Dirt cheap diffuser

SOldBear · 10-25-2010, 04:37 PM

Originally posted by KxBlaze

A free option is to find/get a white (clear/almost see through) film canister, ....

Like this?

Stiv · 10-25-2010, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

Like this?

Got any examples of using this? I've ordered the cheap diffuser from eBay so if it turns out to do nothing I'll start the hunt for a film canister!

Turbo_Spool900 · 10-25-2010, 06:48 PM

I'm taking a crack at the ping pong ball here in a minute. I'll post some pics of how that turns out.

KxBlaze · 10-25-2010, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by SOldBear

Like this?

Exactly what I did and it works good, definitely not a professional set up but its FREE.

Turbo_Spool900 · 10-25-2010, 11:26 PM

So the ping pong ball works great if you're about a foot to two feet away from your subject, otherwise the pop up flash isn't powerful enough. Also kinda turned the flash a weird yellow..

Not very flattering self portraits. Ignore my ugly self and focus on the lighting.

With ping pong..

Without

Taken on my Zenitar 16mm fisheye. I was screwing with the exposure so much I forgot which these ones were taken at.

photolady95 · 10-26-2010, 12:10 AM

I use the one like SOldBear does. Here's a photo from that outfit.

Jasvox · 10-26-2010, 03:15 AM

Make sure the ping pong ball is white, not the orange or yellow variety. Also, experiment with the strength of flash level to get optimum results....and of course tweak white balance as needed.

Jason

photolady95 · 10-26-2010, 10:54 AM

I modified my canister. I took some lens tissue, and taped it to the front portion of the canister, then took some black electricians tape and taped the back half of the canister to avoid flash back.

**NaClH2O** · 10-26-2010, 12:51 PM

I have one and it works quite well. I use it primarily for fill flash and in that application it performs excellently. As a previous poster has mentioned, it definitely cuts down on flash power, so you have to boost the flash ev when using it and the flash as primary light source. I got mine quite a while ago and at that time only the white diffuser was available, don't know how well the other colors would work.

NaCl(hope that helps)H2O

smilinjenn71 · 05-14-2011, 06:45 AM

I am in need of a quickie diffuser, tonight for my son's Prom pics. (sun isn't cooperating today) Thank you SO much for the film canister tip....I'm using it this evening!! I think it will serve my purpose. I'm also looking for an external flash.....off to read some more.

DaveHolmes · 05-16-2011, 08:29 AM

Originally posted by photolady

black electricians tape and taped the back half of the canister to avoid flash back.

I've done similar (black-gaffa-tape) and works a treat for fil-flash-in-a-rush...

DaveHolmes · 05-16-2011, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by Stiv

but I can't say I've bought film any time in the last 10 years

My local camera shop gave me a half dozon empty ones when I asked nicely...

Ratmagiclady · 05-16-2011, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by Stiv

Got any examples of using this? I've ordered the cheap diffuser from eBay so if it turns out to do nothing I'll start the hunt for a film canister!

Probably cheaper to buy some cheapo Fujicolor (or ask at a local shp that still has a minilab) than have me send you one, but I recently dug up a few more here.

Someone else here had a clever little design, too, (Sorry, someone else! I can't recall!

) involving a flat sheet of plastic with a matte surface: he used disposable cutting board material, but I find the same stuff in some fish packaging now and again: the idea is you cut a tab to fit in your flash shoe, then cut the rest so you can bend it around and have it tuck into the popup flash's nest. You get basically the same thing as the film can, only it can be bigger and it stores flat.

slip · 05-17-2011, 06:36 PM

myself I just gave up on the pop up flash with a diffuser and used an hotshoe flash (mine is the sigma dg500 super)... read this article on the "black foamy thing" and the results are almost as good as my lightbox
a lot faster then setting a softbox up that is for sure

here is the link (lot of other good stuff as well)

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2009/12/07/soft-window-light/

hope this helps

Stiv · 05-17-2011, 11:10 PM

Not sure why this thread has resurfaced but I actually bought a Metz 48 about 6 months ago. One of the best purchases I've ever made.

All these diffuser suggestions do a good job of masking the harshness of the popup flash, but a properly diffused bounced flash is in a whole other league. I'm absolutely loving the results. If you can afford an external flash, do it. You won't regret it.

