Flash Diffuser

gwendolyn

Any suggestions for a flash diffuser to use with my 40D for weddings for group shots, reception, and/or candid? I have the 430EX. Thanks!

Shima

I love the Lightsphere Cloud. It's what I use.

tenoverthenose

I use and strongly recommend a 43" umbrella for group shots / formal shots. On flash diffusers depend too much on the use of perfect surroundings and ambient light for proper effect (they are designed to spread light around a room and bounce it back to your subject.

jeffreaux2

Me too....for the lightsphere "cloud". I like its 1960's-like "bare bulb" effect for candids and receptions.

zoomer

I use a Demb diffuser, doesn't cost much and works great.

Blurmore

Whale Tail...all the way.

sweet caroline

I also use the lightsphere cloud, but I put my flash on a tripod. If you are doing group shots, an umbrella would be very smart. I use the lightsphere to capture the candids.

Caroline

marikris

Just as an aside, I saw this review of Gary Fong's Lightsphere:

http://www.epinions.com/review/Gary_Fong_C4_Lightsphere_II_Inverted_Dome_Cloud_Diffusion_System_Flash_2/content_341669088900

Entitled, "Why Gary Fong's Lightsphere Costs So Much!" It's really a review, though, and I thought pretty entertaining.

Shima

marikris wrote:

Just as an aside, I saw this review of Gary Fong's Lightsphere:

http://www.epinions.com/review/Gary_Fong_C4_Lightsphere_II_Inverted_Dome_Cloud_Diffusion_System_Flash_2/content_341669088900

Entitled, "Why Gary Fong's Lightsphere Costs So Much!" It's really a review, though, and I thought pretty entertaining.

BTW - I recently switched the Lightsphere II to the Lightsphere Universal. I was getting annoyed at how easily i could accidentally bump the Lightsphere cloud off my flash brushing against an aisle or person or just about bumping against anything. The Lightsphere Universal does *not* fall off, which is so much nicer. I leave it attached to both my flashes in my bag for ease of use.

Adrian Owerko

gwendolyn wrote:

Any suggestions for a flash diffuser to use with my 40D for weddings for group shots, reception, and/or candid? I have the 430EX. Thanks!

Presslite Vertex...http://www.presslite.com/home.php
Be the master of the light..
Don't waste your light & Money with rip off priced tupperware

jeffreaux2

Adrian Owerko wrote:

Presslite Vertex...http://www.presslite.com/home.php
Be the master of the light..
Don't waste your light & Money with rip off priced tupperware

Thats a bouncer....not a diffuser.:D

MA-FOTO

check out Lumiquest.com

i use quick bounce.

You will find small flash oriented softboxes.

Later.... Mark

Adrian Owerko

jeffreaux2 wrote:

Thats a bouncer....not a diffuser.:D

If you must have a diffuser... Just buy a cheap Soften or rubber band tissue paper to the head of your flash.. All diffusers need to bouce off something to work.. Diffusers scatter the light everywere finding surfaces to bounce off.. When I see wedding photogs with diffusers on there flash outdoors in wide open space, like a G Fong LS.. Are they trying to bouce of the clouds in the sky?

Scott_Quier

I use the BBC or the light scoop (see my siggy) and bounce light off ceilings, walls, the shirt of the guy next to me .... what ever it takes to get the job done. WB - what's that? I worry about WB in post

marikris

Question for those who use Gary Fong's. What's the difference between the half cloud and the full cloud? I'd like to start getting to know my flash better lol.

Qarik

Adrian Owerko wrote:

If you must have a diffuser... Just buy a cheap Soften or rubber band tissue paper to the head of your flash.. All diffusers need to bouce off something to work.. Diffusers scatter the light everywere finding surfaces to bounce off.. When I see wedding photogs with diffusers on there flash outdoors in wide open space, like a G Fong LS.. Are they trying to bouce of the clouds in the sky?

diffusers do not need something to bounce off of per se. You can point the flash directly at the subject. In the case of the fong sphere outside..it still throw some amount of light forward though a lot of it is indeed wasted

charmfoto

Presslite Vertex
I've used a bunch of diffusers (LS-I, LS-II, Flip-it, index card, Stofen) and find the Presslite Vertex to be the most versatile and most effective of them all.

Misconceptions on how diffusers work illustrated here:
http://www.presslite.com/flashdiffuser.php

Sample shots shown here:
http://www.presslite.com/myshots.php

Matthew Saville

gwendolyn wrote:

Any suggestions for a flash diffuser to use with my 40D for weddings for group shots, reception, and/or candid? I have the 430EX. Thanks!

Gwendolyn, as you can see there are about as many opinions as there are people, and they vary from a piece of foam and a rubber band, to an off-camera umbrella.

Honestly the BEST thing you can do for yourself is to get together with some camera buddies and try stuff out for yourself. What type of bounce / diffusion you use REALLY depends on where you're shooting, what you're shooting, and what you're going for.

Personally, I hardly EVER use diffusion. There is NO light source as big and soft as a strategically ceiling and/or wall. When I do need diffusion or a bounce, however, I use either a plain Lightsphere, or a better bounce card. It REALLY just depends on the light and the location, variables which are FAR to complex to try and explain what dictates which tool I use. Got work to do!

=Matt=

david_h

Over the years I've wasted money on just about every flash diffuser out there.

For the last couple of wedding seasons, I've either used all natural light or just the bare flash. When I use the flash, I get it off the camera if I can or bounce off walls, ceilings - whatever is convenient.

If you want to really improve your on-camera flash technique invest in Neil van Niekerk's book - he is the master of this stuff and a great teacher: http://bit.ly/152v5q

divamum

david_h wrote:

If you want to really improve your on-camera flash technique invest in Neil van Niekerk's book - he is the master of this stuff and a great teacher: http://bit.ly/152v5q

his www.planetneil.com is a wonderful read, too.

ChatKat

Stofen
I use the Stofen Omnibounce although I have the Fong Cloud too. It's compact, my Rosco Gel Filters fit perfectly and the flash is softened on camera. I've been shooting some business events lately and the Fong is too big and conspicuous.

sherijohnson

I have experimented with different diffusers and bounce type things. I have put a halt on buying any other flash modifiers because it all adds up quite fast if you keep spending money.

I do like to keep the stofen on my speedlite and if outdoors, I will shoot with flash straight forward.

I have had mixed results with the lightspheres I have.

One of the nifty things I found is a light scoop that I got from Hong Kong. I like it because it is very durable, made of leather, unfolds flat and fits on all of my flashes. Good for when light conditions or nothing to bounce off of. I also know you can make your own with craft foam sheets, but when you are doing photography for hire, I think it makes sense to spend a few dollars for something that was manufactured for photography.

sherijohnson

so funny these discussions made me go out and do some test shots with my daughter using the various modifiers I have and I got what I think are some interesting results.

I don't think I had really tried the lightsphere outside, but just wanted to see what I could get and really liked this one

Shima

marikris wrote:

Question for those who use Gary Fong's. What's the difference between the half cloud and the full cloud? I'd like to start getting to know my flash better lol.

I'm fairly certain the half cloud is what he used to call clear. I prefer the full cloud for that more warm and soft look.