Flash Diffusor / Soften Light

I am looking for a diffusor for my Canon 580EX II. I've read all about the Lightsphere, Lumiquest pocket bouncer, Harbor Digital Design Ultimate Light Box Kit, Omni-bounce, you name it. I'm afraid that some of the reviews I've read about these were a bit biased - if you know what I mean.

If anyone has had a particular positive experience with a certain diffusor for a hot shoe flash, please share! I wish I could try them all then decide - but I figure the second best way to decide is to hear from those with actual experiences with the diffusor. Therefore, if anyone could give me a good recommendation on a particular diffusor, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks in advance!!

PS, I primarily shoot weddings - therefore, I will be using the diffusor both indoor and outdoor in a varierty of conditions.

Hi,

you might get better luck posting this in the flash part of the forum. It's a question asked quite often and you often find opinion split. I've bought the Joe Demb Flip-it and a stofen but most often i just use a home made bounce card:

http://www.abetterboun​cecard.com/

For outdoor use i prefer the stofen more - i never use the flip-it to be honest. It's all a matter of preference though. I know the Lumiquest promax system is highly thought of, nearly bought it myself.

My suggestion is to totally ignore all the 'tupperware' diffusers (Stofen, Fong's stuff, etc.) and get something like the LumiQuest Promax System. It is extremely versatile and stores in a flat wallet that takes up virtually no space in your camera bag. I use mine under all sorts of situations, both indoors and out, with very good results.

Even if you shoot without any modifier, a flash bracket that will allow you to keep the flash above the lens is, in my opinion, very important. Using one will allow you to keep the shadows behind and, usually, below the the subject even if you're shooting with the camera in "portrait" position. Otherwise, the shadows would be to one side of the subject and quite noticeable.

The main goal of the diffuser is so that you can get as big of a light source as possible. If you are inside you should be bouncing off white cielings and walls as much as possible for the best effect. If you have no white walls, you are going to want a large bounce card like the lumiquest big bounce in order to make the source bigger.
My recommendation before you buy 1 million gimmick diffusers is to use bounce flash as much as possible indoors, maybe with an index card on the back for some fill if you would like. For outdoors just use a flash on a bracket.

Get one of these... can't beat the price!

http://danstechreviews​.blogspot.com …htsphere-alternative.html

Of all the commercially available ones out there, I think LumiQuest Promax System is the most respectable and reasonably priced, so I'll second Skip's.

I purchased a Lambency flash diffuser (GF lightsphere clone) from Ebay and all said and done it only cost aprox $12 bucks. I also own a joe demb's Jumbo flipit w/ diffuser.

The tupperware container "lightsphere" can potentially be annoying to other people due to its 360 degrees light grenade. For a hobbyist I'd say it has produced consistant indoor pictures for me since it'll bounce off of walls, ceilings and everything around you. With ETTL I'll just play with FEC to compensate. Perhaps some pro/amatuer photographers love or hate the light grenade but for a hobbyist I do like the no brainer larger light source effect I get from that heavy bowl on top of your flash. PLEASE NOTE: $12 dollars. What the heck can you get these days for 12 dollars??? The clone definitely seems to work by far better than the built in "index" card in the 580EXII flash.

In most cases I use the flip it due to less weight and more versatility for instant use indoors and out. For outdoors I can flip the card away quickly for direct flash or have a 45 degree angle for some shots for fill. for indoors I angle the 580EXII so that I can direct the flash to certain walls to for more directional light. Read joe's website and just get some ideas.

There are so many products out there but the 12 dollar "clone" was a no brainer. The Demb flipit was actually the one product I was more interested in. Having a wife scanning ebay for a tupperware bowl was entertaining to say the least.

Both systems are very inexpensive and both together will more than liklely cost less than a full tank of gas.

or if you are bored and have nothing to do, but want to be super creative. Make your own bounce... I actually just finish adding the velco on to it. I did a quick test shot.. feel free to check it out. Sorry the dog was the model. my wife and baby son are out of town on vacation visiting my in laws.

http://www.jklimagery.​com/test - a few test shots using my DIY flash bouncer w/ Diffuser.

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