back around. :lol:

Some more specs and details can be found in this thread here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=269723&highlight=bounce

[Laramie]

The great ideas always come back around. :lol:

Some more specs and details can be found in this thread here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=269723&highlight=bounce

+1. I've been using my white foam, $0.99 bounce card and it works better than the Fong type sphere I got on ebay. The bounce works wonders.

[BluewookieJim]

I see people staple the edges of the diffuser all the time. When I made mine I noticed that they have foam sheets that have a really nice sticky backing. I stuck a piece of white to a piece of black and it works awesome. Just an FYI...

I made one of these last year, and have used it quite well several times. Mine is stapled. I thought about using the two pieces of the sticky back foamies, but it occured to me very quickly that I don't have the skill and steadiness to get them lined up correctly. Once they are stuck together, they aren't coming back apart.

I really like the HVAC foil tape insert, I'm going to try that asap.

[I26]

Well I am curious why you would not paste them together as whole sheets, mark them off and then cut them with a straight edge and utility knife?

I pasted my 2 sheets together, and used a carpenters square to complete making a square sheet of foam. Then I layed out my measures and completed the DIY diffuser.

[GSansoucie]

I have one that works great, however, I have a delamination problem (it is sitting under three wine bottles right now trying to be re-laminated).

I used the spray adhesive that was recommended at that craft store (Elmer's Craft Bond Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive), followed the directions too. Mine does get warped in my bag, causing additional stress.

Anyone else have this problem?

Anyone else use a different adhesive?

[SYS]

One of the best methods is sewing. Not knowing how to sew, though, I simply use a combination of white and black self-adhesive velcro strips not only for the two foams but also for the silver insert I use. One advantage of the velcro method over the sewing method is that the final product looks "cleaner" without that ugly sewing marks. When using the velcro strips, use "square" shape velcro for corners, but make sure to use longer rectangular shape for the outer areas where the foam's "ceiling" closes down and opens up. There's more pressure placed on that area for the "ceiling" adjustments made and therefore having longer strips there prevents the self-adhesion to loosen up its power. I now can place the "ceiling" down pressure all day long, and the ceiling stays in the same position without any problem whatsoever.

[PiRho]

Update: I did make one, and have used it to great effect on several occasions! now I wouldn't be without it! I first just used self adhesive 'velcro' to keep a black and a white foamy together, but now I am seriously thinking of doing some sort of more permanent solution... glue, staples, or sewing. I get quite a few comments and questions about it when I am out and about shooting with it.

[c2thew]

i use gorilla glue to secure the velcro pieces down. a little dab of glue followed by clamping the velcro down will effectively keep the hold. one thing to note is that when you are taking off the velcro, you should place your fingers on both pieces of velcro (female and male) in order to prevent the velcro from ripping the foam apart.

i'll post some more picture comparisons between these diffusers soon as my first batch was taken with my point and shoot s5 where you can't fully appreciate the quality of light.

my conclusion so far is that the gary fong diffuser has a unique trait: it's design takes away light output but adds contrast to the image. so say if you were at a night club, you would want this diffuser to create warmer skin tones and to darken out the background.

The foam diffuser outputs an RELATIVELY even light, much like if you would use an external flash to shoot through an umbrella. you get more evenness from an umbrella, but at the same time you LOSE light since light gets deflected backwards. In addition, the foam diffuser has a very effective forward throwing range, useful for group shots where more light is necessary rather than the contrasty effect of the Gary fong diffuser. One last compliment about the foam diffuser is that it is very effective with longer focal lengths 85mm to 200mm (tested using my 85mm 1.8 and a friend's 70-200 2.8 IS) and still maintains an even toned lighting.

i'll get some more snaps shortly

[c2thew]

real life samples from each. can you determine which is bounced flash, gary fong diffuser, and the DIY diffuser? Note the traits of each setting and how the light determines the final result
1. http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/jackie%20tu%20senior%20recital/IMG_9554.jpg
2.http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%205d%2085mm/IMG_4626.jpg
3.http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Canon%205d%2085mm/IMG_4455.jpg

[avarela86]

What is the difference of using something like this and just bouncing off the ceiling? I am new to flash photography... I assme it makes using direct subjcet flash (flash aimed AT subject) less harsh than without a diffuser?

[PiRho]

Alfredo,
I must suggest that if you have a ceiling to bounce your flash off from then use that! the larger the aperent light source the better (unless you are trying for a different specific look). the time when I will get out the foamy diffuser is when a ceiling is not going to work. like outside, or when the ceiling will give a color caste that I don't want. also be aware that a wall will work wonders as well! ceiling is not needed if you have a light colored wall nearby. again it all depends on what look you are attempting to acheive.

so the difference really is in the size of the aperent light source. the foamy will be approx the same size every time, and will not diffuse the light all that much... just a lot better then straight flash! where the ceiling or wall will give you a very large aperent light source.

I hope that answers your question.

[avarela86]

THANKS!!

[Cathan]

is the material used to make these diffusers called 'fun foam'? or aka foam sheets? (which Walmart sells)

or can diffuser also be made from foam board? (which is stiffer than the sheets)

to assemble, is it basically just cutting, bending into a curved shape, some stapling, like MikeM. (what/where are the direct links to these plans again?, if you'd kind repost)

to secure on flash, what's best method? gaffers tape? elastic band? hair band?

is this end product going to be as good as some cheap ebay diffusers sold right now? or equal, better?

are there also such plans out there, (or if they could be schemed up) in replicating a lumiquest promax system? these diffusers work as 80/20 bounce (cutouts on the diffusers), along with gold, silver, white inserts to make 100% diffuser.

[c2thew]

^ fun foam from walmart
^ don't even bother with foam board. it defeats the purpose of portability
^ look at the images in the 1st post. there's some dimensions specified, though no actual instructions. it is pretty straight forward

"are there also such plans out there, (or if they could be schemed up) in replicating a lumiquest promax system? these diffusers work as 80/20 bounce (cutouts on the diffusers), along with gold, silver, white inserts to make 100% diffuser."

at that point, it wouldn't be worth your time. the point of a DIY is to mimic the actual product but keeping everything at a relatively low cost.

[SwiftFootTim]

Where in Walmart is the fun foam located? I mistakenly bought foam board last week and it didn't quite pan out...

[PiRho]

I found mine in with the crafty stuff, I think there were beads and other trinkets on the same aisle.

[Erik_L]

Damn,I thought I invented this!

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/smrndmguy/DSC02303.jpg

I leave mine open on the top for ceiling bounce. works great for adding catchlights and for removing shadows on faces. I will be making a closed one next.

[stratstrat]

Hey 2C
Coverage is very similar, but I wonder witch diffuser makes flash work harder.