A Better Bounce Card - anybody knows and uses it?

Hi,

 

I`ve recently found a web site www.abetterbouncecard.com and its content. Does

anybody have any idea how good this solution is ? I am now using a StoFen cup on

my SB-600 flash but with no amazing results to be honest. So, there is my

question: how this low cost solution can improve my flash and photo effect ? Do

you have any suggestions how to use it the best way ?

 

Thanks.

Never used it myself. Saw the same thing. Does it work. Yes, it would. I opted to buy a Sigma bounce card ($20) I started with an old rubbing alcohol bottle for a diffuser. Worked pretty good too. Now I use the Ultimate Lightbox. Sometimes I use the bounce card too.

I prefer bounce cards WHENEVER feasible. Are you using a Styrofoam cup? As a cover diffuser, or as a BOUNCE "card?" (In other words- is the cup completely covering the output panel, or does your flash point upwards and bounce off of the cup, WITHOUT being covered up?)

 

Shooting straight through the cup will be nice- but there are density differences in the cup that prevent a nice, even exposure.

 

Bounce cards ROCK with a powerful [enough] flash. I use a Kodak 8x10 "grey card" (with the white side facing the subject) on an older Vivitar 283 flash and custom bracket. I have NEVER taken a better non-studio flash shot than with that setup.

 

This is very important, as I've never seen it mentioned before this way. But if I had to make my own, this is what I would do- and it would be JUST as good as these $50 "cards" you see on the linked site.

 

(Assuming you have access to this product...)

Go to A.C. Moore, Michael's or any other craft store.

 

Look for FOAM sheets. These are flexible foam products that are around 3/16th of an inch in thickness. They come in 8.5 x 11 inch sheets, usually around the scrap book supplies, or "make your own jewelry" or "make your own decorations" areas of the store. The nice thing about these sheets is that they appear quite white (certainly acceptable for digital photos where color balance can be changed,) and are rigid enough to hold a form when formed at the base. (If you attach them as a parabola, curving them around the flash head, they will maintain this form and it will get wider the further from the attachment point it gets.) In this way, it fairly closely mimics the flash diffusion at its strongest point.

 

If you don't want to use tape, use Velcro that you could probably also buy at this type of store.

 

If you want to stiffen the diffuser, or force it to hold a different shape, add a wire to it, "stitching" it in and out of the diffuser in a way that holds it where you want it. No tape, no glue required. Wire is available at craft stores in about 1' lengths for use in floral arrangements, and often comes coated in white. So it will all go together quite nicely.

 

Velcro? About $2-$5 US

Wire? About $2 US for a big pack

Foam? About 0.99c US per sheet.

 

Not that you would, but the foam is also available in a range of colors, so you could add black to subtract some light, use a lighter shade of grey if that would work for some reason, or another color to add just a hint of orange "sunset" highlights.

 

Here are some sources, I think:

http://www.stainedglassoriginals.com/kidscraftsupplies_foamsheets.html

http://plasticfoam.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/11330001/EVA_Sheets.html

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?origin=page.jsp&namespace=browse&event=link.itemDetails&categoryId=377320&BP=8108&sku=12%2f967&cm_mmc=INK-_-Craft%20Supplies%20%26%20Hobbies-_-Foam-_-12%20Fun%20Foam%20Craft%20Sheets

 

Now, understand that I am ALL for making stuff that works, and is CHEAP. If it's cheap, after all, you can experiment to your heart's content!

 

I hope this helps, seriously- if you have easy access, give it a shot!!

If you have a Michael's around you, they have the foam.

 

I was bored, so I picked up some white and black fun foam.

 

I also picked up a sheet of white and black fun foam that had peal off in the back with its own adhesive. This should be cool to use for the extra funky BBC's...

 

-Mario

Bounce cards work as kickers if you have a white ceiling to augment them. Though, $26 for some craft foam and nice rubber bands seems a bit much.

I Paid 89 cents a sheet.

 

So for usder $4 (I bought 4 sheets) and a rubber band, I can make several of them.

 

And since I pass Michael's almost daily, no gas money spent... :)

 

-Mario

I've used most of them. I find the Flip-It, ( http://www.dembflashproducts.com/flipit/ ), to be the best of the bunch. Inexpensive, built to last and very compact for storage and transport. It's fully adjustable on the fly, and no need to constantly remove & reattach it during the day.

 

Russ

Make one and find out if you like it. Follow the instructions, test, use your head and figure it out for yourself. Just don't test in your white living room on stuffed animals, or something, unless you are going to photograph stuffed animals in your living room. Bouncing light is hugely dependent upon the actual location. Test in the situations you will be actually using the card.

 

I made my own version of the ABBC and use it, along with other kinds of modifiers, one of which is the OmniBounce. There isn't one modifier that is perfect. You can make one out of white paper first, if you are skeptical.

Thanks to all of you for so many opinions. Generally, I did not think of buying any of those ABBC kits. Rather than that, I consider trying to make one on my own than spending the money for the kit plus extra shipping. I just wanted to find out some opinions from those who may have already used this gadget. I belive it works but there may be some individual improvements I think.

 

As I wrote at the beginning, I have a Stofen cup that doesnt let me achieve the results I want every time. Thats why I think a bounce card, of any type, may bring something new and maybe better in some conditions. You are right, the best way is to try it out and get some results. I need some universal solution for a candid shots, some outdoor portraiture, occasional receptions and so on. I think it is worth trying anyway!

 

Thanks again,

Piotr.

I think the foam idea is great. I have the Vivitar bracket and use it all the time with a grey card (normally white side forward, but not always) but it is fairly rigid and as you move around a crowded room it's too easy to whack into things, possibly damaging the flash mount or the hot shoe, easily knocking someone's drink over. That latter isn't really a photographic problem, but it can be embarrassing and you could miss a couple of shots while you are apologizing and helping clean up the mess!

 

Van

I use mine all the time, at least when the ceiling is white, indoors, and when I need fill or a catchlight. Never outdoors. In that sense, it's like the stofen and others. The main advantage is getting light to your subject from many angles so harsh shadows are smoothed out. Be sure to watch those two Youtube clips that describe how to use it.

 

I especially like the way he attaches the bounce card from the side, so that he can instantly flip the flash and camera vertical without, creating a shadow to the right of the subject. I had always thought that would create vignetting on wide angle photos, but it's not noticeable in my hands with my APS size sensor. I really like the foam choice, it's way better and more durable than a paper card. But in a pinch you could use anything white. I used a napkin at a restaurant last month as I didn't have the foam card handy.

 

Dave