How do I use the diffuser

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joescrivens

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Only recently got a speedlite and I bounce flash when taking portraits well, but how or why should i use the diffuser on the 430 ex, it's like this:

canon-speedlite-430ex-ii-flash-8.jpg
 
That's for wide angle flash, Joe. Check your manual. ;)
 
Not got a flash yet myself, but looking at the pic i'd imagine it diffuses the center of the flash allowing the remaining 2 strips of full power flash to go either side of the the object you a photographing?
 
It's for when you're shooting with a wide angle lens and you need to spreeeeeeead the light wiiiiiiiide. :)
 
Just play around and have fun. Check out the strobist.com blog. It's AWESOME.
 
This diffuser is for landscape.
 
Maybe to lighten up a dark foreground!? I wouldn't know landscape is far from my thing :D
 
Just sets the flash to 14mm, so spreading the light as wide as it can.

Useful when using an ultra-wide angle lens, or sometimes when bouncing your flash.

Be aware that the wider you set your flash; the less range you get from it. You'll also use more power for the same illumination, as it's lighting more of the scene than if it were set to 105mm for example.
 
Jayst84 said:
Just sets the flash to 14mm, so spreading the light as wide as it can.

Useful when using an ultra-wide angle lens, or sometimes when bouncing your flash.

Be aware that the wider you set your flash; the less range you get from it. You'll also use more power for the same illumination, as it's lighting more of the scene than if it were set to 105mm for example.
Click to expand...

I agree. The best way to see its effect is to take some test shots against a blank wall. Set the camera to manual (say f5.6, 1/200, ISO 400) and try firing the flash in all its different modes (i.e. with and without diffuser, wide angle, zoomed in etc etc) that way you can build up an imagine in your mind of what your flash is doing when you're trying to light a scene.

The same goes for lighting modifiers (snoots, grids, gobos, gels ...) whenever I make something new I always spend 1/2 hour shooting a blank wall (my wife thinks I'm nuts).

And remember the very best thing you can do is get the flash off the hot shoe ...

Hope this helps

--

Starabo
 
There is another use for the diffuser.

With the flash pointed directly upwards & the diffuser pulled out but not folded over the face, you can achieve a nice catchlight in your subject's eyes.

Thats for portraits not landscapes:thumbs:
 
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