DIY: Diffuser solution for pop-up flash

I have a nice little diffuser for my hot shoe flash, but would like to figure out a solution for those times when it's just me and the built in flash.

I know, "who uses the built in flash, blah blah gearhead blah"

work with me here...

I know I've seen something by some third party maker before, but couldn't find a link. Woudl love some little item (even/especially if homemade possibility) that I could just slap over it and would be effective.

Ideas?

Originally Posted by ve2vfd

Use a translucent film canister...







Voila!

Pat

[ve2vfd]

Admin edit: post content moved to the above post; thread copied to the article section.

[aleonx3]

ve2vfd - wonderful idea!! thanks for sharing

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by jmbower

Ideas?

eat yogurt (Danone)... the plastic is white and quite translucent...

[Geyst]

I use (unused) toilet paper, attached to the flash with a rubber band.

Guido

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by Geyst

I use (unused) toilet paper, attached to the flash with a rubber band.

Guido

and you can always use it later as prescribed

[Jodokast96]

A cut ping pong ball.

[innershell]

White piece of paper crumpled around it. Or just hold the paper in front of it.

You can find paper anywhere. If not, e-mail me and I'll sell you some.

[Venturi]

Originally Posted by innershell

You can find paper anywhere. If not, e-mail me and I'll sell you some.

Fax some to me would ya? I'm running low...

[spyglass]

Originally Posted by Jodokast96

A cut ping pong ball.

I have used a kleenex and rubber band, the translucent film canister is clever, but the ping pong ball idea is simply brilliant. I am going to pick a few ping pong balls up today and try it.


Thanks for that one !!!!!!!!!

[deejjjaaaa]

Originally Posted by spyglass

I have used a kleenex and rubber band, the translucent film canister is clever, but the ping pong ball idea is simply brilliant. I am going to pick a few ping pong balls up today and try it.


Thanks for that one !!!!!!!!!

w/ all due respect to balls & canisters - yogurts are just 3D-bigger and so diffuse better.

[Nesster]

I use the Lumiquest, which tends to be a bit fiddly and probably can be improved upon.

When shooting close ups and when I have the capability, a paper napkin held over the flash works great... now that I think of it, I should just tape it to a hat and let it drape from there

I've also used one of those thin plastic/silicone cutting 'boards' - these are thin translucent things... white is good if you can find it, but I've used yellow and blue and pink... they make a nicely large diffusor. But you have to hold it by hand.

The yogurt cup is a good idea! In the US we can buy milk in quart sized white plastic jugs (and by the gallon too). I imagine fixing one of those would also be pretty awesome.

[sabarrett]

I made one from the plastic cutting board - the thin ones that are flexible. I cut it sorta T shaped at one end so that it would slide thru under the actual flash head, it wraps aroundthe top of the flash, then the other side is cut to fit inside the hot shoe. I hope this makes sense. I will take a picture and post it later. I am at work now...

[Fritz]

I use the film canister diffuser, except on mine I put the cap back on the end. Works great, and has the added advantage of giving you another reason to go out and shoot some film so you can get the canister. For my hot shoe flashes I made a diffuser from a gallon milk jug and some velcro strips.

[Nesster]

Scott- makes entirely good sense, I can picture it as I've used those things myself. Never did make the leap to cutting them to fit though - that's a great idea!