Canon 580EX, which diffuser?

[DaiWelsh]

I have just bought a Sigma 180mm Macro and 580EX flashgun mostly for Butterflies and Dragonflies.
I would like some advice please on what diffuser to get. I notice that all the home made are made out of tubs of better or similar and are used very close to the end of the lens.
I intend shooting Butterflies from 2-5ft away so what diffuser do you recomend. Would the Sto-Fen be ok. If you suggest using the home made approach can I use thin white cotton instead of paper as I tend to walk through a lot of undergrowth and paper won't last long.
Thanks in advance.
Dai

[LordV]

I have just bought a Sigma 180mm Macro and 580EX flashgun mostly for Butterflies and Dragonflies.
I would like some advice please on what diffuser to get. I notice that all the home made are made out of tubs of better or similar and are used very close to the end of the lens.
I intend shooting Butterflies from 2-5ft away so what diffuser do you recomend. Would the Sto-Fen be ok. If you suggest using the home made approach can I use thin white cotton instead of paper as I tend to walk through a lot of undergrowth and paper won't last long.
Thanks in advance.
Dai

I wouldn't use a Stofen- far too wasteful (on light), suspect a lumiquest softbox/mini softbox would be better.

Brian V.

[bokchoi]

I have tried a Sto-fen like diffuser with my Sigma 150mm and was not happy with the results; a Lumiquest-like softbox yielded far better pictures. I purchased mine on Ebay and they work well, though I don't see anything wrong with using thin cotton or a cotton/polyester blend on your home-made diffuser.

[davej1234]

Lumiquest makes decent diffusers: http://lumiquest.com/products/softbox.htm

[DaiWelsh]

Thanks for your advice.

Dai