| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2012 Posts: 678 | | Review Date: August 23, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1.69
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | Universal mount; softens pop-up flash | | Cons: | hard to mount; minimally effective | |
I got a generic version of this accessory off of eBay for $1.69 including shipping from China and it included three diffusers--white, amber and blue. Let's just say I'm glad I only paid $1.69 for it. It's only minimally effective and the colored diffusers add too much color to the light. It's a fun toy to play with, but not really suitable for serious pursuits.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 306 | | Review Date: September 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $3.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Softens light, orange color | | Cons: | Takes space on bag | |
Good item, very useful when using popupflash as fill under tungsten light.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: May, 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 3, 2012 | Not Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 3 |
| Pros: | Easy to use and adjust | | Cons: | Not very effective unless close to subject | |
The Gary Fong Puffer makes a small popup flash into a slightly larger, but still small light source. About the only case where it helps is with a tight close-up shot. Anything else and the light source is still too small and direct, causing harsh shadows and red-eye. It's probably about as effective as the DIY diffusers made from old film canisters.
The quality is good, it fits snugly onto the hot shoe, and the adjustable attachment works well. I don't notice any color shifting.
The price that I paid is pretty high for two pieces of plastic, but I notice others got a better deal than I did.
The product is fine, but the concept is flawed.
My recommendation: save your money.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 | | Review Date: January 21, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 3 |
| Pros: | makes the pop-up flash slightly more useful | | Cons: | cheapest material possible, main effect is intensity-reduction (not better light) | |
I bought a knock-off version of this one for very little money thinking that such a low expenditure doesn't require thinking twice. Well, I was wrong.
After a few initial tests, I never used the thing anymore. After having read the excellent "Light: Science & Magic" book I now know why the diffuser can only have very limited effect. It is just way too small to have a significant effect on the quality/softness of the light. Its biggest effect is a reduction of the amount of light -- and that helps to make images look better -- but the same can be achieved by dialing in a negative flash exposure compensation.
I'll have to dig out the plastic gadget from somewhere in order to make a quantitative analysis of its softening effect, but don't expect much, that much is sure.
Finally, the material of the Fong version is super cheap. Have a look at the many reviews at Amazon complaining about their unit having broken in two parts when they tried to mount it.
Note that on-camera flash will not get you very far. Its main legitimate role is as fill flash. The puffer can make a small difference (the nearer the subject, the bigger the effect), but either get a cheaper knock-off version, or, even better, do some DIY project.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Posts: 12,285 | | Review Date: December 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Easy to install, inexpensive, seems to work | | Cons: | wonder about durability, back flash | |
The Puffer showed up on a thread here and it intrigued me. I'm not ready for a radio controlled separate flash....yet..so I thought that a small, portable, and convenient diffuser would be a nice way to soften shadows, reduce glare, etc. The packaging mentions many makers and its compatibility with them but Pentax is omitted. Perhaps its a descent product anyway
The Puffer comes in two parts in the package - the black plastic mount that slides into the hot shoe and has two extended brackets that insert into the arch shaped white diffuser itself. The parts are intended to come apart for easier storage and this will also make breaking the diffuser during storage less likely. It is easily "assembled" by inserting the two arms of the mount into a series of holes in the diffuser. This also allows you to adjust the white diffuser vertically in front of the pop-up flash. I have not inserted the bracket ends fully into the white diffuser portion in order to facilitate breakdown for storage.
On my K-x the bracket fits easily but snugly into the hot shoe. The white diffuser is far enough forward that it easily clears the flash when it is up.
Pictures were noticeably less harsh with the Puffer in place at the family get-together this weekend than without it in place. As noted in the previous review, there may be a wee bit more redeye with it in place (I'm not convinced of this) but that is easily handled in post-processing.
So far, it’s a nice attachment that is easy to store and use. I do get back flash with it attached and this caught me off guard the first time I used it. Possible long-term durability is another issue but for $15 it seems a very convenient way to improve the utility of the built-in flash.
UPDATE: 01/23/12
The Gary Fong unit bit the dust by splitting into two pieces at the base where it mounts to the hot shoe. So, since I liked the unit's utility I bought a cheaper version from DealExtreme for $4 that came with white, blue, and yellow diffusers - unlike the "official" Gary Fong unit that only had white. It's working just like the old unit did and at $4 if it breaks after a few uses I will be less upset. Dropped the rating to an 7 due to the unit failing
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Acworth, GA Posts: 7 | | Review Date: December 10, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $19.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Excellent bang-for-your-buck, easy to use, provides softer, more diffuse light | | Cons: | None | |
I bought this little accessory on a whim, after it caught my eye in the 2010 Adorama Reader's Choice competition. It slides into your hot shoe and sits just in front of your pop-up flash. Let me just say that it may be the best $20 accessory that you can add to your equipment.
It isn't that it is revolutionary or will completely change your shooting, but it successfully diffuses the light of your pop-up flash and softens it enough to make a difference in many shots. I shoot with this almost permanently attached now since I've noticed the difference it makes in my photos. In fact, I can say that I actually USE my pop-up flash now because of it. Previously, I was so pleased with the K-x's low-light performance that I often tried to get a shot without the flash if at all possible. This attachment has changed this attitude to some extent and I'm no longer hesitant to use the flash.
It obviously does not replace a dedicated flash, but until you get to the point of needing one, it can offer an easy if modest upgrade in your shots. You may need to play with your flash settings to understand how the Puffer can affect your light output, but really, this thing is great!
Be aware that I’ve found that it can introduce some additional red-eye to your shots, but that is something easily fixed in post-processing. For the softer light that it produces and the visual benefit to your shots, I think that this downside is easily overshadowed by the Puffer’s benefits.
Weather you are just starting out, like me, with exploring the lighting side of photography or you want a quick and easy addition to soften up your flash for casual shots, the Gary Fong Puffer is a great addition.
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