Opteka Inflatable Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser

[yeow_Z]

Opteka Inflatable Universal Studio Soft Box Flash Diffuser (http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Inflatable-Universal-Diffuser-External/dp/B001GRU1AA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1250222224&sr=8-8)

anyone tried or have this? planning to get this one rather than having a DIY. any thoughts/comment will help me. TIA

[bzimmermann]

It will certainly help you to get a nice smiling expressions from yor subjects :-)

[rmd photography]

It would slightly diffuse the light but since the front surface is rounded and not flat the light will not be anything close to a real softbox.

[Cathpah]

seems pretty gimmicky to me.

[yeow_Z]

just ordered it. its only 10 bucks, why not try it. hope i get better lighting here than my Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce.

[blackshadow]

Can you use it as a pillow?

[yeow_Z]

Can you use it as a pillow?


kinda:D

[tetrode]

Ah, what's old is new again! Way back in the dark ages when the Vivitar 283 was considered state of the art, there were two similar devices that were (apparently) ahead of their time. One was called the "Air Brella" and the other was called the "Air Diffuser". They actually worked (within limits). Here's the Air Diffuser:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2699180976_965c28cde7_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2699181044_c0cc1cc61c_o.jpg

I stopped using these modifiers due to the relentless barrage of whoopie cushion jokes they elicited.

Dave F.

[yeow_Z]

oh thats so big. and kinda classic? i bought this one so i can use it outdoor.

[v35skyline]

just ordered it. its only 10 bucks, why not try it. hope i get better lighting here than my Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce.
If you're shooting indoors with white (low) ceilings and walls, a bounce card will do just fine.

If you'd like to be a little more versatile, then the LumiQuest Promax System will suit you well.

http://www.lumiquest.com/products/promax-system.htm

[TrSlsMan]

Does anyone know where to get an Air-brella or air diffuser? I made a living shooting weddings with them, and loved the results. There was a 0 f.-stop loss and my shots were always distinguishable from the guy who shows up at every wedding with a more expensive/newer camera than I had. (All I used were Hassie 500CMs)

[PacAce]

just ordered it. its only 10 bucks, why not try it. hope i get better lighting here than my Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce.

No, you won't, unless you were planning to use it for very close-up or macro photography. If used properly and under the right conditions, the Omni Bounce would get you better results.

[TMR Design]

That's a classic, Dave. I'd like to use that for an event or wedding.. LOLOLOL

[tetrode]

That's a classic, Dave. I'd like to use that for an event or wedding.. LOLOLOL

It may look stupid (alright, it DOES look stupid), but it actually works *very* well.

Let's travel back in time to September, 1978:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Uc8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=air-brella&source=bl&ots=aEJDGXRBAd&sig=axlyWpjuTdUyXNJzprv0hZjvxw4&hl=en&ei=lCYaTbuZIYH88Aa96pyFDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=air-brella&f=false

It's what the well-dressed wedding photographer was wearing back in the days of disco and bell bottoms.

Dave F.

[PacAce]

It may look stupid (alright, it DOES look stupid), but it actually works *very* well.

Let's travel back in time to September, 1978:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Uc8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=air-brella&source=bl&ots=aEJDGXRBAd&sig=axlyWpjuTdUyXNJzprv0hZjvxw4&hl=en&ei=lCYaTbuZIYH88Aa96pyFDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=air-brella&f=false

It's what the well-dressed wedding photographer was wearing back in the days of disco and bell bottoms.

Dave F.

See that Sound Minder to the left of the inflatable diffuser? I have one of those that I still use every now and then to measure how noisy (or NOT noisy) my camera shutter (or the flash head zoom mechanism) actually is. :mrgreen:

Oh, yeah, I also use it to calibrate the surrounds speakers for my home theater system, too.

[tetrode]

See that Sound Minder to the left of the inflatable diffuser? I have one of those that I still use every now and then ...

What can I say:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5301432108_571d3869fc_o.jpg

Dave F.

[PacAce]

What can I say:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5301432108_571d3869fc_o.jpg

Dave F.

LOL. I read someplace that everybody has a "twin" brother (or sister for a woman) somewhere in the world. I'm starting to believe I may have just found my twin brother. ;) :lol: :D

[tetrode]

LOL. I read someplace that everybody has a "twin" brother (or sister for a woman) somewhere in the world. I'm starting to believe I may have just found my twin brother. ;) :lol: :D

It is begining to look that way, Leo. I don't suppose you were born in Brooklyn, were you?

Dave F.

[PacAce]

It is begining to look that way, Leo. I don't suppose you were born in Brooklyn, were you?

Dave F.

No, I wasn't. I was born halfway around the world from you. :)

My apology to the OP for steering this thread off topic a bit. Just trying to keep the thread going while we're waiting for your Opteka IUSS to come in and you report back your findings here. ;)

[TopHatMoments]

Just to be safe, might get the patch kit.

I saw the sound meter beside the AirBag from, and thought it was for measuring the laughter when the diffuser was used.

I wonder what they will come up with to mimic a stick light?

Who knows that diffuser may work.

[ThatPhotographerGuy]

Hi everyone, NuBee member here :)

I was searching the Net to find a supplier for a set of these and found this thread.

I have used both the Air-Brella and Air-Diffuser. Yup, in the days when my 283 was alive and well.

I too have had to endure the whoopee cushion remarks, but in the end, these were excellent tools. Looking at those Fong diffusers you get today, these Air-Brellas/Diffusers are worth more than their weight in gold. (They were expensive back then)

In fact, mine were stored away for years and I've just resuscitated both of them!

I have two METZ CT flashes that I use on-location and these babies give me just what I need.

The Air-Diffuser does not diffuse that well, but if you place a piece of toilet paper over the flash head before attaching the diffuser, the results are quite satisfactory.

I'm still an old school kinda guy and whenever you need to pack as much as you can in a bag and do a light shoot, these are really great tools!

[TMR Design]

Welcome aboard, TPG. ;)