Modifiers for the 580EX

What other types of light modifiers are there for the 580EX. I am aware of the Omni Bounce, unbrellas, softboxes, and other card type devices to bounce or diffuse the light a little. But are there any Barndoors or maybe even a scrim that will allow me to control the spread of the light?

TIA!

There aren't many designed for specific flash units, other than the Sto-Fen you mentioned and the very pricey Gary Fong Lightsphere plastic dishes.

There are many devices that attach with velcro and are more generic in fit. These include a host of products by Lumiquest, and the Joe Demb Flip-it.

But don't go spending money on stuff without understanding the basics of lighting. Start here:
http://abetterbounceca​rd.com

If you need a lot of more sophisticated light modifiers you may need need to move from a hotshoe mounted flash (like a 580EX), to a studio type flash that typically offer far more possibilities.

Enjoy! Lon

Sorry I should have put this in my first post, I already own a larger strobe kit at the moment I need something a little smaller more portable. I own I 580EX and the wireless transmitter from Canon, and use it on a 20D and 1Dmk2n. I plan on buying 1 or maybe even 2 more flash heads. As of now the only thing I do to control the spread of the light is move the flash head closer or further away from the subject and adjust the FEC, or set up light blocking panels. I was looking for something like a scrim (grid) to focus the flash beam even more, or even barndoors that I could attatch. I'm even open to a DIY if anyone has any ideas.

Lumiquest makes a snoot, and of course snoots are fairly simple to make out of various materials like an empty Pringles can.

Coroplast, an extruded plastic material resembling corrugated cardboard, has been used to make grids for hotshoe flash units.

There are discussions about it at the Strobist Flickr group.
http://flickr.com/grou​ps/strobist

Curtis N wrote in post #2673724
Lumiquest makes a snoot, and of course snoots are fairly simple to make out of various materials like an empty Pringles can.

Coroplast, an extruded plastic material resembling corrugated cardboard, has been used to make grids for hotshoe flash units.

There are discussions about it at the Strobist Flickr group.
http://flickr.com/grou​ps/strobist

Thanks Curtis!

would it be stupid to buy a softbox or an umbrella to fire the 580 into? i am a complete noob with flash photography, but trying to figure all this out. i plan to one day upgrade to a more complete studio setup, but for now i have a 580 and a transmitter.

thelightofsound wrote in post #2674848
would it be stupid to buy a softbox or an umbrella to fire the 580 into?

Not stupid at all. Start with a silver umbrella, economy lightstand and umbrella bracket for low cost and portability.

You won't get anywhere near the power of good studio strobes, but it will easily get you enough light for single headshots & such.

Knowledge is more important than equipment. Learn all about off-camera lighting with hotshoe flash units on the Strobist blog.

thelightofsound wrote in post #2674848
would it be stupid to buy a softbox or an umbrella to fire the 580 into? i am a complete noob with flash photography, but trying to figure all this out. i plan to one day upgrade to a more complete studio setup, but for now i have a 580 and a transmitter.

Umbrella is fine.
A great place to start looking for info is Strobist. Another is DG28

great info in there! thanks a million!!

bbc14f wrote in post #2673598
As of now the only thing I do to control the spread of the light is move the flash head closer or further away from the subject and adjust the FEC, or set up light blocking panels.

I've never tried it for this purpose, but could you also manually adjust the zoom setting of the flash? Of course that wouldn't give you the same type of control as you'd get with a snoot.

http://www.photocritic​.org …umbrella-helmet-lighting/

Big Mike wrote in post #2675758
http://www.photocritic​.org …umbrella-helmet-lighting/

Ahhh...no!

I could just see myself walking into a shoot with that thing on my head.