Flash Diffuser Question

I have been asked to do photos for a one-year old by an acquaintance. I am an amateur; skills lie in photographing marching bands and similar, not portraits.

For this session, the shoot will be indoors. I have a Canon 70D and will likely purchase this flash: https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ttl_camera_spee​dlite.html

I'd like to use this diffuser: https://www.amazon.com …fRID=QXZ99GNRQD​X2ZM9VED3C .

Does anyone have experience with this? Or a different recommendation?

Thanks all,

Tim

I can't say anything negative about the flash. Regarding the diffuser, I would recommend watching this video to help understand what results you may get by using such: LINK

Gart

Diffusers (softboxes or umbrellas) need to be used no farther than 2X-3X their longest dimension in order for them to create 'soft' light.
IOW, a diffuser which is 6" on its long dimension needs to be within 12-18" of the subject for it to yield 'soft' light. Any farther and it progressive starts acting like a virtual point source (harder edges on shadows)

tspencer1 wrote in post #18590107
I have been asked to do photos for a one-year old by an acquaintance. I am an amateur; skills lie in photographing marching bands and similar, not portraits.

For this session, the shoot will be indoors. I have a Canon 70D and will likely purchase this flash: https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …ttl_camera_spee​dlite.html

I'd like to use this diffuser: https://www.amazon.com …fRID=QXZ99GNRQD​X2ZM9VED3C .

Does anyone have experience with this? Or a different recommendation?

Thanks all,

Tim

Hi Tim,

The flash is good. Though, personally, I have the Adorama Flashpoint clone (same flash). I went that direction because the warranty and support is with Adorama here in USA, and not dealing with the zero support of over-sea (China). The Flashpoint R2 TTL series is the same thing and you can get it here in the USA. LINK: https://www.adorama.co​m …0yzQ8REAYYAyABE​gJtBPD_BwE

Don't bother with the diffuser.

Just bounce the flash off the ceiling or a wall. Much softer.

Very best,

Wow - thanks all - great advice already.

Gart - thanks for the video - very helpful. He seems to reach the same conclusion as MalVeauX. Ditch the diffuser and bounce the flash off of a wall or ceiling.

Wilt - did not know that - thank you.

MalVeaux - I think I will go with that Adorama - did not even realize they were options - thank you.

Head outdoors (depends on weather where you live). Use a reflector. Or indoors, try a large window and a reflector on the other side of the subject.

Unless you’ve got time to practice with a flash, I’d use a reflector. Practice with it too.

If you’re shooting evenings, well... flash and practice first. Don’t experiment at the time of the shoot. Have a bit of a plan.

Enjoy.

tspencer1 wrote in post #18590157
Wow - thanks all - great advice already.

Gart - thanks for the video - very helpful. He seems to reach the same conclusion as MalVeauX. Ditch the diffuser and bounce the flash off of a wall or ceiling.

Wilt - did not know that - thank you.

MalVeaux - I think I will go with that Adorama - did not even realize they were options - thank you.

Our in-house support team, brands@adorama.com are the guys to turn to if you need technical advice - or for after-sales warranty / out of warranty service.

MalVeaux - I bought the Flashpoint unit from Adorama that you recommended - thanks. A question on the display. I don't get the "zoom" display and the "focus length" on the top line of the display. Ref p. 4 here: https://www.adorama.co​m …ductManuals/FPL​FSMZCA.pdf

I tried playing around with the lens zoom, etc but nothing seemed to change those numbers. Can you enlighten me as to what these mean?

Thx.

Tim

Is it connected to the camera? M is manual zoom, A is automatic, and controlled by the camera/lens ... but if the lens doesn't zoom, then the flash wont either (50mm prime will only have 50mm displayed and will not change) Page 22 and 23 cover some of the options, and show how to change the zoom from manual to automatic. What lens do you have attached?

I first attached a 50mm Nifty Fifty. No zoom and one focal length there - I get it. Then I attached a 18-50 zoom. And although I zoomed the lens, nothing happened to the display on the flash. You are saying it should have? So if the Flash is in Zoom "M", I can change the zoom on the flash? And if in Zoom "A" the flash will follow what the lens does? If so, I could not figure out how.

Appreciate your response.

^^^ yup. If flash is on camera, the camera settings might mess with the flash.

If you take the flash off and put it in manual mode you should be able to change the zoom and hear the bulb move in the reflector housing.

If flash is on camera, you can do the same through the camera's speedlight menu.

tspencer1 wrote in post #18596408
I first attached a 50mm Nifty Fifty. No zoom and one focal length there - I get it. Then I attached a 18-50 zoom. And although I zoomed the lens, nothing happened to the display on the flash. You are saying it should have? So if the Flash is in Zoom "M", I can change the zoom on the flash? And if in Zoom "A" the flash will follow what the lens does? If so, I could not figure out how.

Appreciate your response.

In A , change zoom and then half press shutter release.

My above post was in reply to ksbal

Thank you. I think the takeaway is - if the flash is on camera - set the unit at Zoom "A" so it meshes with the lens zoom?

tspencer1 wrote in post #18596415
Thank you. I think the takeaway is - if the flash is on camera - set the unit at Zoom "A" so it meshes with the lens zoom?

That works.

You can also use the camera menu to change the flash settings. When bouncing flash I often use manual zoom but ETTL, and set those from the camera.

tspencer1 wrote in post #18596415
Thank you. I think the takeaway is - if the flash is on camera - set the unit at Zoom "A" so it meshes with the lens zoom?

Keeping the zoom setting in auto is probably okay when you're using ETTL. If you're using the flash in manual mode, set the zoom manually to keep the exposure constant. When the zoom setting changes on the flash, it changes your exposure. I typically keep the flash zoom setting at 35mm for both ETTL and manual no matter what lens I'm using unless I have a specific reason to use a different zoom setting.