Is this diffuser any good?

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driver_wedge

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Shane
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Sorry if this is question is a bit like 'how long is a piece of string', but.. is this sort of diffuser any good for taking portrait style photos? Can I go wrong for £20? The feedback comments seem pretty good in reference to the build quality.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UsefuL-Flash-...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item19c1de01bd

Anyone use anything like it and get good results? I'll be using it with a Nissin Di866.
 
It's better than nothing, but not much...

I'm not talking about the product itself, I'm talking about its size. Generally speaking, if you want the lighting to be soft then you need a diffuser (softbox, umbrella or whatever) that's bigger than the subject AND it needs to be very, very close to the subject so that it's big in relative terms. I would say that as a general rule it needs to be at least 60 x 60cm for a head shot only.

Of course, not all portrait shots need soft lighting, far from it - but when they do, you need something bigger than this.
 
If you want to use it for anything more than a very close in headshot, then it's not much use as a "softbox". Might make an interesting "not soft, not hard" half way point, like a semi directional reflector, though. But on second thought. No, it'd just eat up too much light for what it's worth. Forget this size, and get an ebay special 60cm box for another £10-15.
 
Thanks both. Think I'll give it a miss.

I was intending it for on camera flash. It seems a bit like a Lumniquest softbox which seems to have good reviews. I was hoping to use if for shooting family get togethers, events/presentations, etc.. so no need for a complicated set-up.

I already have a Gary Fong style diffuser but find it a bit cumbersome and sometimes unreliable in certain situations with colour casts from the surroundings (I think). I'm really just looking for something a bit more direct - perhaps something like a stofen would be better?
 
driver_wedge said:
Thanks both. Think I'll give it a miss.

I was intending it for on camera flash. It seems a bit like a Lumniquest softbox which seems to have good reviews. I was hoping to use if for shooting family get togethers, events/presentations, etc.. so no need for a complicated set-up.

I already have a Gary Fong style diffuser but find it a bit cumbersome and sometimes unreliable in certain situations with colour casts from the surroundings (I think). I'm really just looking for something a bit more direct - perhaps something like a stofen would be better?
Click to expand...


Regardless of what modifier you use, the light is going to be very flat if you keep it on camera. Putting tupperware on the flash can reduce specularity a little , but the lighting will still be very flat from direct flash. I've tried the fong dong and I don't like it, the stofen can help diffuse the light a little, but if I must use direct flash I would use a big bounce card, just make one out of white cardboard or plastic/foam and attach it to your flash with hair elastics or rubber bands. Point the flash head staright up and the card will bounce light forward as well as bouncing off the ceiling. I would say a card size of a minimum 30x30cm is required to get any kind of real benefit. This is cheaper than the dong, and folds up small for carrying around too.

The light will be softer than bare flash but will still be flat. The way around this is to bouce the flash to the side and even slightly behnid you so the light is coming from where you would put an off camera light. Not only do you get directional light, the light source effectively becomes very large (and soft) as you are basically turning the wall into your softbox. You can get great results with bounce flash if you are shooting indoors. Check out this site for some great bounce flash tips http://neilvn.com/tangents/
 
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BarryDawsib said:
^^

what he said, seeing you use Canon, can I recommend you get a cord instead? allows you to move the flash around for a more flattering effect at least.
Then something like that diffuser would become effective.

Something like so:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-6m-Off-Camera-Shoe-Cord-ETTL-canon-500D-400D-350D-/120650668408?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item1c17571978#ht_2947wt_1139
Click to expand...

Sorry, a flash chord in this day and age makes no sense, especially for events or family get together. Wireless trigger is the way to go. As soon as the flash is off camera, TTL becomes almost irrelevant anyway, and the chord is far too restricting. Get a set of Yongnuo RF602 off ebay, and get your flash off camera. I thought that's what you wanted the softbox for anyway.

Quite frankly, for a family get together, you are better off with a shoot through brolly up high, or if you have a white'ish ceiling, a bounced flash or 2. It won't make an award winning photo, but I think your family members will be happier with clean, smiley family portraits than with any shot with a on camera flash shot with a silly little box on the flash - which WILL look :thumbsdown:
 
Have you thought about a shoot-through umbrella stand & bracket? You could trigger it with your camera's flash down-powered to 1/128... takes next to no set up time and will give you what you the diffusion you want and with a shoulder sling, it will be in a portable package.
 
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