Speedlite diffusers.

[Ash.]

Hi guys.

Looking to add a couple of diffusers to my off camera flash set up.

Most of my photography involves moving around a lot, so I don't have extra capacity for large soft boxes etc.

My question is, are these kind of diffuesers any good? I get the impression they'd suit my needs for something small yet able to create softer flash light.

Obviously 'the more you pay the better you get', but does that really matter on something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110674858465?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

 

[SJRobbins]

Not so much the more you pay the better you get, but a stofen style diffuser isn't going to make your light any softer. The softness of the light is dictated by the relative size of the light source, so unless your diffuser increases that size you're not going to get any softer. What they *are* good for (and what they're designed for) is turning your directional flash into more of a bare bulb "light everywhere" source, which will bounce off everything, which may give you softer light as a result (assuming you're indoors). The other good thing these are good for is triggering remote flashes using ETTL/iTTL master/slave because they spam the pre-flash control signal all over the place.

If you want softness and cheap and cheerful then I have one of these things in my bag:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Meking-Mi...493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43aa3dcffd

Take the flash off camera with a cord and get that thing close into your subject and it's not too shabby. From a quick test a while ago, this was taken with bare flash:


IMG_1283.jpg by sjrobbins, on Flickr

And this with the mini softbox:


IMG_1280.jpg by sjrobbins, on Flickr

Ignoring the obvious difference in exposures, you can see the shadows are much softer on the softbox version - it was held just out of camera view.

It's not the best modifier in the world, but it's cheap (although it was only £6 when I got mine), portable (collapses down to next to nothing) and does a decent enough job if you get in close.

 

[Ash.]

Ah I see!

Some interesting stuff that I didn't know regarding size of diffuser etc!

That softbox may be the thing i'm after, nice that it'll fold away into my bag too.

thanks for the help