Diffuser for Canon 580 flash

canon400d

I am using a Canon 40D with an MP-E 65mm lens together with a Canon 580 Speedlight Mk11 flash. Can anyone please tell me if I can purchase a diffuser for this set up and if so the type I would need to fit the 580 flash.
Thanks once again for all your kind help in the past.
Regards
Bob

Tee Why

There are many diffusers for the strobe. One of the simplist to wrap a white tissue around the flash head and rubber band it in place.
Sto-fen is a plastic cap you place on, it's pretty quick and effective and easy to use.
There are others from Lumiquest ( IIRC), Gary Fong's diffuser, and a few others.
http://www.stofen.com/
http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html
http://www.lumiquest.com/

canon400d

Tee Why wrote:

There are many diffusers for the strobe. One of the simplist to wrap a white tissue around the flash head and rubber band it in place.
Sto-fen is a plastic cap you place on, it's pretty quick and effective and easy to use.
There are others from Lumiquest ( IIRC), Gary Fong's diffuser, and a few others.
http://www.stofen.com/
http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html
http://www.lumiquest.com/

Thanks so much for a quick and positive reply which I truly appreciate. I will certainly try the white tissue too.
Cheers
Bob

Freezframe

Tee's got you on the rite path !!
I have a G Fong Light Sphere it's a great diffuser.....Whale tail by Fong looks to work good as well....

Brady

canon400d

Freezframe wrote:

I have a G Fong Light Sphere it's a great diffuser.....Whale tail by Fong looks to work good as well....

Brady

Thanks Brady I appreciate what you have advised. I am in Scotland. I was wondering if anyone over here would sell the same quality.
Regards
Bob

ziggy53

I moved this to Accessories.

Here is a great resource for macro lighting, including diffusors.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=64695

This is what I commonly use for a simple setup, which could be adapted to a Canon 580EX II flash with the addition of an off-camera-cord. The bracket is a simple right angle bracket found in a lot of camera stores:

http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=251473&postcount=34

Example bracket:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131401-REG/General_Brand__Right_Angle_Bracket_with.html

To use the bracket for macro, loosen the attachment screw and adjust the flash to point more towards the subject. The diffusor is simply a plastic milk container with some tabs cut so they can be bent in, to allow a snug fit for smaller flash heads. Plastic tape is attached to the tabs to increase the "grab" of the tabs.

LiquidAir

As small easily packable diffusers go, I am partial to the Lumiquest pocket bouncer. They are cheap, reasonably effective and fold flat which makes them easy to fit in the bag. I have also made larger, similar diffusers out of 2mm foam sheets.

canon400d

ziggy53 wrote:

I moved this to Accessories.

Here is a great resource for macro lighting, including diffusors.

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=64695

This is what I commonly use for a simple setup, which could be adapted to a Canon 580EX II flash with the addition of an off-camera-cord. The bracket is a simple right angle bracket found in a lot of camera stores:

http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=251473&postcount=34

Example bracket:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/131401-REG/General_Brand__Right_Angle_Bracket_with.html

To use the bracket for macro, loosen the attachment screw and adjust the flash to point more towards the subject. The diffusor is simply a plastic milk container with some tabs cut so they can be bent in, to allow a snug fit for smaller flash heads. Plastic tape is attached to the tabs to increase the "grab" of the tabs.

Oh thanks ever so much for your useful advice and I thank you too Ziggy.
Cheers to you all
Bob

gryphonslair99

Another good source for macrophtography information:

http://www.macrophotography.org/index.php

My light setup for macro consists of a bracket similar to this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/240728-REG/Novoflex_UNISET_Flash_Bracket_with_Adjustable.html
Picked it up used in a camera store for $25.00. The arms are just single heavy rods and it was missing one flash mount that was easily replaced.

Two 580 EX flashes with Sto-fen's on them for diffused light. Macro is about the only thing I like the Sto-fen's for. I can't justify buying either the ring lightMR-14EX or the Canon 2 head ring light MT-24EX.

This focusing rail that I happened to run across for $35.00 in a camera store. New.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/163878-REG/Novoflex_CASTEL_MINI_Focusing_Rack_Small_Mini_.html

This is a popular bracket for macro with a single light because of the goose neck flash attachment.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15544-REG/Delta_46190_Flip_Flash_I_Bracket.html

mercphoto

I have the Stofen and like it. Have not tried the Fong unit but people seem to love it. I've recently considered something much larger and looking for advice.

This would need to be used off-camera with the flash on a tri-pod but that does not bother me. Looking to softly light an entire car, usually as fill light in daylight. Possible for night shots. Is this a good product to try?
http://precision-camera.com/product/11730

evoryware

Won't the 580EX at full power deform tissue that close to it? It's a strobe but it's still super hot. I popped it through a rosco gel and the gel deformed so I'd assume tissue probably catch on fire!

puzzledpaul

Since buying an mpe 65 last Nov, most of the time I've been using a diffuser made from an A4 sheet of Tyvek (approx 10p) folded / wrapped around the end of the flash (550ex).

Rather than 'laggy band' it in place, I made a simple sleeve from thin cardboard (cereal pkt) - cut a strip 25 > 30 mm wide, wrap round end of flash, and secure ends with a bit of tape - this slides on/off end of flash quite easily, but stays 'put' ok ... and doesn't damage flash.

With this in place, you can then tape whatever diffuser matl to it very easily ... and easily remove for storage / transit - or experimenting with different ideas / matls.

All of above being said - today I bought 3 x disposable facemasks from Sainsburys (£1.49) ... and initial (few) tests look promising

Nothing wrong with tissue / kitchen towel, btw ... but above materials don't get damaged quite so easily in thorny / wet situations.

pp

tyvek used for attached pic.

LiquidAir

evoryware wrote:

Won't the 580EX at full power deform tissue that close to it? It's a strobe but it's still super hot. I popped it through a rosco gel and the gel deformed so I'd assume tissue probably catch on fire!

Really? I use Rosco gels all the time with my strobes and it never has been a problem. The pop of the strobe is so short that heat never reaches the case. If I am really hammering one (lots of full power pops) it will get warm, but I have never had one get hot enough to damage a gel.

BigAl

Make your own:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=64695

http://www.flickr.com/groups/macroviewers/discuss/72157594312315664/