Recommend a flash diffuser/softbox ?

John Young

John Young

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I have seen many flash diffusers and softboxes. I have seen loads in all shapes and designs but what is the best ??
 
You need to qualify what you mean by "best", what works in one situation isn't necessarily ideal for another.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
You need to qualify what you mean by "best", what works in one situation isn't necessarily ideal for another.
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Right well I would be using it for portrait work and just wanted to know if anyone had any recommendations on any they had used

I have seen a few different types and just a bit confused what to get or not at all if they are no good
 
Hot shoe gun or studio head?

For portraits/people, I think generally the bigger the better, within reason. At least 80-100cm. Folding or fixed? Also consider brollies for cheap, easy. And mostly very similar light.
 
HoppyUK said:
Hot shoe gun or studio head?

For portraits/people, I think generally the bigger the better, within reason. At least 80-100cm. Folding or fixed? Also consider brollies for cheap, easy. And mostly very similar light.
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Its would be hot shoe flash and thanks for the info


So really the different types like the lightsphere ones or those omni-bounce ones dont make a difference then just how big they are
 
This video is a good place to start

Umbrellas are the cheapest and produce a nice soft light source but it is hard to control, it is a light grenade that gets everywhere. Shoot through brollies give you the ability to get closer to the subject without poking them in the eye with the stem of the umbrella.

Softboxes give you soft light which is easier to direct which means you get less light spill onto you background, for example. The bigger the softbox the softer the light, but the more likely it is to blow over if you try to use it outside and the more it costs.

"Flash in the Pan" is a regular here who sells some good value softboxes.
 
TheCrewDesigns said:
Its would be hot shoe flash and thanks for the info


So really the different types like the lightsphere ones or those omni-bounce ones dont make a difference then just how big they are
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In terms of the softness of the light and the shadows it produces, size is everything really.

Small diffusers like the Stofen Omni-bounce don't do anything by themselves, as they don't make the flash area any bigger. But what they do, and very well, is project the light all around to bounce off walls and particularly the ceiling. This then becomes a very large and soft light source. In addition, they also send a small portion of the light directly to the subject which lifts the shadows under eyes and chins, puts a sparkle in the eyes, and usually looks great :thumbs: You effectively get two lights in one. But used outside for example, with no ceiling etc, they do nothing.

The Fong is a little better, because it is usefully bigger, and this has a slight softening effect on the direct portion of the light, but this is only really noticeable at close range - if you move back, the size of the Fong becomes relatively smaller and the effect is reduced.

I'm not a big fan of the various Fong devices - they're expensive, inefficient and cumbersome things. The Lumiquest Quik Bounce does a similar thing rather better, is more versatile, efficient, and folds up flat - I use one a lot. I also like the Stofen as it's so cheap, compact and easy. Also check out the Demb Flip-it, or have a go with a simple DIY bounce card that costs zip www.abetterbouncecard.com
 
Thank you both for the help..

My flash (Nissin Di622) does have a small card that pulls out so you can tilt the flash head up and bounce some light straight back at subject
 
TheCrewDesigns said:
Thank you both for the help..

My flash (Nissin Di622) does have a small card that pulls out so you can tilt the flash head up and bounce some light straight back at subject
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Yes, good. Those little pull-out cards work amazingly well - when used in the right environment, ie an average room with a white ceiling usually.

Give it a go. You can adjust the ratio of ceiling bounce to direct flash light by angling the head, and also by zooming it.
 
HoppyUK said:
Yes, good. Those little pull-out cards work amazingly well - when used in the right environment, ie an average room with a white ceiling usually.

Give it a go. You can adjust the ratio of ceiling bounce to direct flash light by angling the head, and also by zooming it.
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Thanks so would one of THESE on ebay be any good to
 
TheCrewDesigns said:
Thanks so would one of THESE on ebay be any good to
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Probably works fine, though it's unclear how how much of the light goes to the ceiling with that one, posibly very little, which is the bit that makes most difference.

Have a look at Lumiquest - tons of choice. Their tutorials are very good too - brief, to the point, and free of bull www.lumiquest.com
 
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