Deciding between 2 diffusers for my Canon 580 flash

[vicky2]

I have a brand new Mark II N and need to buy a flash that I can use for

portraits and potentially weddings in the future. I will not be using any other

professional lighting except for the flash. Based on advice from this forum,

I've decided to buy the 580EX II.

 

My question is - what type of diffuser would you recommend? On B&H I have seen

the following, and wondering if I could get some advice on which one to get for

my purposes?

 

Thanks sooo much!

 

OPTION 1: $14

SBM #0104 Supreme Flash Diffuser for Canon 580EX Flash

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=408070&is=REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail&addedTroughValue=348457_USA

 

 

OPTION 2: $49

Gary Fong P4 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion System (Clear)

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=435134&is=REG

 

 

Also, do I need anything of the other accessories that B&H is recommending,

like a FLIP BRACKET, TRANSMITTER, BATTERY PACK, SYNC CORD?

 

Thanks again!

[jimstrutz]

Fixed the links...

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=408070&is=REG&addedTroughType=accessory_d etail&addedTroughValue=348457_USA

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=435134&is=REG

 

Most people prefer the Gary Fong Lightsphere, but it is three times the price and at least 3 times the size.

[vicky2]

Thank you Jim!

[lou korell]

I'd forget both and get the Joe Demb Flip-it:

 

 

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/

 

It's so much more efficient and it packs easy.

 

Lou

[walang_pangalan]

The cheap one is a waste of money: it's too small, and consumes too much power. You would do better to just remove it and ceiling bounce, or just direct-flash it -- you'll hardly notice the difference. The larger one is going to work better, but seems too expensive for what it is (an inert chunk of plastic). But who am I to complain about expense? Last week I bought a Lastolite Ezybox Hotshoe (http://www.vistek.ca/details/details.aspx?WebCode=227790). Fantastic piece of equipment for portraiture, but probably not the sort of thing you want to carry around.

[sitemistic]

I have the Gary Fong Lightsphere and it gives amazing results. The shadows just go away

with it. The only drawback is that it is not efficient and takes a lot of flash power. However,

the 580ex is plenty powerful. Probably still have trouble with large groups, though.

[pruett_tiraratn]

You may be interested in this tip.

http://www.abetterbouncecard.com

[g_canazzi]

Save yourself some money and do what I did for my Canon 580EX. I have tried all the commercially available units out there. They are either too bulky or eat up 2 to 3 stops of light.

 

Go to you local grocery store and find a 20 oz. "Dr Pepper" bottle, the clear plastic type and cut off the top of it (about 3" down from the lid). You can even take some sandpaper to it on the inside to diffuse it even further.

 

The works great. It slips on about 1/3 of the way onto the flash unit and 2/3rds remains out (exposed). Its compact, light, stays in place and costs you nothing considering you get to drink the contents of the bottle. I tilt mine forward on a 30-degrees forward angle and get great results. The concept has been around for a long time as a bare bulb flash. I get amazingly soft light with it in the process. It also will fit over the bottom of your unit when in the bag so takes up almost no space when stored.

 

I call it my Dr. Pepper Popper. Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?

 

Good luck!

[crelight]

I support Garry here. Tried quite a few of those diffusers. They are all (I should say "almost all") eat quite a lot of power and work on the same principle: bounce of the ceiling + direct some light to the subject. This light is not really diffused. Yes, it is scattered in all direction, but the size of the diffuser is still quite small and thus relative to the human body you do not get "wrapped" light. The best thing is to be in a small room with while walls, but it is a bit too much of a requirement. The simplest solution I use is to use index card. I made it once and can quickly twist it depending on the flash direction and the amount required, I can bend it the way I like it and it costs a few cents to get a replacement in any store near by. I always have it with me. Stoffen collects dust as well as other things. A plastic bottle works just as well, but it requires more space in my bag so I don't use it.

 

If you think that other pieces of plastic can do a "miracle", look at LumiQuest also. Al least their compact softbox can be used with direct flash (i.e. no ceilings required). But of course, you cannot compare this with a normal softbox. Even on their example light falls off way too quickly to eliminate background and your only option is to use a slave flash.

 

The best investment you can make is to by flash off-shoe cord. This will allow you to use flash in any direction and control the main light much better. You just have to practice holding your camera with one hand :-) At least take a look at L-brackets.

[vicky2]

Thanks for all of your advice! This is great.

[frank_dzambic]

You could always try the inflatable diffusers selling on E-bay from China (which I haven't tried, only gotten a chuckle out of). No word on if they'll also function as a flotation device in case you drop your camera in the water.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Inflatable-Flash-Diffuser-for-Canon-580EX-550EX-420EX_W0QQitemZ170094675974QQcategoryZ64354QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[bobatkins]

I use "The Shell" (http://www.adorama.com/FASFA.html). It's pretty effective as far as small flash diffusers go. Nothing beats a large softbox, but I'm not strapping a large softbox to my shoe mounted flash!

[Former P.N Member]

I agree with the recommendation to try the Demb Diffuser. I used one for the first time this past weekend and was very pleased with the results.<div></div>

[jim_karthauser]

I have had great success with the Lumiquest softbox

 

http://www.lumiquest.com/products.htm

 

No worries!

 

Jim

[Former P.N Member]

Hi Jim,

<p>

I've been a user of Lumiquest products for quite some time. I own and use the Lumiquest <a href="http://www.lumiquest.com/lq931.htm">ProMax system</a> and <a href="http://www.lumiquest.com/lq001.htm">Ultrabounce</a> and have found the Demb Diffuser to be more flexible and gives results every bit as good and probably better than either of those.

<p>

I've not yet done side-by-side tests to compare results.

<p>

Dick

[vicky2]

For those who recommended the Demb Diffuser - would you recommend the PRO or the JUMBO? (for my Mark II N and 580 EX flash)

 

Thank you!

[Former P.N Member]

I have the Pro version. The only difference I can see between the two is the size of the reflector - and $5.00.

<p>

See <a href="http://www.dembflashproducts.com">http://www.dembflashproducts.com/</a> and scroll down near the bottom of the page. It looks like they use their "Big" and "Jumbo" reflectors plus the diffuser as the basis for the two products.