The Pringles Diffuser, Macro, and Light

hey guys,


so I built the Pringles can project (which around here has gotten nicknamed the Pringlator)

and I've got more questions about it.


So I notice that many of your lovely shots in the macro forum are like mine...
f/14 - f/16, 1/125 - 1/160.

However, your ISOs are really low compared to mine.

This shot was taken at f/16, 1/125, 1250 ISO.

Trouble is, I was using the Neewer flash with the Pringlator, and the power was at full power or 1/2 power.

Is it common to use this much power to get enough light to just run at 1250 ISO?
Or do I have too many diffusers on the end of the Pringlator?
There's two sheets of printer paper, a paper towel, and a foam-back bubble wrap
all cut out and stuck on the end of the bowl. Too much?

Thoughts?

Certainly does sound like too much especially the use of printer paper which does block a lot of light.
Brian V.

Awesome...I'll pull those two sheets then as a starter.
Looking at the above image, what do you think of the light spread? Should I play with the length of the diffuser, or try to get it angled down more, or does that look pretty good?

I actually rather like the light you are getting but you are not getting enough.
Just try making one change at a time and see how that works. I actually made a target for testing diffusion the main bit was just two pins with plastic ends as eyes. Just makes comparing different changes much easier but your first job is to get more light down the tube.
Brian v.

Do yourself a HUGE favor and drop 22.95 USD + shipping (I think B&H is offering free first class postage) for a Bogen Diffusion Pack. Trust me on this one...

Edit: Read this post at Strobist and apply the principles in it to your diffuser design. Also trust me on this one too...

I think you should at least post a few pics of your rigs. Maybe we can tell what's wrong from there.

I am still using my ol' faithful DIY concave diffuser. Cost next to nothing to DIY

For MP-E65 and MT-24EX
http://orionmystery.bl​ogspot.com …iffuser-quick-update.html

I have also adapted this for my 60mm F2 so i can photograph bigger subjects like frogs, snakes, big spiders etc. The same concave diffuser, but way bigger.

https://www.flickr.com …/orionmystery/1​1366671725

ok here we go...

Here's the rig...

5D2 with Neewer and Pringlator.
I'm torn about the lens hood...it seems to spook the bugs a tad easier and adds more shade on the subject?

The working distance of your lens at 1:1 is probably around 5.2 inches(?). Looking at how your snoot and diffuser are constructed, I seriously doubt you'll get much light when it's close to 1:1.

You probably want to tilt it downwards.

I'm not a big fan of using materials to diffuse light that aren't designed for it. You'll get an odd color cast to your images that you neither won't be able to correct in post, or it's gonna be a PITA to fix. Most of the stuff I see peeps using to diffuse their light do more to block the flash than actually force the light to spread out (diffusion).

orionmystery wrote in post #17073069
The working distance of your lens at 1:1 is probably around 5.2 inches(?). Looking at how your snoot and diffuser are constructed, I seriously doubt you'll get much light when it's close to 1:1.

You probably want to tilt it downwards.

Agree with Kurt- suspect a lot of the light is missing the target when near 1:1
Brian v.

I was about to say this, the angle is poor for 1:1, you may also have too much diffuser paper.

I don't quite know what to expect but I would guess if you are loosing more than a stop or two of light something is not right.

You want to have enough power in reserve be able to get several consecutive shots which helps in focus stacking.

Thanks for the tips guys...I'm finding it's hit-or-miss with it so far, but I do agree:
somehow I need to get more light hitting the front of the subject at 1:1 or 1:1.5ish ranges.
I'm going to pull one of my diffuser papers, and see how I can angle it down more.

Not sure what flash you're using but my 550 EX allows the head to be bent down slightly. Yours looks pretty much horizontal. But I'm having my own problems even with that ability to point it down a few degrees.

This is the Neewer 560 flash...it DEFINITELY doesn't angle down.
There's some things you just don't get for $37 I guess...hehehe.
So it'll have to be done with some tweaking of the diffuser itself I reckon...

I have been using this oversized concave diffuser with a 270EX and bounce.

Flickr takes away all the notes on the images! Grr.

270EX on hotshoe, the black thing is made from impraboard to bounce light, the concave diffuser is packing foam.

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