Diffuser or White Card?

Marc

Marc

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I have just bought a new Flashgun which has a small white card which slides out from above the flash itself. I normally use a Stofen diffuser but obviously can't when using this white card.

My question is when to use the card and when to use the diffuser? I now the card is to help with bounce flash but I'm not sure how. The manual is a little confusing. Anyone here who can explain it in easy to understand English?

Cheers
 
Hi, Fabs,
My own flash has a similar slide-out attachment which is for use with wide-angle (+/- 17mm) lenses. Perhaps your white card is something similar?
Andy.
 
Android said:
Hi, Fabs,
My own flash has a similar slide-out attachment which is for use with wide-angle (+/- 17mm) lenses. Perhaps your white card is something similar?
Andy.
Click to expand...

I think that's a separate piece of plastic housed in the same place. This is a plain white thin piece of card which has something to do with bounce flash but, as I said, the manual isn't much help with.
 
Sorry then Fabs, I have no idea. But if you're happy with your diffuser keep on using it!
Andy.
 
The diffuser needs to be in place with wider lenses to spread the light otherwise you get a hot spot and light fall off towards the edges of the frame.

If the white card is the usual type which is at 90 degs to the flash head when pulled out, the idea is that when the flash head is tilted upwards for bounce flash, the card still throws enough light forward for a little fill, and to provide a catch light in the subject's eyes. I wouldn't worry about it too much quite frankly. ;)
 
Cheers CT. So what you're saying is that, when bouncing the flash off the ceiling, it throw just a little more light towards the front of the subject? So am I right in thinking that, if you just want to illuminate the subject, the card is OK, but to spread the light over a wider area, the diffuser is the way to go?

I know I'm probably repeating half of what you typed, but I need to know that I understand it.
 
LOL. You've got the idea with the white card

Your flashgun may or may not have a zoom head. If it does, then the usual thing is that if you have a lens which is wider than the widest marked zoom position - that's when you need to use the diffuser to spread the light wider than it can at it's widest zoomed position. What flashgun is it? Your flash manual should cover all this.
 
My 580EX is much the same as I'm assuming your flash is - the diffuser is relatively clear in appearance, but has angular facets in it which are designed to catch and spread the light. I would suggest that using a lens wider than 24mm would be when you needed to use it, which isn't a problem in your case anyway.

If you're talking about the Stofen or any other after market push on diffuser, it's likely to be more effective than the built in jobby anyway. I use a Fong Lightsphere. I'm guessing you're concerned that you can't fit the Stofen with either the whiite card or diffuser in place, in which case I thiink you're worrying unduly, as they're meant to be 'stand alone ' attachments and nowhere near as efficent as your separate diffuser.Yoiu wouldn't normally want to use both together.

Hope that helps mate... gotsta nip out for a bit.
 
fabs said:
Gosh darn it! Doesn't include the 58AM. Interestingly it does include the 56AM which is now obsolete! :thinking:
Click to expand...

Is the 56AM obsolete ? The Sony web site still shows the 58, 56 & 42, but not the 36
 
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