Gary Fong's The Puffer Pop Up Flash Diffuser

i did see one in use before .............

http://erader.zenfolio​.com …84462/h399016f5​#h399016f5

i'm not sure how effective it is but it's worth a shot when you consider where you are at with the hobby and the fact that you do already have a pop-up flash on your camera.

i'd say try it and see what you think....and report back .

ed rader

question about flash diffusers (better bounce card), was wondering is there advantage in getting foam sheets in multi color? (also in bright multi color) or should you just buy plain white foam sheets? will the multi colors be very much like a gel lighting effect?

Rockrz wrote in post #8224264
My problem is that I haven't a clue yet about shutter speed adjustments, or any
other adjustments to the camera that may be needed, when they may be needed,
or even how to make them.

So far, I'm amazed at how good my pics are looking with the built in flash
and default factory camera settings. I probably need to get over having to
spend $250 for a Canon flash!

Hehe if this is your problem, I would probably hold off on spending more money until you know what you need

With camera gear, its not about having 'everything', unless you are filthy rich, but about having the gear you need for the photos you want to take.

Considering you bought a Point-and-shoot model, im guessing you wanted a simple but good quality camera to take quick easy shots of friends and family, maybe for a little bit of online use for facebook/personal blogging purposes. If thats the case, you might get away with whats on your camera, as you won't need expensive pro gear.

If you are looking to do photography as a hobby, and image quality and reliable results are the most important thing to you, id trade in your G9 for a 350d with the kit 18-55mm lens and go from there.

Shoot with what you have for a while, and when the shots you want to take aren't possible with the gear you have, look at what people are using to get those shots.

Cheap camera gear is bad camera gear, theres no 'hidden bargains' to be found even on eBay. In fact, in my years of experience ive found this forums Buy and Sell sections to have some of the best deals out there by quite a long shot. Its used gear, but usually used by photography buffs, who take good care of their stuff

I hope this helps a bit! Personally id recommend saving your money until you are a little more sure about what you need. If you just 'need to buy something', get a useful bag for your camera that doesn't cost too much

Disassociation wrote in post #8224397
Considering you bought a Point-and-shoot model, im guessing you wanted a simple but good quality camera to take quick easy shots of friends and family, maybe for a little bit of online use for facebook/personal blogging purposes. If thats the case, you might get away with whats on your camera, as you won't need expensive pro gear.

Actually, it's a business expense as I need a way to get good quality images of the card payment terminals we sell in our business, and I also do web design/hosting so occasionally I need to take pictures for clients of who knows what all...So, the Canon PowerShot SX1IS is supposed to be a decent entry level camera that has enough potential for me to learn something about photography

Disassociation wrote in post #8224397
id trade in your G9 for a 350d with the kit 18-55mm lens and go from there.

I don't know what a G9 is (I have a Canon PowerShot SX1IS) but I really don't want to trade off the $500 camera
I just bought. I gotta deal, cause they say it normally retails for $600

Disassociation wrote in post #8224397
I hope this helps a bit! Personally id recommend saving your money until you are a little more sure about what you need.

I'm running across folks on this board that tell me I should at least buy a Canon Speedlite Flash of some sort so I can utilize the camera/flash ability it has to produce the right kind of light for the shooting conditions present

OR, I can buy a decent little manually controlled flash for $50...but they tell me to not do this cause it's manual and I wouldn't be using the features that my camera is capable of to produce more decent images, which sounds reasonable

No, I'm not filthy rich but this is a business expense and I can throw a few more hundred into it before I'm ready to quit spending so I can concentrate on learning. It does seems like having a good flash is important.

OK, so I just made what should be a decent compromise of getting a good
used Canon 430EX flash for $205 shipped...so I didn't spend too much, and
it even comes with a diffuser.

Later, once I learn how to use all this fancy new equipment and I get the
Canon 430EX II, I can always use this one as a slave.

I did buy it through Amazon using my credit card (not debit card), so if it
arrives damaged or inoperable I can do a chargeback and get my money
back on the deal (gotta love those credit card perks...)

I was thinking of picking up a couple of these for off camera flashes.

Trying to go for that "Strobist" look. At just under $40 a piece, I figured it might be worth a shot (pun intended).

ed rader wrote in post #8224289
i did see one in use before .............

http://erader.zenfolio​.com …84462/h399016f5​#h399016f5

i'm not sure how effective it is but it's worth a shot when you consider where you are at with the hobby and the fact that you do already have a pop-up flash on your camera.

i'd say try it and see what you think....and report back .

ed rader

Nice capture.
I actually own one of these, but its a US$8 knockoff version. Very useless outdoors, useful indoors only. It does spread out the light, though I have to add FEC +2/3 to +1. For indoor situations where direct flash is simply too harsh.

Recently went on 17 day holiday, and had to travel light. I left behind the flash guns, 40D, L lenses. Brought along 400D with kit lens only. This diffuser drew some curious stares from the disneyland photographers who were using D2x, SB-800 on CLS.

Rockrz wrote in post #8226580
OK, so I just made what should be a decent compromise of getting a good
used Canon 430EX flash for $205 shipped...so I didn't spend too much, and
it even comes with a diffuser.

OK, so I cancelled the order after reading that this flash would have to be
used in manual mode with my modern camera.

So, would the 430EX II be compatible with my camera

Hang on now. The Canon 430EX has ETTL II and is an excellent flash unit. The 430EX II just has some minor improvements over the original:

You won't have to manually control the 430EX.

The 430EX II cannot be used as a master, you would need a 580EX for that. For the time being, I would highly recommend that you learn to use one flash before even thinking about using more lights.

Canon does market the 270EX as a very entry level flashgun to pair with their superzooms and highend point and shoots (SX and G series). It's a bit cheaper but the head can only put foward or upwards (i.e. no swivel). If you don't think you'll ever upgrade to an SLR, then the 270EX seems like something you may want to consider. Although for the $60 more you spent on the 430EX, the 430EX is a much better value.

http://www.amazon.com …tal-Cameras/dp/B001XURPR2

Well, I was reading a review that was saying the 430EX isn't fully compatible with the
newer EOS processors which is what my camera has. Maybe they didn't know what they
were talking about, but the 430EX II is fully compatible since it's a much newer
generation flash that works with the newer processors.

It'll work as a slave if I ever upgrade to a 580EX II which I probably will as I learn more.

I found a 430EX II that is brand new for $229, so I'm just going to get this and be done
with it considering I was about to spend $205 for a older used version of this flash

OK, so I should be all set now...except for maybe a tri-pod and a light stand
for my other flash (it's an eL cheapo, but it does flash anytime another flash
goes off when set on slave)

I got a brand new Canon 430EX II Flash for only $234.00 shipped from:
http://cgi.ebay.com …1234%7C293%3A1%​7C294%3A50

And, I also got the Harbor Digital Bounce Diffuser
for Canon 430EX for only $26.89 shipped from:
http://www.amazon.com …cs&qid=12468270​12&sr=1-11

So, now I have some decent equipment to start learning with...
I'm done spending on anything pricey, I promise!
(but, it's kool cause this is all a tax write-off anyway :cool

Congrats on the new gear. It should definitely serve you well, now all that's left to do is to go and take pictures! I look forward to seeing your shots.

Thanx...as soon as my flash gets here I'll start practicing on my dogs
and maybe my truck. Plus, I need to find a place to host my images
so I can post them