Just found out how much Diffusers Help

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 10:05 PM

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This tread is mostly for newbies here. I just purchased a Gary Fong Popup Flash Diffuser wannabe from ebay for about 3.50. It does wonders! Even skin tone colors come out looking much much more natural. It almost completely eliminated the harsh shadows associated with popup flashes. As it was another great discovery I wanted to share

ps - congratulate me, I ordered the DA 55-300 from B&H for 349.99, pretty good deal I must say

EDIT: I got it here

Pop-Up Flash Diffuser FOR PENTAX

.

Last edited by joodiespost; 01-05-2010 at 09:54 AM.

GoremanX · 01-04-2010, 11:32 PM

I often wondered how much benefit a diffuser would give, thanks for sharing!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 55-300mm is currently benefiting from a manufacturer-authorized discount, so every Pentax reseller can sell it at that price

The ones that don't are either not official Pentax resellers, or they're keeping the extra profits for themselves. Most of the other Pentax lenses are benefiting from the same discounts too, have been for weeks.

joodiespost · 01-04-2010, 11:41 PM

oh okay

well I guess I'm glad I didn't get ripped off ^^

Igilligan · 01-05-2010, 02:14 AM

You cant post a thread about a 3.50 pop up flash diffuser and not post a link to it...

I dont like to take the darn bohemouth of a flash sometimes but would like a 3.50 way to make the pop up softer... other than tissue duct taped to the flash.

Thanks for the link in advance

joodiespost · 01-05-2010, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by Igilligan

You cant post a thread about a 3.50 pop up flash diffuser and not post a link to it...

I dont like to take the darn bohemouth of a flash sometimes but would like a 3.50 way to make the pop up softer... other than tissue duct taped to the flash.

Thanks for the link in advance

oops sorry, link posted.

Ed n Georgia · 01-05-2010, 10:08 AM

The amazing part is.... For $3.50, It's being shipped from China. Wonder what the F.O.B. price was?

esman7 · 01-05-2010, 01:36 PM

Awesome results. The shadow change is very impressive.

yeatzee · 01-05-2010, 02:23 PM

Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers?

rupi · 01-05-2010, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers?

I would love to see that too

I just bought a Metz 48 and I was amazed with the difference in light quality, when bouncing it on a white ceilling. But sometimes we don't have a white ceilling. Can we get the same tipe of light with one of this diffusers

Thank's in advance. And sorry joodiespost for using your topic for my question.

Ben_Edict · 01-05-2010, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by rupi

I would love to see that too

I just bought a Metz 48 and I was amazed with the difference in light quality, when bouncing it on a white ceilling. But sometimes we don't have a white ceilling. Can we get the same tipe of light with one of this diffusers

Thank's in advance. And sorry joodiespost for using your topic for my question.

No, you cannot emulate a reflector with several square meters area with a tiny add-on thingy. But nevertheless it can help a bit. The Omnibounce-look-a-like is a useful piece of equipment, because it spreads the light all around, thus inducing reflections from almost everywere around, which softens shadows. Also it gives even illumination for wide-angle shots.

Ben

SOldBear · 01-05-2010, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers?

Light diffusers can cost next to nothing. Electrons and photons don't cost much either.

Read this thread and this thread.

I found a better solution if there is no ceiling to bounce the light against: using the same 11"X14" sheet of plastic canvas (as in the first thread referred to above), I half it lengthwise to make two strips of 5.5"X14". I take one trip, fold it to make a dome, and attach it to the flash head tilting 90 degrees (shining straight up) and rotate 90 degrees. I'll post some photos later if I have a chance.

noblepa · 01-05-2010, 07:37 PM

With a little imagination, you can find all sorts of things to bounce light off of.

I saw in a book, once, a photographer was trying to shoot some informal shots of the bride and groom at a wedding. Since he was not at his formal setup, where he had all kinds of expensive umbrellas and softboxes, he improvised. They were in a large church and the walls and ceiling were too far away to use, so he grabbed one of the groomsmen, had him open his tuxedo jacket and bounced the light of his white shirt. The picture didn't turn out half bad. It was certainly much better than direct, on-camera flash would have been.

Moon_man · 01-06-2010, 09:06 AM

Rupi - I bought a snap-on diffuser for my Metz 48 on Ebay (from Taiwan) for $9.99 including shipping when I couldn't find one at a reasonable cost here. It fits perfectly and works, well, like you would expect it to work.

Here's one where I used a diffuser to get a nice, soft effect.

noahpurdy · 01-06-2010, 09:09 AM

For $3.50 I couldn't say no. I'll post up some results here when I receive it!

Moon_man · 01-06-2010, 09:10 AM

Just looked at that pop-up diffuser - it's a pretty cool looking item. Gonna get me one of those - $3.50 is dirt cheap.

