Vertical Diffuser Shootout

How about a test and comparison on top brand diffusers?

This has been done before but seldom in the vertical position.

Vote on the one you like. The diffusers and settings will be revealed soon.

#1
unable to post due to 8-image limitation.
http://img360.imagesha​ck.us/img360/7698/4811​6001qg4.jpg

#2

There's so many choices

I voted for 2, but should have voted 3 - the missing image confused my counting

Did you glue that phone down?

Lotto wrote in post #6761629
Did you glue that phone down?

Gravity did just fine. Although it does look like it's about to slide off.

I put the iPhone there to hold down the pages and to potentially show some specular reflections off the shiny chrome bezel.

Settings/Equipment:
- External flash battery pack CP-E3
- Batteries - freshly charged 2600 mAh nickel-metal hydride batteries
- Camera: 20D, white bal to flash, ISO 200, 1/200th, F8
- Lens: 50mm F1.4 at F8
- Flash: 580EX, ETTL, auto zoom (50mmm default), +2/3 FEC

Diffusers:
- PRESSlite VerteX (#2, #3)
- Gary Fong Lightsphere-II Cloud (#4, #5)
- Joe Demb BIG Flip-it! (#7, #8 )
- 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, not quite Peter Gregg style bounce card (#9)

No post processing. Straight out of the camera JPGs resized for web.

Below are links to the setup images for each shot.

#1) No diffuser used; ceiling bounce.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/9316/1ajz​4.jpg

#2) Presslite; right wall bounce w/some ceiling bounce.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/9425/2aux​7.jpg

#3) Presslite; rear wall & corner bounce.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/8198/3azm​4.jpg

#4) Lightsphere; 360 degrees bounce w/lid OFF pointed at ceiling.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/4331/4acl​6.jpg

#5) Lightsphere; 360 degrees bounce w/lid ON pointed at ceiling.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/7721/5alf​5.jpg

#6) Lightsphere; 360 degrees bounce w/lid ON pointed forward.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/7936/6afx​5.jpg

#7) Flip-it; vertical.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/2848/7ayh​1.jpg

#8 ) Flip-it; tilted 45 degrees forward.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/7819/8ara​6.jpg

#9) 8.5 x 11 paper; vertical.
http://img507.imagesha​ck.us/img507/9704/9aka​9.jpg

Happy holidays!

Well, it looks like the pictures getting the most votes (including mine) were the ones where you either bounced the light off the rear or side wall. Why didn't you do that with all of the diffusers as well as the bare flash? Even with a "360" diffuser such as a Lightsphere, you could still aim it away from the subject toward the back of the room.

If you really want to isolate and compare the diffusers, you have to eliminate as many of the other variables as possible. JMO

This proves once again that 'size matters'!

If one uses pure bounce, it is 'softer' than using a 'combination' source...bounce plus some direct light. The LS is a combination source...some light is indirect (ceiling and wall bounce) but some is direct (from the plastic to the subject). The plastic area is relatively small so it casts distinct shadows. Same comment also applies to the Demb...while the light from the card is indirect, the card is still relatively small in size!

BTBeilke wrote in post #6771004
Well, it looks like the pictures getting the most votes (including mine) were the ones where you either bounced the light off the rear or side wall. Why didn't you do that with all of the diffusers as well as the bare flash? Even with a "360" diffuser such as a Lightsphere, you could still aim it away from the subject toward the back of the room.

Good observation. Certainly, #3 could have been done with just the bare flash by rotating it to the 150 degrees mark on the 580EX. The result would have been similar to the VerteX arrangement.

The same shots could have been made with the Lightsphere or Flip-it, but only while on a tripod. In the real world, these would not be possible for me.

This is because the Lightsphere would hit my head before reaching the 150 degrees mark. Same with the BIG Flip-it, and even worst when its reflector is folded back, which then would hit my left eye and face.

Also, the Lightsphere might not hold at that angle due to its weight.