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10-25-2010, 04:37 PM	#16
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by KxBlaze A free option is to find/get a white (clear/almost see through) film canister, .... Like this?

10-25-2010, 06:26 PM	#17
Stiv Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 55 Original Poster	Originally posted by SOldBear Like this? Got any examples of using this? I've ordered the cheap diffuser from eBay so if it turns out to do nothing I'll start the hunt for a film canister!

10-25-2010, 06:48 PM	#18
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61	I'm taking a crack at the ping pong ball here in a minute. I'll post some pics of how that turns out.

10-25-2010, 09:54 PM	#19
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Originally posted by SOldBear Like this? Exactly what I did and it works good, definitely not a professional set up but its FREE.

10-25-2010, 11:26 PM	#20
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61	So the ping pong ball works great if you're about a foot to two feet away from your subject, otherwise the pop up flash isn't powerful enough. Also kinda turned the flash a weird yellow.. Not very flattering self portraits. Ignore my ugly self and focus on the lighting. With ping pong.. Without Taken on my Zenitar 16mm fisheye. I was screwing with the exposure so much I forgot which these ones were taken at.

10-26-2010, 12:10 AM	#21
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I use the one like SOldBear does. Here's a photo from that outfit.

10-26-2010, 03:15 AM	#22
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	Make sure the ping pong ball is white, not the orange or yellow variety. Also, experiment with the strength of flash level to get optimum results....and of course tweak white balance as needed. Jason

10-26-2010, 10:54 AM	#23
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I modified my canister. I took some lens tissue, and taped it to the front portion of the canister, then took some black electricians tape and taped the back half of the canister to avoid flash back.

10-26-2010, 12:51 PM	#24
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	I have one and it works quite well. I use it primarily for fill flash and in that application it performs excellently. As a previous poster has mentioned, it definitely cuts down on flash power, so you have to boost the flash ev when using it and the flash as primary light source. I got mine quite a while ago and at that time only the white diffuser was available, don't know how well the other colors would work. NaCl(hope that helps)H2O

05-14-2011, 06:45 AM	#25
smilinjenn71 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southern USA Photos: Albums Posts: 50	I am in need of a quickie diffuser, tonight for my son's Prom pics. (sun isn't cooperating today) Thank you SO much for the film canister tip....I'm using it this evening!! I think it will serve my purpose. I'm also looking for an external flash.....off to read some more.

05-16-2011, 08:29 AM	#26
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by photolady black electricians tape and taped the back half of the canister to avoid flash back. I've done similar (black-gaffa-tape) and works a treat for fil-flash-in-a-rush...

05-16-2011, 08:33 AM	#27
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by Stiv but I can't say I've bought film any time in the last 10 years My local camera shop gave me a half dozon empty ones when I asked nicely...

05-16-2011, 12:52 PM	#28
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by Stiv Got any examples of using this? I've ordered the cheap diffuser from eBay so if it turns out to do nothing I'll start the hunt for a film canister! Probably cheaper to buy some cheapo Fujicolor (or ask at a local shp that still has a minilab) than have me send you one, but I recently dug up a few more here. Someone else here had a clever little design, too, (Sorry, someone else! I can't recall! ) involving a flat sheet of plastic with a matte surface: he used disposable cutting board material, but I find the same stuff in some fish packaging now and again: the idea is you cut a tab to fit in your flash shoe, then cut the rest so you can bend it around and have it tuck into the popup flash's nest. You get basically the same thing as the film can, only it can be bigger and it stores flat.

05-17-2011, 06:36 PM	#29
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	myself I just gave up on the pop up flash with a diffuser and used an hotshoe flash (mine is the sigma dg500 super)... read this article on the "black foamy thing" and the results are almost as good as my lightbox a lot faster then setting a softbox up that is for sure here is the link (lot of other good stuff as well) http://neilvn.com/tangents/2009/12/07/soft-window-light/ hope this helps

05-17-2011, 11:10 PM	#30
Stiv Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 55 Original Poster	Not sure why this thread has resurfaced but I actually bought a Metz 48 about 6 months ago. One of the best purchases I've ever made. All these diffuser suggestions do a good job of masking the harshness of the popup flash, but a properly diffused bounced flash is in a whole other league. I'm absolutely loving the results. If you can afford an external flash, do it. You won't regret it.