01-04-2010, 10:05 PM	#1
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336	Just found out how much Diffusers Help Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. This tread is mostly for newbies here. I just purchased a Gary Fong Popup Flash Diffuser wannabe from ebay for about 3.50. It does wonders! Even skin tone colors come out looking much much more natural. It almost completely eliminated the harsh shadows associated with popup flashes. As it was another great discovery I wanted to share ps - congratulate me, I ordered the DA 55-300 from B&H for 349.99, pretty good deal I must say EDIT: I got it here Pop-Up Flash Diffuser FOR PENTAX . Last edited by joodiespost; 01-05-2010 at 09:54 AM.

01-05-2010, 02:14 AM	#4
Igilligan Guest	Rules are rules You cant post a thread about a 3.50 pop up flash diffuser and not post a link to it... I dont like to take the darn bohemouth of a flash sometimes but would like a 3.50 way to make the pop up softer... other than tissue duct taped to the flash. Thanks for the link in advance

01-05-2010, 07:37 PM	#12
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Diffusers are everywhere With a little imagination, you can find all sorts of things to bounce light off of. I saw in a book, once, a photographer was trying to shoot some informal shots of the bride and groom at a wedding. Since he was not at his formal setup, where he had all kinds of expensive umbrellas and softboxes, he improvised. They were in a large church and the walls and ceiling were too far away to use, so he grabbed one of the groomsmen, had him open his tuxedo jacket and bounced the light of his white shirt. The picture didn't turn out half bad. It was certainly much better than direct, on-camera flash would have been.

01-06-2010, 09:06 AM	#13
Moon_man New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clinton NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 15	Rupi - I bought a snap-on diffuser for my Metz 48 on Ebay (from Taiwan) for $9.99 including shipping when I couldn't find one at a reasonable cost here. It fits perfectly and works, well, like you would expect it to work. Here's one where I used a diffuser to get a nice, soft effect. Last edited by Moon_man; 01-06-2010 at 09:37 AM.

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01-04-2010, 11:32 PM	#2
GoremanX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia, VT Photos: Albums Posts: 1,657	I often wondered how much benefit a diffuser would give, thanks for sharing! Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 55-300mm is currently benefiting from a manufacturer-authorized discount, so every Pentax reseller can sell it at that price The ones that don't are either not official Pentax resellers, or they're keeping the extra profits for themselves. Most of the other Pentax lenses are benefiting from the same discounts too, have been for weeks.

01-04-2010, 11:41 PM	#3
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	oh okay well I guess I'm glad I didn't get ripped off ^^

01-05-2010, 09:53 AM	#5
joodiespost Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 336 Original Poster	Originally posted by Igilligan You cant post a thread about a 3.50 pop up flash diffuser and not post a link to it... I dont like to take the darn bohemouth of a flash sometimes but would like a 3.50 way to make the pop up softer... other than tissue duct taped to the flash. Thanks for the link in advance oops sorry, link posted.

01-05-2010, 10:08 AM	#6
Ed n Georgia Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 940	The amazing part is.... For $3.50, It's being shipped from China. Wonder what the F.O.B. price was?

01-05-2010, 01:36 PM	#7
esman7 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 322	Awesome results. The shadow change is very impressive.

01-05-2010, 02:23 PM	#8
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers?

01-05-2010, 03:50 PM	#9
rupi Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Portugal Posts: 50	Originally posted by yeatzee Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers? I would love to see that too I just bought a Metz 48 and I was amazed with the difference in light quality, when bouncing it on a white ceilling. But sometimes we don't have a white ceilling. Can we get the same tipe of light with one of this diffusers Thank's in advance. And sorry joodiespost for using your topic for my question.

01-05-2010, 04:01 PM	#10
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by rupi I would love to see that too I just bought a Metz 48 and I was amazed with the difference in light quality, when bouncing it on a white ceilling. But sometimes we don't have a white ceilling. Can we get the same tipe of light with one of this diffusers Thank's in advance. And sorry joodiespost for using your topic for my question. No, you cannot emulate a reflector with several square meters area with a tiny add-on thingy. But nevertheless it can help a bit. The Omnibounce-look-a-like is a useful piece of equipment, because it spreads the light all around, thus inducing reflections from almost everywere around, which softens shadows. Also it gives even illumination for wide-angle shots. Ben

01-05-2010, 04:42 PM	#11
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by yeatzee Anyone care to post similar tests with speed light diffusers? Light diffusers can cost next to nothing. Electrons and photons don't cost much either. Read this thread and this thread. I found a better solution if there is no ceiling to bounce the light against: using the same 11"X14" sheet of plastic canvas (as in the first thread referred to above), I half it lengthwise to make two strips of 5.5"X14". I take one trip, fold it to make a dome, and attach it to the flash head tilting 90 degrees (shining straight up) and rotate 90 degrees. I'll post some photos later if I have a chance.

01-06-2010, 09:09 AM	#14
noahpurdy Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 479	For $3.50 I couldn't say no. I'll post up some results here when I receive it!

01-06-2010, 09:10 AM	#15
Moon_man New Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clinton NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 15	Just looked at that pop-up diffuser - it's a pretty cool looking item. Gonna get me one of those - $3.50 is dirt cheap.